GOODBYE, MR. CUB!

If there was 1 player that every athlete and baseball fan knew and loved, it was Ernie Banks.  I was always fond of the man. Mr. Banks played his entire career with the Cubs, from 1953 to 1971 and was always smiling.  He loved the great game of baseball and it was evident even way after he retired.  Well... Mr. Banks has passed and we at BYB are sad this morning.

According to the Chicago Tribune:

"...Banks became the Cubs' first African-American player on Sept. 17, 1953, and went on to become an 11-time All-Star and two-time National League Most Valuable Player (1958-59). His boundless enthusiasm and optimism personified what it meant to be a Cubs fan.

Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts released the following statement Friday night:

 'Words cannot express how important Ernie Banks will always be to the Chicago Cubs, the city of Chicago and Major League Baseball. He was one of the greatest players of all time. He was a pioneer in the major leagues. And more importantly, he was the warmest and most sincere person I’ve ever known.

Approachable, ever optimistic and kind-hearted, Ernie Banks is and always will be Mr. Cub. My family and I grieve the loss of such a great and good-hearted man, but we look forward to celebrating Ernie’s life in the days ahead.'"

As I state here from time to time when I am taken by an individual... "He was one of the good ones." Well, Ernie Banks was.  Courteous. Kind. Hard Working and dedicated to his craft on the field, as well as to his family.

I met Mr. Banks over a decade ago. I shook his hand and his old eyes looked back at me. His eyes were smiling.  I said, "Mr Banks, I admire you, sir."

He put his left hand over our shaking hands and squeezed it tighter...

"Thank you young man, but call me Mr. Cub."

Now I can't remember if he winked at me, but I felt like he did as I was listening to my radio this morning in bed. When I heard the news he passed, that brief meeting between he and eye came rushing back into my thoughts. Maybe it was me half dreaming, or maybe he really did wink... I don't remember.  But if anyone knows Mr. Ernie Banks... you know he probably did.

He loved the game, loved the Cubs, the fans and yes, he was one of the good ones.

My thoughts and prayers are with the Banks family today. Rest in Peace, Mr. Cub.

You've made BYB the fastest growing Yankees fan site in history. Now shop at the Bleeding Yankee Blue store!  Follow me on Twitter @BleednYaneeBlu and LIKE Bleeding Yankee Blue on Facebook!  Also, don't forget to check out the BYB Hub!

MY FIVE FAVORITE BALLPARKS!

A friend of mine posted a picture of herself sitting happily on the Budweiser Roof Deck in Fenway Park and I immediately got ballpark envy.  Kenny Chesney recorded a song this summer called “When I See This Bar” and one of the lines that I just love is “Pieces of my past slowly slip away, but time just stands still when I walk in this place.” That’s how I feel about ballparks.  They carry with them memories and feelings of games, players and family.  They are monuments to the games and records set over the years.  They are our living rooms, dining rooms and kitchens.  They are our homes, they are our fields of dreams, and they witness the magic of the games of yesterday, today and tomorrow.  You see, ballparks have their own attitudes, their own personalities and their own special flare.  And they are all on display for the spectator who walks through the tunnel that leads to the green fields of America’s pastime.  They are our ballparks and I have my five favs! 

My disclaimer is of course that Yankee Stadium is my favorite ballpark because it is home to the best team in the world- The New York Yankees.  So outside of Yankee Stadium, there are my “other” favorites who are forever in my head, give me chills and make me happy to be a baseball fan.

My #1 Favorite 

Wrigley Field, Chicago, circa 1914 (formerly Weeghman Park and Cubs Park) 

The ivy-filled outfield, roof top views and daytime games make Wrigley Field a unique place to watch a game.  The last time the Cubs were in the World Series was 1945, but fans far and wide continue to fill the ballpark every season, believing that the curse of the goat will be broken and the Cubbies will win the Series.  Wrigley has always been a “friendly to hitters ballpark”, particularly to sluggers Ernie Banks who hit 512 homers with the Cubs and of course Sammy Sosa who slammed 60 or more homeruns in three different seasons.

