RAMBLINGS OF AN 82 YEAR OLD YANKEE FAN: WHERE ARE WE GOING?

Interacting with our Bleeding Yankee Blue readers is something I love, especially if everyone is respectful in the conversation.  I want to introduce you to Len Ferrara who reached out to me and had a few things to say.  So, I asked that an article be written. Here you go, folks, enjoy. And thank you Len.

-Casey

Every once in a while, on Facebook, an ad pops up for people to show that they are the oldest Yankee fan. I have put my name in, but I am obviously not the oldest because every Wednesday I have breakfast with a bunch of guys, three of whom are Yankee fans and are older than I am. Thus, age is just a number.

Since I’m rambling, I thought I would share some Yankee Stadium experiences.

My first trip to Yankee Stadium happened when I was seven or eight. I can’t really remember how old I was. You have to understand that was 75 years ago. It was a bus trip from Saint Anne’s Church in Newark, New Jersey. Basically, most of my family went.

Since I was an insignificant seven-year-old, I got to sit directly behind one of the vertical girders in the original Yankee Stadium. I can't recall how little of the game I saw, looking back and forth on either side of the girder. Since the year would have been 1950 or 1951, let me list some of the people who would’ve been playing in that game: Berra, Mize, Coleman, Rizzuto, Brown, Woodling, DiMaggio, and Bauer.

Now let me jump forward to when I was in the eighth grade. I was a school crossing guard. The reward for eighth graders who got the crossing guard assignments was a trip to Yankee Stadium. We sat in the bleachers. It was a sunny day. We roasted.

I remember telling the chaperone, my history teacher, that we had “found our place in the sun” (you have to dig back into your history book to understand that reference). The highlight of the day was my favorite player, Andy Carey, who played third base. He hit a home run right in the direction where we were sitting, but it didn’t quite reach us, proving you can’t have everything in life.

Some 25 years later, in the “new” Yankee Stadium, I was able to grab a foul ball that came into the upper deck at the weirdest angle I could ever imagine. I never thought you would get a foul ball sitting in that section, but I did.

That brings us to the latest and current iteration of Yankee Stadium. The best thing about it, I find, is the steak sandwich.

Was I there for Mariano’s last game? Yes, I was.

Am I crying now as I write about it? Yes, I am.

We, as Yankee fans, are so spoiled by players of that caliber, and I guess it’s just that we demand excellence, which is so hard to come by at this point in time.

As far as the current team is concerned, I don’t think it’s difficult to point to the holes. I don’t think you can win a championship when you have three guys batting below .200, or close to it. I also don’t think a hitting coach can take a .210 hitter and make him into a .250 hitter, but I have been known to be wrong a few times in my life.

Does the bullpen need help? Absolutely.

What I don’t understand is why we seem to have excellent prospects in the minors who stay in the minors while we get to watch relievers give up runs every time they come in.

The Yankees are worth $7 billion, or something like that, and Hal Steinbrenner thinks salaries are out of control. He's in favor of a salary cap that may cause him to cut $70 million in payroll. How is that going to happen?

Did the fans vote to give Trent Grisham $20.2 million for the year?

Will he be on the team next year?

Why do the owners vote in favor of selling teams to guys or groups that have absurd amounts of money and then complain when those same people give out absurd contracts?

Why did the league allow the bankruptcy sale of the Dodgers, and now they have a ridiculous financial advantage? Excuse me, you didn't see that coming?

When Stanton is healthy, will Boone put Rice in at catcher so the lineup would include Goldy, Rice, and Giancarlo? Or are they worried that his legs are not in shape to catch? Has Boone noticed the increase in Rice's size over the last two years?

Will Volpe playing second help with his hitting or mental gaffes? Or do we have to settle for a shortstop with less range?

You know Hal does not want to pay Jazz.

What is it about Yankees prospects that causes them to flame out in New York and then succeed elsewhere?

I still have my 1959 and 1960 Yankees yearbooks. I have a scrapbook with a newspaper clipping from April 18, 1948. That should tell you who I am.

Do you think I bleed Yankee blue?

I love the Yankees, but sometimes they just tick me off.

I am an observational scientist by occupation, although you can tell by my age that I am retired.

These are a few of my observations and concerns.

