FROM YANKEES.COM
Yankee Stadium gates will open at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday as the Yankees invite fans to take one last memorable stroll through Monument Park. Fans will also be allowed to exit Monument Park onto the field where they will be permitted to walk along the warning track around the outfield and behind home plate. Access to Monument Park is via the staircase at the end of the aisle between the Field and Main Level seats in Section 36. Wheelchair access is via the elevator in Section 24. Field exit from Monument Park will close at approximately 4:00 p.m., prior to pregame batting practice for each team. Monument Park will remain open until 6:45 p.m.
Pregame ceremonies, scheduled to begin at 7:05 p.m., will encompass the chronology of Yankees greats who have played at the famous Stadium. Among the distinguished alumni scheduled to take part in the festivities will be Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford, Goose Gossage, Ron Guidry, Graig Nettles and Bobby Richardson. A historic artifact from the Yankees’ past will also be unveiled during the ceremony. The Yankees are urging fans to be in their seats by 6:50 p.m.
Only fans with valid ticket(s) for Sunday’s game will be admitted and there will be NO RE-ENTRY. Bleacher ticket holders who would like to visit Monument Park should enter the Stadium through Gate 2, 4 or 6.
Fans and media are also reminded that Sunday’s game will NOT be the final event at Yankee Stadium. A ceremony will be held at a later date this fall to celebrate the Stadium, details will follow.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
1:00 p.m: Gates open to the public, Monument Park opens
1:00-4:00 p.m.: Field access for fans
4:15 p.m.: Yankees stretch begins
4:40-5:40 p.m.: Yankees batting practice
5:40-6:20 p.m.: Orioles batting practice
6:45 p.m.: Monument Park closes
6:50 p.m.: Fans are asked to take their seats
7:05 p.m.: Pre-game ceremony begins8:15 p.m. (Approx.): First pitch
Friday, September 19, 2008
Friday, September 05, 2008
Remembering Yankee Stadium: An Oral and Narrative History of "The House That Ruth Built"
A Review By Phil Speranza
Well it was the book that took 86 years in the making but Harvey Frommer’s Remembering Yankee Stadium: An Oral and Narrative History of "The House That Ruth Built" has finally hit the shelves. While most of the Yankee Stadium tributes hit shelves in the spring, it was only fitting that RYS waited until now to become a Fall Classic. Yes Bomber Buddies it was well worth the wait. My initial reaction was that the official release had better photos than this fantastic release but after closer review RYS beats any Yankee Book out there hands down. You go deeper than the aerial view of a packed stadium or the cars lined up in the once vacant Bronx on Opening Day 1923. Every picture in this book triggers off a string of memories. You get up close and dirty with everything from Derek Jeter diving head first into the stands to the ground breaking at the new stadium himself. The 9-11 photos can make you tear up all over again. Mickey Mantle, his swing never looked so sweet.
Well it was the book that took 86 years in the making but Harvey Frommer’s Remembering Yankee Stadium: An Oral and Narrative History of "The House That Ruth Built" has finally hit the shelves. While most of the Yankee Stadium tributes hit shelves in the spring, it was only fitting that RYS waited until now to become a Fall Classic. Yes Bomber Buddies it was well worth the wait. My initial reaction was that the official release had better photos than this fantastic release but after closer review RYS beats any Yankee Book out there hands down. You go deeper than the aerial view of a packed stadium or the cars lined up in the once vacant Bronx on Opening Day 1923. Every picture in this book triggers off a string of memories. You get up close and dirty with everything from Derek Jeter diving head first into the stands to the ground breaking at the new stadium himself. The 9-11 photos can make you tear up all over again. Mickey Mantle, his swing never looked so sweet.
Who better to write and compile a tribute to an icon such as Yankee Stadium than renowned baseball/Yankee author Harvey Frommer? Frommer makes great use of every Yankee and baseball player he either wrote about or met over his illustrious career. Who else can have a forward written by the Voice of Yankee Stadium, Bob Sheppard? If I have to explain who he is you are reading the wrong book, but Harvey explains who he is as well as his son Paul (Sheppard).
The body of the book like any good Yankee History book is the life of Yankee Stadium from 1923 through today. What makes RYS different is that the glue holding or bridging these stories together is made up of what Harvey Frommer refers to as the voices. The voices are players, celebrities, broadcasters, writers or fans just like you and me. He has documented the people’s memories and used them to personalize the history. By doing this it brought out memories in my mind that I haven’t thought about in years. As a matter a fact BehindtheBombers.com is proud to have four of us fans who had their voices heard (and sent forth). Sharing their Yankee memories from BTB were Dan “Knuckles” McCourt, Gary “Lefteroo” Lefkowitz, Sue Tucker and myself. It was an honor being interview for such a strong tribute to “the cathedral in Da Bronx”.
There is also a section what he calls Stadiumology, where he gives stats like all time Yankee attendance, Plaques in Monument Park and when they were dedicated, the all time Yankee Broadcasters, Stadium Firsts and much, much more.
This is all topped off by one of my favorite, yet minor sections of the book is where the author takes a number and associates it with a player or record or some sort of stat. For example he mentions the 1½ is for the number on the late opera singer Robert Merrill. Who version of the Star Spangled Banner was played at the stadium for as long as I can remember and often sung live by the singer/fan himself. Even for the number 28 which he associates to Thurman Munson’s rookie number.
