OLD TIMERS’ DAY: WHEN BEING A YANKEE ACTUALLY MEANT SOMETHING

There is something about Old-Timers’ Day at Yankee Stadium that gets me every single time. Maybe it’s the uniforms, maybe it’s hearing those familiar names announced again, or maybe it’s watching men who once seemed larger than life walk onto the field a little slower, carrying a few extra pounds and a lot more gray hair, while your brain stubbornly remembers them exactly as they were. Whatever it is, the day has a way of getting inside you. And maybe Old-Timers’ Day hits even harder now because it reminds us of something the current Yankees organization seems to have forgotten: being a Yankee used to mean you earned something.

Old-Timers’ Day has always been baseball’s version of a family reunion, and nobody does baseball history quite like the Yankees. The tradition connects generations, reaching all the way back to the emotional days surrounding Lou Gehrig’s farewell in 1939. Over time, it became something uniquely Yankee. The history of this franchise isn’t locked away in a museum or confined to grainy old film clips. Once a year, some of that history actually walks back onto the field, waves to the crowd and reminds you exactly why you fell in love with baseball in the first place.

There was a time when Mickey Mantle and Joe DiMaggio were the final two Yankees introduced. Think about that for a second. The Mick and Joe D. Eventually, that honor belonged to Whitey Ford and Yogi Berra. There were also those wonderful years when Phil Rizzuto and Bobby Murcer weren’t simply former Yankees returning for a ceremony; they were broadcasters who would put the pinstripes back on, wander onto the field and somehow make you believe that nothing had really changed. Of course, everything had changed. That's the cruel little trick baseball plays on us. It moves slowly when we're watching it and unbelievably fast when we look backward.

And now we're apparently living in a world where Andy Pettitte, Jorge Posada and Mariano Rivera qualify as old-timers. Are you kidding me? I watched these guys play. I remember Pettitte peeking over his glove, Posada grinding through at-bats and the opening notes of “Enter Sandman” telling everybody in Yankee Stadium that Mariano was about to shut the door. Those guys aren't supposed to be old-timers. They're supposed to be the guys we watched while the old-timers were being introduced. Yet here we are. That happened pretty damn fast, didn't it?

My guys will always be the Ron Guidrys of the world because that was my generation. Louisiana Lightning was one of those Yankees who made baseball feel magical to me. But that is also the beauty of Old-Timers’ Day: everybody has their guys. Your father had his, you have yours, and your kids will eventually have theirs. If we're lucky enough, someday the players our children worship today will walk onto that same field with gray hair while our kids sit in the stands wondering where 30 years went.

Chris Chambliss

That's baseball. It gets handed down. Father to son, mother to daughter, grandfather to grandson. Families once gathered around radios, then televisions, and now they're watching games on phones and tablets. The technology changes, but the conversations don't. We still complain about umpires, argue about managers, second-guess pitching changes and somehow convince ourselves every April that this could finally be the year. Baseball will break your heart one night and give you a memory you'll carry for the rest of your life the next afternoon. That's the deal we make with this game, and for some reason we keep coming back.

But Old-Timers’ Day also reminds me of something else, especially when I look at the way the modern Yankees operate. Standards used to matter, and opportunities were earned. Players earned jobs, earned patience and earned the right to stay in the lineup. Accomplishments felt bigger because everybody understood how difficult it was to get there. There wasn't this endless organizational obsession with proving the front office was right about somebody simply because admitting a mistake might make Brian Cashman uncomfortable. If a guy performed, he played. If he didn't, somebody else eventually got his opportunity. It was a remarkably sophisticated baseball philosophy known as playing the guys who deserved to play. Maybe Aaron Boone needs somebody from analytics to build him a PowerPoint presentation explaining it.

That's what makes Old-Timers’ Day such an interesting contrast to the current Yankees. Look at the men walking onto that field and think about what many of them represented. Toughness, accountability, pride and an understanding that wearing pinstripes didn't automatically make you special. Winning in them did. Producing when the pressure was greatest did. Earning the respect of Yankee fans did.

Today, the organization too often seems to want the uniform itself to provide the credibility. We hear about process, underlying numbers and quality at-bats. Somebody goes 0-for-4 and Boone tells us there were some “really good swings” in there. A player struggles for months and we're assured he's “really close.” The Yankees lose a brutal game and we're told there were still “a lot of good things” happening. Great. Put it on a plaque and hang it next to the championship banners: 2026 New York Yankees — A Lot of Good Things Happened.

The Yankees of previous generations didn't build this franchise on encouraging postgame press conferences. They built it on results. Ron Guidry didn't need the organization explaining why you weren't actually seeing what you thought you were seeing. Mariano Rivera didn't require a spreadsheet to convince anybody he was dominant. Derek Jeter didn't need three years of excuses and organizational spin. Bernie Williams didn't need Brian Cashman appearing in front of reporters to explain that some internal metric suggested Bernie was secretly playing terrific baseball. Those guys played, they produced, and they earned their place.

That's why these old Yankees mean something to us. They aren't simply names on Baseball Reference or numbers printed on the back of throwback jerseys. They're memories. They're summers and October nights. They're your father screaming at the television. They're your grandfather telling you for the 900th time that baseball was better when he was young. You rolled your eyes at him then, and eventually you got older and started telling the same damn stories yourself. Funny how that works.

Saturday also brought one of those moments that reminds us Old-Timers’ Day isn't simply about nostalgia and applause. Sometimes it's about saying goodbye. Tommy John couldn't be there. At 83 years old and dealing with serious health problems in recent years, John sent an emotional message to the Yankees thanking the organization, the Steinbrenner family and the fans who followed him throughout his remarkable 26-year career. He also remembered Dr. Frank Jobe, the surgeon forever connected to the operation that saved John's career and eventually changed the sport.

