REMEMBERING THAT ITALIAN YANKEE... JOE PEPITONE

Joe Pepitone wasn’t the greatest Yankee to ever don the pinstripes, but he may have been one of the most unforgettable. A Brooklyn-born local with a personality that could light up the Bronx, Pepitone brought style, swagger, and a whole lot of fun to the game. For fans of the Yankees in the 1960s, he wasn’t just a player; he was an experience.

Nicknamed “Pepi,” Pepitone burst onto the scene in 1962, a charismatic kid with a slick glove, a sweet left-handed swing, and a smile that could charm an umpire. He wasn’t just playing baseball; he was putting on a show. While the Yankees’ glory days were fading, Pepitone gave fans something to talk about, both on and off the field.

Pepitone’s talent wasn’t just flash — he could play. After a solid rookie campaign in 1962, he took over first base from Yankees mainstay Bill “Moose” Skowron in 1963. That season, Pepitone batted .271 with 27 home runs and 89 RBIs. He followed it up with a 100-RBI season in 1964, earning three straight All-Star nods from 1963 to 1965. His defense was even better: Pepitone snagged three Gold Gloves for his stellar play at first base.

But for all his talent, Joe wasn’t destined to be a cornerstone player. The Yankees of the ’60s were in decline, and Pepitone’s game couldn’t quite carry them back to their former glory. Still, he gave fans moments to remember — both dazzling and maddening.

Pepitone had his share of highlights on baseball’s biggest stage. In the 1964 World Series, he delivered a grand slam in Game 6 against the St. Louis Cardinals, a shining moment in an otherwise frustrating series. But just a year earlier, in the 1963 World Series, his infamous error in Game 4 cost the Yankees dearly. Losing a routine throw in the sunlit chaos of the Los Angeles crowd led to the Dodgers’ winning run — and the Yankees being swept.

That was Pepitone in a nutshell: flashes of brilliance mixed with moments of chaos.

If Joe Pepitone wasn’t dominating the headlines for his play, he was doing it for his antics. He was the first Yankee to bring a hair dryer into the clubhouse, a move that scandalized the old-school veterans and delighted everyone else. His perfectly poufy hair, often aided by a toupee, was the stuff of legend.

And then there were the nights out. Pepitone was a regular at New York’s hottest clubs, from the Copacabana to late-night haunts, where he basked in the spotlight. He wasn’t just playing baseball; he was living the life. Before Joe Namath became the poster boy for New York cool, Pepitone was laying the groundwork as the city’s lovable rogue.

Pepitone’s star burned brightly, but it didn’t last. By the late 1960s, as the Yankees tumbled into mediocrity, his own performance plateaued. He still had power in his bat — belting 31 home runs in 1966 — but his batting average hovered in the mid-.240s, and his off-field escapades began to wear thin. In 1969, after leaving the team without permission, Pepitone’s time in New York came to an end.

He went on to play for the Astros, Cubs, and Braves, with flashes of the old Pepi charm but little of the magic that made him a New York icon.

For all his flaws, Pepitone’s connection with the fans never wavered. He wasn’t Mickey Mantle or Yogi Berra; he was Joe from Brooklyn. He had the kind of charisma that made people root for him even when he stumbled. Whether he was cracking jokes in the locker room, making a diving stop at first base, or buying a round of drinks for strangers at a club, Pepitone was unapologetically himself.

Unfortunately, his post-baseball life was marred by troubles, including a stint in prison in the 1980s. But even then, Pepitone’s name carried a certain charm, a reminder of a time when baseball was more than a business — it was entertainment.

Joe Pepitone may never be mentioned in the same breath as Ruth or Gehrig, but his legacy in Yankees lore is secure. He was a player who made baseball fun, a Bronx showman who could field a Gold Glove grounder and tell a Gold Glove joke in the same inning.

For those who saw him play, Pepitone was more than stats or highlights. He was the guy who made the game feel alive, who reminded everyone watching that baseball isn’t just about wins and losses — it’s about moments. And Joe Pepitone gave us plenty of those.

Here’s to Pepi, the Italian Yankee with a heart as big as his hair. Baseball, and the Yankees, were better because of him.