This book was truly a labor of love, both on the parts of every fan or player he interviewed and especially of Mr. Frommer himself. Will there ever be another stadium that will demand the documentation that Yankee Stadium has gained respect for? Probably not, with Remembering Yankee Stadium on your bookshelf, Yankee Stadium will live on for decades to come. This book is so good I could have filled it with clichés. My Yankee Cap is tipped to Harvey Frommer who has outdone himself once again.
You can pick up Remembering Yankee Stadium: An Oral and Narrative History of "The House That Ruth Built" on Amazon.com
Monday, August 11, 2008
JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT IT.....
Can this team get an worse? Are you millionaires done teasing me? Are Robbie and Melky ever going to stop by for good? Gee Wiz as much as I wouldlove being at the last game at Yankee Stadium I really wouldn't mind it if you would make the playoffs.
You guys better start winning before Hank thinks it is a good idea to let Manny be Manny in Da Bronx next season. Imagine that...."The House That Manny Built!"
Can we find any other ways to lose. We sure have been creative. Aren't you just dying to know who the TBA on the mound ond Wednesday is? Ian Kennedy may have talked his way out of pinstripes the other night. You know what they say about excuses IPK, but you are just looking at yourself through rose color glasses.
You guys better start winning before Hank thinks it is a good idea to let Manny be Manny in Da Bronx next season. Imagine that...."The House That Manny Built!"
Can we find any other ways to lose. We sure have been creative. Aren't you just dying to know who the TBA on the mound ond Wednesday is? Ian Kennedy may have talked his way out of pinstripes the other night. You know what they say about excuses IPK, but you are just looking at yourself through rose color glasses.
Thursday, July 03, 2008
Dave Righetti's No Hitter
Can you believe it was twenty five years ago that Dave "Rags" Righetti threw the first Yankee no hitter since the 1956 World Series? It was 1983 at year when there was not much to cheer about in Yankee lore (sort of like this year). It was July 4th, the boss's birthday, New York City only had cable in Manhattan. The Yankee game was broadcasted that day on now defunt Sports Channel. If you wanted to see it in one of the other 4 boroughs you had to be a Wometco Home Theatre (WHT) subscriber. The play by play was the legendary Mel Allen with the classic trio of Phil Rizzuto, Franke Messer and Bill White rotating between there and radio. A side note is that the classic you see of this game has the radio audio. It would have been great to hear Mell Allen do the game.
Rags thanked a lot of people that day but three people he didn't thank was my friends Tommy Maiorana, Jerry Cunningham and myself. You are saying, why should he thank you guys? OK, I will tell you. You see we were offered the Morgan Bank Main Box seats to that game that morning but turned them down because of previous commitments, plus the fact that it was in the mid 90s. You are now saying "so!". Well I'll tell you so, you see if we were in the Stadium we would have changed the karma and Righetti may not have been so lucky.
Steve Kemp of all people who was probably the most unproductive 300 hitter the Yankees ever had made a great play in the field to save the no-no. As you probably know Rags struck out future Yankee Wade Boggs to end the 4-0 game in front of 41,077 fans a video that has played on the Diamond Vision over and over again. Boggs later admitted he felt t hat if he had broke up the no hitter he would not have got out of the stadium alive. Little did he know how much New York would one day love him.
Dave Righetti, the 1981 Rookie of the Year in the American League, was later converted to a releiver when Goose Gossage signed with the Padres and excelled at the role for the rest of his career, although it was "suppose" to be a temporary move. Little did Righetti know that he was going to have only 18 more starts before becoming one of the premiere closers in the game.
This year the Yankees once again play the Red Sox on July 4th. With the Myth and Aura take over again? Will lady luck smile down upon Dave Rasner? Wouldn't it be a Fairy Tale FInal Season cookie for us all to munch on? Will Yogi be in the building? All I know if someone phones me in the morning and offers me tickets behind home plate . . . I ain't going!
Rags thanked a lot of people that day but three people he didn't thank was my friends Tommy Maiorana, Jerry Cunningham and myself. You are saying, why should he thank you guys? OK, I will tell you. You see we were offered the Morgan Bank Main Box seats to that game that morning but turned them down because of previous commitments, plus the fact that it was in the mid 90s. You are now saying "so!". Well I'll tell you so, you see if we were in the Stadium we would have changed the karma and Righetti may not have been so lucky.
Steve Kemp of all people who was probably the most unproductive 300 hitter the Yankees ever had made a great play in the field to save the no-no. As you probably know Rags struck out future Yankee Wade Boggs to end the 4-0 game in front of 41,077 fans a video that has played on the Diamond Vision over and over again. Boggs later admitted he felt t hat if he had broke up the no hitter he would not have got out of the stadium alive. Little did he know how much New York would one day love him.
Dave Righetti, the 1981 Rookie of the Year in the American League, was later converted to a releiver when Goose Gossage signed with the Padres and excelled at the role for the rest of his career, although it was "suppose" to be a temporary move. Little did Righetti know that he was going to have only 18 more starts before becoming one of the premiere closers in the game.
This year the Yankees once again play the Red Sox on July 4th. With the Myth and Aura take over again? Will lady luck smile down upon Dave Rasner? Wouldn't it be a Fairy Tale FInal Season cookie for us all to munch on? Will Yogi be in the building? All I know if someone phones me in the morning and offers me tickets behind home plate . . . I ain't going!
Monday, June 30, 2008
GARDNER RECALLED
Brett Gardner, Yankee prospect outfield will be in the Bronx tonight to help out with the outfield injuries.
No word on who is going to be moved to make room for Gardner. Could be that Johnny Damon is more hurt than they are letting on.
