THE ONLY DECISION SHOULD BE TO KEEP CABALLERO AT SHORTSTOP

Everyone keeps parroting that the New York Yankees have this “very hard decision” to make on Anthony Volpe. Let’s stop pretending. The decision isn’t hard—it’s just awkward to admit out loud for the Yankees front offce.

Because the truth? The Yankees already know what they’re going to do. They’re bringing Volpe back, plugging him in as the starting shortstop, and hoping—really hoping—that this time the bat shows up, the glove behaves, and the growing pains finally come with a payoff. It’s less a plan and more a wish written on a folded lottery ticket.

And that’s exactly the problem.

This isn’t about disliking Volpe. He was drafted by the Yankees, he wears the uniform, and if you’re a fan, you want him to succeed. That part is easy. But liking the story and believing the production are two different things. The Yankees—and their fans—keep getting sold on effort. You’ve heard it a million times: “He works so hard.” Great. So does everyone. The real follow-up question never gets asked though: what are the results?

Because working hard while spinning your wheels isn’t progress—it’s cardio.

Volpe hasn’t shown enough results. Not in the majors, and not convincingly on this rehab assignment either. Yes, there’s a .280 average floating around, but it’s built on roughly 40 at-bats—barely a sample, more like a suggestion. Zoom in a little closer and it’s not exactly dominant: hitless in a 13–3 win for Somerset the other night, a hit with another strikeout in an 11–0 game for Somerset last night. This is Double-A. He’s supposed to look like a finished product visiting a lower level, not a guy still searching for the instruction manual.

Meanwhile, the major league roster didn’t exactly fall apart without him. In fact, it found a spark. José Caballero has been one of the hottest players on the team since mid-April—hitting, running, creating energy, actually impacting games. That matters. Baseball has always been brutally simple: play the guy who’s producing. Ride the hot hand until it cools, not until a pre-written script says otherwise.

And yet, here we are, bracing for the Yankees to force the narrative again. Because that’s what this feels like: an organization trying to prove it was right about Volpe instead of honestly evaluating what’s in front of them. Fans see it. You can’t sell potential forever without delivering reality.

Here’s the part people don’t want to say out loud: maybe he just hasn’t earned it. And that’s okay. Not every prospect becomes the guy. It doesn’t make him a villain—it just makes him… not the answer.

So why rush him back? He wasn’t fully developed the first time. Keeping him in the minors isn’t punishment—it’s common sense. Let him actually build something resembling consistency. And if an opportunity comes along? Explore it. Trade him for a utility piece, bullpen depth, whatever improves the roster. Holding on just because of draft status is how you stay stuck.

Also, timing matters. His rehab assignment is ending, which forces a decision: bring him up or keep him down. For me, it’s simple—keep him down. Especially when there are already alternatives on the roster, even beyond Caballero, like Ryan McMahon. Why bend over backwards to reinsert someone who hasn’t proven it?

Baseball history is full of reminders that jobs aren’t guaranteed. Wally Pipp sat out with a headache and Lou Gehrig took over for good. Opportunity doesn’t care about prospect rankings or front office narratives.

And here’s one more uncomfortable thought: what if Caballero is just… better? That’s a perfectly reasonable conclusion based on what’s happening on the field.

If Volpe eventually proves he can handle New York—great, try him again. If he can’t, that’s information too. Maybe he fits somewhere else, in a lower-pressure environment, even as a depth piece behind someone like Matt McLain, the second baseman on the Reds.

But forcing him back into the lineup now? That’s not development. That’s denial.

And the worst part? It risks stalling the progress the team is actually making. When something’s working, you don’t “fix” it—you let it run.

And for the record... Wally Pipp? He ended up in Cincinnati after Gehrig took his job. 1926. Baseball's funny sometimes. 

VOLPE BENCHED FOR CABALLERO!

I didn't want to be the guy that clearly understood how this was going to play out... but I am and I'm glad about it.

Reports are Boone is not playing Volpe in this Sunday night finale against the Red Sox.  And sure...Aaron Boone didn’t want to bench Anthony Volpe tonight — but the fans didn’t exactly leave him a choice. The boos have been loud, the errors louder, and at some point, even Boone has to stop pretending this is all part of some “long-term plan.” So, on Sunday Night Baseball against the Red Sox, Volpe’s out, José Caballero’s in, and honestly? It’s about time.