--Alvin Izzo
BYB Yankee History Contributor

THE BRAWL OF THE BRONX: YOGI VS. MOOSE

Sure, let's dive into one of the most infamous brawls in New York Yankees history that doesn’t involve Billy Martin and Reggie Jackson. Enter, the legendary tussle between Yogi Berra and Bill “Moose” Skowron. This event is legendary in the Yankees’ folklore for its sheer absurdity and the colorful characters involved.

The year was 1957, the Yankees were in the middle of another dominant season, and tensions were high. It was a hot July afternoon, and the team was stuck in a bit of a slump, which often makes professional athletes a bit testier than usual. The Yankees' locker room, typically a sanctuary of camaraderie and shared triumph, became a cauldron of brewing discontent.

Bill “Moose” Skowron, the team’s hulking first baseman known for his prodigious power at the plate and a frame that could double as a refrigerator, was at the center of this particular storm. Yogi Berra, the team’s beloved and slightly undersized catcher, famed for his paradoxical wisdom and malapropisms, was on the other end. What could these two possibly fight over, you ask? Well, dear reader, the trigger was something so quintessentially baseball, it almost sounds made up: a bat.

Let's set the scene. Yogi, ever the meticulous veteran, had a favorite bat. This wasn’t just any bat; this was a bat with a soul, a bat that had seen him through countless hits and even more of his trademark Yogi-isms. Moose, in the throes of a hitting slump, decided that perhaps borrowing Yogi’s bat might change his luck. Spoiler alert: it didn’t.

Yogi walked into the clubhouse to find Moose using his beloved bat, and like any reasonable person whose prized possession was being mishandled, he reacted. "Hey, Moose, you got your own bats, use ‘em!" Yogi barked.

Moose, not one to back down, especially not to someone he towered over by a good six inches, retorted, "Relax, Yogi. A bat's a bat!"

Yogi, embodying the spirit of David against his Goliath teammate, lunged at Moose. What followed was not the most technical of fights. There were no jabs or uppercuts, just a flurry of flailing limbs, and maybe a few well-placed baseballs for good measure. Teammates, initially stunned by the sight of the pint-sized catcher attempting to throttle the mammoth first baseman, quickly intervened. According to Mickey Mantle, who was reportedly doubled over with laughter while trying to separate the two, "It was like watching a bulldog take on a bear. You didn't know whether to laugh or call animal control."

The scuffle didn’t last long, thanks to the intervention of their teammates, but the locker room was abuzz with excitement and the incident quickly became legend. Moose, to his credit, was contrite. “I didn’t mean to swipe his bat. I just figured if it worked for Yogi, it might work for me. Turns out, I’m better off with my own sticks.”

Yogi, dusting himself off and adjusting his cap, simply said, “Nobody touches my bat without asking. That’s just how it is.”

The Yankees’ brass was less than amused by the fracas, but fans loved it. It added to the mystique of the team’s colorful clubhouse, a place filled with outsized personalities and no shortage of drama. If there’s a moral to this story, it’s that sometimes, even the most cohesive teams have their moments of madness. And in the Yankees’ case, those moments just happen to involve a Hall of Fame catcher trying to take down a man whose nickname was "Moose."

So next time you find yourself in a heated debate over something trivial, remember Yogi and Moose. Sometimes, you just need to step back, take a deep breath, and realize that, as Yogi might say, “It ain’t over till it’s over,” especially when it involves a bat and a lot of pride.

--Alvin Izzo
BYB Yankee History Contributor

RETURNING TO NEVERLAND

First off, a big THANK YOU to Becki Schick. Truly an amazing trip down Memory Lane.  Thanks for the tickets...

Some were names you hadn’t heard in years. There were others that you may not have be familiar with at all. There were players that looked as if they could still suit up and help the Yankees (Johnny Damon & Hideki Matsui for sure) and others that were helped to home plate by a golf cart. But the thing that tied them all together wasn’t only that they were once New York Yankees, it was that putting on that uniform made them all kids again…if only for a few hours.