--Len Ferrara

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

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TOM SEAVER WAS TERRIFIC ALRIGHT

It's sad to see that Tom Seaver had past away. He for sure was a Mets icon. One of the best in their franchise.  But my memory of Seaver wasn't with the Mets at all.  My memories of him was with the White Sox, and as a Yankees broadcaster, and just a fun guy to listen to in the booth.  While I was fully aware of what Tom Seaver did in his life as a New York Met and Cincinnati Red, I was present to see Seaver throw his 300th win at Yankee stadium, a moment I hated at the time, but one that I forever respected. 

I was a kid. I was at Yankee stadium with my family. We sat in the top section behind home plate that game. It was Phil Rizzuto day and as a kid, that was the real reason why we were there.  Obviously you go to watch the Yankees win. Obviously you want to be there to celebrate Yankee icons like Phil Rizzuto. And the day was great. The celebration was awesome. As a kid, watching Phil Rizzuto getting knocked over by a "Holy Cow" was hysterical.

Mantle was there. Billy Martin was there. The place was packed. At the time, Tom Seaver was 40. He was old. And so, as a fan, you want that big Yankee win. After all, it was the pregame that Phil Rizzuto said this:

"I'd like to thank everybody who had a hand in this beautiful day.  I'd even like to thank Tom Seaver. His timing is perfect. Tom saved up today just for me. He knew that it was my day and he'd be going for win number 300... he's gonna have to get it in another city." 

The place went wild. But Tom did what he always did in his career. Win. And that day the Yankees lost 4-1.  As a Yankee fan, I hated every minute of it. As a baseball fan, it was amazing history.

Tom went on to do some time broadcasting with the Yankees and we all learned to forgive him. I was a fan, not gonna lie.

When I heard the news the other day, it all rushed back to me. It's sad for the Seaver family. It's sad for baseball. But what a fond memory of a true competitor.

Rest in Peace Tom Terrific. You were one of the good ones. I'll never forget that day.

ANOTHER REASON TO LOVE ANTHONY FAUCI

Source: AP

Here at BYB we are always exploring nuggets, fan favorites, little things, that might get overlooked, if you are not perceptive.  And this Wednesday, we have one of those nuggets to explore and quite frankly have a some fun with in a way only we can.

Earlier this week, one of American's most trusted individuals, Dr. Anthony Fauci, said it is plausible that we have baseball this season. “People who know more about baseball structure than I do have said it, but I think it’s reasonable. You could either have a situation where you get the group of players and you put them in a few cities, you make sure they’re not infected, you test them so that they don’t infect each other, and you have baseball — as much as it’s tough to say — in a spectator-less environment. You have people playing in an environment in which people can watch it on television," said Fauci, reported in the New York Post.  Sure that is a terrific reason to love the good doctor.  But I have another.

Source: The New York Post

Dr. Anthony Fauci, a leader for the President's coronavirus task force and director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, is a Yankee fan!  Yes, the Brooklyn native is a lifelong Yankee fan, despite being raised in Dodger territory.

"I think people who don’t come from the New York area – at least are not old like I am and come from the New York area – don’t realize back then that half the people in Brooklyn were Yankee fans. There was a wonderful competitiveness and rivalry between the friends who were Dodgers fans and Yankees fans,” Fauci said. “We had a whole culture. It was Duke Snider vs. Mickey Mantle. Yogi Berra vs. Roy Campanella. Pee Wee Reese vs. Phil Rizzuto. We used to follow their batting averages that I could tell you, on any given day in elementary school, exactly what the point up or down in Yogi Berra’s average was, or Mickey Mantle or anybody.”

Wow! Just wow!  He's a Yankee fan despite being from Bensonhurst.  How exciting is that?  During an interview with Jack Curry on #YESWereHere, Fauci talks about his fandom and his love of the game. He says that there is something special when you walk into a stadium and look out at that manicured field for the first time and how much he enjoys just having a dog and a beer at the ballpark.

Source: YES Network

Last week, we learned that Dr. Fauci graduated from Regis High School, a Jesuit school in the Upper East Side of Manhattan.  My guess is young Fauci caught a number of games at the House that Ruth Built as a kid.  I feel like he may have even sat next to my dad, who would have been 78 this May, just a year younger than Fauci who is 79.  My dad knew what Mantle's average was at every given moment too.  Real fans know those things.

His leadership has been clearly visible as he stands toe-to-toe with the President, telling the truth and sharing data-driven evidence with Americans.

Source: Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS

"Straight, down-the-middle in style, the authenticity in the gravel of his voice, the Brooklyn twang, his white coat, the cadence of his speech. And, then, that authenticity only deepens as it takes its substance from the one of the most challenging forms of honesty: telling truth to power, in the presence of that power, without, at least overtly, insulting that power. Wow, we say, that guy must only have one, pure motivation: he sees his role as serving us, serving others, serving his country," reported Forbes Magazine about Fauci's education at Regis and the College of the Holy Cross in MA.