The Yankees have been treating Caballero like a glorified spare tire when, in reality, the guy might be their best defensive player. He’s got the range, the glove, and the instincts — and yet somehow he’s been stuck playing musical chairs while Volpe keeps turning shortstop into a defensive disaster zone. This isn’t calculus: find the biggest defensive liability on the roster — hi, Anthony — and put Caballero there. Done. Simple. Should’ve been done weeks ago.

Now, will Volpe somehow still sneak his way into a “big moment” tonight? Probably. Because Aaron Boone loves nothing more than forcing redemption arcs down our throats when it comes to his boy toy. I can already hear the postgame presser: “Anthony needed that moment, you know, it’ll be great for his confidence.” Spare us. If I’m the Yankees, Volpe doesn’t see the field again until at least Labor Day — and even then, only if Caballero decides to go on a two-week meditation retreat in Bali or something.

Here’s the reality: it’s late August. There’s no more time for “development,” no more patience for “growing pains,” and absolutely no justification for trotting out your worst player night after night in the middle of a playoff race. The best players need to play. Period. Volpe hasn’t been one of them. Caballero has.

And if we’re being honest, the best-case scenario here is for Caballero to channel his inner Lou Gehrig, lock down shortstop, and Wally Pipp Volpe straight into permanent bench duty. No more experiments. No more excuses. Volpe sits. Caballero shines. Boone stays out of the way.

For once, the Yankees made the obvious call but only because it was glaringly obvious and the fans have had enough. 

Let’s just hope they don’t undo it by the fifth inning. Remember, Boone's been known to be stupid.

THE TRUE STORY OF WALLY PIPP

Ah, Wally Pipp, a name synonymous with greatness and a shining beacon in the annals of baseball history. Born on February 17, 1893, in Chicago, Illinois, Pipp graced the baseball diamond with his presence during the early 20th century. He played first base, mostly for the New York Yankees, from 1915 to 1925. His career batting average was a respectable .281, with 90 home runs and 997 RBIs over his 15-season career. Quite the slugger, wouldn’t you agree?

Pipp’s talent was undeniable. As a two-time home run champion in 1916 and 1917, he was the darling of Yankees fans, who admired his consistent performance. But of course, fate had other plans for our dear Wally.

It was June 2, 1925. A date which, in the baseball world, will live in infamy. According to lore, Pipp arrived at the ballpark with a headache and asked the Yankees' manager, Miller Huggins, for a day off. Some say it was a headache, others whisper about a hangover or even a batting slump. Regardless, Wally Pipp, the esteemed first baseman, was replaced by a young upstart named Lou Gehrig.

And what happened next, you ask? Gehrig didn’t just fill Pipp's shoes; he obliterated them. He played 2,130 consecutive games, a record that stood for decades, earning him the moniker “The Iron Horse.” Meanwhile, Pipp’s name became a cautionary tale for athletes everywhere.
What Became of Pipp?

After that fateful substitution, Wally Pipp's career with the Yankees was effectively over. In 1926, he was sold to the Cincinnati Reds, where he played for three more seasons before retiring in 1928. His post-Yankees career was, to put it kindly, unremarkable.

Public opinion? Well, let's just say Pipp became the patron saint of benchwarmers and the embodiment of missed opportunities. In the grand theater of baseball, Pipp was the warm-up act to Gehrig’s main performance. Fans would often joke, “Don’t pull a Wally Pipp!” when someone considered skipping a game.

While Lou Gehrig’s legacy is one of unwavering perseverance and legendary performance, Wally Pipp is remembered as the guy who made way for greatness. It’s an unfortunate but inescapable truth. Pipp’s contributions to the game are overshadowed by Gehrig’s monumental achievements. Gehrig’s career was a tapestry of accolades and records, while Pipp’s was a footnote, albeit a crucial one, in the story of baseball.

So, here’s to Wally Pipp, the man who taught us all a valuable lesson: never, ever take a day off. Because you never know when a Lou Gehrig is waiting in the wings.

--Alvin Izzo

BYB Yankee History Contributor

BIRD'S INJURY IS WONDERBOY'S GAIN

Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

I have always been a fan of Tyler Austin.  And as much as I like and appreciate Greg Bird, I'd be lying if I said I was patient with all the injury stuff Bird is going through.  I'm not. I hate it.  But let's be honest here... with Bird hurt, a kid like Tyler Austin has a big opportunity here. I wish ill on no one, but this is a human trait about survival and teammates or not... sometimes you just need to pounce when an opportunity is out there.

