AUSTIN WELLS IS NOT A LEAD OFF GUY

I've said it once, twice, 100 times here. Aaron Boone's an idiot.

Austin Wells is not a leadoff hitter. Aaron Boone can push that narrative all he wants, trying to distract us from the fact that the Yankees gave up a legitimate bat in Gleyber Torres. But let’s be real—Wells isn’t that guy. He was a great college player, sure, but in the big leagues, he’s an okay hitter and a serviceable catcher. Like Anthony Volpe, he’s just… there. Nothing special. He gets some hits, plays decent defense, but he’s not quick, he’s not dynamic, and he sure as hell isn’t a leadoff man.

When I think of a real leadoff hitter, I think of guys like Ichiro, Rickey Henderson, or Devon White—players who found ways to get on base, who made things happen. And now we have Aaron “No Championships” Boone trying to convince us that Austin Wells is the answer? Please. Wells looks more like a dad playing slow-pitch softball than someone leading off for the New York Yankees. He doesn’t even pass the eye test.

Boone penciled him into the leadoff spot on Feb. 28, just to "see how it looked." And somehow, he hasn’t moved since. The New York Post is hyping up his Grapefruit League numbers—.355 average, 1.122 OPS, three homers—but let’s not kid ourselves. Spring training stats mean nothing. Teams are experimenting, pitchers are working on mechanics, and the games don’t matter. But Boone, in all his wisdom, is acting like Wells is the solution.

The real answer is Jazz Chisholm Jr. He’s the spark this lineup needs. He plays with energy, gets on base, and can hit for power and average. Plus, he swiped 40 bags last year. When leading off in 2024, Chisholm hit .263 with three homers, four extra-base hits, and a better on-base percentage than Wells. Yet Boone is catering to a catcher—who, let’s be honest, is only really valuable for his defense.

What kind of clown show is Boone running? Wells is a good guy, sure, but he’s not a superstar. Even Jorge Posada was a better hitter, and no one ever thought of him as a leadoff guy. The Yankees have major problems this season, and guessing games at the top of the lineup won’t fix them. But that’s Boone for you—always making baffling decisions.

Mark my words: Wells won’t be leading off by May. He’s a catcher. His body will wear down, he’ll hit a slump, he'll get tired, his body already takes a beating behind the plate and the Yankees will be forced to move him. Boone should know better—his dad was a catcher! But instead, he’s doubling down on nonsense, because that’s what bad managers do.

This isn’t the Yankees I grew up with. This team has embraced mediocrity and convinced itself it’s winning. It’s embarrassing.

RICKEY HENDERSON'S CAUSE OF DEATH REVEALED

Rickey Henderson, the "Man of Steel," has passed away at just 65 years old, leaving a void that feels impossible to fill. The devastating news, reported by TMZ, confirms that Henderson succumbed to a battle with pneumonia after being hospitalized in the Oakland area.

Rickey wasn’t just a baseball player—he was a force of nature. For 24 breathtaking seasons, he lit up Major League Baseball like no one else could. As a Hall of Famer and the undisputed king of stolen bases, Rickey redefined the game, especially for those of us who grew up idolizing him. I can’t quite process this loss. I’ve been a lifelong fan, and even now, I struggle to imagine a world without him. Rickey was the epitome of strength, determination, and showmanship. He seemed invincible.

Billy Beane, former Oakland A’s general manager and now senior advisor, captured Rickey’s brilliance perfectly: “Rickey was the greatest leadoff hitter of all time. There’s no debate. He transformed the game and made every team he played for better.”

Rickey spent most of his iconic career with the Oakland Athletics, but he made an impact everywhere he went, playing for eight other teams along the way. His records, including the all-time stolen base crown, are testaments to his unparalleled ability. But Rickey’s influence wasn’t limited to the numbers in the record books—it was in the way he inspired everyone who watched him play.

The New York Yankees, another team lucky enough to have had him in their clubhouse, released a poignant statement:

"Rickey Henderson was an all-time great player who commanded our attention like few players before or since, transcending our traditional understanding of how elite and thrilling a single player could be... Rickey left an indelible mark on our record book, and he entertained us not only with his baseball talent, but with a no-nonsense personality and knack for showmanship that were ahead of its time.”