John thanked the Yankees for giving him an opportunity to say goodbye to everyone, and those words are difficult to hear without feeling something. Forget wins, losses and statistics for a moment. Forget Cashman and Boone. This was an 83-year-old man looking back at an extraordinary baseball life and thanking the people who shared some part of the journey with him. We throw around the phrase “Tommy John surgery” so casually now that sometimes we forget Tommy John is actually a person. He was a pitcher, a Yankee and a man whose willingness to attempt something radical with Dr. Jobe more than 50 years ago ultimately helped thousands of pitchers who came after him.

That's the part of Old-Timers’ Day that matters most. For all the championships and famous names, baseball ultimately comes back to people. It comes back to family, memory and the people sitting next to you while you're watching the game. That's why you can remember a random Yankee game from 40 years ago and also remember exactly where you were, who was sitting beside you and what your father said when somebody hit the home run. Baseball somehow attaches itself to our lives that way.

Maybe that's also why Old-Timers’ Day feels even more important today, because the modern Yankees sometimes seem determined to convince everybody that baseball has become impossibly complicated. It really isn't. Play hard. Perform. Earn your opportunity. Win. And understand what the uniform represents. George Steinbrenner certainly had his faults—and there were plenty—but there was never any confusion about the expectation. Winning mattered to him. Losing bothered him. Failure wasn't endlessly repackaged as progress.

That's one of my biggest problems with this current organization. Sometimes I watch the Yankees and wonder whether losing actually bothers anybody in charge anymore. A terrible loss happens and Boone walks into the press conference sounding like the team just completed a successful corporate retreat. Cashman periodically emerges to explain why the roster he constructed isn't really the problem, and fans are expected to accept it because apparently expecting the New York Yankees to behave like the New York Yankees has somehow become unreasonable.

Then Old-Timers’ Day arrives, and for a few hours all that garbage disappears. 

Guidry walks onto the field. Pettitte comes out. Matsui and Posada appear. Mariano waves to the crowd. You hear the applause and suddenly remember what this franchise is supposed to feel like. There was pride attached to those pinstripes. There were standards. There was accountability. There was an understanding that playing for the Yankees wasn't the accomplishment; what you did while wearing the uniform was the accomplishment.

Baseball has changed tremendously. Some of those changes have made the game better, and some absolutely have not. But Old-Timers’ Day cuts through all of it. For a few hours, nobody cares about exit velocity, launch angle or whatever obscure metric the Yankees have decided explains why the guy hitting .210 is actually doing a fantastic job. Nobody needs Brian Cashman to explain the roster, and nobody needs Aaron Boone to tell us somebody put together a few good swings.

Instead, you hear a familiar name announced over the Yankee Stadium speakers and suddenly you're 12 years old again. For me, Guidry is dealing. Reggie is coming up with runners on base. For somebody a little younger, Pettitte is staring over his glove, Posada is digging into the box and Mariano is making that walk from the bullpen. Somebody younger still will have an entirely different group of Yankees that takes them back.

That's the whole point.

Baseball isn't really measured in innings, WAR, exit velocity or championship rings. In the end, it's measured in memories and the people with whom you shared them. Old-Timers’ Day gives us a few wonderful hours when those memories come walking back onto the field. It reminds us where we've been, who we watched with our fathers and who we'll eventually tell our children about.

And maybe, just maybe, while all those old Yankees are standing out there, the people currently running this franchise should take a good look at them.

Because those pinstripes didn't become famous because everybody was comfortable. They didn't become famous because the manager protected everybody from criticism or because the general manager refused to admit when his plan wasn't working. They became famous because generations of players understood that getting to Yankee Stadium wasn't the finish line.

You had to earn what came next.

That's what made those players Yankees.

That's what made the achievements worth celebrating.

And that's why, every Old-Timers’ Day, seeing those guys come home still means so damn much.

DID YOU KNOW THE YANKEES INTERLOCKING NY WASN'T ORIGINAL TO THE YANKEES?

There are certain symbols in sports that have become larger than the teams that wear them. The New York Yankees' interlocking "NY" is one of those icons. It's recognized around the globe, worn by celebrities, tourists, die-hard baseball fans, and people who have never watched a single inning of baseball. But here's a question that might surprise even the most knowledgeable Yankees fan:

Did you know the Yankees weren't the original organization to use the famous interlocking "NY" design?

That's right.

Long before Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio or Derek Jeterever wore it, the now-famous emblem had an entirely different purpose—one rooted in courage, sacrifice, and New York City history.

It started with heroism. The story begins in 1877, when legendary jeweler Louis Comfort Tiffany of Tiffany & Co. designed a New York City Police Department Medal of Valor.

The medal featured the now-famous interlocking "N" and "Y" as part of its elegant design. It wasn't intended to become a sports logo. It was created to honor extraordinary bravery among New York's finest.

One of the earliest recipients was Officer John McDowell, remembered as the first New York City police officer shot in the line of duty. The medal became one of the NYPD's highest honors, symbolizing courage, commitment, and service to the city.

Think about that for a second. One of the most recognizable logos in sports actually began as a tribute to heroes.

Enter "Big Bill" Devery. Years later, Yankees co-owner William "Big Bill" Devery entered the picture.

Before becoming involved in baseball, Devery served as the Chief of the New York City Police Department, making him very familiar with the Medal of Valor and its distinctive interlocking design.

When the American League franchise relocated from Baltimore and became the New York Highlanders in 1903, the club was still searching for an identity that represented New York itself. In 1905, the Highlanders experimented with an interlocking "NY" on parts of their uniforms. It wasn't yet the polished emblem fans recognize today, but it planted the seed.

By 1909, the organization officially adopted a refined version of the Tiffany-inspired interlocking "NY" for its caps and uniform sleeves.

The rest, as they say, is history. Over the next century, the interlocking "NY" became synonymous with excellence.