Old Timer’s Day at Yankee Stadium is really one of the best days of the year. As fans we get to see heroes of the past play in the Summer sun and remind us all why we love the game of baseball so much. These players aren’t just retired former Big Leaguers, they are family. They mean something different to all of us, and yet they mean the same thing. We grew up watching and cheering for them. From the Days of Berra and Ford to the Bronx Zoo, to the Dynasty of the late 1990’s, each and every Old Timer evokes a feeling inside us all. We get to remember the first time we walked into that Cathedral of Baseball. The first autograph we received. The way we felt when one of our heroes sent us home humming “New York, New York” after a big win. We can still hear the voices of our fathers recounting stories of The Mick, Billy and Moose. Old Timer’s Day let’s everyone of us be a little kid again…and there is nothing better.

I was lucky enough to take in this years event. I sat in my seat like a 7 year old on Christmas morning. I cheered wildly for Mickey Rivers, Reggie and Bucky and then stood and held up my #21 jersey as Paulie “The Warrior” jogged out to take his place in Right field.

No matter who was up to bat or who was on the mound, my mind was flooded with memories. As the crowd chanted for Yogi I teared up a bit. The great Yankee backstop is frailer than we seen in the past and we all wonder how much longer #8 will be attending these games.

Watching Coney face the Boomer was outstanding. Two close friends, World Champions and Perfect game winners enjoying the early Summer sunshine…it was a Kodak moment to say the least.

The round of applause for visiting Manager Buck Showalter was proof that Yankee fans never forget. And to see the “Youngsters” Damon and Matsui out there made me feel old...but only for a second. There is truly something for everyone at Old Timer’s Day.

I got to watch the game with my best friend. We grew up together and although the current Yankee roster made the contest against the O’s a forgettable one, the day will forever be a great memory for me. Look how far we’ve come. My buddy and I are older now, but we have that same feeling when we sit in the Big Ballpark in the Bronx. This is a family reunion of sorts. We made friends with other fans in our sections recounting stories about where we were when Charlie made the final out in 1996.

Or how Gator once ate a the table next to us a restaurant after he beating Texas in 1983. There is nothing like it, and it is a Yankee tradition. As New York fans we take a lot of heat from others around the league, but this is something they can’t take away from us. Our players love to come home again and say hello once a year and it makes us all remember why this organization is so special. The New York Yankees never forget the fans and we never forget the players that wore the pinstripes.

I had a great time today…I wish the current Bombers had done more and taken the W, but all the same, this day was about the past. This day was about friends and family, great moments and great Yankees. This day was a day when none of us had to grow up. We were all young again…and it was one hell of a special day. Thank you to all the Yankees. You are the reason we keep coming back.

** It's a sentimental song, but it was a sentimental day.**



 

--Mike O'Hara, MLB Fan Cave Host, Season 1
   Twitter: @mikeyoh21    
"Paulie was always my favorite player."
 

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DON LARSEN TALKS TO BLEEDING YANKEE BLUE

It's not every day that you get to talk to a living legend.  If you're Al Malafronte of Cirillo World Public Relations, you just scored big time! Al, a friend of Bleeding Yankee Blue was nice enough to sit down with Don Larsen on our behalf and ask him a few questions about life around his 1956 Perfect Game.  But there's other news...he was at the Yogi Berra Museum on Monday with Yogi Berra himself auctioning off his jersey worn during that perfect game, read HERE. The reason? To help out his grandchildren, currently in high school and college. He's giving back to his family and to be honest, you can't beat this!

So here's that short interview with the great Don Larsen. A special thanks to Al Malafronte, to Cirillo World Public Relations and to Brandon Steiner, the author of the new book "You Gotta Have Balls" who was also involved with this event. You can read all about Mr. Steiner HERE, we love the guy!  But now, I bring you Don Larsen. Enjoy this, I did.

BYB: When you pitched your Perfect Game in the '56 World Series, when did it start to click that you really had a shot at a Perfect Game?

Don Larsen: "I had mentioned it to Mantle at the end of the 7th inning, 'Mick, look at the scoreboard.' Wouldn't it be something? 2 more innings to go, I'm thinking, I shouldn't have said anything!"

