WHERE IS THE 'REAL' HOME PLATE?

What if home plate, from the original Yankees stadium, never made it over to the stadium they use now when the team moved across the street in 2009? What if the location of the original Home Plate is a complete mystery?

A few days ago I got a message from Casey asking if I could do some investigating. Apparently there is a discussion going on about the whereabouts of the "real" home plate. Several people seem to think that it stayed at Heritage field. 

To begin, I have to say that I am truly skeptical that the Yankees, a team that prides themselves in its rich history, would leave such an iconic part of the stadium behind. It seems more like the kind of thing they would take with them. If not for continued usage, then for display at the Yankee Museum. The museum has just about everything else on display, including Thurman Munson's locker, every World Series pocket watch and ring, jerseys, hats, and an entire wall of signed baseball by nearly every Yankee to have ever played. It's a beautiful place for fans to visit, and the most likely place for home plate to end up. 

You also have to consider some facts about Heritage field. For starters, the baseball field consist of three diamonds. When discussing location of the original home plate in relation to the new field, home plate would have been where second base is on the field closest to the corner of River Ave, and 161st St. Usually, when a stadium moves from one location to another, a plaque is left behind at the site of home plate to commemorate it. That seems unlikely in this case given that it would interfere with any game played on that field. The same is true for the actual home plate.

Of course you could argue that it's not on the field, but in the area around it. The walk around Heritage field is known as Ruppert Plaza, named after Jacob Ruppert, past owner of the Yankees. 

If you walk around the baseball fields, you'll occasionally see tiles with some fun Yankees facts. There is also the Lou Gehrig quote wall, as well as a decorative bench. It really is a nice little walk to take. Full of Yankees history, but no sign of the Yankees original Home Plate. Of course, I will just assume that is because the other objects are permanently placed, where home plate would be easily removed by anyone. But it's not there. No sign of it at all. The question is, where is it? What happened to the real home plate?

Well, home plate seems to be at Yankee stadium. In November of 2008, Scott Brosius, Paul O'Neill, David Cone, Jeff Nelson and the 1998 World Championship Team, were joined by a group of kids from a Bronx Youth group and dug up home plate and the pitching rubber from the old stadium, and transported them over to the "new" stadium, along with some dirt from the House that Ruth Built (HERE). 

So, there you have it, folks! The REAL home plate, is in fact at home at Yankee Stadium. Makes sense, if you ask me. Again, the Yankees pride themselves in the rich history. Leaving such iconic pieces of the stadium behind is not in the Yankees character. So the next time you're at the stadium, rest assured that a little piece of the old stadium is there with you. 

--Erica Morales 

BYB Senior Writer 
Twitter: @e_morales1804

REMEMBERING & HONORING THE BOSS

The New York Yankees have had many great owners. Jacob Ruppert, for example, truly made the Yankees THE Yankees. His era started in 1915, when he bought the Yankees for less than half a million. During his time, Babe Ruth was bought from the Boston Red Sox, Yankee Stadium was built, and the Yankees won seven World Series Championships. Ruppert is possibly one of the most important predecessors of another iconic owner, George Steinbrenner.

In 1973, Steinbrenner bought the Yankees for $10 million. He quickly began stirring up the MLB, by signing free-agents to high priced contracts, Catfish Hunter, and Reggie Jackson among them. This resulted in back-to-back World Series wins in 1977, and 1978.

The Boss was very controlling, and had one clear mission... winning! In 1998, he was quoted as saying  "Winning is the most important thing to me, after breathing. Breathing first, and then winning." He adapted a very no nonsense attitude about the way the organization should be run. Changing everything from grooming etiquette rules, to managers. In fact, managers changed 19 times between 1973 to 1990. This helped create the powerhouse that is the Yankees now.