When I think about Rickey, I remember the electricity he brought to every game. The way he’d stand at the plate with his signature stance, daring the pitcher to challenge him. The way he’d explode off first base, stealing second before anyone could blink. He wasn’t just a player; he was a phenomenon.

To know that this larger-than-life figure is gone feels surreal. Rickey wasn’t supposed to go this way—he was supposed to outlast us all, still stealing bases in our memories well into his old age.

My heart goes out to his wife Pamela, his daughters Angela, Adrianna, and Alexis, and everyone lucky enough to have been touched by his brilliance. Baseball has lost a giant, and we, his fans, have lost a hero.

Rickey, you were one of a kind, and the game will never be the same without you. Rest in peace, legend. You’ll forever be our "Man of Steel."

READ MORE ABOUT RICKEY HENDERSON FROM BYB:

THE GREATEST QUOTES EVER FROM YANKEE GREAT RICKEY HENDERSON

WHY I'VE ALWAYS LINKED CHRISTMAS TO THE YANKEES

RICKEY HENDERSON HAS DIED

RICKEY HENDERSON HAS DIED

I am in utter shock.

I can’t believe it. I just can’t. Rickey Henderson is gone. My heart is shattered. This feels unreal—like some terrible mistake. Rickey was more than a legend to me; he was everything. As a kid in Little League, he was my hero. I worshiped the way he played the game—the speed, the daring, the way he could steal a base like it was nothing. I’d step onto the diamond, pretending I was Rickey, stealing bases like my life depended on it. By the end of most seasons, I’d usually lead my league in stolen bases, and it was all because of him.

Now he’s gone. How can that even be possible? Rickey, the man who could do the impossible on a baseball field. The man who stole 1,406 bases and scored more runs than anyone in the history of the game. He made baseball come alive. His debut with the A’s at 20, his record-setting 130 steals in 1982, the countless electrifying moments—it all feels like yesterday.

When I heard he was coming to the Yankees, I was over the moon. I remember buying my first-ever 8x10 photo of Rickey in that iconic green and yellow A’s uniform just a few years before he come to the Bronx, but seeing him in pinstripes? That was pure magic. My hero, playing for my team. Every game he played felt like a gift.

Now he’s gone. Dave Winfield said, “I still cannot believe I’ve lost one of my favorite teammates and great friend Rickey Henderson.” I feel that disbelief in my bones. How can someone larger than life be gone?

Rickey’s legacy is staggering. Over 3,000 hits, nearly 300 home runs, and those untouchable Major League records: 2,295 runs scored and 1,406 stolen bases. A 10-time All-Star, the 1990 MVP, and a two-time World Series champion. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009, first ballot, as he absolutely should have been.

But Rickey was more than the stats. He was Rickey. He made you love the game, made you believe anything was possible. I still can’t process this. Rest in peace, Rickey. You were my hero then, and you always will be. Baseball will never be the same without you.

You were the greatest.  I cannot believe this happened. 65 years old. So young!

THE GREATEST QUOTES EVER FROM YANKEE GREAT RICKEY HENDERSON

Rickey Henderson speaks in 3rd person and truth be told, he pulls it off with ease because he struts his stuff and did amazing things on the diamond. He accomplished greatness... and so why not speak the way his does.  To quite columnist Jim Caple...

"He has referred to himself in the third person ever since informing his mother that "Rickey Henderson would like his bottle and a fresh diaper."

So, we here at Bleeding Yankee Blue thought it would be fun to remind you of some of the funniest and most competitive quotes from Rickey Henderson throughout his career! Enjoy this one:

“Rickey don’t like it when Rickey can’t find Rickey’s limo.”

This quote is often attributed to Henderson, but the exact source is somewhat apocryphal. It has been mentioned in various articles and books about Henderson, including "Confessions of a Baseball Purist" by Jon Miller.

“If my uniform doesn't get dirty, I haven't done anything in the baseball game.”

This quote is attributed to Henderson in many articles and books about his career, including "Rickey Henderson: The Man of Steal" by William Macnow.

“You have to keep running. I always believed I was going to be safe.”