It witnessed:

• 27 World Series championships.
• Legends from Ruth to Gehrig.
• The DiMaggio era.
• Mantle's switch-hitting greatness.
• Reggie's October heroics.
• The Core Four dynasty.
• Aaron Judge carrying the franchise into a new generation.

But despite everything the logo has come to represent in baseball, its origins remain tied to something much deeper than wins and championships.

It began with public service. It began with bravery. It began with New York City.

And let me go further. Many newer fans also don't realize that the Yankees weren't always called the Yankees.

The franchise actually began as the Baltimore Orioles of the American League in 1901—not to be confused with today's Orioles franchise. Financial problems forced the club to relocate to New York in 1903, where it became the New York Highlanders, named in part because their ballpark sat atop one of Manhattan's highest points in Washington Heights.

The nickname "Yankees" slowly gained popularity through newspaper headlines because it fit more easily than "Highlanders." By 1913, after moving into the Polo Grounds, "Yankees" had become the club's official identity.

The famous interlocking "NY," however, had already become part of the team's visual identity years earlier.  While the interlocking "NY" became timeless, it wasn't the organization's only historic logo.

The Yankees' second official logo introduced the now-famous image of Uncle Sam's top hat resting on a baseball bat inside a baseball, complete with stars and patriotic imagery. That design evolved over the decades into the club's primary corporate logo and remains one of baseball's most recognizable marks, even though the interlocking "NY" continues to be the symbol players wear on the field.

It's fitting, really. One logo represents America. The other represents New York. Together, they've become inseparable from Yankees history.

It's amazing how many fans wear the interlocking "NY" every single day without knowing its remarkable backstory. What began in 1877 as Louis Tiffany's elegant Medal of Valor honoring courageous New York police officers eventually became the emblem of the most successful franchise in baseball history.

The Yankees didn't invent the design. They immortalized it. And maybe that's the coolest part of the story. Sometimes the greatest symbols aren't created for sports at all.

Sometimes they're born from history, courage, and the spirit of a city—and the Yankees were fortunate enough to carry that legacy onto the baseball field for more than a century.

That's baseball history worth remembering.

--Alvin Izzo
BYB Yankee History Contributor

YANKS IN FREE FALL & BOONE KEEPS HANDING OUT FREE OUTS

Oh my. How this Yankee Franchise has changed. Mediocrity leads the day. The New York Yankees have officially gone from first-place powerhouse to baseball's biggest mess.

Sunday's 7-3 loss to the Detroit Tigers extended the Yankees' losing streak to five games. It wasn't just another defeat—it was the latest chapter in an ugly collapse that included a four-game sweep at the hands of the Boston Red Sox and an offensive drought unlike anything in franchise history.

For the first time ever, the Yankees have been held to three hits or fewer in four consecutive games.

Think about that.

This is the franchise of Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, and Derek Jeter. And this version of the Yankees is making history for all the wrong reasons.

The offense has completely disappeared. Ben Rice, who carried the lineup for stretches earlier this season, is batting a miserable .103 over his last 10 games. Cody Bellinger has gone ice cold as well, leaving enormous holes in the middle of the order.  But let's be clear, for these guys, they have just reached a temporary cold stretch but have been consistently hot all year.  The others? Guys like Wells, guys like Volpe are handed the keys to their positions and don't deserve to be there.  THEY HAVE NOTHING TO SHOW FOR THE SEASON.  That's where handing automatic outs to the opponent stings most for the fans. That's on Boone.

The catching position has become a black hole. Austin Wells is hitting just .157, and Yankees catchers own an MLB-worst .264 slugging percentage. That's not just bad production—it's practically automatic outs. That's the fault of the front office.

The pitching hasn't helped either. Carlos Rodón and Gerrit Cole have had inefficient outings that have forced the bullpen to absorb too many innings. The relievers, who were brought in to lock down games, have instead delivered crushing losses, including Sunday's devastating 10-inning walk-off defeat against Boston.

But if we're talking about giving away outs, nobody embodies the Yankees' problems more than Anthony Volpe. At what point do we stop pretending this isn't a major issue? Over the Yankees' last five games, Volpe is hitting .059.

That's one hit in 17 at-bats.

One. His game log reads like a horror movie:

• June 24 at Detroit: 0-for-4, one strikeout
• June 25 at Boston: 0-for-3, one walk, two strikeouts
• June 26 at Boston: 1-for-3, one double, one run, two strikeouts
• June 27 at Boston: 0-for-3
• June 28 at Boston: 0-for-1, one walk, one run after being benched
• June 29 vs. Detroit: 0-for-3

No home runs. No RBIs. One hit.

Yet every day, Aaron Boone pencils him right back into the lineup.

How many times do fans need to watch the same movie before admitting the ending isn't changing? You cannot win baseball games by giving away outs. Every time Volpe steps into the batter's box right now, opposing pitchers get a breather. In the middle of a historic offensive slump, the Yankees simply cannot afford passengers in the lineup.

This is where managing is supposed to matter. When a team is healthy and Aaron Judge is launching baseballs into orbit, almost any manager can sit back and let talent carry the day. But when injuries pile up and the offense disappears, that's when managers earn their paychecks.

Winning ugly requires adjustments. It requires accountability. It requires putting the best possible lineup on the field. Boone is not doing that.

Boone has struggled in these situations throughout his managerial tenure because his style is built for cruise control, not crisis management. Even his messaging feels detached from reality. Describing the Yankees' play as merely "not clean" after repeated defensive mistakes and fundamental breakdowns is the definition of fair-weather managing.

This isn't a team making one or two errors. This is a team forgetting how to play winning baseball. The defense has been sloppy. The offense has vanished. The fundamentals are deteriorating. And the response from the manager has largely been to stay the course.

Fans deserve better than this. The Yankees are supposed to be baseball's gold standard. They're supposed to be elite. Ruth. DiMaggio. Mantle. Jeter.