Photo: New York Times

I read this tweet yesterday.  I liked it.  Read it and more from me after the jump..

Tyler Austin has been told by Boone he’s made the club. Austin: “Hopefully it doesn’t take Bird too long to get back up here because he’s a big part of this team.”

— Pete Caldera (@pcaldera) March 26, 2018

Thanks to Pete Caldera of the Bergen Record for that.

Here's my take.  Tyler Austin was just offered a shot.  Being the professional teammate that he is... it is right to say that kind of stuff. No doubt they are teammates, friends and all that is fine and swell.  But Wally Pipp and Lou Gehrig were too. 

Photo: NJ.com

Yup the example is extreme, but my point is simply this;  This is huge for Wonderboy and he needs to grind and get and KEEP that spot.  No hard feelings... that's the way it goes and hopefully for him, he gets it, learning what he can from a veteran like Walker, but keeping his nose to the grindstone and going for it.

NJ.com has this:

"Greg Bird's latest dose of really bad luck - he'll undergo right ankle surgery on Tuesday and be sidelined for 6-to-8 weeks - is a lucky break for Austin, who will be back on the roster as a platoon first baseman with Neil Walker after being optioned to Triple-A last week. 'It's not the way that you want to do it, but I'm definitely excited for the opportunity and to get a chance to play,' Austin said. 'Just being on this team is special, so I'm excited.'"

Sometimes teams win games on a bases loaded hit by pitch.  Sometimes a passed ball allows the lead run to score and a team wins.  And sometimes players get hurt only for others to get a shot and shine in that moment. Sure it's not the way to do it... but you do it and you grind hard and get your spot.

I'm rooting hard for Wonderboy.  It's time.

Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

By the way...if you don't know why I call Tyler 'Wonderboy', it's nothing new.  I've always given him that nickname when Bleeding Yankee Blue interviewed him in 2013.  He and his mom Kim were great to sit and chat with us.  You can read that here:

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: TYLER AUSTIN... WONDERBOY

Good Luck Tyler. Get well soon, Greg. Go Yanks!

ENJOYING THE YANKEE YOUTH MOVEMENT

When Gary Sanchez left the game last Saturday, many thoughts ran through my head, but to be professional, I don't really think it would be prudent to include them here... there may be kids reading...

But after the initial shock wore off, I started to think more clearly. Kyle Higashioka would be coming up. That's right, Higashioka, a kid that has served in the Yankee farm system for the last 9 years. He finally got the call he's been waiting for.

(Reinhold Matay/USA Today Sports)

Remember him? I wrote about him back in January. Read DON'T COUNT KYLE HIGASHIOKA OUT! to refresh your memory. Truth is, I couldn't be any happier for him. I've been rooting for him to get his chance for quite awhile now. Unfortunately, it came with the cost of losing Gary for a bit, but at least it's early in the season and let's face it, there is no chance of him being Wally Pipped.

Now, as we all know, Higashioka got his chance behind the plate, albeit for 1 inning this past Monday. This little nugget from the New York Post tells about what his manager did for him during his debut. Gotta love this...

Kyle Higashioka caught the ninth inning of Monday’s win over the Rays at Yankee Stadium. He didn’t get an at-bat, but he has several memorabilia items to mark his major league debut.

Photo: NJ.com

"In the ninth inning a foul ball landed behind the Yankees’ dugout, and Girardi made a deal with the person who caught it: two game-used balls for the foul ball. The deal was completed, and Girardi saved it for the catcher who spent nine years in the organization without sniffing the big leagues until Sanchez got hurt Saturday in Baltimore, and now will miss a month.

'That’s pretty cool. I didn’t realize that,’ Higashioka said Monday of his manager securing something from his first big league frame."

I love seeing those little things. Every player remembers his first game but, it's always nice to have someone secure a memento for you.

Photo: Newsday

It shows that teams are also family and speaking of it... that Higashioka connection goes even deeper.  The New York Daily News has this nugget of Kyle and his own personal scouting report on the other "new" guy, fifth starter Jordan Montgomery...

“'He’s got four pitches and four good ones. And they all come out of the same slot,' Higashioka said, referencing Montgomery’s overhand arm angle. 'That’s kind of a really difficult arm angle to perceive as a hitter. So, just the fact that he’s got that funky arm angle and he’s got four good pitches already gives him a pretty good edge.'”

Love this stuff.