This quote is from Henderson's reflection on his approach to base stealing, found in "Rickey: The Life and Legend of an American Original" by Howard Bryant.

“Lou Brock was a great base stealer, but today, I am the greatest of all time.”

Henderson said this during his speech after breaking Lou Brock’s stolen base record. It’s documented in various reports, including the New York Times article covering the event on May 1, 1991.

“You guys got a Cadillac. Now you just have to go buy a driver.”

This quote was reported in Sports Illustrated after Henderson was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays in 1993. It’s a reflection of his self-confidence and sense of humor.

"This is Rickey calling on behalf of Rickey. Rickey wants to play baseball."

When Rickey Henderson was still eager to play baseball after his prime, he reportedly left this voicemail for a team's front office, demonstrating his persistence and unique way of referring to himself in the third person. From "The Baseball Codes: Beanballs, Sign Stealing, and Bench-Clearing Brawls: The Unwritten Rules of America's Pastime" by Jason Turbow, Michael Duca, 2010.

                                “I’m Rickey Henderson, and you’re not.”

Henderson is known for saying this often, particularly when meeting people. It has been quoted in interviews and profiles, including one in ESPN.

“Rickey is so fast, he could turn off the light and be in bed before it gets dark.”

This humorous quote about Henderson’s speed is widely cited in baseball lore and is often attributed to Henderson himself. It’s mentioned in "Baseball's Funniest Quotes" by Glenn Liebman.

“When I played, I didn’t set out to break records, I set out to dominate the game. And it wasn’t about being a jerk, it was about doing whatever I could to win.”

Henderson made this comment in an interview with Sports Illustrated where he discussed his competitive nature and approach to the game.

"I don’t want to hear you say I don’t hustle. Nobody hustles more than Rickey Henderson. They’d have to make two hustles to be better than me."

Rickey Henderson famously spoke about himself in the third person, and this quote showcases his characteristic swagger and sense of humor, asserting his unparalleled effort on the field. From Bruce Nash, Allan Zullo, "The Baseball Hall of Shame 4," 1989.

"It took me 20 years to get 3,000 hits. I should have done it in three."

Rickey Henderson humorously commented on reaching the milestone of 3,000 hits, joking about how he could have achieved it much faster, reflecting his confident and playful nature.

You gotta love Rickey... and It's clear that Rickey loves Rickey!

--Alvin Izzo

BYB Yankee History Contributor

THE WORST YANKEE RUNNING PLAY EVER STILL RIDICULOUS ALL THESE YEARS LATER

In the annals of baseball history, certain moments stand out for their sheer improbability, and then there’s the August 2, 1985-debacle involving the New York Yankees and the Chicago White Sox. This incident, which saw Bobby Meacham and Dale Berra both tagged out at home plate by the indomitable Carlton Fisk within seconds of each other, is often hailed (or rather, lamented) as one of the most spectacular running blunders in Yankees history.

It all began with Rickey Henderson at the plate, the Yankees’ formidable speedster. Henderson had already established himself as a prolific leadoff hitter and base-stealing legend. On this particular evening, however, his role in one of the Yankees' most calamitous plays would eclipse his usual on-field heroics. With Meacham on second and Berra on first, Henderson cracked a deep drive to center field. The ball looked poised to cause trouble for the White Sox outfielders and, indeed, it did.

As Henderson’s hit soared, Meacham and Berra took off like they had rockets in their cleats. Third base coach Gene Michael, affectionately known as “Stick” for his lanky build, saw an opportunity to get both runners home. What ensued was nothing short of a circus.

Meacham rounded third with Berra hot on his heels. At that moment, it became clear that the communication between runners and coach had gone disastrously awry. Michael, in a decision that would be questioned for decades to come, waved both runners home. As they neared the plate, Carlton Fisk, the White Sox catcher, stood like a fortress ready to thwart their attempts.

Outfielder Luis Salazar relayed the ball to shortstop Ozzie Guillén, who in turn fired it to Fisk. Meacham arrived first, sliding into home where Fisk applied the tag with clinical precision. Before the crowd's collective gasp could dissipate, Berra barreled towards the plate. Fisk, still firmly in possession of the ball, made a swift pivot and tagged Berra out too. Two Yankees out at home plate in the span of mere seconds – a sight so rare it left spectators and players alike rubbing their eyes in disbelief.