Steinbrenner was all business. If something was wrong, he'd show up in the locker rooms, and address it with the team himself. It wasn't win, or lose with him. It was do, or die. He made the team grind out hard, or else. There was no room for excuses for a poor performance. After his passing in 2010, Paul O'Neill wrote an article about him in the New York Daily News. In it he says:

"There was definitely a reverence for him. You respected the man, what he had done for the organization. I loved his intensity, the way he wanted to win as mush as the team did."

I personally loved The Boss. With his first few years in ownership, and his suspensions from baseball, I don't think that he received nearly as much credit, and respect as he should have. Not until much later in his life. People gave him credit for the Bronx Zoo era, but none really saw what genius it really was. Reggie in pinstripes was an incredible move. But all people saw was the love/hate relationship between Steinbrenner, and his managers and players. He wanted a World Series Championship every season. He didn't care if it seemed unrealistic to some, he wanted that for his team; for New York City.

I won't take anything away from Yankees owners of the past, but The Boss is in a league of his own. His passion, and drive to make this team the legendary icon it is today, was incredible. If you look at all the Yankees legends that have played for him, look at how much heart they had, and how hard they played, it was because The Boss reflected that same passion back onto them.

It's strange what the organization has become since his passing. They are still the Yankees. They still put on that uniform that holds so much history, but it seems like there is something missing. That flicker of light that The Boss brought to the team. The no nonsense attitude, coupled with a complete determination to see the team strive.

George Steinbrenner was once asked how he would like to be remembered. He said "He never stopped trying. That would be good enough for me." I don't know what the future holds for this team. Unfortunately, I'm not clairvoyant, and cannot tell you where we will be this post season. But I do know that The Boss never stopped trying. He never stopped wanting to make the Yankees organization better. He wanted the Yankees to live up to the legend. And, because of him, they have. An organization that Ruppert bought for less than half a million, is now worth more that $1.5 billion.

Happiest of birthdays, Mr. Steinbrenner. Your memory, and legend live on with the greatest of Yankees.

--Erica Morales BYB Senior Writer
@e_morales1804

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HALL OF FAME BLAH: NO ONE ELECTED IN

The frame grab above is from the film History of the World Part I.  It's a Mel Brooks flick that was way ahead of it's time in the world of comedy.  But I sit here today starring at the "Nothing" sign in the guy's cart and I think about the writers, the voting and the Baseball Hall of Fame and how this is the first time since 1996 that no player was voted in.  Shocking? Not really. If you really think about it, the PEDs situation has really mucked things up.  It's clear these writers are struggling with how to vote for these guys. It's become an issue.  Don't believe me? You should have seen Bob Costas and the gang on the MLB Network today.  Alot of head scratching.  Very interesting.

(In Photo: Jacob Ruppert)
Now, that being said, the Hall of Fame will induct 3 new members in this summer, Umpire Hank O'Day, catch Deacon White and owner Jacob Ruppert.  As the New York Times (HERE) puts it, "All three died in the 1930s and were voted in by the veterans committee in December. As a result, baseball will hold its annual Hall of Fame ceremony next July in an awkward context — without a single living honoree on stage."

Craig Biggio received 388 votes today and he was on top, but it wasn't enough. When it came to guys like Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens, Bonds was on 36.2% of the ballots and Clemens has 37.6%.

It's a weird day.  I always get psyched watching the guys who we watched as kids get voted in.  I, of course have been preaching about how much I'd love to see Pete Rose get inducted. 

It's time. He's paid his dues, he's taken his lumps and when he played the game, he played harder than anyone I ever saw.  Read ENOUGH'S ENOUGH. TIME FOR PETE ROSE TO GO TO COOPERSTOWN for my opinion on that.

(In Photo: Lou Brock 1985)
Last year I loved seeing Barry Larkin standing up there and years ago as a kid, I was lucky enough to be at the Hall of Fame when Lou Brock was inducted. I honestly thought Craig Biggio would have been voted in.  He wasn't. I was surprised. Again... seeing these players get voted in is always a thrill.  But not today.  Today, the Hall of Fame elected Nothing, no one and it's an odd day.

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