Tagged: George Steinbrenner
Damon, Boras, Cashman, All Strikeout …
… to end the game. The game of high stakes baseball negotiations.
With the signing of Randy Winn by the Yankees for a reported one year / $2 million contract, Johnny Damon’s stay in the Bronx has come to an end. And, in a lot of ways, Johnny has to take much of the blame for his sad New York departure. It seems he was the only one who believed his agent, Scott Boras’ sale pitch that the market for Damon would yield at least $13 million per year, for at least two years, and maybe even for as many as four years.
Of course, Scott Boras was surely sailing the boat in the talks to re-sign the Yankees left fielder. Tacking back and forth — first, Boras asked for two years at $13 million per year, while telling the Yankees that Damon would not accept any offer less than $13 million per year; Brian Cashman countered with an offer of $14 million for two years; then, Boras started to read the market a little more accurately by dropping Damon’s asking price to $20 million for two years, which led to a windless halting of Johnny Damon’s ship.
Cashman continued his active winter, which included: trading for Curtis Granderson; letting Hideki Matsui walk away from the Yanks; signing Nick Johnson; and, trading for Javier Vazquez. These moves resulted in a so-called “halt” of the money stream from the New York Yankees supposedly “ironclad” budget, except for a remaining $2 million that was earmarked for the 2010 Yankee left fielder, whoever that player may be. Of course, that player turned out to be Randy Winn.
Only Johnny Damon knows what his motivation was during these negotiations. Money, to be sure. But, it seems Johnny just got caught up in the middle of the crossfire of hardball talks between Cashman and Boras. If Damon really wanted to stay a Yankee, though, [which I do think he did], he should have taken full control of the negotiations, and taked directly to George, Hank, and Hal Steinbrenner. The “money” is certainly “always” available in the Yankees Universe.
It is fair to say, the real budget is “cloaked”; and, in my view, money is not the main reason that Johnny Damon was not re-signed by the Yanks. But, I guess, that reason will also remain cloaked.
The new Yankee Stadium was perfect for Johnny Damon’s swing; Johnny was always a clutch player for the Yanks; and, a fan favorite who was always available after games to be interviewed, win or lose. It will be interesting to see who will be hurt more by this decision [move] – the New York Yankees or Johnny Damon. In any case, Damon, as well as Matsui, will be missed.
But, the Yankees will be fine this year and into the future. Granderson, Johnson, Vazquez, and Winn are all great additions, and will be a major part of the 2010 Bronx Bombers as they defend their World Championship of last year.
I look forward to the Yankees playing hardball “on the field” this upcoming season, as this winter, once again, has provided way too much hardball “off the field” for my liking.
— Jimmy, “BY&L”
Yanks Clinch AL East Crown; 11 Wins To Go For #27
Well, it has been awhile since my last post. But during my busy schedule over the last few weeks I certainly have followed the Yankees pennant drive as the Bronx Bombers finally coasted into a smooth landing on top of the AL East, clinching their 16th Division Title since 1976.
The Yankees won six World Championships so far during the George M. Steinbrenner III era, and, hope to make this seven World Series victories for “The Boss”, winning their 27th World Championship, sometime at the close of the 2009 post-season in the early days of November.
From (0-8), to (6-9), to (9-9), vs. the Boston Red Sox, reflects the story of the New York Yankees 2009 regular season. And, what a perfect way to claim victory in the AL East: a three-game sweep, 9-5; 3-0; 4-2, over the Red Sox this past weekend at Yankee Stadium that resulted in the Bronx Bombers clinching first place with their 100th win of the year, which also clinched home-field advantage throughout the playoffs for the Yanks who will end up with the best record in all of Major League Baseball.
So, now the journey continues as it really just starts for the New York Yankees with the beginning of the playoffs in about 10 days.
The Yankees goal this year is the same goal as “every” year — “Win The World Series”.
The climb to the top of the baseball world has three acts that must be accomplished by the Yanks to become 2009 World Champions:
* Win three of five games in the American League Division Championship Series.
