YANKEE STADIUM & THE THEME FROM NEW YORK, NEW YORK

The tradition of playing Frank Sinatra's "New York, New York" at Yankee Stadium has a storied history that dates back to the 80s. This practice has become an iconic part of the Yankee game-day experience, but it has evolved over the years.

So yes, the tradition began in the early 1980s. Initially, the Yankees played "New York, New York" by Frank Sinatra after victories and Liza Minnelli's version of the same song after losses. This started around 1980 or 1983, although the exact start year is somewhat ambiguous due to varying reports.

• Frank Sinatra's Version: Played after Yankees victories. Sinatra's rendition is more widely recognized and beloved, and it embodies the spirit and swagger of New York City, which aligns well with the image of the Yankees.

• Liza Minnelli's Version: Played after Yankees losses. While also a well-known rendition, it carries a different emotional tone and was intended to reflect a more somber mood appropriate for a loss.

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A Change to Consistency: Playing Sinatra's Version Only

In 1996, the Yankees decided to streamline their post-game tradition by playing only Frank Sinatra's version of "New York, New York" regardless of the game's outcome. This change was made for several reasons:

1. Fan Preference: Sinatra's version was significantly more popular with the fans. The energy and association with Sinatra's rendition were more uplifting and resonated better with the audience.

2. Branding and Consistency: The Yankees aimed for a more consistent and unified post-game experience, enhancing the brand and the overall atmosphere of Yankee Stadium. Sinatra's version fit this vision better, regardless of whether the game ended in a win or a loss.

3. Simplicity: Having a single version of the song simplified the post-game routine and became a predictable and beloved tradition for fans, reinforcing the connection between the Yankees and the iconic song.

Cultural Impact

Playing "New York, New York" by Frank Sinatra at the end of Yankee games has since become one of the most recognizable traditions in Major League Baseball. It not only celebrates the city but also ties the team's identity to a timeless piece of music that epitomizes the grandeur and resilience of New York City.

While the practice began with alternating versions of the song depending on the game's outcome, the Yankees' decision in 1996 to exclusively use Sinatra's version helped solidify a tradition that continues to be a cherished part of the Yankee Stadium experience.

--Alvin Izzo
BYB Yankee History Contributor

THE PINSTRIPES ARE HEAVY

Source: AP

While listening to the Yankee game on Tuesday night in the car, Suzyn Waldman said that Reggie Jackson felt that the wearing the "Pinstripes were heavy." I was so taken aback by that comment and even a bit curious. How could Mr. October feel that way? He is Reggie Jackson after all. I dug deeper and came across an interview with Jackson back in 1977 which was reprinted in Yankees Magazine in 2017. "I've always needed support and needed people to like me or care about me, and when I was in New York, I had tremendous fan support. The first couple of months were tough, but once people got to know me, it worked out pretty well." The Pinstripes are indeed heavy for the new players on this Yankee team; sometimes I forget how the pressure of playing for the best franchise in all of sports can impact you. 

Source: The New York Yankees

With the number of new players coming from hometowns and other teams across the country, it is hard to adjust to the New York City lifestyle and the demands of playing for the Yankees. If Reggie felt the pressure, of course Joey Gallo, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, and even veteran Josh Donaldson need time to adjust to the new team in a big city where fans can be very unforgiving.

"When the focus and the demand for excellence increased or the need was there, I was able to concentrate and get things done," said Jackson. He also said he had to demonstrate that he was worth the big contract he was given, which added more pressure. After reading that part of his interview my mind went to Gerrit Cole, who has been dealing with his own anxieties, and is struggling to keep his emotions in check while he focuses on his craft and owning his role as the Yankee ace.

"Cole pitched to a 6.35 ERA in his first three starts and was knocked out after 1 2/3 innings on April 19 in Detroit after walking five and running up a pitch count of 68. Five days later, he blanked the Guardians on four hits while striking out nine and walking one before leaving with two outs in the seventh innings," reported NJ.com. 

I grew up in New York City. I took public transportation, a city bus, to school through my elementary and high school years. I am used to traffic, noise, riff raff, arguments in the street, homelessness and criticism. Friends of mine from places outside the city were shocked coming to New York for the first time. It was a culture shock. But they did not have to perform on the biggest stage in all of baseball. And these guys from small towns, and small market teams have to pivot and adjust when transitioning to the Yankees. Anthony Rizzo is an exception—he brought the first World Series to Chicago since 1908 in helping his team win the 2016 championship. The pressure is there in Chicago. His only setback when coming to the team late last season was Covid. 

Bottom line, there is so much emotion and discomfort when you are traded to a new team. You have to be onboarded, quickly and absorb the culture of your new clubhouse and then perform and prove that you are meant to be here. It has to be hard. I know Frank Sinatra says, "If you can make it there, you can make it anywhere." He was right, it is true. So the takeaway for this post today is that I have empathy for guys that come to New York from other teams. And I am going to be more patient with them as they adjust. The Pinstripes are heavy but the weight is worth it because you are a New York Yankee—a member of the greatest franchise in the best city in the world. 

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Senior Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

NO ONE DOES THE YANKEES BETTER THAN PETE CALDERA

Writing a blog always seems to have this “rogue” stigma attached to it.  I’m not sure why, a lot of us try to provide news and information to us readers and it’s laced with opinion.  It’s like the editorial pages of newspapers in a weird way.  The respect factor hasn’t really gone mainstream yet.  I see plenty of limited conversation between the writers and bloggers, but slowly it’s spilling over.