What’s special?  The Cubs fly a flag on the center field scoreboard after each game- white means the Cubs won and blue means they lost.  And until August 8, 1988, Wrigley Field only hosted day games because the lights were never installed following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The then owner donated the money earmarked for the stadium lights to the war effort.  Wrigley Field is vintage as the second oldest ballpark in baseball and it is must see for baseball fans. 

My #2  Favorite

Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore, MD circa 1992 

The statues memorializing the best Oriole players of all time, the village like atmosphere and the proximity of the seats to the action on the field make Camden Yards an incredible experience for fans old and young.  The greatest moment at Camden Yards has to be September 6, 1995 when Cal Ripken, Jr. played his 2131 consecutive game breaking the Iron Horse, Lou Gehrig’s all-time record. 

Screaming Earl Weaver still echoes the walls of the beautiful ballpark, a monument to the greats of the game in Jim Palmer, Frank Robinson and I will even throw in our very own broadcaster Ken Singleton.  Camden Yards quickly became the template for the construction of the new ballparks built over the last twenty years including our very own Yankee Stadium.  You feel like you are on the field, in the middle of the action, with the way the seats are positioned.  And a Natty Boh brew is never far away with the bars and pubs affixed around the interior of the ballpark.  Oriole Park at Camden Yards, a fun place to watch a game and tie one on with friends. 

My #3 Favorite

PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA circa 2001

Even though I relished the visit I made to Three Rivers Stadium back in the late 90s, PNC Park in Pittsburgh is absolutely beautiful with the bridges and rivers in the outfield and the city skyline overseeing the architecture of the ballpark.  PNC Park is a great stop on fans’ ballpark tours across the country.

The irregularly shaped field immortalizes its most famous player, Roberto Clemente with an outfield wall that rises up 21 feet behind right field.  The urban-based venue welcomes pedestrians walking to the ballpark from the Clemente Bridge, which is closed to vehicular traffic on game days.  It is also a very intimate ballpark with the highest seat just 88 feet from the field giving every fan a great view of the action. 

My #4 Favorite

Royals Stadium, Kansas City, MO, (also known as Kauffman Stadium) circa 1973 

I have always wanted to go this park.  I really don’t know why because so many people complain about it, but I have to say, I have always been attracted to the fountains in the outfield, the crown scoreboard in center field and just the team itself who really gave us a run for our money in the seventies and eighties.  I am a George Brett fan- there I have said it.

And I am still a George Brett fan following last year’s All Star Game hosted by Royals Stadium.  There is something regal about the 40 year-old ballpark, it’s classy and clean from my vantage point- my living room couch, but truthfully, the newly integrated Outfield Experience gives fans new and exciting vantage points to view the game including new outfield box seats next to the vintage fountains and a trendy bar called the Miller Light Fountain Bar.  The stadium outfield also has the popular Pepsi Porch and Sonic Slam standing room area nearby the fountains.  It’s a party at Royals Stadium, with lots to see and experience. 

My #5 Favorite

Fenway Park, Boston, MA

The only home of the Boston Red Sox, the oldest ball park in baseball and the most historic, most exhilarating place to watch a game. Fenway Park is in a word electric.  Even if you are not a Red Sox fan, like me, you can quickly become a Fenway fan when to step into the streets surrounding the vintage ball park.  It’s a party in the streets every time the Sox are home as the vicinity around the stadium is closed off to non-gamers and ticket holders are greeted by turnstiles in the streets about an hour and half before game time.

The sights and sounds of good ‘ol American baseball reign loud and clear in the streets of Yawkey and Ted Williams Way.  The Ted Williams statue stands proudly behind the infamous Green Monster and the old ticket booths add to the charm of the ball field.  And if you are lucky enough to score tickets on the Monsta, you will see the most amazing view of the game in all of baseball.  You may also spy the only red seat in the park- a dedication to Ted Williams’ last homerun in Fenway and bellow the eighth inning rendition of Sweet Caroline.  Fenway is the place to be all summer long in Boston. 