The reactions from the Yankees dugout ranged from stunned silence to exasperated facepalms. "I've never seen anything like it," said Yankees manager Billy Martin, shaking his head. "It was like watching a car crash in slow motion – you know it's going to be bad, but you just can't look away."

Don Mattingly, who had a front-row seat to the chaos, quipped, "I thought I was seeing double. It’s like a bad dream you just can’t wake up from."

This play, despite its comedic appearance, became a somber lesson in the importance of communication and timing in baseball. It also underscored the unpredictable nature of the sport – where even the most seasoned professionals can find themselves part of a moment destined for blooper reels and trivia questions for generations.

For the Yankees, it was a stark reminder that even with talent and speed, the game can humble you in the most unexpected ways. For fans, it remains a legendary tale, retold with equal parts amusement and disbelief.

As we look back, we can laugh, wince, and perhaps learn a little something about the intricacies of baseball – and life. The double-out debacle of August 2, 1985, is a poignant reminder that in the game of baseball, anything is possible, even the patently absurd.

--Alvin Izzo

BYB Yankee History Contributor

THE BUM

 

I never wanted Frankie Montas.  There's something about being in Oakland and coming to the Bronx that changes players.  We've seen it over the years. Most recent memory is Sonny Gray, but diving in you can find more.  Guys like Rickey Henderson, Catfish and Nick Swisher are probably the exception. It's smaller market to big market and the constant microscope for New York Yankee fans that are looking for anything to watch you fail.  

Frankie Montas being a big time pitcher that the Yankees needed to have was a media driven story that everyone in Yankeeland fell for.  Think about it, the Yankees needed a pitcher and we were headed to the trade deadline. Add in the New York Media and it's the perfect storm for getting clicks and buying papers. They tricked you. I didn't fall for it. I thought it was ridiculous, but Cashman did not. He fell for it too  And now the new Carl Pavano has entered the Yankees ballpark... hurt.  That's right, Frankie needs surgery... and it should surprise no one.

MLB Trade Rumors writes:

"Yankees right-hander Frankie Montas will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his shoulder on Feb. 21, manager Aaron Boone announced (Twitter links via Bryan Hoch of MLB.com and Joel Sherman of the New York Post). The best-case scenario for a return would be late in the 2023 season.

Montas was already known to be behind schedule heading into spring training, thanks to inflammation in his right shoulder that slowed his offseason progression. General manager Brian Cashman said three weeks ago, however, that the damage didn’t appear to be structural in nature. The GM added that more information would be gained once Montas began his throwing program. That was scheduled for late January, and it now seems clear that things didn’t go as smoothly as hoped."

Let's do what Suzie Pinstripe said a few weeks ago. LET'S GO WITH FOUR & SEE WHAT THE SPRING BRINGS!

THE LITTLE ENGINES THAT COULD

From one engine to another engine.

Bleeding Yankee Blue has been around for 10 years and it all started because of readers like you and like my bud Al Malafronte.  Over time Al even created his own project and I fully endorse it. That project is the 'Break-a-Bat' Podcast and tomorrow we'll be dropping a BYB Podcast and our chat with Al... who happens to not only be a Bleeding Yankee Blue fan, but also a huge Yankee fanatic as well.

I wanted to give our audience a sneak peak today however.  I asked Al the tell me what 3 New York Yankees he would want to have dinner with.  His choices were brilliant....



Lou Gehrig, Rickey Henderson and Aroldis Chapman.  But he snuck in another chair at the table and it's hilarious! Give this promo a listen.

I was also happy to hear about his love for Bleeding Yankee Blue and totally appreciate it. Take a listen to this:


Extremely flattering and we love Al back big time!

Anyway... Malafronte's "Break-a-Bat' Podcast is quickly becoming a great success, and with all his knowledge for the Yankees and baseball in general, I wanted to turn the tables and interview him for our new start up... the BYB Podcast on BYB Media.  Look for the full chat tomorrow right here on BYB!

I can't wait to share it with you!