(Chris O'Meara/AP)

With the Yankees holding off on naming the 5th starter for a bit, many wrote here at BYB that Jordan should be given the nod.  Hey Casey! Your wish has been granted. I'm happy as well to see the Yanks give this kid a shot after the phenomenal spring he had!

All in all, it's been really wonderful to see the Yankees utilize the kids of the Yankee youth movement, and it's about time! And something tells me that because Jordan is making his debut, maybe Kyle might get his first start too!

Regardless...good luck to the both of them in the games they play! Hey, you made it to the Bigs, guys! Best of luck! 

--Michael Carnesi
BYB Writer
Follow me on Twitter: @sevn4evr

BE RELIEVED THAT GLEYBER TORRES WAS SENT DOWN

Photo: USA Today Sports

I'd like to spend this at-bat in the BYB batting order to thank everyone in the Yankees' fan base, and  the handful of writers egging  them on who made impassioned pleas for Gleyber Torres to swoop into the Bronx from Single A like some kind of comic book superhero. I can see the title of that comic now. Will Torres snatch the shortstop gig from that evil super villain  "WBC Dummy" Gregorius.

It was an amusing 15 minutes hearing all the fantastic action adventure plots about Gleyber and his Wonder Bat, Gleyber and his Wonder Glove and how Gleyber and his Wonder Future are a waste of time because, you know... he's practically Albert Pujols now. Look, I get it, people are angry about the WBC and our injured Didi, but they also are wrong to think Torres can just swoop in!  Let's keep it real folks... Super Torres I not ready! Instead, look for a sequel entitled Gleyber's Adventures Mastering A New Position coming soon to a stadium near you in Trenton.

(Joshua Sarner/Icon Sportswire)

My condolences to you if you're one of those special people who are genuinely disappointed he didn't get a chance to make a Wally Pipp out of Didi. But honestly, did you really believe that's how it SHOULD happen? Or was it more like just wanting to believe it COULD happen. Like for example, when Joe has you believe the best players will play? Or the best pitchers, veteran or prospects, will be in the rotation?

Speaking of pitching prospects, anybody seen Dietrich Enns lately? Best pitcher in the system last year. He was the ace for the national champions of all minor league champions. His stats were totally dominant. Nobody else was even close. But he didn't even get a start in Spring training. They made him a reliever this year.  Made a couple of middle relief appearances and got sent down in the first cut.

For me, that's the stuff I think about. It's a far more puzzling question and frankly a far more pertinent one than why Gleyber's Wonder Clock should start ticking on Opening Day or a few months later. But I digress. Sort of.

(July 25, 2016 - Source: Bob Levey/Getty Images North America)

Frankly, it never even entered my mind that Torres could be Didi's  replacement and I was amazed by the outpouring of serious suggestions that he should be, because I think the plan to continue cross-training him at another position in Trenton could be the right way to go. But there's more; I didn't give Gleyber a serious thought as Didi's replacement was because of what happened to Didi under identical circumstances on Opening Day three years ago. That's the deal breaker right there, for Torres and every other not-yet-proven-ready-for-prime-time prospect in the Yankees' future.

(March 9, 2015 - Source: Brian Blanco/Getty Images North America)

To be blunt, the way this fan base and team's media treated Didi in the very same role three years ago that many pounded the drum to fling Torres into this Opening Day -- with little warning, a little before his time, into an ill-defined role replacing an established starter in a transitional year filled with question marks -- was downright nasty. And so, there can be no doubt that an organization that has infamously held petty grudges and lived by the feud for decades battling within and without itself to its own detriment has committed that awkward and unpleasant transition away from the Captain to institutional memory as a cautionary tale to avoid at all costs in the future; even though it seems nobody else beyond the team's own personnel appear to have taken the lesson to heart.

Now, you may say Didi is no Captain and Torres is no Didi. But that wouldn't matter to the Yankees -- or the media. They would  spin their Torres Takes Over takeover stories; a certain segment of the fan base, impatient for the future to get here, would jump on their bandwagon and start judging him like this Torres (and this team) was the finished product; and the mud would begin to fly again. And when Didi came beck, all hell would break loose as sides would be chosen and the clock would start clicking on both players to produce or be damned. That's certainly not healthy for team building.

Think it couldn't happen again? Well, let's think back...