No word on who is going to be moved to make room for Gardner. Could be that Johnny Damon is more hurt than they are letting on.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
SI Yankees Drop second Straight
While it is only the second game of the season, which is equal to the second game of Spring Training, The SI Yankees dropped their second game in as many meeting with the Brooklyn Cyclones by a score of 9-3.
It wouldn't be an Oepning Day on Staten Island without the element of rain, so to make us all feel at home there was an 1:15 rain delay. Missing from the sold out crowd were fixtures that we have grown to come accustomed to in St George. Our condolences go out to Baby-Bombers.com's Robert Pimpster and his dad who lost their Grandfather and Dad repectively. We missed you both tonight. Also missing were Charlie who has been going to the games since CSI and Chris Caputo and company were not on hand to enjoy the David Hasselhoff video.
The free food lines were long and slow and Jane even donned a Ceterplate apron and pitched in, although the Baby Bomber might have need her to pitch in on the mound. Luke Greinke (0-1) took the loss without getting out of the third inning.
It wouldn't be an Oepning Day on Staten Island without the element of rain, so to make us all feel at home there was an 1:15 rain delay. Missing from the sold out crowd were fixtures that we have grown to come accustomed to in St George. Our condolences go out to Baby-Bombers.com's Robert Pimpster and his dad who lost their Grandfather and Dad repectively. We missed you both tonight. Also missing were Charlie who has been going to the games since CSI and Chris Caputo and company were not on hand to enjoy the David Hasselhoff video.
The free food lines were long and slow and Jane even donned a Ceterplate apron and pitched in, although the Baby Bomber might have need her to pitch in on the mound. Luke Greinke (0-1) took the loss without getting out of the third inning.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
MINI BOOK REVIEWS
New York Yankees: An Interactive Guide to the World of Sports
By Danniel J. Brush – David Horne – Marc CB Maxwell
Foreward by Mike Vaccaro, New York Post
A new book is on the horizon and this book actually is enhanced by your computer. Appropriately in the Sports By The Number Series, this book brings you tons of info on America’s best loved and most hated team The New York Yankees.
The book is layed out so you don’t have to read it cover to cover, but you probably will wind up doing so anyway. It is a paperback laid out in ten chapters. In each chapter you have 100 facts, lore, records and mini stories. They are all numbered 1-100 in chapter one, 101 – 200 in chapter two etc.
Each number corresponds to an event or story in Yankee history. For instance #30 tells us: The number of times Dave Winfield grounded into a double play in 1983 plus a few more facts to boot. Each chapter also features a Yankee in their own right. For instance Chapter one is George Steinbrenner and Chapter ten is simply The Legends.
Scattered throughout the book are SBTN-All Star and SBTN-Hall of Fame Logos. These logos direct you to the website and give you even more information. Unfortunately the site is not released yet and I couldn’t access it.
A great book for any age or fan of America’s Game and Team. A must read.
THE LAST REAL SEASON
By Mike Shropshire
Mike Shropshire who brought us Seasons in Hell brings us back to earth with his upcoming entry The Last Real Season.
He brings us back to the day before the players made millions. When the AL umps wore those cheesy red blazers.
The story is sort of an autobiographical account of the 1975 season by the author as he covered the Texas Rangers. The Rangers that year were managed by Billy Martin so that alone was worth price of admission. So in this case what happened in the clubhouse didn’t always stay in the clubhouse and quite a bit made it into this journal. That that did is hilarious.
There is a warning however, this book may make you yearn for old time baseball, when players played for the love of the game. I would put this one on your shopping list.
By Danniel J. Brush – David Horne – Marc CB Maxwell
Foreward by Mike Vaccaro, New York Post
A new book is on the horizon and this book actually is enhanced by your computer. Appropriately in the Sports By The Number Series, this book brings you tons of info on America’s best loved and most hated team The New York Yankees.
The book is layed out so you don’t have to read it cover to cover, but you probably will wind up doing so anyway. It is a paperback laid out in ten chapters. In each chapter you have 100 facts, lore, records and mini stories. They are all numbered 1-100 in chapter one, 101 – 200 in chapter two etc.
Each number corresponds to an event or story in Yankee history. For instance #30 tells us: The number of times Dave Winfield grounded into a double play in 1983 plus a few more facts to boot. Each chapter also features a Yankee in their own right. For instance Chapter one is George Steinbrenner and Chapter ten is simply The Legends.
Scattered throughout the book are SBTN-All Star and SBTN-Hall of Fame Logos. These logos direct you to the website and give you even more information. Unfortunately the site is not released yet and I couldn’t access it.
A great book for any age or fan of America’s Game and Team. A must read.
THE LAST REAL SEASON
By Mike Shropshire
Mike Shropshire who brought us Seasons in Hell brings us back to earth with his upcoming entry The Last Real Season.
He brings us back to the day before the players made millions. When the AL umps wore those cheesy red blazers.
The story is sort of an autobiographical account of the 1975 season by the author as he covered the Texas Rangers. The Rangers that year were managed by Billy Martin so that alone was worth price of admission. So in this case what happened in the clubhouse didn’t always stay in the clubhouse and quite a bit made it into this journal. That that did is hilarious.
There is a warning however, this book may make you yearn for old time baseball, when players played for the love of the game. I would put this one on your shopping list.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
OK IT IS NOW OFFICIAL
Pink is the new Black and the New York Post is now the new National Enquirer.
Look out Yankee fans the Yankees have a 30 year curse upon them!! Why do you ask, because some momo allegedly burried a Red Sox Jersey in the cement foundation of the new Stadium. The New York Post had the photoshopped photos on the front page Saturday to prove it. The photos are allegedly from a camera phone, they are way too sharp for a camera phone. Not only that it was such a big story it took three Post flunkys to write it. You would think they would have needed Joel Sherman or at least George King to cover such a newsworthy item.