STANTON FITTING IN NICELY

Source: MLB.com

Like many Yankee fans, I am getting excited as each video clip of batting practice and pitcher warm ups leak out onto the Internet. One of my favorite clips so far has been Giancarlo Stanton taking questions at his new locker on Friday when he showed up early to spring training. Maybe it’s that Stanton is the new guy on the block, and easily the Yankees’ biggest acquisition in the off season. Maybe it’s the fact that It’s been months since I’ve seen live baseball, and I think I speak for all of us when I say that we’re starving for the Yankees to take the field and play ball. The whole presentation impressed me, and if he holds to form, we may have something even more special than his ridiculous hitting stats would indicate.

Source: Associated Press

The fact that he showed up early says something to me. This is not something a prima donna would do. I expected that his arrival would have been a grand spectacle, with reporters and microphones and flashing cameras pointed at him from all angles. I’ll be honest, I was worried about him having a need for attention that would disrupt the team dynamic. He certainly has the name recognition to generate a media circus. Instead, he just sat there and took questions, like any player would. Yesterday, he went out to the cages to take some swings and get his work in. He expressed more concern about getting the rust off his swing than the fact that he hit a few over the fence.

Source: Associated Press

If you ask me, this is critical for a guy as conspicuous as he is. The Yankees had a really good dynamic last year. It’s something Aaron Boone has to be very careful to protect. Stanton’s arrival was a stark contrast to some of the higher profile acquisitions in the Yankees’ past. Who could forget Randy Johnson’s literal run-in with the media that needed a public apology? How about the paparazzi surrounding Alex Rodriguez’ arrival that created a chill with his teammates? If you’re old enough, you might remember Rickey Henderson stepping in it with reporters when he first walked into the Stadium clubhouse as a Yankee and announced, “I don’t need no press now, man”. That went over like a lead balloon. To be fair, these were huge personalities, accustomed to reporters and cameras orbiting them like planets around the sun.

Source: Associated Press

Stanton is just as huge. So far, he is doing the smart thing and staying focused, fitting in, and making sure he’s ready to contribute. He doesn’t have a spotless record with the media, occasionally being unavailable for reporters after a game. The New York media is no walk in the park, and the fact that it has gone as well as it has for him is a great sign. This team has a lot of the key ingredients for a championship run. The less time they spend thinking about how to answer questions about their new teammate and the more time they get to focus on the game, the better. If he is the real deal, on and off the field, we have a lot of reason to be pumped about him this season.

--Ike Dimitriadis
BYB Contributor
Twitter: @KingAgamemnon

DECEMBER HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN A GREAT MONTH FOR THE YANKEES

Source: Sporting News

So far this December, we have had a good run.  We signed a new manager, we signed Giancarlo Stanton and we are taking our rightful post as best team in baseball from the farm upwards.  Historically, December has been a great month for the Yankees and it all started in 1919.

"In the winter of 1919, Red Sox owner Harry Frazee did the unthinkable: In need of funding for a musical he was trying to produce, he sold Babe Ruth -- deemed "more spectacular than useful" -- to the rival Yankees for $100,000. Four World Series titles, the all-time home run record and an 86-year curse later, it's one of the most significant moments in baseball history," reported MLB.com

Specifically, it was December 26th as the Twitter post boasts.  And there was no going back for the Yankees.  Now, almost 100 years later, the Yankees are sitting above the rest, building, sculpting a new dynasty filled with promise and excitement.

"With the December trade for reigning National League MVP Giancarlo Stanton, the Yankees believe they have assembled a modern-day version of the fabled Murderer's Row, stacking their lineup with the right-handed power of Judge, Stanton and Gary Sanchez," reported MLB.com.

Source: New York Times

The leader of this newly assembled lineup is Aaron Boone, whose fit seemed unlikely to many who thought someone with managerial experience should take the helm.  But at the start of this great December, he was the candidate the front office believed could carry the Yankees to their next championship.

Source: NJ.com

 “Joe was great for the last 10 years, like Joe Torre was great before him. But the game is changing at such a speed that you’ve got to be able to not only jump on and go with it, but relate it to this generation of young stars," reported the New York Times earlier in the month.