No surprise that Dr. Fauci, leader, and one of the top doctors, is a Yankee fan; just another reason to love him.  And if baseball makes its comeback this season, it will be clearly under the scrutiny and guidance from the good doctor.

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

THAT'S 25 GAMES IN A ROW

Source: Twitter

In a rare night game in Yankee Stadium on Saturday, the Yankees tied a 78-year-old record.  The Bombers have hit a home run in 25 straight games and the feeling among fans and the team is just electric.

"The Yankees' current home run streak is the second longest in Yankees history, trailing only a 25-gamer in 1941. That '41 team went on to win the World Series and included six Hall of Famers, by the way: Phil Rizzuto, Joe DiMaggio, Bill Dickey, Joe Gordon, Lefty Gomez and Red Ruffing," reported CBS.com.

The 2002 Texas Rangers hit a home run in 27 straight games and the Yankees could very well surpass that record, giving them just another reason to get excited about being, well the Yankees!

Source: Newsday

The team has spread the wealth of home runs across the line up, with guys like Gleyber Torres, Gary Sanchez and Cameron Maybin feeding the streak.  It was Gio Urshela who gave the Yankees the 25th home run of the streak and his excitement was felt across the Stadium.

Although they were not dingers, also exciting the line up has been Giancarlo Stanton, who's clutch hits in the 6th and 7th gave the Yankees the runs they needed to best Houston in the series, taking the first three out of four games against the Astros.

Source: NY Times

With Old Timer's Day today and Yankee Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera back in pinstripes for his first appearance in the Yankee tradition, the Yankees have so much to celebrate these days: A fully stacked line up, tremendous options in the field and yes, a franchise record tie for the most consecutive home runs.

Let's keep the momentum going.

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

PRAY FOR TOM TERRIFIC

Getting old sucks.

Tom Seaver is in a sad place right now. Pray for him and his family.  Yankee announcer or not, Tom Seaver was an extraordinary MLB pitcher. I saw him get his 300th at Yankee Stadium on Phil Rizzuto day when he was with the White Sox. He was great then, but even better with the Mets.

Not too many people know this but he was the Yankee Announcer for a bit too. He was great at that as well, but now, it seems that over time, age has gotten to him. Tom Terrific has been diagnosed with dementia.

The LA Times writes:

"Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Seaver has been diagnosed with dementia and has retired from public life. The family of the 74-year-old made the announcement Thursday through the Hall. 

They say Seaver will continue to work in the vineyard at his home in California."

It's unbelievable to think about, but it's true. This man is larger than life. What an incredible personality and playing ability.  I think the thing that gets me the most is seeing these words:

"retired from public life"

Wow.

Prayers to the Seaver family from everyone here at BYB.

OH, STOP WHINING ALREADY!

The whole world has heard by now the big rant that hit the airwaves yesterday as the New York Yankees announced their new enhancements to Yankee Stadium. I'm talking about Mike Francesa, of course, and his displeasure with the changes. He sounded like he was just handed the memo while he was on the air, and just reacting to it off the top of his head. Now I have always liked Mike, so don't mistake what I'm saying as bashing the guy. I think times are changing, the Yankees are trying to make the Stadium better, and Mike is having a hard time adjusting.

The full description of the changes is kind of long, but you can read it for yourself on the Yankees' MLB.com site HERE. First of all, if you heard the broadcast, you might think Mike has a problem with bars and restaurants at the Stadium. If he does, he's the only one. I've been to the restaurants and to most of the party decks. I love them. I've never seen anyone in there looking unhappy. So what's the problem? You're mad because the Yankees want to open another place to sit, eat, and drink while they enjoy the game? C'mon man.

Next, he ripped into the new Sunrun Kids Clubhouse. This I just don't get. I mean, he has three small children. Keeping the kids in their seats for 3+ hours in the hot summer sun even with the occasional bathroom and food/drink run is nearly impossible without something bad happening. Every parent knows the kids need a break, even the most die-hard. The Yankees will also have a private space for mothers who are nursing. Mike took special aim at that. In fact, he went back to talking about "breast pumps" at least 3 times. Again, I like Mike. But I remember the days when the Yankees held Briefcase Day for men 25 and over (I think it was 25, but I might be wrong). Making it a little more friendly and comfortable for women and mothers is a step in the right direction. It's about time.