Instead, they look like a team more interested in padding Aaron Boone's regular-season managerial win total than fixing the glaring problems that are dragging them into the abyss.

Right now, the Yankees aren't contenders. They're a team in a full-blown free fall. And unless something changes soon, this historic slump may be remembered as the moment an elite season completely unraveled.

BOONE'S OBSESSION IS ALARMING

What drives me insane isn’t even Anthony Volpe anymore — it’s Aaron Boone’s bizarre obsession with him. At this point, Boone doesn’t manage Volpe like a ballplayer. He manages him like a fragile family heirloom that belongs in a glass case. Every slump gets explained away. Every mistake gets defended like it’s a Supreme Court case. Every decent week gets treated like Volpe just carried the Yankees on his back through October. It's May.

Meanwhile, every other young player in the organization has to survive a firing squad just to get one consistent opportunity.

Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa absolutely nailed it when she wrote about Boone pretending he’s “unsure” whether Jose Caballero should get the shortstop job back when he returns. HERE. Boone’s little “we’ll see” act is insulting at this point. We all know what that means: “I’m gonna do everything possible to keep my favorite in the lineup.”

Because with Boone, Volpe never actually has to lose his job. Everybody else does.

Caballero earned the role. Period. This isn’t complicated. The guy is better than Volpe, brought more energy, made more things happen offensively, and looked like an actual sparkplug instead of a project the Yankees marketing department keeps trying to convince us is a superstar.

But Volpe has one nice stretch and suddenly Boone starts sounding like a proud parent at a middle school awards ceremony.  And that’s the problem. Boone babies Volpe.

Volpe finally plays decent baseball for a week and Boone reacts like he just watched Mickey Mantle reincarnate. No, Aaron — he’s doing what a Major League shortstop is supposed to do. That's meeting expectations, bub. That’s not greatness. That’s competence. There’s a difference.

Consistency is expected in the majors. It’s not some magical achievement worthy of nonstop praise. Caballero runs more aggressively, impacts games more consistently, strikes out less, and frankly looks hungrier. But Volpe gets infinite patience because Boone is emotionally attached to the idea of him.

And Boone’s constant defending of Volpe is exhausting. The stolen base challenge last night was the perfect example.

Volpe was caught stealing to end the fourth, and the call was confirmed after the Yankees challenged

Aaron Boone did not agree pic.twitter.com/JENCL36F09

— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) May 20, 2026

 Volpe was called out. They challenged it, still out, sometimes that's baseball. Sometimes you don't get the call. Sometimes you don't get what you want in life. Are you listening Boone? Volpe? Sometimes you have to earn stuff and sometimes you get bad breaks. That's life.  move on. But Boone's a crybaby when it comes to Volpe. He immediately jumped into lawyer mode because heaven forbid Volpe ever simply loses a play. Boone does this all the time with him. Every failure comes with an excuse attached. Every criticism gets treated like an attack on the family name.

Which honestly explains a lot about Boone himself.  Aaron Boone grew up wrapped in baseball privilege. The Boone name carried weight long before Aaron ever proved anything on a field. His grandfather, father, and brother all had stronger baseball legacies than he did, yet Boone still got years of opportunity because that last name opened doors. This is my opinion and trust me I'm not far off. Outside of one famous homer against Tim Wakefield — a moment Yankees fans romanticize even though the team would go on and lose the World Series anyway — Boone was never some legendary player.

But he was protected. He was coddled. He was given runway other players never get. And now he’s repeating the cycle with Volpe. It's learned behavior.

Boone sees himself in him: the overprotected golden boy who gets chance after chance because the organization is too invested in the image to admit reality. It’s favoritism disguised as “development.”

Meanwhile, players who actually earned opportunities got buried.

Oswald Peraza barely got a fair shake under Boone. Every mistake Peraza made felt career-ending while Volpe could boot balls into the outfield and still get a public pep talk afterward. Now Peraza’s with the Angels hitting over .260 with power because — shockingly — talented young players tend to improve when their manager isn’t sabotaging their confidence every five minutes.

And Oswaldo Cabrera? Another guy Boone jerks around endlessly despite his versatility and steady glove. The Yankees always seem to have room for Volpe’s growing pains, but everybody else gets treated like disposable depth. Cabrera is stuck in the minors.

This whole thing feels manufactured.

Volpe is marketable. He’s the local kid. The clean-cut Yankees shortstop they can slap on billboards and jersey racks. Caballero doesn’t fit the corporate fairy tale, so Boone keeps trying to force-feed fans the idea that Volpe is already a cornerstone superstar instead of what he actually is right now: a young player still trying to prove he belongs.

And the most frustrating part? Boone acts like acknowledging reality is some kind of betrayal.

No, Aaron. Saying Volpe is finally doing his job isn’t “hate.” It’s honesty. A good week doesn’t erase years of inconsistency. It doesn’t mean he’s untouchable. It doesn’t mean other players should lose opportunities they actually earned.

When Friday comes, Caballero should start at shortstop. Not because Volpe is hopeless — but because merit is supposed to matter. Caballero earned the spot with real production: .259 average, .320 OBP, .400 slugging, a .720 OPS, four homers, 13 RBIs, and 13 steals in 41 games.

That should make the decision easy.

But Boone’s judgment around Volpe stopped being objective a long time ago. It’s emotional now. It's creepy. It's weird. It's alarming. That’s what makes this whole thing so forced, and honestly, so unfair.

And deep down, every Yankees fan already knows what’s coming next. Boone will protect his favorite.

Again.

And the same thing will happen. it's a vicious cycle and Boone is stuck in it. And sadly? We all have to suffer.

FOR THE LOVE OF THE YANKEES, A TRUE FAN PERSPECTIVE

Ladies and Gentlemen, a post from a Bleeding Yankee Blue reader, you should all take a look today. Thank you Steve.