(In photo: Hank Bauer)
BYB: Which Yankee were you closest to during your playing days with the Yankees club?

Don Larsen: "Probably Hank Bauer, and also Moose Skowron who we've lost. They were great teammates."

BYB: What is the best part of forever being known as "the guy" who threw a perfect game in the 1956 World Series?

Don Larsen: "That's one of those things I'll never forget with Yogi and I. What it meant to us then, and what it'll mean to us as time goes on; it'll never be forgotten."

Again, a special thanks to Al Malafronte and of course Don Larsen.  Also I want to mention "Perfect Pitch", a charity named in Mr. Larsen's honor.  For more information about "Perfect Pitch", you can visit their website by just clicking HERE.



Don Larsen Perfect Pitch HRD Introduction from Perfect Pitch HRD on Vimeo.

Here's alittle background: "Perfect Pitch," is a not for profit organization and all funds go directly to mentally and physically challenged children, sports programs for disadvantaged children, and special Scout troop #364.

We will be placing "Perfect Pitch" on our website next to all the other great charities we love!

We hope the Bleeding Yankee Blue readers enjoyed this. It was an honor to have Mr. Larsen and "Perfect Pitch" be part of the BYB family.  Thank you.

 

WHY MATTINGLY IS YOUR FAVORITE YANKEE FIRST BASEMAN

I promised to get you a piece on the results of our "Who's your favorite Yankee First Basemen? poll and finally it's here.  Great poll and great results and I really appreciate everyone who participated. The winner? Donnie Baseball...

It comes as no surprise considering in this generation, there are so many that saw Don Mattingly play and another handful that heard all the great stories from their fathers and mothers about this man. That being said, Lou Gehrig, the Iron Horse is right there and for good reason…he was one of the greatest baseball players ever.

But let's check out the poll, which actually fell into place the way I thought it would. In first place was Donnie Baseball, Don Mattingly with 52 votes, followed by Lou Gehrig with 43.  In  third place was Tino Martinez with 22 votes.  Tino was on some pretty incredible Yankees' teams and no doubt he would be in the Top 5. Let's not forget how when Mattingly left and Martinez showed up, many we still stung by the 1995 playoff loss... a loss to the Mariners, Tino's old team.  But he came in and did his job.  He contributed so much while he was in pinstripes and fans fell in love with him.

Mark Teixeira and Moose Skowron each had 6 votes each.  Each player outstanding in their time, and poor Moose just lost his battle with cancer recently so it’s significant that we remember a great Yankee in this poll. (Read about Moose HERE). 

Mark Teixeira is known as one of the greatest defensive first basemen ever and perhaps he should have scored higher in the poll, but let’s be honest, there are too many great Yankee first basemen ahead of him. Plus, Tex is getting hammered right now carrying a .221 batting average so far in 2012.  Not good, really not good.  Tex knows he's better than that. Come on Tex, get it together!

Chris Chambliss was on a few great Yankees teams too, in 1977 and 1978 and received 5 votes. Good choice. Next with 4 votes was Joe Pepitone. 

Trust me, if we were voting on hair, Pepitone would have won that poll!  Joe was a good first baseman for the Yankees and another good soldier in the Yankees army.

Jason Giambi never won a championship with the Yankees, but when we signed him, that was our intention and he was going to be the muscle behind it.  He hit a lot of home runs, but was an awkward first baseman. We all know why we signed him…power. He ended up with 3 votes.

With only 2 votes was Nick Johnson.  To be honest, I’m shocked he received any votes.  Because of injury, he just became a dud in my eyes and only had alittle hope when he went to the Washington Nationals… but even now, he’s just not a threat offensively or defensively. It's a shame how this guy's career tanked because of injury and bad luck. 

Those numbers total 143 votes. Great poll! Look, let's not forget, this poll was based on personal opinion.  The truth is there is no wrong answer, it’s just fun.  If you liked a certain first baseman, that’s your pick and no one could really dispute that.  I’m just thrilled you guys voted and contributed.  Thank you so much.

Next we’re going to do second basemen.  Keep checking back here at Bleeding YankeeBlue for the new poll and we’d love to have you vote again.  Thanks!