As you may or may not know. there are certain writers that I respect and always have because they provide news that I can bet on, not literally, but put it this way, when they write it, I trust it.  Guys I read constantly are Marc Carig of the Star Ledger, Ken Davidoff of the New York Post, Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe, and my man, Pete Caldera of the Bergen Record and by the way, part time crooner as well. More on that in a moment.  Bottom line though,  I know what I’m getting when I read them and hopefully you guys feel the same way.  So, once again, I needed to pick someone’s brain, and in this case it was Pete Caldera…enjoy this, I did.

BYB: OK, So before I tell you how much I love reading you in the Bergen Record, I need to know about the singing part of Pete Caldera (Click HERE.) How did singing become part of your life?

Pete Caldera: I'm lucky enough to get to live out two of my passions - baseball and music. I've always been a huge Frank Sinatra fan, and a fan of the great composers, arrangers and band leaders of the era.  The singing part really began in 2000, when I covered my first Yankees spring training for another newspaper;  we'd invariably find ourselves at the piano bar in a Tampa restaurant called Donatello, and it grew from there. 

BYB: I read you, Marc Carig of the Star Ledger and Ken Davidoff of the New York Post religiously.  You guys handle the Yankees better than anyone.  Please tell me how you got involved in being the beat writer for the Yankees?

Pete Caldera: I was hired by the Record to cover the Mets in the summer of 2000. At the time, Ken Davidoff was the Yankees' beat writer for the Record. After Ken left for Newsday, we had three different writers come and go on the Yankee beat before I switched over in the summer of 2003.

BYB: Right now, in that Yankee Clubhouse, who's the hardest Yankee to approach/read and why? Who is the easiest?

Pete Caldera: This is an excellent clubhouse today, a professional place with good personalties and a mutual respect for the business.  Players such as Russell Martin, Curtis Granderson, Nick Swisher, Raul Ibanez, Mark Teixeira, PhilHughes - to name a few - are routinely thoughtful and engaging.  Mariano Rivera is a gentleman in every sense.  At times it could be difficult to read Alex Rodriguez's mood, but he seems to have made an effort to be more available this season.

BYB: What's your opinion on how the Yankees handled Francisco Cervelli.  I felt like it was unfair to play him all Spring just to send him down and sign Chris Stewart. Why am I wrong?

Pete Caldera:  At the time, I thought it was a tough deal, too.  Plus, Cervelli had a pretty good spring and you could see how blindsided he was by the whole thing. You felt for him, naturally, because he's a nice guy and a pro.  But the club had its reasons, they knew something about how Chris Stewart could help, and it's hard to argue the move based on how it turned out. At the end of the day, as they say, it was a baseball decision.

BYB: Growing up, if you had to pick 1 baseball player, Yankee or non-Yankee, who was your idol and why?

Pete Caldera: Tom Seaver was my favorite player. I grew up a huge Mets fan and I was devastated when he was traded to the Reds in '77 (even though my grandfathers, both of whom read Dick Young, warned me it could happen.)  I was also crushed when the Mets traded Tug McGraw and Rusty Staub. I tried to copy Seaver's delivery, but I couldn't get my right knee to touch the mound like him. I also couldn't throw very hard and knew enough about my limitations to never have tried out for my high school team. (I couldn't hit either). But No. 41 was my idol.

BYB: It is my opinion Alex Rodriguez was signed long term because he was the only one at the time with a shot to bring the All-Time home run title back to the Bronx after Barry Bonds became the leader.  Does that theory makes sense to you?  Tell me if I'm way off.

Pete Caldera: Though there is a marketing angle linked to ARod's pursuit of the All-Time Home run record, I don't think ownership was also thinking in terms of a Yankee finally reclaiming what Ruth lost in 1974. Even with the opt-out fiasco, Rodriguez had the fortunate timing of coming off a monster season, with Hank Steinbrenner commanding the stage.

BYB: OK...you walk in the Yankee clubhouse, you see both Rafael Soriano and Nick Swisher at their lockers. Who's most likely the one singing?

Pete Caldera: I've heard Swisher sing. I've never heard Soriano sing.

BYB: How is the clubhouse energy now that Andy Pettitte is back?

Pete Caldera:  Mostly, what you see is the energy in Pettitte, who is just so thrilled to be back pitching and hanging around again with old friends and teammates he admires. He seems to be enjoying every minute of his time back, savoring it even.  And the players and personnel around the club seem to be equally excited by his presence. And, of course, it doesn't appear that he's lost anything from that year away.

BYB:  You've done so much surrounding the New York Yankees, would you ever consider writing a book?

Pete Caldera: Sure! Publishers, you can reach me at ....

BYB: Do you ever read Bleeding Yankee Blue on that slim chance you need a laugh at a fan’s opinion? If so,what do you think?

Pete Caldera: I've clicked to your links on Twitter (and thanks very much for linking to some of my stories, I really appreciate it). Hey, this is baseball and we've all got strong opinions because we're passionate about it. I hear them from the doorman as I head out to the ballpark each afternoon, and hear them from my friends in the saloons at night. I love talking about baseball. I love the debates.

Pete Caldera, I thank you for your time.  You are the man, keep it up bro!

Pete, thanks for taking the time. I hope everyone who read this interview enjoyed it... hey Marc Carig, I'm coming after you next!