* Win four of seven games in the American League Championship Series.
* Win four of seven games in the World Series.
The above three-act play places the Yankees “Magic Number” at 11. If they play to perfection during this post-season, the New York Yankees will continue their great winning tradition with their 27th World Championship. Anything less will be a failure.
“Congratulations” to all in the New York Yankees organization !!!
The 2009 regular season has been outstanding and wonderful to watch. You have made all of us in the Yankees Universe very proud to be Yankee fans. We all look forward to another special post-season, with the closing act ending with a standing ovation that will last throughout the days of Autumn and Winter into spring training 2010.
And, then, that ovation will continue at the Yankees home Opening Day, 2010, which will be even more special, highlighted by the raising of the 2009 World Championship banner in centerfield at the new Yankee Stadium, signifying that the New York Yankees are once again the best team in all of Baseball.
27 is a very special number !!!
But, it will take 11 more wins to make it happen.
The Yankees goal is clearly in sight. May this October and November bring many special memories that Yankee fans will remember for a lifetime.
— Jimmy, “BY&L”
Yanks Celebrate Holiday Weekend With Three Wins
The New York Yankees gave George Steinbrenner an extra special birthday gift this holiday weekend — three straight victories over the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium, that moved the Bronx Bombers only one game behind the Boston Red Sox in the AL East.
Mr. Steinbrenner’s birthday was on the “Fourth of July”, and his Yankees delivered the first of their three wins on Friday July 3rd — a 4-2 win in the first game of four straight day games vs. the Blue Jays. When was the last time the Yankees, or any team other than the Cubs in Chicago, played four straight day games?
A.J. Burnett (7-4) pitched a solid game on Friday to earn the win; as Robinson Cano and Alex Rodriguez hit home runs that led the Yankees hitting attack, setting the stage for Mariano Rivera to close out this 4-2 victory with his 21st save of the year.
On the “Fourth of July”, the Yankees won a very dramatic, extra-innings, 6-5 victory, on a walk-off, RBI single by Jorge Posada off Shawn Camp (0-4), in the bottom of the 12th inning.
The Yankees tagged Blue Jays starter, Roy Halladay, maybe the best pitcher in the America League, for three home runs: Hideki Matsui (12th), leading off the 2nd inning; Jorge Posada (11th), leading off the 4th inning; and, Johnny Damon (16th), a two-run shot into the short right field porch in the 7th inning, that tied the score 5-5 at the time.
After the Damon homer, Halladay had a look of disbelief on his face, maybe thinking “that” home run was not going to reach the seats, and was the product of the increased jet stream of air flow at the new Yankee Stadium.
The bad news for the Yankees in this game was another ineffective pitching performance by Chien-Ming Wang, who had to leave the game in the sixth inning after he felt tightness in his right shoulder on a pitch to Adam Lind, who blasted a two-run homer on the Wang delivery that tied the score 4-4.
On the next pitch to Scott Rolen, it was catcher Jorge Posada who noticed that Wang didn’t follow-through all the way on the pitch, and just kind of pushed it up to the plate. Posada called Joe Girardi and trainer Steve Donohue from the dugout, and Wang was removed from the game.
Wang had a MRI after the game, and was placed on the disabled list after it was determined that he had a right shoulder strain and bursitis, which calls for total rest without any throwing for Wang until some time after the All-Star break. The Yankees have not yet decided who will replace Wang in the rotation.
Chien-Ming Wang allowed four runs, on six hits, in his 5.1 innings on the mound, and was replaced by David Robertson who gave up the final Blue Jays run, a well as, recording the final two out of the sixth inning.
The Yankees bullpen was lights out the rest of the way, with five relievers: Bruney (7th); Hughes (8th); Mariano Rivera (9th); Coke (10th and 11th); and, finally, Brett Tomko (W, 1-2), in the 12th inning, all delivering solid performances.