Source: Newsday

Other Decembers where we made favorable "blockbuster-like" moves include 2014 when we picked up Didi Gregorius and Andrew Miller, Mark Teixeira in 2008, Hideki Matsui in 2002, Rickey Henderson in 1984, Catfish Hunter in 1974 and Roger Maris in 1959.

Source:  Getty Images / Elsa

In December 2008 we signed CC Sabathia for the first time and for the second time, Sabathia officially signed his new 2018 contract the day after Christmas.  Will he be the last signing before the New Year, topping off another great December?  Perhaps but there are several hours left for the Yankees to snag another pitcher in Gerrit Cole or Patrick Corbin?  Or another?  No doubt, that the Yankees have a little more room on their roster to make some further additions.

We will keep our ears and eyes open and report it out.  Happy December everyone!

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

LARRY ROTHSCHILD TO RETURN

I have no problem with this. Do you? By the way, this photo above is Larry Rothschild way, way back in the day.  Love this shot of Rothschild, he's bad ass.  Here's a recent photo...

Photo: USA Today

Now, for me, Larry Rothschild has done a fine job, and having him back in pinstripes is no issue for me at all.  More from MLB.com:

"Rothschild will return as the Yankees' pitching coach in 2018, regardless of who is hired as the club's new manager, a source told MLB.com on Monday. The club has not confirmed.

The Yankees have not made any official announcements regarding their coaching staff. Rob Thomson, the team's bench coach, recently interviewed with general manager Brian Cashman for the managerial position."

And so we still wait for an idea of who will be the Yankee manager.

Photo: NJ.com

Watch, it will be some random move, and right before Christmas the Yankees will announce it's Rickey Henderson or some crap like that.

THE YANKEES & THE NEED FOR SPEED

We have Brett Gardner.  We have Jacoby Ellsbury.  We need to get on base. We need to run.

I've stated this here on Bleeding Yankee Blue for years, and while Little League isn't exactly the same, the concept is... you get on, you run your ass off and you get in scoring position for your big boppers.  It's that simple.  I did it in my young baseball career for years, and it worked. Bunt, slap it over third... do what you gotta do and get on base... AND get in scoring position!

Quick, and obvious nugget here.  Gardy believes in the need for speed and how he needs to do more.  Let's hope the team allows it to happen.

 SNY (I'm not kidding) writes:

"Brett Gardner hopes to solve the New York Yankees' need for speed. He swiped 47 bases in 2010 and a league-leading 49 the following year. While he was a first-time All-Star last year, he stole just 20. 

'Obviously a little less aggressive,' Gardner said Wednesday night before going 0 for 2 in his delayed spring training debut. 'Can't steal 40-something bases if you don't try and steal 40-something bases.'"

And it's true, you need to take those chances, you need to trust your abilities and get in scoring position.  Do it early, do it often and do it.  Sure, Gardy is no Rickey Henderson, but you gotta energize a club and sometimes that means running.

Small nugget.  Something the Yankees really need to think about.

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WHY I DON'T FEEL THE NEW YORK METS

I’ve been a Yankee fan all my life.  My earliest memories were of Ron Guidry and Reggie Jackson, but as time went on, Don Mattingly was incredible to me and of course, when the Yankees signed Rickey Henderson, my world was complete.  

It continued with collecting the cards and poking fun at ourselves every once in a while too. There was a time when there were players like Dale Berra, Bobby Meacham, but for the most part, even in the dark times… I was a Yankee fan all the way.  

Now it’s true, I’m a baseball fan first.  I remember watching Pete Rose at a very young age and thought he was the greatest ever. But as you grow up, cracking open an encyclopedia, you learn more.  Babe Ruth. Lou Gehrig. Joe DiMaggio.  My dad was a Mickey Mantle and Yogi Berra guy, and like I’ve told you all before, my dad was 16 years old and would usher games at Yankee Stadium, commuting by train from Long Island to the Bronx.  And so, the stories he’d tell were always about the New York Yankees.  The Mets? They just didn’t exist. 