So, that’s my five favs!  I am sure you have your own favs- share them with us!  Those creaky and shiny stadiums all have a story- and there is no better story than the ones you create with your family and friends at the ballpark.

--Suzie Pinstripe, BYB Opinion Columnist
Twitter: @suzieprof




The Bleeding Yankee Blue store is opened! CLICK HERE TO START SHOPPING! Also, follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and join the group Bleeding Yankee Blue (Official) on Facebook, just type it in.

THE DEREK JETER STORY THAT WILL TICK YOU OFF

“Look at me! I want to be provocative so I’ll write a Jeter hit piece and hopefully get some clicks!”  That is a quote from how I perceived a May 10th, CBS Sports piece by Jason Keidel asking if Derek Jeter should retire?  Here I am, not wanting to tell you guys about it, because to be honest, I found it insulting.  After all, this is Captain we're talking about and Keidel clearly wants dummies like me to talk about it. Sure, here I am, stupid me, chomping at the bit… so here it goes…

Should Derek Jeter retire? That’s the question based on a hairline fracture in Jeter’s ankle that has kept him sidelined since last October.  Should Derek Jeter retire? I guess Keidel forgot about Jeter’s rejuvenation last season. You know, the one that happened after sports writers wrote off the Captain after his 2010, .270 season. That season was the beginning of the end... Remember that? Last year he batted .316. Just sayin’. Bleeding Yankee Blue was all over that "slump" back in 2010 because it was clear to us that the sports writers had no real grasp on the career of Derek Jeter, and Jason Keidel clearly doesn’t have a grasp on what the Captain can still achieve in his Yankee career.

Should Derek Jeter retire? Well… sure...one day.  Over time, everyone who is a working man should retire when the time is right, but Derek Jeter isn’t close to retiring, because, quite frankly, he’s not done.

He wasn’t done when he messed up his shoulder against the Toronto Blue Jays back in 2003, he wasn’t done when he smashed his face into the seats on a diving catch against the Boston Red Sox. He wasn’t done when he was nursing his injury before he hit 3000 hits and he’s not done now.  Why? Because it’s Derek Jeter silly.

Keidel starts his piece off writing “Stars are inherently and vehemently vain. Much of their motor is fueled by the conviction that they are better than everyone else.”

Right. How are you successful? You push hard to get to the top and knock over everything in your way.  I’m not learning anything yet, are you?  He goes on continuing to dazzle me with obvious points, “Derek Jeter is older, slower, and injured. And there will be a day when he can’t play anymore. Will it be this year or next?” The answer to that question is, we don’t know yet. What the hell are we doing here?

He finally makes his point:  “’Jeter’s not a quitter!’ you bark.

Retiring after 17 resplendent seasons isn’t quitting. It’s logical. Find one shortstop in the modern era who produced at 39. Cal Ripken switched to third base at 35. Ernie Banks switched positions at 30. Even Ozzie Smith, better in the field than all three combined, was a part-time player at 39. Jeter will be 39 the next time he swings at a live pitch.”

OK, but Keidel forgets one thing.  Derek Jeter won’t go out like that.  I mean sure, father time is kicking Jeter’s ass, but Jeter puts father time in a headlock once in a while.  When he was struggling with his swing, he figured it out on his own.  Ask he goes older, he compensates, and will continue to go on until he can’t.  Jeter isn’t a quitter and that’s something we’ve learned for years.  While it’s “logical” that Jeter will retire soon, he will at least make his every effort to get back, because as Keidel writes, athletes are “vain” and Jeter is no different.  When you do something as long as Jeter has, it ain't easy to walk away.  There is one important part of this.  While players come and go and all retire, Jeter is the Captain. Jeter sets the tone and Jeter is the example.  He’ll tell us when he’s ready and when he is, it will be a sad day in Yankeeland, but Yankee fans are smart, we don’t want to see broken down players and we get it.  But never count out Jeter… ever. It’s not in his DNA, it never was.  A busted ankle, while not easy to heal, DOES in fact heal.  Will he be the same? At 39, who knows, but he’s not going to determine his future until he sees if he still “Can.”