A final note of interest occurred after the game when Jorge Posada was being inteviewed by Kim Jones of the Yes Network.
Joba Chamberlain and A.J. Burnett charged out of the Yankees dugout and teamed-up to toss a “shaving-cream” pie in Jorge’s face in celebration of Posada’s game winning hit.
Jorge did not exactly look too happy to be the latest “victim” of this new ongoing form of celebration for the heroes of late-inning Yankee victories.
In my view, I have to say, the first couple of times the pie-tossing was kind of humorous; but, I think this “parlor-trick” has run its course, and this “long-time” Yankees fan wouldn’t mind if these antics are not seen any more after games. This is just not what Yankees “tradition” is all about.
In the third game of this four-game series, the Yankees staked starter Joba Chamberlain to an early 4-0 lead, scoring two runs in each of the first two innings.
Then, in the top of the third, Raul Chavez doubled, and scored on a RBI single by Aaron Hill to cut the Yankees lead to 4-1. Aaron Hill followed with a two-run homer off Chamberlain, cutting the Yankees lead even more to 4-3.
In the top of the 4th, Joba Chamberlain had an even tougher inning that began with a single by Lyle Overbay. Vernon Wells was up next, and hit a fly ball to left for out number one. Then, Alex Rois hit a hard shot to Cody Ransom, who was filling-in for Alex Rodriguez at third base. The ball took a wicked hop that bounced high off Ransom’s glove for an error.
In fairness to Ransom, the ball was hit very hard, and took a high bounce at the last second; but, it was a ball that Ransom probably should have fielded, and thus the play was called an error.
It was now first and second with one out when David Dellucci hit an easy fly ball to right for the second out of the inning. If not for the error, this may have been the final out, but the inning continued.
Raul Chavez was up next, and promptly hit a RBI double that plated Overbay to tie the score 4-4.
Marco Scutaro then stroked a two-RBI single that increased the Blue Jays lead to 6-4.
The damage was not done yet, as next batter, Aaron Hill, blasted a two-run homer off Joba, over the auxiliary scoreboard in right centerfield to up the Jays lead to 8-4.
As Yes Network announcer David Cone said, “Joba put a snowman up on the scoreboard with the eight runs that he allowed; and, no pitcher wants to do that.”
After Joba gave up a single to Adam Lind, Joe Girardi replaced Chamberlain with Jonathan Albaladejo. As Joba walked to the dugout he was booed by the Yankee Stadium crowd.
The error hurt Joba Chamberlain’s final numbers; but, after two outs in the 4th inning, Joba did get hit hard, and did not get out of the jam. He lasted 3.2 innings, while allowing eight runs, (three earned), on nine hits, one walk, and only one strikeout.
In the bottom of the 4th, the Yankees came right back in this game when after one out, Mark Teixeira walked; Jorge Posada singled; and, both runners scored on Hideki Matsui’s three-run homer off Brett Cecil that cut the Blue Jays lead to 8-7.
The Yanks were now on the road to another comeback as the game entered the bottom of the fifth.
Melky Cabrera led off the 5th inning with a walk, and after Ransom grounded out, scored on Derek Jeter’s 10th homer of the year, an opposite field shot off B.J. Ryan, that gave the Bronx Bombers a 9-8 lead.
Johnny Damon then walked and scored all the way from first on a RBI double by Jorge Posada that increased the Yanks lead to 10-8, and completed the scoring in this game.
There were still four innings to play, though, and Girardi brought Alfredo Aceves into pitch.
Aceves turned in one of the best relief performances by a Yankees middle-inning reliever in awhile, throwing 43 pitches over “four” brilliant innings, allowing no runs, while giving up only one hit, no walks, and striking out five.
Very simply, “brilliant”, and very “old school” !!!
Alfredo Aceves brought back images of Sparky Lyle and Goose Gossage who would routinely pitch two, three, or four innings when closing out Yankee victories.
The winning pitcher in this game could have been either Albaladejo or Aceves, based on whom the official scorer felt had pitched better in relief.