Finally, Mike opened fire on what the Yankees are calling social gathering areas. They're open areas for fans to hang out. They already had a couple of those areas behind the bleachers. They're pretty nice actually. “Isn’t there a game going on during this?" Yes, there is, Mike. Some of us wouldn't mind it if we had a place to hang out with others while cheering on the Yankees. Some of us like being social and meeting people. I'm not sure what the problem is.

Since we're on the topic of social gathering, I wish they'd knock down that stupid "moat". I'm glad that all these new offerings are "accessible to all Yankee Stadium ticketed Guests". Still, nothing tells people that they're 2nd class citizens like telling them they can't hang near the people who bought the expensive tickets. It really is high time. Okay, now I'm whining!

Back to the topic at hand ...

Now I know a bunch of you are going to tell me that they're ruining the tradition of the Stadium. I hear you. I heard you at the opening of the 2009 season when you said that the Stadium didn't "feel" the same. I hear it all the time about how the Stadium feels more like a mall than a ballpark. Listen, I've been to Fenway Park (in my Yankees T-shirt, of course). Aside from the historical significance, the place is a dump. Most of the development they've done there has been outside of the ballpark in a fenced off area you're allowed to go to and still go back in the ballpark. Going there and coming back is a pain in the butt. It's hard to believe that I have to convince people of this, but having good food options and being able to get a drink while enjoying a Yankee game is a good thing. Relax. Enjoy. Change is a good thing.

One last thing. I have to say something nice about Mike Francesa. Like I said, I like the guy. I've listened to him for years. His voice is as much a part of Yankees Universe as John Sterling's home run calls and Phil Rizzuto's "Holy Cow!". I usually like what he has to say, and I always get the sense that he wants the team to do well. Maybe he had a bad day. Maybe he'll come around the next time he takes the kids to the Stadium. Regardless, this is a good thing and there's a lot of people who will appreciate it.

--Ike Dimitriadis, BYB Senior Staff Writer
Follow me on Twitter: @KingAgamemnon

BASEBALL: IT'S IN OUR DNA

Earlier this week, a colleague came by to visit with me in my office.  We were having a typical conversation about how we work to support our students' success.  The conversation switched from students to current events including the elections, the tragic loss of Jose Fernandez and the results of my colleague's recent DNA test.  He shared with me that although he knew he had a certain amount of African American in his soul, he was surprised by the other ingredients that were part of his makeup including Irish-American.  As we spoke, I began to drift a bit and think about my own DNA. Then, I glanced over to an 11x14 photo of Derek Jeter, which I have on one of my walls.  I thought to myself, forget my origin from a theoretical standpoint- I'm from Cooperstown and baseball is in my DNA.

I have known baseball for as long as I can remember.  As a baby, I celebrated with my grandmother as the 1969 Mets won their first World Series.  My father quickly whisked me back to reality as the Yankees battled Boston, the Kansas City Royals and the Los Angeles Dodgers each year.  I learned the game by watching and listening to the game, every day.  Sometimes, I would record the game using my boom box...yes, cassette record so I could listen to it later.  I'd buy the long cassette tapes from Radio Shack so I could record and listen to the game later in the day.  I would even record the post game sometimes.  Announcers Frank Messer, Phil Rizzuto and Bill White, shared the airwaves and moved from television to radio almost seamlessly.  Yes, the same guys called the games and took turns between the two different media.  That's when the Yankees were broadcasted on 11 Alive and 1010 wins.  Yep, baseball is clearly in my DNA, because my recall is spot on.

When I learned early Sunday morning that we lost Jose Fernandez to a freak boating accident, I immediately thought about that terrible day when we lost the Captain, Thurman Munson, to a freak plane accident.  Although Munson was a player toward the end of his career, the pain was thick and gruesome, much like we have been witnessing with the loss of this vibrant young man, Fernandez.  #15 and #16 will forever be remembered by baseball fans for their contribution to a game that was clearly a part of their DNA.

Here at BYB, we write through the lens of our own passions.  We feel what we write, whether we are defending a player or manager or ranting about them.  You see, baseball is in our DNA.  When we say we Bleeding Yankee Blue, we mean it.  As we think about the choices we make and the way we have decided to spend our time and live our lives, we have to think about why we continue to write, day after day, loss after loss, win after win.  It's baseball.  It's our constant.  It's in our DNA.

--Suzie Pinstripe, BYB Senior Staff Writer
BYB Hot Stove Columnist
Twitter: @suzieprof