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WHEN I LEARNED OF MOOSE SKOWRON

My dad grew up a Yankees fan during some pretty incredible moments.  Not sure if you remember, but my father was an usher at Yankee stadium when he was just 15 years old and saw some good and bad teams during his time as an usher.  Sure, he was working at Yankee stadium, so in between seating guests and shaking his pocket trying to get a tip, he'd snag a few eyefuls as the Yankees took the field.  That for him was one of the good times in his life, making a few bucks as well as seeing guys like the Mick, Yogi Berra and Whitey Ford.  Read WHY MANTLE & MARIS ARE STILL INTRIGUING TODAY if you want more insight. It’s personally one of my favorite posts on BYB.

Years later, when I was a kid, I heard all about the guys my dad watched play, even long after being an usher.  But the names weren’t as familiar.  Put it this way, as a kid in New Jersey, hearing names like Bobby Richardson and Tony Kubek didn’t ring a bell.  He’d drop names like Clete Boyer and I'm sure you’d catch me yawning.  I had no idea who these guys were, I was busy watching my guys, The Gator or the Goose…or Thruman Munson.  But I remember 1 guy who I was immediately drawn too.  Not Bill Skowron, but instead... Moose Skowron. Maybe it was the name that I loved or maybe it was the way my dad would describe the way fans screamed his name when he went to the plate... MMMOOOOOSSSSEEE, but as time went on, I noticeably found that my dad clearly had a fondness of Moose, just like he did Mickey Mantle.   

Moose Skowron was a good ballplayer and a loyal Yankee and played 9 years with the Yanks.  He was never considered a mean spirited ball player like you’d hear about guys like Ty Cobb.  In fact, it was the opposite.  Couple that with me learning all about good sportsmanship at a young age, and I was drawn to this guy Moose.  I remember I went through a phase as I got older and would collect certain players until I had as many of their career cards as I could find.  I was able to snag a few Moose Skowron cards at an old coin shop when I was old enough to drive and I’d go from time to time and get whatever I could find. 

It wasn’t easy collecting the top vintage cards like Mickey Mantle or Whitey Ford because of the cost and my lack of funds, so if I could snag a Moose Skowron card from say 1961 (above) and believe me, I was a happy camper.  After all, my dad’s word was law and if Moose was the guy he liked growing up, I’d be in good company.

I remember seeing Moose Skowron at Old Timer’s day last year.  He looked old but he was still bubbly and a happy man.  I remember after I saw him interview, one of my friends texted me and told me he was sick with cancer, yet, he still showed up to Old Timer’s Day.  I was blown away by that.  He always had fight in him throughout his entire career, so hearing he was sick and still at Old Timer’s day didn’t surprise me, in fact, in a strange way, it was probably expected, he was a tough guy and never showed weakness in his entire career. 

Moose Skowron died yesterday. The first thing I did was check out my Skowron baseball collection.  The next thing I did was think about my dad telling me about the great Moose Skowron.  Yeah, it’s true, he was never considered iconic in baseball history, but he’s known by so many because of that amazing nickname.  Moose will always live on in Yankeeland.  Hopefully the Yankees do the right thing and wear an armband to remember a great Yankee, nice man and true fighter. Moose definitely deserves alittle recognition.

My prayers go out to the Skowron family, Mr. Skowron did it his way and that’s what I loved about Moose…it doesn’t get better than that.

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YANKEE GREAT BILL "MOOSE" SKOWRON HAS DIED

(Bill "Moose" Skowron was a fixture at Yankee Old Timer's Day)

Some very, very sad news to report out of Yankeeland this afternoon.  The Yankee family has lost a great man.  Bill "Moose" Skowron has passed away at the age of 81 after a long battle with lung cancer.

(L-R, Maris, Berra, Mantle, Skowron)

"Moose was a six-time All-Star first baseman who starred for the Yankees from 1954-1962 and played alongside some of the greatest Yankees ever:  Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, Phil Rizzuto, Roger Maris, to name a few.  "Moose" hit .292 with 165 homers and in 1,087 games over those nine seasons with the Yankees before being traded to the Dodgers in 1962. He played another five seasons for the Dodgers, White Sox, Senators, and Angels. Skowron was a clutch postseason hitter as well, batting .293 with eight homers in 39 playoff games, including a long ball against his old teammates as the Dodgers swept the Yankees in the 1963 World Series.