To my frustrated fans. Let me introduce myself through my 80 years of Yankee history. I was born and raised in the Bronx. At birth, I was practically swaddled in a Yankee blue blanket. So, it began.

From ages 1-5, I knew little about baseball, but I was heavily influenced by my older cousin to become a Yankee fan — much to the dismay of his younger brother, a diehard Dodger fan. I attended my first Yankee game at age 6 with my father. There in right field was #6, who would ultimately take #7 and move to center field. The Mick. I was hooked on him and the team from that moment on.

Loving the excitement of Yankee baseball, I would attend 20-30 games a year, paying only 25 cents plus my school pass. What excitement those years were under the ownership of Topping and Webb.

Darkness and clouds arrived in 1964 with the purchase of the Yankees by CBS. The team became nothing more than their CASH COW. I persevered and still loved the Yankees, though with annual disappointment.

The clouds finally cleared when George Steinbrenner purchased the team. He was tough on players, but he loved the Yankees. He directed and spent whatever it took to build a championship team. With George’s passing, and the transfer of control to his sons — ultimately to Hal Steinbrenner — the dark clouds slowly began to roll back in.

The first problem with the Yankees, resulting in a non-championship team, is that Hal loves his NYFC and Manchester soccer interests. The Yankees are once again becoming a CASH COW for ownership.

The second problem is Brian Cashman. Yes, his budget is restricted by Hal, but he has lost his eye for young, quality talent and has resorted to band-aid fixes — mainly finding players who are nearly over the hill to fill holes.

The third problem, as most of us see it, is Aaron Boone. He is not a championship-caliber manager. Robert Casey has stated that numerous times on Bleeding Yankee Blue. He lacks natural managerial instinct. He continues to play struggling players simply because he likes them. His bullpen management is often atrocious.

The fourth problem, in my opinion, is scouting. The Yankees are no longer finding enough high-quality talent capable of thriving at the major league level.

Now the time has come to either make or break this year’s team. We need strong right-handed hitters batting .290-.300, especially at third base and shortstop. I am not a fan of Volpe there. We need to find a catcher who is not only solid defensively but also an offensive threat. Clean out the bullpen and get rid of the mediocrity. Find a true closer who can protect a one-run lead in the ninth inning.

We can only hope Boone finally understands both his strengths and his WEAKNESSES and adjusts accordingly. Move away from the automatic lefty/righty obsession. Stay away from algorithm-driven, numbers-only baseball. As a former baseball player myself (non-pro), I know that a left-handed hitter and a right-handed hitter still carry the same strike zone — only the angle changes. There is too much overthinking behind the concept, especially when you bat Goldschmidt for Rice in critical situations.

I hope these improvements are not just a pipe dream before the clouds roll back in once again. A brief break of sunshine appeared when Hal allowed Juan Soto to be signed. At least we were rewarded with a World Series appearance.

If Hal, Cashman, and Boone are not replaced or held accountable, I will once again be crying Yankee Blues.

That's my take. 

--Steve Cohen

THE YANKEES DON'T DESERVE AARON JUDGE

For me, the MVP race this year had the suspense level of a rerun—you know exactly how it ends, and somehow it’s still satisfying. Aaron Judge was the obvious pick to me, the neon-sign choice, the “don’t overthink it” candidate. The guy is the ultimate ballplayer, a human cheat code in pinstripes. Every time he steps onto the field, you’re watching baseball history stretch to 6-foot-7 and casually ruin a pitcher’s evening.

Judge didn’t just prove his value—he practically carved it into the side of Yankee Stadium. 53 home runs, a .331 average, and now his second straight MVP, third overall. At this point, he’s making MVPs look like Starbucks punch cards—collect ten, get your next one free.

And the man just joined Mickey Mantle and Jimmie Foxx as the only players to launch at least 50 homers and win a batting title in the same season. That’s not a club. That’s a museum exhibit. Judge, being Judge, shrugged it off with his usual modesty. “Keep your head down through all 162,” he said, standing beside his family—who, frankly, are probably better at situational hitting than half the roster.

He beat out Cal Raleigh and José Ramírez, earning 17 first-place votes. Raleigh grabbed 13, proving voters do indeed love a good nickname, but even the Big Dumper couldn’t dump Judge off the podium.

Now, here’s where it gets complicated—not for Judge, but for the Yankees. Because while Judge keeps stacking hardware like it’s garage sale season, he’d trade every last award for a championship ring. And who can blame him? The last time the Yankees won a title as a long time ago. Meanhile Aaron Boone is still basking in the glow of that one home run people won’t shut up about against the Red Sox that literally means nothing no. Since Boone became manager? Nothing. Nada. A perfectly curated collection of October heartbreaks.

We’re witnessing a once-in-a-generation talent wasting prime years in a franchise that still thinks “running it back” with a roster of injury-prone bargain-bin specials is a strategy. Cashman keeps promising he’ll bring in impact players, and then what do we get? Another batch of “if-he-stays-healthy” signings—spoiler alert: they never do. It’s like he’s building the team using expired coupons.

So yeah, congrats to Judge. He deserves every ovation, every plaque, every headline. But everyone with a functioning brain knows he’d rather be hoisting a World Series trophy than another MVP. And the saddest part? The Yankees, as currently run, look about as championship-ready as a Little League team running laps for losing their juice boxes.

Judge can do it all—hit, lead, inspire, carry—but he can’t drag an entire front office out of its own delusions. He needs help. Real help. Not “2021 All-Star who’s been hurt ever since” help. Until the Yankees figure that out, the only thing Judge will be lifting in October is his luggage as he heads home early.

So congrats, Captain. Enjoy the MVP. You earned it.

Too bad your organization still hasn’t earned you.

 

COULD BEN RICE BE MOVING POSITIONS?