Albaladejo (3-1) did pitch well enough to earn the victory [1.1 innings pitched; no runs; two hits; no walks; two strikeouts], and he was the pitcher of record when the Yankees took the lead in the 5th inning. So, the decision to award him the win cannot really be disputed. And, it was nice to see Alfred Aceves credited with his first career save.
The hitting stars for the Yankees in this game were:
* Derek Jeter (4-for-5); including his 10th HR; three runs; two RBI’s
* Jorge Posada (4-for-5); two runs; three RBI’s
* Hideki Matsui (2-for-4); including his 13th HR; one run; four RBI’s
**** Happy Birthday, Mr. George M. Steinbrenner, III ****
**** Happy Birthday, to the United States of America ****
— Jimmy Curran, “BY&L” — “Baseball, The Yankees, and Life”
_______________________
Update: July 6, 2009 …
The Yankees lost the final game of their four-game series vs. the Blue Jays, 7-6.
But, the Boston Red Sox also lost their game this day, on a 6-0 shutout by the Oakland A’s.
So, at the end of baseball action on this beautiful day, the battle for first place in the AL East is really starting to heat up as the 2009 season moves into the summer months.
This “race for first place” will go right down to the wire between the Yankees and Red Sox, with the Tampa Bay Rays and Toronto Blue Jays also still very much in the race. It will be fun to watch.
AL EAST STANDINGS … (at the end of action on July 6th) …
Boston Red Sox 49-33 .598 — Last 10 Games: (5-5)
New York Yankees 48-34 .585 1.0 Last 10 Games: (8-2)
Tampa Bay Rays 44-39 .530 5.5 Last 10 Games: (6-4)
Toronto Blue Jays 43-41 .512 7.0 Last 10 Games: (3-7)
Baltimore Orioles 36-47 .434 13.5 Last 10 Games: (3-7)
The Yankees now head on the road, traveling to Minnesota to start a three-game series against the Twins on July 7-8-9th … Then, go to the West Coast to play the L.A. Angels in a three-game weekend series, July 10-11-12th, which leads to the All-Star break.
The Red Sox continue their schedule at Fenway Park with two more games vs. the Oakland A’s on July 7-8th. Then, the Sox host the K.C. Royals in a four-game weekend series in Boston, July 9-10-11-12th, leading up to the All-Star break.
The All-Star Game will be played on Tuesady, July 14, 2009.
The Red Sox have an advantage on the schedule over the next six games. But, hopefully, by the All-Star break the Yankees will be standing on top of the AL East as we approach the long summer days ahead in July and August.
“Go Yankees” !!!
— Jimmy 27NYY, “BY&L”
Babe Ruth Would Be Proud As New Stadium Opens
As the “House That Ruth Built” sits so gracefully across the street from the “House That George Built”, the 2009 New York Yankees christened the new Yankee Stadium in very high fashion winning the first ball game played in this new “cathedral” 7-4 against Lou Piniella’s Chicago Cubs.
Even though it was only an exhibition game, it had the feel of a regular season matchup watching the grand opening on the YES Network.
The new Stadium has a very similar look to the old renovated Yankee Stadium, at least on the field, as the field dimensions are exactly the same distances from home plate. There is more foul territory on both the first and third base sides of the field, and home plate is 20 feet closer to the back stop, though. But, other than those changes the players said when they are on the field it reminds them a lot like the old Stadium.
The main differences are beyond the fences, in the stands, and within all surrounding areas.
And, the most dominate feature of the new ballpark is the huge 59′ high – 103′ wide centerfield scoreboard. From all reports this wide screen “true high-def” scoreboard projects the clearest pictures imagineable and is the main focal point of everyone’s sight as it ceates a brand new skyline towering over the centerfield area in the middle of the bleachers in between both foul poles.
The “frieze” or “facade” is the other dominate feature as it brings the new Stadium back to its original 1923 look, with the classic white hanging facade wrapping around the roof levels just above the upper deck seating.