("Moose" Skowron with his memorable swing)

We will miss you "Moose".  God bless you and thank you for the wonderful memories and for making us proud to call you a New York Yankee great! 

--Mikey Blue, BYB Senior Writer
Email: DonnieBaseball2323@gmail.com
Twitter: @MikeyBlu23


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REMEMBERING ANDY CAREY 1931-2011

To many of you, Andy Carey is just another name. To my friend David, and too many fanatical Yankee fans, he was a very special ballplayer. Andy Carey was part of the New York Yankees in the 1950's, a third baseman and batted in a lineup consisting of Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, Moose Skowron and Hank Bauer. He was part of teams that won 4 American League Pennants and 2 World Series Championships... not too shabby.

Andy Carey was a very special New York Yankee and in 1954, he had his best season, batting .302 in 122 games. Yesterday's New York Times had a special nugget about Carey that I didn't know. It reads:

"Carey played a key role in one of baseball’s landmark games. He twice helped preserve the only perfect World Series game, pitched by Don Larsen against the Dodgers on Oct. 8, 1956. In the second inning, the Dodgers’ Jackie Robinson smacked a shot between third and short that Carey knocked down, allowing Yankees shortstop Gil McDougald to pick up the ball and nip Robinson at first. In the eighth, he robbed Gil Hodges by snaring a low line drive that seemed headed for left field."
Sadly, Andy Carey died at the age of 80 of Lewy body dementia. It's a sad day in Yankee baseball. It's a sad day for my friend David as well. For me personally, it was important we gave Andy a place in Bleeding Yankee Blue memory, for all you guys who remembered him and for all you young fans who are about the learn about him. Thanks for the memories Andy, our prayers are with your family.

A salute to Andy Carey.

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WHY THE NERD SHOW OPENED MY EYES

6 years ago, I was lucky enough to go to a card show and meet 3 very important Yankees. Yes, 2 were much older men, but the other was a new kid on the block. That stuff didn’t really matter though, they were Yankees and played with the greatest and played on the biggest stage. They were Gil McDougald, Bobby Murcer and Chien Ming Wang.

I walked into the auditorium of the event with my wife, who likes to break my balls when it comes to memorabilia collecting. She calls them “Nerd” shows. This isn’t to say that the actual shows are nerd shows, she’s making fun of me for being a nerd. Anyway, that being said, when I saw these athletes live, I turned into a little kid, and dare I say, a nerd… so maybe she’s onto something. Anyway, back to my point.

The first line was a short one. When I saw Gil Mcdougald, he looked nothing like the 1956 baseball card I had of him, but it was the ACTUAL Gil Mcdougald. I had a baseball and when it was my turn, I went up shook his hand and told him while I never saw him play, I thanked him for some great years on the Yankees and appreciated him. He smiled at me and told me he appreciated it. “A lot of youngsters tend to go up to the new guys.” That broke my heart but he laughed it off and signed my baseball. I took a picture and thanked him.

Next we waited on a longer line, but it was worth it, Bobby Murcer was on the end of it. He was healthy at the time, smiling, shaking hands and really just larger than life in my mind. I always liked Murcer and I loved him more in the booth. Just a likable guy. My fondest memory of Bobby Murcer was that home run he hit in the Munson game. I was a kid, but I remember where I was when I saw it and how important it was. I became a fan right then and to meet him now was incredible. When it was my turn, I walked up and shook his hand. I was really nervous. “I love you in the booth Mr. Murcer”, I said. “Thank you” he said. He took my ball, then he grabbed an action shot of him and signed it for me too. “Wow” I thought. We posed for a picture and after alittle more conversation I was on my way.

Then I got on the longest line in the room. At the end of it was Chien Ming Wang. Wow, maybe Gil Mcdougald was right, could it be that a lot of these kids don’t know about the other Yankee Greats of the past?

