Although I never saw him play, and maybe I never needed to, Joe DiMaggio is arguably the best the Yankees have ever had, maybe baseball at large. He was a perfectionist til the end, even wanting to warm up before throwing a first pitch at Opening Day in Yankee Stadium in April 1998. He never took the game for granted always wanting to be close to the game, be ready to thrill fans, talk to reporters and mentor a newbie. Before he died in March 1999, he had a sign at his bedside that read, "April 9, Yankee Stadium or Bust" — his motivation to fight to be at another Opening Day. He didn't get there. But he was ready.
This baseball lockout exposes so many flaws in today's game. For one, it shows the disregard for time that these owners, and players have. Precious time for the game, for their contribution to the game, for their opportunity to do something that most never will. If Joe D had more time, he would have been at Opening Day 1999, stepping up for a game, a career he loved and that loved him back.
One of my favorite writers, Mike Lupica, shared his experience talking with and covering Joe D, during those last years of his life. Earlier this week he posted,
"But my favorite memory of Opening Day 1998, his last at the Stadium, was after he’d thrown his first pitch, and was making his way upstairs to the Yankees' offices and owner George Steinbrenner’s suite. I was waiting for him after he came off the field and he said, “Walk with me.” Of course, I did. And when we got into the elevator, he was surrounded by young women from the United States Olympic hockey team, which had just won a gold medal at the Winter Games at Nagano. When we got out on the office level, one of the players, Katie King, stepped forward and introduced herself, and told DiMaggio that before every game they’d played in Nagano, their coach would gather them in front of him and tell them to have a “Joe DiMaggio Day.”
Of course she was referring to when a reporter asked DiMaggio why he ran so hard down to first base when he knew he would be out. DiMaggio without hesitation told the reporter, "there might be people in the ballpark who had never seen you before, and you owed them your best." I can't tell you the number of times I have told that story. And again, I didn't see him play live, I didn't hear him speak to reporters or even say those words. I didn't have to. My dad telling me was enough.
I have to believe that somehow, someway, someone will put the money aside, put the arguments aside and say, Opening Day 2022 Or Bust! Someone has to remember legendary players like Joe D who got it right. Who appreciated playing, and being at the ballpark even 'til the end of his life. Appreciating the game that served his dream, made his life special and made the game special for all fans.
Last night Coach Mike Krzyzewski coached his last regular season game at Cameron Indoor Stadium. He gave his entire life to college basketball and in particular Duke University Men's Basketball. I am not a Duke fan nor am I Coach K fan particularly, but I appreciate what he has done for college basketball. He mentored and motivated thousands of players over his storied career. He might very well be the Joe D of college basketball. He appreciates his opportunity to contribute. MLB could take a lesson from Coach K and Joe D. Appreciate the role you have and the responsibility you must take in getting baseball going again. You are wasting time. Time that you don't have. Put your differences aside and compromise for the sake of the game. Opening Day 2022 Or Bust!
--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Senior Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof
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