But noooooooooooo the tabloid sent out Jeremy Olshan, Jason Nicholas and Chuck Bennent for this tough assignment. It's a good thing the Dog Show wasn't in town, who would cover that?
Well this so called "Gino" from the Bronx buried his own Red Sox Jersey, a $100-200 plus value, for only 30 years of bad luck. Hey Gino you can't hate them that much if you only hexed them for 30 years. Heck our Hexman Louie can undo any hex you can put on. Besides I always thought that you only bury things when they are dead? Are the Sox dead? or their fans? Are you saying that every item buried in any time capsule has a curse as well?
The only curse that is coming out of this act is that this mo-mo has to go out and buy a new jersey for his 15 minutes of fame. If you were really proud of yourself you should have printed your last name Eugene. Sources unknown to BTB claim that it all stems from Eugene (Gino) never being picked for a team at the grounds where the new stadium now stands. They did let him go buy them sodas in the local delis.
Oh yeah the Post trio went to get a fans opinion from Liza Oviedo who said "That shirt is cursed. They should dig it out and have a bonfire with it." Where was Ms. Oviedo when they asked her this question? In a Sports Bar across from the Stadium. You make your own conclusions.
Some other quotes in the article were; "It is an outrage!" the Boston-born NYC Mayor Bloomberg told The Post before the Yanks played the Sox last night. "The one thing that I'd really like to be able to do is to go in there and pitch for the Yankees and beat the Red Sox with a perfect game. (Wang came close last night) That would be a way to end the curse," the mayor said. Yogi better added his opinion as he was cheering on the NJ Devils in Newark last night. "I was never superstitious, but maybe we should bury one over there at Fenway too," Berra said.
The article goes on to state that just in case the buried jersey does indeed bring a curse, Bonnie Thompson, a 37-year-old witch from Hicksville, LI, cast a spell to sweep away the jinx.
"I cast out all negative energies from the Red Sox jinx. Their buried T-shirt has no effect here," the Wiccan priestess said while wearing an all-black dress and Yankees cap. "All negative thought-form be gone." She then laid a Red Sox jersey on the ground and beat it with a broom.
If it was up to me I would dig this jersey up, (if it is really there) it could bring in big bucks for a worthy charity on EBay. After that I guess you could wipe your butt with it better yet use the Post, at least it won't be covered with cement and who would notice a little more ...never mind.
Look out Yankee fans the Yankees have a 30 year curse upon them!! Why do you ask, because some momo allegedly burried a Red Sox Jersey in the cement foundation of the new Stadium. The New York Post had the photoshopped photos on the front page Saturday to prove it. The photos are allegedly from a camera phone, they are way too sharp for a camera phone. Not only that it was such a big story it took three Post flunkys to write it. You would think they would have needed Joel Sherman or at least George King to cover such a newsworthy item.
But noooooooooooo the tabloid sent out Jeremy Olshan, Jason Nicholas and Chuck Bennent for this tough assignment. It's a good thing the Dog Show wasn't in town, who would cover that?
Well this so called "Gino" from the Bronx buried his own Red Sox Jersey, a $100-200 plus value, for only 30 years of bad luck. Hey Gino you can't hate them that much if you only hexed them for 30 years. Heck our Hexman Louie can undo any hex you can put on. Besides I always thought that you only bury things when they are dead? Are the Sox dead? or their fans? Are you saying that every item buried in any time capsule has a curse as well?
The only curse that is coming out of this act is that this mo-mo has to go out and buy a new jersey for his 15 minutes of fame. If you were really proud of yourself you should have printed your last name Eugene. Sources unknown to BTB claim that it all stems from Eugene (Gino) never being picked for a team at the grounds where the new stadium now stands. They did let him go buy them sodas in the local delis.
Oh yeah the Post trio went to get a fans opinion from Liza Oviedo who said "That shirt is cursed. They should dig it out and have a bonfire with it." Where was Ms. Oviedo when they asked her this question? In a Sports Bar across from the Stadium. You make your own conclusions.
Some other quotes in the article were; "It is an outrage!" the Boston-born NYC Mayor Bloomberg told The Post before the Yanks played the Sox last night. "The one thing that I'd really like to be able to do is to go in there and pitch for the Yankees and beat the Red Sox with a perfect game. (Wang came close last night) That would be a way to end the curse," the mayor said. Yogi better added his opinion as he was cheering on the NJ Devils in Newark last night. "I was never superstitious, but maybe we should bury one over there at Fenway too," Berra said.
The article goes on to state that just in case the buried jersey does indeed bring a curse, Bonnie Thompson, a 37-year-old witch from Hicksville, LI, cast a spell to sweep away the jinx.
"I cast out all negative energies from the Red Sox jinx. Their buried T-shirt has no effect here," the Wiccan priestess said while wearing an all-black dress and Yankees cap. "All negative thought-form be gone." She then laid a Red Sox jersey on the ground and beat it with a broom.
If it was up to me I would dig this jersey up, (if it is really there) it could bring in big bucks for a worthy charity on EBay. After that I guess you could wipe your butt with it better yet use the Post, at least it won't be covered with cement and who would notice a little more ...never mind.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
OPENING DAY BTB MINUTE
Being I have been a fan for quite a while I started calling the stadium the "new" stadium since it reopened in 1976. I wonder what I will call it now? Andy Pettitte pitched 6 shut out inning in the intersquad game and declared himself fit to pitch Saturday against Tampa Bay.