Look, let’s start with the obvious: Ben Rice is crushing it. The kid’s been everything you’d want in a midseason surprise—a burst of power, steady presence at the plate, and most importantly, someone who took Giancarlo Stanton’s empty DH seat and didn’t just keep it warm, he turned it into a throne.

Through 41 games, Rice has launched nine home runs and is batting .250—not exactly Mickey Mantle reincarnate, but considering he was a depth option a few months ago, the numbers scream one thing: "Keep this guy in the lineup."

And that’s exactly what the Yankees are trying to figure out. Because one day (allegedly) Stanton will rise from the Injured List like a $300 million phoenix, and someone’s got to step aside. But who? The Yankees' offense is humming. Messing with the chemistry now would be like unplugging the toaster while it’s still mid-bagel.

So now there’s chatter—maybe Rice moves to third base? J.C. Escarra, infielder and now apparently part-time rumor mill, hinted that Rice has “the hands” and “the arm strength” to man the hot corner. He told Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News:

“He has the hands, and he definitely has the arm strength to play there. So, you never know.”

Well, we do know this: Ben Rice has never played third base in a big-league game. That’s kind of important. Boone, always the king of cryptic coach-speak, said back on May 19th that Rice had been taking reps at third “for fun,” and warned the press to “not necessarily read anything into it.”

(Translation: Please stop asking about it before we even know what we’re doing.)

Now here’s where things get a little spicy. Because if the goal is to keep Rice’s bat in the lineup—and it absolutely should be—why experiment with moving him to a brand-new position when you already have a gold-glove caliber glove rotting on the bench?

Yes, we’re talking about Oswald Peraza. The Yankees treat Peraza like a USB cable in a drawer full of lightning cords—undeniably useful, but somehow always overlooked. He doesn’t get consistent at-bats, and then gets criticized for not hitting enough. Well, no kidding. The guy gets one shot every 10 days and is expected to produce like Aaron Judge.

And yet—when he does get the chance, he delivers. Case in point: that rocket double against the Rockies that sparked a Bronx-style beatdown.

That’s not nothing. That’s baseball.

So, if we’re drawing up the lineup card—and let's be honest, we’re all better at it than Aaron Boone after a large, iced coffee and three confusing analytics reports—it goes like this:

• Volpe stays at short. We get it. It's written in stone. He's Boone's boy toy.

• Peraza starts at third base and gets regular ABs so he can, you know, actually develop.

• Ben Rice keeps doing what he does best: mash as the DH.

• And Stanton? He can take his sweet time. No one’s rushing him back until his legs are ready to do more than just jog out of the tunnel.

As for J.C. Escarra, hey—we love the enthusiasm. But maybe chalk this one up to rookie chatter. Saying Rice “might” play third is like saying Judge “might” try catching. It’s not technically wrong, but let’s maybe let the coaching staff handle position changes. Boone already gives us enough to scratch our heads over.

In the meantime, let’s not overthink this. The Yankees are winning, the offense is clicking, and Ben Rice is turning heads every time he steps to the plate. Be grateful, be happy, and for the love of the pinstripes—don’t fix what isn’t broken.

THE DAY THE SCOOTER MET THE HOLY COW... LITERALLY

Some baseball tributes are solemn. Others are surreal. And then there's Phil Rizzuto Day—a ceremony that somehow combined Monument Park, a cardboard halo, and a runaway cow.

On August 4, 1985, the Yankees honored longtime shortstop and legendary broadcaster Phil “The Scooter” Rizzuto by retiring his No. 10 and adding a plaque in Monument Park. It was a long-overdue celebration of a Yankee icon—scrappy on the field, beloved in the booth, and known for his signature exclamation: “Holy Cow!”

Naturally, someone in the Yankees front office decided to have a little fun with that phrase. As part of the ceremony, they presented Rizzuto with a real cow, adorned with a cardboard halo—a literal “holy cow.” But the plan quickly went off the rails when the cow, clearly not briefed on stadium etiquette, accidentally knocked Rizzuto to the grass behind home plate.

Fortunately, Rizzuto was unharmed, and ever the good sport, he laughed it off. The moment was classic Scooter—chaotic, charming, and totally unforgettable.

Several of his former teammates showed up for the celebration, including Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford. But the day held even more significance. As a young fan in attendance, Robert Casey, Editor-in-Chief of Bleeding Yankee Blue, recalled the atmosphere with me —how the crowd came for Rizzuto, but many were also buzzing about another milestone in the making: Tom Seaver, pitching for the White Sox, was chasing career win No. 300.

 
He got it. The Yankees lost. But in the end, it didn’t matter. The day belonged to Scooter.

In a moment that drew a roar from the crowd, Rizzuto told fans:

“This means more to me than the Hall of Fame ever could.”

At the time, Rizzuto still hadn’t been elected. That honor finally came on February 25, 1994, when the Veterans Committee voted him into the Hall of Fame, alongside Leo Durocher. They joined Steve Carlton to complete that year’s Cooperstown class.

Looking back through my research, it looked like Rizzuto Day had everything: a heartfelt tribute, a historic win, and an unscripted comedy moment that only the Bronx could deliver. A legend was honored. A milestone was reached. And a cow stole the spotlight—if only for a moment.

Holy Cow, what a day.

--Alvin Izzo

BYB Yankee History Contributor

JOHNNY DAMON SPEAKS OUT ON THE YANKEE HAIR POLICY

 I didn't see this one coming.

Johnny Damon, known for his famously unkempt look during his playing days, might have seemed like a natural fan of the New York Yankees' recent change to their strict grooming policy. However, his reaction to the news was anything but enthusiastic.

Damon, who had to chop off his long hair and shave his full beard when he joined the Yankees in 2005, shared his thoughts in a recent Instagram video. "I just heard that the Yankees are not requiring people to cut their hair and trim their beards..." said the two-time All-Star. "I think we need to keep it how it was, with respect to legends like Yogi Berra, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Derek Jeter, and Mariano Rivera."