(June 2, 2015 - Source: Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images North America)

Didi wasn't supposed to be our starter that Opening Day. The Captain had just retired and Brendan Ryan was the transitional starter.  Didi was never been a regular starter with his two previous teams, and that, plus a poor split hitting lefties made platooning him behind Ryan a no-brainer until he learned how. But just a few days before Opening Day, Ryan became injured and Didi was suddenly thrust into the Jeter takeover role without any supporting cast to back him. A starter for the first time in his young career, he suddenly found himself debuting on the biggest stage in sports.

He never had a chance.

(July 4, 2015 - Source: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images North America)

The sharks were circling in the water for whoever that next guy was. Every move he made was magnified.  "He is no Captain."  With that, the entire team was stinking up the joint. Even Tex was missing easy picks in the beginning and looking like he was past it. But Didi was the lightning rod because he was the newest face replacing the oldest and most familiar face. The mistakes piled up. Meanwhile, looking around us, longtime fans were giving up on the team, attendance and TV viewership had become a national scandal and the social media interactions were truly depressing. It was more vicious than I'd ever seen it and symptomatic of a team disconnect from its fans.

Of course, you know the rest. By the end of the second month, he finally started showing marked signs of improvement, and after that every month was a new plateau of achievement. And by the trade deadline, instead of calling for his ouster, fans were calling the trade a steal. Pretty fickle of them, huh?

(Sept. 1, 2016 - Source: Patrick Smith/Getty Images North America)    

Didi had over two years of experience in Triple-A and years and years of minor league ball under his belt when he went through that. He had a reservoir of  experience overcoming adversity, meeting his limitations and overcoming them as he rose through the ranks to get him through that moment and sustain him through that ordeal. Torres has none of that. He's fresh meat who's had everything come easy to him so far. He hasn't come close to facing the daily grind of major league game speed and major league pitching in games where the relievers don't wear high numbers and the at-bats often only get tougher at the end.

Still don't think this make Torres a non-starter for this Opening Day?

Photo: MLB.com

OK, try this on for size. In this scenario, Didi isn't retired. Torres would have a month to six weeks tops. And he could either be outstanding or he could stink or be something in between. But whatever he was, what would be the point?

If he stunk, he'd be gone when Didi returned, the plan for him to learn another position in Trenton would be set back more than a month, his service clock would be started, and whoever got bounced from the roster to make room for him would've been lost for nothing. Oh yeah, and he's likely to get a good thrashing from the fan base as a bust and the team's media pack would be meticulously chronicling all of the above and more as he circled the drain counting the days until Didi returned.

And if he was terrific, then what do you do with a healthy Didi  -- arguably the team's most consistent offensive and defensive weapon last year.  You can't bench either of them and neither of them can really play another position. And you're not going to send Didi down to start learning a new one or trade him.  He's still young and an invaluable part of the transition from rebuild to new era; and playing side by side with the Torres he would be an invaluable mentor as well as combine with him to make for a potent defensive and offensive middle infield duo.

Who else could better help Torres navigate the taunts and and poison pens than the one who weathered an entire stadium derisively chanting for Jeter to replace him long after the Captain had left the building?

Photo: New York Daily News

And so the answer is there's no good that could come from bringing Torres up in my opinion. There'd just be a lot of nasty media stories, ill will and fan hostility directed at him if he sucks, and a lot more of the same directed at the team and Didi if he did good and got sent back down to resume his defensive re-training when Didi returns to reclaim his spot, as he should.

And the team will never, ever again put him or any prospect in a position to fail after they've already publicly acknowledged he still has work to do before he's ready for the Bigs. They will never  risk another one enduring the public scalding Didi suffered unless they're more than reasonably certain he can handle it. It's a no-win situation to bring Torres up now. It's a no-lose situation to stick to the Trenton start-up plan.

If you want to see Gleyber in the Bronx as soon as possible, root for him to wrap his wonder arms and glove around playing second or third base as quickly as possible while continuing to knock the snot out of pitchers in the Eastern League with his wonder bat.

What's waiting for him after that, we can only wait and wonder.

Hopefully, a couple of rings in pinstripes before he splits to chase whole lot of wonder bread somewhere else further on down his wonder road.

 --Barry Millman
BYB Writer
Twitter: @nyyankeefanfore

MARK TEIXEIRA WON'T BE WALLY PIPP'ED

We all remember the Wally Pipp, Lou Gehrig story and over the years, every once in a while Pipp's name comes up.  He was the Yankees first baseman until Lou Gehrig replaced him in the starting lineup because, according to the story, Pipp had a headache. 

Gehrig went on to become the Iron Horse, playing 2130 consecutive games, and Pipp ended his career in Cincinnati.