Friday, March 28, 2008
The Game of My Lifetime...
SPECIAL GUEST BLOGGER
Frank Midolo AKA FrankieYankee
AKA The Big Guy With The Blue Jacket
I have received an I-Tunes gift card from my in-laws for my birthday, and decided to use it yesterday. I have a lot of music on my I-Pod, basically everything I want, so I decided to browse through some video stuff. Of course the first thing I went to was Yankee video's, and I downloaded 2003 ALCS, Game 7, the Aaron Boone game. The video comes in full of the entire game and post game interviews and stuff which was pretty cool.
Have you ever watched an old game, and you know the outcome, but you still get mad at how the game is going? That was me yesterday. Trot Nixon hits that 2-run HR, off Clemens, and I have to hear Joe Buck, "At the track, GONE." Oh was I mad. As the game goes on the Sox take the 4-0 lead, and now I'm fuming. Giambi hits a dart over the center field fence, off Pedro, and then again bombs one to CF, off him again in the 7th cutting the lead to 4-2. Wells comes in and throws a hanging curveball to Big Sloppy that shoots out of the park. 5-2 Sox. At this point of the game, I still couldnt believe how the Yanks game back and won this game. Down 5-2, bottom of the 8th, 1 out, nobody on base, and Pedro pitching an excellent game. Then steps up Jeter. Double over Nixon's head(should have caught that ball), Bernie base hit makes it 5-3. That's all for Pedro right? WRONG. Watching it again, what the hell was Grady Little thinking? Emberee was up and ready for the lefty Matsui. Pedro stays in, Matsui rockets a double down the 1st base line. 2nd and 3rd. Up comes Posada and Grady keeps Pedro in, flair to center field, TIE GAME. 5-5. Posada's emotions gave me chills, I was on the train watching this on a little I-Pod screen, holding in all my emotions. It was awesome.
A question came into my mind, as I was watching Pedro implode. How good was life in the baseball world, pre the 2004 debacle? Man was it sweet. The "1918" chants, and knowing the Red Sox season will ALWAYS, end in a disaster.
Before this whole steroid mess, lawsuits, congressional hearings, and all this other stuff that has impacted baseball in a negative way. Man, I felt good. Mo pitches 3 spectacular innings, and then Aaron Boone steps up to the plate. First pitch from Wakefield, "and the Yankees are going to the World Series." What a moment. I got off the train, and walked home with a pep in my step. Opening day is only 4 days away I said to myself. I want that feeling again, that special feeling that doesnt come around to often, when rooting for your sports teams.
Boone said after the game "This is just stupid." Your telling me Aaron? This was the greatest baseball game of my lifetime, of course if your a Yankee fan.
I want that feeling again.
Have you ever watched an old game, and you know the outcome, but you still get mad at how the game is going? That was me yesterday. Trot Nixon hits that 2-run HR, off Clemens, and I have to hear Joe Buck, "At the track, GONE." Oh was I mad. As the game goes on the Sox take the 4-0 lead, and now I'm fuming. Giambi hits a dart over the center field fence, off Pedro, and then again bombs one to CF, off him again in the 7th cutting the lead to 4-2. Wells comes in and throws a hanging curveball to Big Sloppy that shoots out of the park. 5-2 Sox. At this point of the game, I still couldnt believe how the Yanks game back and won this game. Down 5-2, bottom of the 8th, 1 out, nobody on base, and Pedro pitching an excellent game. Then steps up Jeter. Double over Nixon's head(should have caught that ball), Bernie base hit makes it 5-3. That's all for Pedro right? WRONG. Watching it again, what the hell was Grady Little thinking? Emberee was up and ready for the lefty Matsui. Pedro stays in, Matsui rockets a double down the 1st base line. 2nd and 3rd. Up comes Posada and Grady keeps Pedro in, flair to center field, TIE GAME. 5-5. Posada's emotions gave me chills, I was on the train watching this on a little I-Pod screen, holding in all my emotions. It was awesome.
A question came into my mind, as I was watching Pedro implode. How good was life in the baseball world, pre the 2004 debacle? Man was it sweet. The "1918" chants, and knowing the Red Sox season will ALWAYS, end in a disaster.
Before this whole steroid mess, lawsuits, congressional hearings, and all this other stuff that has impacted baseball in a negative way. Man, I felt good. Mo pitches 3 spectacular innings, and then Aaron Boone steps up to the plate. First pitch from Wakefield, "and the Yankees are going to the World Series." What a moment. I got off the train, and walked home with a pep in my step. Opening day is only 4 days away I said to myself. I want that feeling again, that special feeling that doesnt come around to often, when rooting for your sports teams.
Boone said after the game "This is just stupid." Your telling me Aaron? This was the greatest baseball game of my lifetime, of course if your a Yankee fan.
I want that feeling again.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
BARRY'S BLOG: AND THE LAST SHALL BE FIRST!
By Barry Spencer
Along with the Yankees, we are about to embark on an historical season, never before seen, and never to be seen again. By us anyway.I am talking about the realization of a season of "lasts" in the Cathedral. The first of which is upcoming in a few days.
The last opening day in "The House That Ruth Built".At this particular time, it would be prudent for us to sit back, and breathe in this thought.
A reflection if you will. And I'm not sure I can do it justice.While on the outskirts of this historic phenomenon, I will still feel the gravity of it. But I want you to know, it is those of you who are regulars, and semi-regulars, and past regulars, and past semi-regulars, that will encompass most of my thoughts as the season wears on. It is something many will find difficult to put into words. And that's probably as it should be. It will be a "you had to be there" kind a thing.