For Damon, the Yankees' grooming rules were a part of the team's storied tradition. "The Yankees are a tradition," he said. "Let's keep it. I cut these lovely locks off many years ago because George Steinbrenner was such a great human being, such a great boss, that I wasn’t even going to question it. Let’s keep the policies the same. Listen to your bosses, always bring your A-game, and let’s go!"

In a side note, Damon also mentioned his support for Jorge Posada’s Hall of Fame candidacy, a sentiment many fans share.

While the tradition of the Yankees' clean-cut image has its charm, there’s another perspective worth considering. Beards and hairstyles can play a role in a player's personality and performance. For some athletes, their hair isn't just a style choice—it’s a part of their identity, almost like a source of strength or confidence.

There’s a psychological aspect to it. When a player arrives in New York sporting a rugged beard and leaves looking like he just went through basic training, it can mess with his mindset. It might affect how he pitches, how he hits, or even how he sees himself. It’s like taking Superman’s cape away and expecting him to be the same hero.

Personally, I’ve always been well-groomed and appreciate the Yankees' classic approach. But I also think there’s something exciting about letting players find their groove with a bit more freedom. If a light beard helps someone like Devin Williams thrive in New York, then why not?

Tradition is important but so is adapting to the times. Finding that balance could be the key to helping the Yankees maintain their legacy while allowing players to feel like themselves.

THE INJURY THAT CHANGED MICKEY MANTLE'S CAREER

In the fifth inning of Game 2 of the 1951 World Series, a seemingly routine fly ball to right-center field brought together three of New York’s greatest centerfielders in a moment that would change baseball history. Giants rookie Willie Mays hit the ball, sending Yankees veteran Joe DiMaggio, in his final season, and rookie Mickey Mantle, in his 98th major league game, on a collision course.

Yankees manager Casey Stengel had given Mantle simple instructions: "Go for everything." As the ball descended, DiMaggio and Mantle converged. It was a moment where the old guard and the future met, with the game hanging in the balance.

Mantle later described the scene to Jane Leavy in The Last Boy: "I was running as hard as I could. At that point in time, I could outrun anybody. I ran over to catch it as Casey had told me to. Just as I was getting ready to put my glove up, I heard him say, ‘I got it.’ Well, shit, you don’t want to run into Joe DiMaggio in center field in Yankee Stadium. I slammed on my brakes."

Unfortunately, Mantle’s cleat caught on a drain cover in the outfield, a piece of plywood with a rubber coating. His legs went out from under him, and he crumpled to the ground, motionless, his right leg twisted awkwardly beneath him. DiMaggio made the catch and quickly turned to see Mantle lying in pain.

Kneeling beside him, DiMaggio placed a reassuring hand on Mantle’s shoulder, but the damage was done. Mantle was carried off on a stretcher, the initial diagnosis pointing to a torn ligament. Over time, the injury would be described in varying terms, from torn cartilage to torn tendons.

DiMaggio later reflected on the incident: "I said, ‘Go ahead, Mickey. You take it.’ I called out to him as we converged... Luckily, I was close enough to make the catch." Mantle, however, never publicly blamed DiMaggio for the incident. His wife, Merlyn Mantle, once remarked, "He had his own opinion, but he never said it. He ruined his career."

This tragic accident wasn’t the fault of any one player. It was a freak occurrence that left a lasting impact on Mantle's career. Though his achievements were legendary, one can’t help but wonder how much greater they might have been had that injury never occurred.

Mickey Mantle’s 1951 injury is a stark reminder of how one moment can forever alter the course of a player’s destiny.

--Alvin Izzo
BYB Yankee History Contributor

AARON JUDGE CONTINUES TO WIN!

Aaron Judge’s 2024 season was nothing short of a masterpiece, an extraordinary display of power, precision, and leadership that has firmly entrenched him among the elite players in baseball history. It’s no surprise that he has been named Sports Illustrated’s MLB Player of the Year. When you look at Judge’s 2024 stats, they’re not just good—they’re downright legendary. He posted an astonishing 58 home runs, 144 RBIs, a .458 on-base percentage, a .701 slugging percentage, and an OPS of 1.159. Not to mention he led the majors in walks (133) and times on base (322). These aren’t just numbers; they’re the kind of stats that have people drawing comparisons to some of the greatest players to ever pick up a bat.

As SI’s senior writer Tom Verducci put it, the only place you can find a season quite like Judge's is in the rarified air of baseball immortality, alongside legends like Babe Ruth, Rogers Hornsby, and Mickey Mantle. In fact, Judge’s 2024 season was so good, it feels like it could have been ripped from the pages of baseball's most storied eras—yet here he is, making history in front of our very eyes.

Rogers Hornsby

But what sets Aaron Judge apart isn't just his mind-blowing statistics. It's his presence—on and off the field. In 2024, Judge didn’t just lead the Yankees to their first World Series appearance since 2009, he became the heartbeat of the team, carrying them through the toughest moments with his bat, his leadership, and his unwavering commitment to the game. A role model both in the locker room and in the community, Judge’s leadership qualities shine as brightly as his bat. He is the epitome of a team player—constantly looking to improve and elevate those around him.

Judge’s approach to the game is a master class in humility and dedication. He’s not just interested in individual accolades; he wants to drive in runs, get his teammates involved, and—above all—win. After reflecting on his approach from 2023 to 2024, Judge focused on driving in more runners, capitalizing on opportunities, and ensuring that every plate appearance was a chance to make a difference. With superstar Juan Soto hitting in front of him, Judge didn’t just rise to the occasion—he obliterated it, leading the league in nearly every major offensive category. To say that Judge had a better season in 2024 than he did in 2023 is an understatement—it’s like he found another gear and pushed the limits of what we thought possible.