As you grow and learn about the history of the game, the Mets didn’t really have that track record. I mean sure, they won it all in 1969, but this was the early 80’s that I was entrenched in baseball, and that was the decade that I was consumed with the most, late 70's, early 80's, playing baseball and collecting memorabilia. The Mets hadn’t even won in 1986 yet, because the early 80’s was still the Yankees coming off of 2 more championships with the hopes that they’d do it again. The teams that won were teams like the Phillies, the Cardinals, the Orioles… Oh yeah and a team called the Los Angeles Dodgers that were actually the Brooklyn Dodgers before they sold out and moved to LA. In other words, the history of these teams ran deep way before 1969, and so, in all my knowledge about great baseball players and teams… the Mets didn’t really ever factor in.

It was just the way it was, and sure Nolan Ryan was in Queens at the time, so was Tom Seaver, but for me… I became more interested in those players and their histories when Ryan was with the Angels, and Seaver, the Cincinnati Reds. To say the Mets were some team with a long history? Well, it was silly… they won once… 1969. 

The Mets were made from the New York Giants and the Brooklyn Dodgers. Combining the colors, while it may look good on paper, never quite resonated with me.  It was ugly, I didn’t get it.  Sure, the teams darted for California, and so what… out of spite they made another New York team?  To what...keep the baseball tradition that the Yankees already had? Really?
 

They hired a former Yankee manager in Casey Stengel in 1962 to try and keep people engaged in the METS? Come on. Stengel will always be a Yankee.  Reading through the history, I was young ,but almost insulted on how it all came about.  And yes, through it all, I was consumed by the Yankees… win or lose, that was my team. The Mets appear to be posers in their short history, but the Yankees... they were much bigger, and their history was much deeper.  

I collected everything. I loved the Yankee yearbooks, I’d read about the prospects all the time. I’d even collect the Burger King Yankee Cards from the late 70s. 
 

I’d wear a really bad version of the Yankees cap, trucker style. I’d use electrical tape and literally make a #49 on the back of an old undershirt, put an interlocking NY on my heart and throw a tennis ball at the wall for hours at a time, pretending I was Ron Guidry. I loved the New York Yankees… and they WERE New York!

When the Mets won in 1986, I was happy for them, but it didn’t matter to me if it was the Mets or the San Antonio Tomatoes… the Mets were just another team. But more importantly, for a kid like me who loved long histories of ball clubs, it meant virtually nothing. The 60's weren't the 20's. At the same time, I was starting to wonder in the Yankees, with their rich history, could continue their winning ways...

Then it happened. As I got older, still a Yankee fan, never leaving my club because I loved it’s history, we went on a tear. 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000. We were back, and it was a long time coming since I sat in the mezzanine at Yankee Stadium at Game 1 against the Dodgers in the World Series in 1981. We had a deep history, and now, there were more championships to add to it.

The Mets were the other team, the gnats. The annoying other team that you usually heard people say “Sucked”.  The Omar Minaya era was disastrous for them, and they still paid Bobby Bonilla even though he was long gone.  It was weird, it was brutal to watch, to hear about and to be honest, I stayed on the other side of the street.  Again, with a history of 1969 and 1986, I couldn’t pick guys like Choo Choo Coleman or Danny Heep out of a lineup.  

I mean, I liked Gary Carter, but he was an Expo to me, not a New York Met. George Foster? He was a member of the Big Red Machine.  Again, there was history, and the Mets weren’t in mine.

A few days ago the New York Mets advanced to the NLCS. They started playing the Chicago Cubs last night, winning Game 1. It’s going to be a terrific match-up. Now, I’ve watched as much baseball as possible this post season… something I don’t always do. The Mets look good, but if you know anything about me, you know my baseball knowledge. You also know that I love tradition and a deep baseball history. My buddy’s a Mets fan. He said to me the other day, “I can’t believe you’re not rooting for the home team.” “I’m not rooting for any team officially,” I said, “I'm rooting for the history of the game. “ That’s where I am, that’s where my heart is and that’s where I’ll always be when it comes to baseball. For me, it’s about the long time histories, not teams that show up late to the party. I don’t follow the Rockies, the Diamondbacks and I certainly do not follow the Mets. I root for baseball… but I root for baseball history more. Right now… I think about the Cubs and their fans and what they haven’t been able to do since 1908 and you know what? I feel for them. Chicago needs a win in 2015...that's the bottom line. Does it mean I hate the Mets? No way... hell no. I just don’t care about them. 

No biggie. 

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