Guys like Skinny, that used to vendor at the stadium, and now laments the idea of how money has taken much of the family joy away from a game that was built for it.
Guys like Asbury, who will connect with fellow board members on train platforms on the way back home from games.Guys like Jimbue. Who's memories at the stadium are frequently expressed and welcomed on this board. (I won't say how far back it dates. Not sure they had calendars back then. Sun dials or somethin'.)
Guys like Phil, who I figure is well connected at the stadium.
And Lefty, who can probably tell you the pitch count on the batter when Jackie Robinson stole home.It's a forgone conclusion the reunion will be something special. An effort should be made to contact Zbi maybe. Certainly not my call. But all you reunion regulars should make special plans for this year. It will be a reunion of joy and sadness together. As it should be when special friends get together for an occaision that will never be equaled. Kudo's to Brian for having the foresight to realize the difficulty in group ticket sales this year, and getting that job done with expediency.
And lastly, and maybe most importanly, our own scribe Dan McCourt, aka Knuckles. A man I once knew Yankinit to call the "best Yankee fan I've ever known".
I know he's a man of deep emotion, and strong passions. This will be a tumultuous and emotional year for him as every time he walks out of box 622, he knows it will be the last time on that date forever. He will be in my thoughts the most. Politically, he's pretty whacked , but I can't argue with Yankinit's assessment.
And my thoughts will also be on the great George Steinbrenner. The memories he must carry I can't even fathom. And in the twilight of his great career, it won't be easy.
I also know there are many more of you that go to the games at the stadium, and only mention it in passing from time to time. JohnM comes to mind here.
My apologies for those I've missed or don't know about. It is my hope you will share memories from your visits, both good and bad, as the season wears on. This will be the year for it. It will indeed be a season of lasts. Each and every day. Each and every game, will be a last of some kind, if not only the date itself.
But it will not be just us that will be saying goodbye to a tradition that dates almost an entire century. It will also be a country saying goodbye. It will be the globe saying goodbye. Because I don't care where you go, what language you speak, what color of your skin, or what corner of the globe you call home. Every ball fan knows the New York Yankees. And they know they play in Yankee Stadium. The thought almost takes my breath away.And then there's the players. What emotions they will feel. Derek's last game winning hit. (Somebody get me that ball, will ya?) The Yankees last shutout. The Yankees last loss, their last win, the last home run, the last extra inning game, the last stolen base, the last strikeout, the last walk, and on and on and on. Much of this will happen without anyone realizing it, but it will be etched in timeless baseball lore as all great things are in this, the greatest game of all.
There will be books written about it. Videos made of it. Millions made from it. And all these things are as it should be. Anything less would be a pox on the game, the team and the structure that is Yankee Stadium.We already have a team and a stadium for the ages.
It is my fervent desire this year, above all other years I have rooted my beloved team, they make this a season for the ages too.Their motivation is nothing short of historic.
EVEN GOD LOVES YANKEE STADIUM, AND THE NEW YORK YANKEES !!!
Along with the Yankees, we are about to embark on an historical season, never before seen, and never to be seen again. By us anyway.I am talking about the realization of a season of "lasts" in the Cathedral. The first of which is upcoming in a few days.
The last opening day in "The House That Ruth Built".At this particular time, it would be prudent for us to sit back, and breathe in this thought.
A reflection if you will. And I'm not sure I can do it justice.While on the outskirts of this historic phenomenon, I will still feel the gravity of it. But I want you to know, it is those of you who are regulars, and semi-regulars, and past regulars, and past semi-regulars, that will encompass most of my thoughts as the season wears on. It is something many will find difficult to put into words. And that's probably as it should be. It will be a "you had to be there" kind a thing.
Guys like Skinny, that used to vendor at the stadium, and now laments the idea of how money has taken much of the family joy away from a game that was built for it.
Guys like Asbury, who will connect with fellow board members on train platforms on the way back home from games.Guys like Jimbue. Who's memories at the stadium are frequently expressed and welcomed on this board. (I won't say how far back it dates. Not sure they had calendars back then. Sun dials or somethin'.)
Guys like Phil, who I figure is well connected at the stadium.
And Lefty, who can probably tell you the pitch count on the batter when Jackie Robinson stole home.It's a forgone conclusion the reunion will be something special. An effort should be made to contact Zbi maybe. Certainly not my call. But all you reunion regulars should make special plans for this year. It will be a reunion of joy and sadness together. As it should be when special friends get together for an occaision that will never be equaled. Kudo's to Brian for having the foresight to realize the difficulty in group ticket sales this year, and getting that job done with expediency.
And lastly, and maybe most importanly, our own scribe Dan McCourt, aka Knuckles. A man I once knew Yankinit to call the "best Yankee fan I've ever known".
I know he's a man of deep emotion, and strong passions. This will be a tumultuous and emotional year for him as every time he walks out of box 622, he knows it will be the last time on that date forever. He will be in my thoughts the most. Politically, he's pretty whacked , but I can't argue with Yankinit's assessment.
And my thoughts will also be on the great George Steinbrenner. The memories he must carry I can't even fathom. And in the twilight of his great career, it won't be easy.
I also know there are many more of you that go to the games at the stadium, and only mention it in passing from time to time. JohnM comes to mind here.
My apologies for those I've missed or don't know about. It is my hope you will share memories from your visits, both good and bad, as the season wears on. This will be the year for it. It will indeed be a season of lasts. Each and every day. Each and every game, will be a last of some kind, if not only the date itself.