And let’s not forget, Judge is in rare company when it comes to his historical achievements. He joined Babe Ruth in 1921 as the only player to hit 58 home runs while also leading MLB in both RBIs and walks. When you find yourself in the same sentence as Ruth, you know you’re doing something right.

But what’s even more impressive than Judge’s stats is his mindset. Every season, he reflects on what worked, what didn’t, and how he can continue to improve—not just for his own sake but for the success of the team. His growth is a direct reflection of his commitment to the game, and it shows. He is a baseball player in the truest sense—always striving for excellence, always learning, always pushing the limits of what’s possible.

In a world where many athletes are defined by their flashy performances and social media followings, Judge stands out as a beacon of consistency, professionalism, and integrity. His leadership isn’t about grand gestures or attention-seeking—it’s about quietly setting the example and letting his actions speak louder than words. He’s a leader who leads with his bat, with his work ethic, and with his undeniable passion for the game.

In a time when we sometimes forget what it means to be a true role model, Aaron Judge serves as the perfect reminder. He’s not just an incredible baseball player—he’s a fantastic leader and a shining example of what it means to dedicate yourself to excellence, to uplift those around you, and to give everything you’ve got for the greater good. The 2024 season was his masterpiece, and we’re lucky to witness it.

WE AIN'T IN KANSAS ANYMORE SOTO!

Yes, here is another "typical Yankee fan" popping off about Juan Soto taking his big payday with the other ball club in Queens. 

No, I'm not running the Mets or their fans down. What bothers my about the Orange and Blue...and sometimes black team and their fans is that WE DON'T HATE THE METS! They want us to! 

They want us to hate them. They want a rivalry... but they, as Derek said, they're "just the Mets". They are the place holder wearing the colors of New York originals... THE BROOKLYN DODGERS and THE NEW YORK GIANTS. They will always be the "other team". 

Steve Cohen will never change that. Why? Because all the money in the world can't erase The Babe, The Mick, Joe D, The Iron Horse, Reggie, The Bronx Zoo, The 90s etc.  No, this isn't me holding onto the past either. IT'S JUST BASEBALL HISTORY, that's all, and there happens to be a lot of YANKEE BASEBALL in that proud story of the American Pastime. Full stop.

I'm glad for my pals that root for the Metropolitans. Truly. They have a great park over there. It's a quantum leap over the big "Ashtray near LaGuardia" as my Pop once called it. Yea... remember Shea Stadium? They have some great players these days and the Mets of the 1980s were fun to watch.

My issue is with guys like Barstool's KFC puffing his chest out on WFAN today saying, "NOBODY CARES ABOUT MONUMENT PARK AND THE PINSTRIPES ANYMORE!" Seems like Yankee fans live rent-free eating nothing but high scoring Portnoy Pizza's in Kev's head. Take your big-time player! Steve had the money, Soto has Boras and so it goes and so it goes. I enjoy KFC on the Barstool podcast, and know he's breaking balls, but the glee people get from the Yanks not signing someone outweighing the rush of getting a big bat like Juan is nuts.

Signing Soto would've been awesome for the Yankees. He seemed to like the Bronx, playing with #99 and the fans loved him...BUT it's a lousy move. It hamstrings you from getting anything else, even having Cohen's monopoly money. The luxury tax is heavy and buying all-star teams does not work.

We are so far gone on players and these contracts. 700 plus million? For a one ballplayer? Think on that. Yes, dollar amounts increase as time passes, but that is insane. Even if they do a little presto chango like Ohtani and backload it all...it still sucks. WE AS FANS END UP PAYING THE NOTE, GANG! Higher ticket prices. Higher concessions prices, Taking a family of 4 to a game? Call your bank and take out that second mortgage.

I don't blame the players. They take what is offered. If the owners put a cap on cash the Union will strike. Agents like Boras don't care about you and your love of the game. They don't. Juan Soto doesn't either. You cheering him as a Met or booing because he ain't a Yankee anymore makes NO difference to him. He is a hired gun. He NEVER claimed to be anything else.

Don't the Mets still own Bobby Bonilla? Baseball is a clown show of contracts these days. For every Juan Soto story we see flame outs, injuries... or they lose the hunger because they got all they wanted. S

Sickboy's line in Trainspotting - "First ya have it. Then you lose it. Then it's gone forever. In all walks of life." 

THIS WILL HAPPEN. The Mets just overpaid for a guy who is GREAT! He is a great ballplayer...but in 2 years he'll be really, really good. In 5 years he'll be a strong power hitter who will be a permanent DH. In 7 years, Mets fans will be calling into WFAN saying, "I said it then! We should never have given him that type of money! 15 years??"

Look, the Yankees have PLENTY of problems. I don't think much of the GM. The owner ain't his old man. The team has stars...and a lot of black holes too. The new stadium is a nice outdoor mall, and there are loud mouth Yankee fans spouting off with the sad, "27 championships, bro!" But they're still the Yankees for better or for worse. Steve Cohen and Juan Soto can't make them a lesser franchise in the world of sports or baseball lore any more than Rolling Stone could try to make the Beatles a lesser band. In short, some things just stay gold in this world. The New York Yankees were never about one player. They are, whether KFC and his ilk like it or not, what people think of when baseball is uttered - fan or not.

What Soto did was great for Soto, good for the Mets and lousy for baseball fans. It will keep pushing our game more and more out of reach. It's not because the slugger passed on the Yankees either. I feel the Yankees are culpable too. No organizations are innocent. No superstar player is either.

We always hear the cliche', "hey, it's a business." That may be true. It's a business for the owners and big-time players...but for us fans? We're outside looking in at a sign that reads : BASEBALL FANS NEED NOT APPLY.

A 90's song about greed ought to do it... Silverchair for the Golden Throne Juan Soto now sits on.

--Mike O'Hara

BYB Contributor

Twitter: @mikeyoh21