Mark Teixeira is no Wally Pipp and Greg Bird is no Lou Gehrig... at least, it's too early to say. In fact, Tex is feeling stronger and will be back soon.  According to YESNetwork.com's Lou DiPietro, Tex is close:

"New York Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira went through full drills on the field Monday, and while he himself admitted he's not quite ready to return to the lineup, he's getting close.

'It's getting there. Not quite where I want to be just yet, but getting there,' Teixeira said after Monday's workout. 'Hitting was a lot better today and fielding ground balls was a lot better, but running was still a little bit of a struggle. Hopefully that just comes back quick.'

Teixeira has now missed a full week with a bone bruise in his right leg, an injury that came when he fouled a ball off his leg last Monday night against Minnesota..."

Timetable? How about "soon".  This is a bone bruise so it's just a matter or healing enough so he can get back in the lineup.

On a personal note, I like what I'm seeing from Tex this season.  I never expected it, but he's been terrific.  Get well soon Mark.



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A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN: DOTTIE KAMENSHEK

As a female, and a baseball fan, one of my greatest laments is never having witnessed the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. The beginning and end of the AAGPBL happened way before I was born. I've heard stories... my grandparents remembered the women who played professional baseball between 1943 and 1954. I sometimes wonder what would have happened if the league hadn't been set up for failure from the very beginning.

I want to set up a new series here at BYB. One about the women who time has all but forgotten. The women of the AAGPBL. Their stories aren't told enough. They aren't given nearly enough respect for their accomplishments. And I'll start with the woman who inspired the 1992 movie "A League of Their Own," Dorothy 'Dottie' Kamenshek.

Dottie, also known as Kammie, was a star in the AAGPBL. At 17, she was an excellent outfielder on a local softball league. A scout for the AAGPBL saw her play and convinced her to tryout in Chicago. Dottie made the league and played for the Rockford Peaches, in Illinois for the entirety of her career, from 1943 to 1953.

She started her career in the outfield but was moved to first base. She became one of the best fielders in the game, having finished her career with a .950 fielding average. She won the leagues batting title in 1946 with a .316 BA, and in 1948 with a .306 BA. When the league created the All-Star team in 1946, she made the team every year until her retirement. She finished her career with a .292 BA in 3,736 at-bats, coming in fourth on the leagues leader board. She also stole 109 bases in 107 games in 1946. She once commented:

"I'm not one for statistics, really. I never paid any attention to that. I didn't consider myself an individual player, team victories were more important to me."

Dottie played so well that she garnered attention from former New York Yankee, Wally Pipp. According to a report in TIME, Pipp called her "the fanciest-fielding first baseman I've ever seen, man or woman." He wasn't the only one impressed by Dottie. A mens minor league team in Fort Lauderdale, attempted to recruit her. She refused believing that it was a publicity stunt.

In 1953, Dottie was forced to retire due to back injuries. She went on to study at Marquette University, and got a degree in physical therapy. She became the director of the Los Angeles Crippled Children's Services Department.

Dottie was quoted as saying "Baseball was just natural. I didn't have to work at it too hard." The Baseball Hall of Fame has files and clippings on Dottie, and she is included in the Diamond Dreams exhibit. She is remember by many as the greatest women's baseball player.

Dottie passed away May 17th, 2010. Growing up with stories of Dottie made ma believe that I could play professional baseball if I wanted to. She carried herself with the same kind of grace and heart that many of my childhood Yankee heroes did. She remains an inspiration for many female baseball fans, like myself. She is a baseball legend.

--Erica Morales BYB Senior Writer 
Twitter: @e_morales1804

 

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THANK YOU, LOU GEHRIG

Lou Gehrig got a shot when Wally Pipp couldn't play because of a headache.  We all know what happened next. The Iron Horse was born.

(In Photo: Wally Pipp)
Today is the 75th anniversary since Lou Gehrig's speech.  It's moving and MLB did a real nice thing having players recite Lou's famous speech.  Simply chilling.

Gehrig got a bad break. But throughout his life, he worked hard to be the best he could be. Just thinking about it and the time that's past is incredible to me.  Finally... something truly sacred in baseball.

His words alone could bring you to tears... it's a life lesson... write that down.

You've made BYB the fastest growing Yankees fan site in history. Now shop at the Bleeding Yankee Blue store!  Follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and LIKE Bleeding Yankee Blue on Facebook!