But it will not be just us that will be saying goodbye to a tradition that dates almost an entire century. It will also be a country saying goodbye. It will be the globe saying goodbye. Because I don't care where you go, what language you speak, what color of your skin, or what corner of the globe you call home. Every ball fan knows the New York Yankees. And they know they play in Yankee Stadium. The thought almost takes my breath away.And then there's the players. What emotions they will feel. Derek's last game winning hit. (Somebody get me that ball, will ya?) The Yankees last shutout. The Yankees last loss, their last win, the last home run, the last extra inning game, the last stolen base, the last strikeout, the last walk, and on and on and on. Much of this will happen without anyone realizing it, but it will be etched in timeless baseball lore as all great things are in this, the greatest game of all.
There will be books written about it. Videos made of it. Millions made from it. And all these things are as it should be. Anything less would be a pox on the game, the team and the structure that is Yankee Stadium.We already have a team and a stadium for the ages.
It is my fervent desire this year, above all other years I have rooted my beloved team, they make this a season for the ages too.Their motivation is nothing short of historic.
EVEN GOD LOVES YANKEE STADIUM, AND THE NEW YORK YANKEES !!!
Sunday, March 16, 2008
BOMBERS BROADSIDE --- STILL GREAT IN 2008
With the surplus of Yankee Stadium books this season it is very refreshing to pick up a book that previews the Yankees final season at the cathedral in Da Bronx. Cecilia Tan, (Why I Like Baseball) has once again gathered the finest in Yankee writers in this fine collection. While it deals mainly with the present it doesn't ignore the future nor the past. Back again is the fine work of Dan McCourt (aka Knuckles, on BTB and publisher of Take Him Downtown) he contributes a great article on last season's debacle and takes us way back to 1978 like you have never seen before.
Cecilia's writing makes you long for Opening Day. While the controversial Dan Graziano of the Star Ledger tell us about the new Circus in Town ala The Bronx Zoo. Dan Schlossberg pays tribute to the late Scooter, Phil Rizzuto. It is tearful at times but a great tribute nevertheless. Plus he looks at the now generation including new skipper Joe Girardi.
Mark C. Healy and Sweeny Murti, in separate pieces, look back and pay tribute to Joe Torre and his era. I could go on and on, but the best thing would be to go out and buy this fine work. You won't be able to put it down. A fine analogy by a bunch of fine writers.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Sunday, March 02, 2008
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN BOB SHEPPARD WILL BE BACK
Well he may not be there on Opening Day but the Voice of Yankee Stadium just may be there when they close the doors. Bob Sheppard, the Yankees' venerable public address announcer, recently signed a two-year extension. While last October's case of pneumonia took a great deal out of him - Shepherd, believed to be 97, should return about two months into the regular season, so he can also be there for the lat Old Timers Day at Yankee Stadium. Either way we couldn't close up shop without him.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
JUST ANOTHER REASON TO HATE THE METS
Several MLB teams have their own ticket service or exclusive arrangement with a ticket service. The New York Metropolitans are one of them. OK, so the Mets do not sell through Ticketmaster. So they created a service to sell both Mets and Brooklyn Cyclone Tickets called 507TIXX.com.
This was fine for both the Mets and their fans, mainly because the for said tickets were not a high demand item. But along comes the wrecking ball and the news of the demise of Shea Stadium and that's when it gets interesting.
Billy Joel has decided that he wanted to be the last musical act at the toilet in Flushing. As a matter of fact he will be the last two acts there. Well as you may have guess the Mets ticket service handled the event (and quite poorly I may add). Whether it is phone lines and/or bandwidth 507TIXX.com was not equipped to handle the demand.
Many of the complaints were as follows:
This was fine for both the Mets and their fans, mainly because the for said tickets were not a high demand item. But along comes the wrecking ball and the news of the demise of Shea Stadium and that's when it gets interesting.
Billy Joel has decided that he wanted to be the last musical act at the toilet in Flushing. As a matter of fact he will be the last two acts there. Well as you may have guess the Mets ticket service handled the event (and quite poorly I may add). Whether it is phone lines and/or bandwidth 507TIXX.com was not equipped to handle the demand.
Many of the complaints were as follows:
- Could not get on the site at all.
- Was set watching the countdown time cycle for an hour.
- System crapped out before I could get in my information.
- Everything locked on me and I had to reboot.
- I know first hand that I was watching that 60 second timer cycle for 45 minutes and someone who was talking to me via AIM was kicked off line and had to reboot got tickets before I ever saw a choice to get tickets.
- Around 9:50 all the server was overloaded and everyone got an error screen.
- Of course the phone was overloaded as well.
It made me appreciate Ticketmaster all the more. Grant it with Ticketmaster I may have been shut out as well but it probably would have been in 10 minutes instead of 50. Good luck getting tickets for the final game Mets fans. 507TIXX just got overwhelmed.
Saturday, February 09, 2008
Bob Sheppard May Miss the Final Season at Yankee Stadium
SPECIAL GUEST BLOGGER JOHN MONACO
Legendary Yankees public address announcer Bob Sheppard has had some health issues over the last two seasons, limiting his appearances at Yankee Stadium. Unfortunately, the 97-year-old Sheppard may not see any time at the Stadium in 2008. Bob Sheppard, who has been the public-address announcer at Yankee Stadium since 1951, may not be able to resume his duties this season. "He's struggling to regain his health," Yankees spokesman Howard Rubenstein said. "He's in poor health.