Keidel finally writes: “The question is only offensive because you love Derek Jeter. If you’re under 30, he is all you’ve known, the dynastic emblem of your youth. But just as kids once wondered who would replace Ruth found Gehrig, and then DiMaggio, and then Mantle. I was reared on Reggie Jackson and then Don Mattingly.” All true but logical thinking also doesn’t have us shipping off Jeter to an old age home.  If you only grew up with Jeter, it will be hard, but I grew up with Guidry and Reggie and Mattingly and Winfield and let me tell you something, times change, we know that, but there has never been anyone quite like Jeter when it comes to that leadership role.

Yes, Mattingly fans, Donnie is right there, and he played through a bad back, but there is something unique about this Captain.

All I’m saying is yes, being 39 with a healing ankle for anyone else… Yes, it logical that retirement is very, very near.  For Jeter who’s 39 with a healing ankle, it’s logical to think that he’ll come back stronger because he’s always proved father time wrong… sure, we will have to see, but I have a gut feeling about this…do you?

Shout out to Jason Keidel, well done piece, you got me thinking... I like that.

JETER & MATTINGLY: SIMILAR YET DIFFERENT

Not sure how many people saw this but I thought it was worth telling ya’ll. Derek Jeter won the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award. A classy award for a classy guy no doubt, Congrats to Derek Jeter. Read about it HERE.

The Lou Gehrig Award is given to ballplayer that best exemplifies his character and integrity both on and off the field. There is no better guy than Derek Jeter to win that award this year. The Captain is the best, no doubt. Past winners are guys like Albert Pujols, Trevor Hoffman, Tony Gwynn and Ernie Banks...among others. Derek apparently won this award for the 2^nd consecutive time which is kind of cool. Then I got to thinking about another captain. Don Mattingly was constantly presenting himself as a leader both on and off the field, much like Derek Jeter and Lou Gehrig and all the others on this list. I was curious... I needed to find out if Donnie Baseball ever won... I mean, the award may not be something that’s very popular, but there is no doubt it’s important and special. So I searched the list. I noticed something interesting... Mattingly did win... in 1993. Nice. Strangely, I was relieved.

Don Mattingly is by far one of the most iconic Yankees ever. Sure, Derek Jeter is just as iconic to us, and Jeet’s won a ton of championships and awards. But Mattingly didn’t, in fact, the poor guy’s career was cut short, and he never won a championship, yet his numbers are there.

.307 / 222 HR / .358 OBP / .471 SLG / 2153 H / .83o OPS in 14 Seasons

One thing I told my kids of Derek Jeter is he’ll make it into the Hall of Fame. When they asked me about Don Mattingly, well, in my heart, I believe he deserves it...somehow. He did it naturally, he did it hard and he did it with true heart and leadership, but the real answer is, I just don't know how they will vote for Mattingly down the road. I feel like he’s been overshadowed and he never won a championsip. I believe deep in my heart, the committee looks at that too, as well as his numbers. Maybe one day though, in my lifetime, maybe because of this PEDs controversey, Don Mattingly will rise in the ranks of eligible ballplayers that could be voted into the Hall of Fame. Maybe one year, the committee will look at the list of guys and say “You know what? Donnie did it like a throwback. Donnie’s got good numbers. No, he didn’t play 20 years, but he played long enough to prove to everyone that he loved this game and respected it." Maybe then, he’ll get voted in. Maybe then, they'll start to give him a long, hard look. (Wait... how the hell did get here from the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award? Ok, let me get back on track. See... my mind wonders.)

Back to Derek. Oddly, Derek Jeter and Don Mattingly remind me of each other, yet their paths are totally different. It’s funny how my mind works when it comes to my Yankees. I guess I’m just smitten by the Yankee greats. Anyway, enough with my rant. Congrats Derek, way to go pal.

Please comment, we have DISQUS, it's easier than ever. Let me know what you think and follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and look for the hashtag #BYB. Also, join the group Bleeding Yankee Blue on Facebook, just type it in.