(In Photo: Bobby Richardson)

When I was a kid, my dad didn’t sit with me teaching about the Yankees of years past, but he would drop a name and a memory,like Bobby Richardson, "he was great for the Yankees," he'd say. Or “Moose” Skowron, "He had some great years for us," he'd say. My dad watched them play and he’d mention them. Me, in turn, would go and read about them, just so I knew who he talking about. When I was old enough, I’d go to card stores and save up to buy a card. If my dad says that guy was good, then he must be good, I thought. And that’s how I did it. Now, waiting on Wang's line, I realized maybe many had forgotten about the others.

I walked up, shook Wang’s hand. The conversation was limited, just a lot of nodding and pictures and signing my baseball and to me, it was exciting, but I have to tell you, at the time, Wang was the new guy and it was definitely a different feeling for me. Yes, he was a Yankee, but he wasn’t yet a Yankee great, the others were.

I tell you this story merely because the Yankee history runs long and deep and has so many incredible players over the years, even not so great ballplayers, but great stories and stats just the same. Mickey Mantle and Babe Ruth are the most well known, but what do you know about Wayne Tolleson or Bobby Shantz. How about Matt Nokes or Jim Abbott? (In Photo: Jim Abbott)

Do you remember Bobby Meacham? I do, it was not a good career, but he was a New York Yankee and that means something I think. Check out Baseball Reference and type in a New York Yankee. Everything about them is there, stats and information that you never knew. It's really great. The Yankee history is truly awesome.

I love my New York Yankees and it really doesn’t matter who they are, they were Yankees and to learn about them and the teams they played on is great. Know the players, love them, they were Yankees, members of the greatest team in the world. It’s damn glorious.

Please comment and let me know what you think and follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and join the group Bleeding Yankee Blue on Facebook, just type it in.

WHY TIES NEED TO BE BROKEN

FIRST BASE

If there’s one thing that baseball fans hate, it’s a tie. A baseball game can never end until one team has safely touched home plate more than the other. In every play, you’re safe or you’re out. Every pitch is a strike or a ball. Quite simply, you win or you lose… you NEVER tie.

However, on the extremely rare—almost never—occasion when a tie occurs, baseball magic happens.

Most recently, the Minnesota Twins and Detroit Tigers finished tied with the same record in 2009. Remember that classic back and forth one game playoff? If you saw it, you’ll never forget it.

How about in 1951? The New York Giants and Brooklyn Dodgers season ending tie was finally “resolved” with Bobby Thomson’s Shot Heard ‘Round the World.

And of course, 1978. The Yankee and the Red Sox classic one game playoff when Bucky Dent hit the ball over the big green wall and effectively ended the Red Sox season and sent them spiraling downward for almost a decade.

#3. That’s how close it is between the #3 of my First basemen countdown. Yankee first basemen, Bill “Moose” Skowron and Tino Martinez are so close in so many categories, except 1. Follow me through:

These are the actual career Yankee numbers for both players:Both won 4 World Series with the Yankees. And their World Series numbers are just as close. (I only compared World Series numbers because when Moose played, there were no playoffs unless two teams tied at the end of the regular season.)

Both batted 5th in the batting order. Now Tino did bat clean up sometimes, but was probably more comfortable where he hit most, batting fifth. Moose batted fifth for his Yankee career.

Both played most of their games with the Yanks, but did play a substantial amount of games for other teams. However, both made their name with the Yankees.

So, based on everything I just showed you, and if I had to choose just 1, I would officially give it to Tino Martinez for this reason: He replaced Don Mattingly AND became a fan favorite himself.

When Mattingly played, Yankee fans loved him. They still do. So replacing him was not going to be easy. No one was going to just come in and take Donnie Baseball’s position without some hazing. Especially if they came from the same Seattle Mariners team that knocked Donnie out of the 1995 playoffs.
On top of that, Tino had a horrible start to his first season in the Bronx. Yet Tino persevered, took the hazing, never became bitter, and not only won over the fans in the Bronx, but became a fan favorite. I'm NOT claiming that in his day Moose wasn't as loved by the Yankee faithful. Just that Tino had to do a little more to earn his Yankee love.


--Moonlight Graham BYB Staff Writer

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