He and the Yankees both hope he's back in the booth. For now he's not."Sheppard missed the final homestand of last season and the playoffs with what the team called laryngitis. Rubenstein said Sheppard's son, Chris, will "try out" for a spot as a substitute by working some spring-training games. You might have known that Sheppard was also the PA announcer for the New York Giants for many seasons.
What you may not have known unless you were there (or if you check Sheppard's Wikipedia page) is that Sheppard also did the public address announcing for St. John's basketball and football games (he was a professor at the school as well). It always amazed me that the same voice known the world over for announcing names like Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio, and Reggie Jackson in front of crowds of over 50,000 was the same voice that announced Division III football in front of crowds of 800. But whatever the sport, whatever the crowd size, he brought the same professionalism to every game he worked. Hopefully, there will be more announcements from Sheppard at some point in '08.
Monday, February 04, 2008
Thank You Jints!!!
Hey guys I want to personally thank you guys on behalf of Yankee fans everywhere. As you might remember when the Patriots won their first Superbowl way before the Sox won the series in 2004 one of the Pats players, who shall remain nameless started a "Yankees Suck" chant during their victory celebration.
Well the Giants paid them back big time yesterday when they prevented their perfect season. So any of you going to the Canyon of Heroes tomorrow remember "Boston Sucks"...
Well the Giants paid them back big time yesterday when they prevented their perfect season. So any of you going to the Canyon of Heroes tomorrow remember "Boston Sucks"...
Saturday, February 02, 2008
A few thoughts/predictions on the upcoming march to 27:
SPECIAL GUEST BLOGGER BARRY SPENCER
1. Led by the youthful exhuberance, energy and enthusiasm of Joe Girardi, the Yankees will come screaming out of the gate at a .650 win clip through April.
2. Feeding off the enthusiasm of the teams youngsters, Andy Pettitte and Chien Ming Wang will be leading the charge. Pettitte opens the season with a three hit complete game shutout.
3. Alex Rodriguez will be the center of a triple crown bid the sportsworld will be talking about in September.
4. Robbie Cano starts the all-star game at 2nd base.
5. The Yankee dugout will be full of exhuberance and vitality as Melky Cabrera and Shelley Duncan invent new and outrageous handshakes. Melky gets a bruised knee cap and sits for 2 games as a result.
6. Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy are dubbed the "Kids from K'ville". When Ian pitches photos of Ted Kennedy will appear after each K. When Hughes pitches photos of an airplane will be displayed after strikouts.
7. Joba Chamberlain becomes the greatest setup man since Mariano Rivera. Shedding the "Joba Rules" his ERA stays around 1.00 and that's because of a dropped ball by an overwieght Johnny Damon that's ruled a hit.
8. Derek Jeter is heard to say, "Mr. Girardi, I haven't had this much fun since 2000."
9. The Baseball world marvels at the perfect mix of youth and experience.
10. Kyle Farnsworth, rejuvenated by a few Joe Girardi suggestions, is late game lights out.
11. David Wells pitched a perfect game on May 17. David Cone had his on July 18. Mike Mussina will pitch a perfect game this coming season on the 19th day of a month. (has to be a day where his stars were in perfect aligianment) Not sure which one.
12. The Yankees face the Dodgers in the World Series. With the NL winning the all-star game the Yankees take the first two in LA. Exasperated Dogers owner Frank McCourt confronts Joe Torre who tells him not to worry, they'll win three in New York and rap it up back in LA. The Dodgers inspired by Torre's confidence promptly drop the next two, and the Yankees celebrate the elusive 27th championship trophy.
And all becomes right with the world.
1. Led by the youthful exhuberance, energy and enthusiasm of Joe Girardi, the Yankees will come screaming out of the gate at a .650 win clip through April.
2. Feeding off the enthusiasm of the teams youngsters, Andy Pettitte and Chien Ming Wang will be leading the charge. Pettitte opens the season with a three hit complete game shutout.
3. Alex Rodriguez will be the center of a triple crown bid the sportsworld will be talking about in September.
4. Robbie Cano starts the all-star game at 2nd base.
5. The Yankee dugout will be full of exhuberance and vitality as Melky Cabrera and Shelley Duncan invent new and outrageous handshakes. Melky gets a bruised knee cap and sits for 2 games as a result.
6. Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy are dubbed the "Kids from K'ville". When Ian pitches photos of Ted Kennedy will appear after each K. When Hughes pitches photos of an airplane will be displayed after strikouts.
7. Joba Chamberlain becomes the greatest setup man since Mariano Rivera. Shedding the "Joba Rules" his ERA stays around 1.00 and that's because of a dropped ball by an overwieght Johnny Damon that's ruled a hit.
8. Derek Jeter is heard to say, "Mr. Girardi, I haven't had this much fun since 2000."
9. The Baseball world marvels at the perfect mix of youth and experience.
10. Kyle Farnsworth, rejuvenated by a few Joe Girardi suggestions, is late game lights out.
11. David Wells pitched a perfect game on May 17. David Cone had his on July 18. Mike Mussina will pitch a perfect game this coming season on the 19th day of a month. (has to be a day where his stars were in perfect aligianment) Not sure which one.
12. The Yankees face the Dodgers in the World Series. With the NL winning the all-star game the Yankees take the first two in LA. Exasperated Dogers owner Frank McCourt confronts Joe Torre who tells him not to worry, they'll win three in New York and rap it up back in LA. The Dodgers inspired by Torre's confidence promptly drop the next two, and the Yankees celebrate the elusive 27th championship trophy.
And all becomes right with the world.
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