This beautiful feature always brings to mind the famous homerun that Mickey Mantle almost hit out of Yankee Stadium, on May 22, 1963, against the Kanas City Athletics … a soaring, majestic, powerful shot that slammed high off the upper rightfield “facade”, just inches short of traveling into the Bronx streets surrounding the Stadium.
No player has ever hit a fair ball out of the old Yankee Stadium. Will a player ever hit one out of the new Stadium?
Another great new feature, which is really a retro look going back to 1923, are the two manual scoreboards, one in leftfield and one in right, that are part of the outfield walls. These additions will be part of many new memories this year and in future years, and we will see classic pictures like the famous Don Larsen Perfect Game photo from the 1956 World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Those are some of my first impressions of the new Yankee Stadium. There is a full season ahead of us, and hopefully at some point I will get a chance to vist the new ballpark. But, based on everything I have seen so far, on television and in the many pictues that have been published, the new Yankee Stadium is very simply “beautiful” and an instant “classic”.
Oh, yes, there also was a ball game during the Friday April 3, 2009 grand opening at the new state-of-the-art Yankee Stadium.
It did not look like a game would be played because of all the rain we had in the New York area Friday morning into the late afternoon. The rain did stop around 4:00 p.m. ET, though, and the newly improved and advanced drainage system worked as advertised, delivering almost perfect field conditions for the start of the game.
The National Anthem was played; Reggie Jackson threw out the first pitch; and, it was time to play ball.
The first pitch by Yankees starter, Chien-Ming Wang was a strike. But, the lead-off batter for the Cubs, Aaron Miles, did end up getting a single in this at-bat, the first hit at the new Stadium. Kosuke Fukudome followed with another single moving Miles to third. Then, Derrek Lee hit a RBI, sac-fly to center, giving the Cubs the early 1-0 lead as Miles crossed the plate.
Derek Jeter, the new lead-off hitter for the Yanks, who got the final hit at the old Yankee Stadium, started things off for the Bronx Bombers by stroking a double, the first Yankee hit at the new Stadium. But, Cubs starter, Ted Lilly, easily retired the next three batters, Damon, Teixeira, and Matsui, moving the game into the top of the second inning.
The Cubs added two more runs off Wang, on a walk to Soto, single to Gathright, and a two-out double to Miles, increasing their lead to 3-0.
After Jorge Posada led off the bottom of the second with a single, Robinson Cano cut the Cubs lead to 3-2, blasting a line-drive two-run homerun into the rightfield bleachers.
Jose Molina hit the final homer at the old Yankee Stadium; Cano now has the honor of hitting the first homerun at the new Yankee Stadium.
The Yankees took a 4-3 lead in this game in the bottom of the third, when Derek Jeter led off the inning with a single, and scored on Hideki Matsui’s two-out, two-run homerun which christened the rightfield foul pole.
Wang allowed the Cubs to tie the score 4-4 in the top of the 4th inning on a triple by Reed Johnson, and an RBI grounder to Jeter at short by Ryan Theriot. The Yankees had the infield back at regular depth which helped Johnson to score without a throw to the plate.
The Bombers battled right back in this game in the bottom of the 4th, on back to back singles by Cano and Nady; then, Alex Rodriguez’s replacement, Cody Ransom, lofted a high shot down the third base line, that christened the leftfield foul pole for a three-run homer, and 7-4 Yankees lead.
Chien-Ming Wang pitched a scoreless 5th inning, but was not very effective in this start, allowing four runs, on six hits, two walks, and three strikeouts, while throwing 71 pitches.
Mariano Rivera delivered another soild performance, easily retiring the side in order in the top of the 6th.
And, relievers, Veras (7th), Ramirez (8th), and Albaladejo (9th), closed out the rest of the game for the Yankees, each throwing a scoreless inning to help preserve the Yanks 7-4 victory. To view boxscore, click on: Game One
But, Ransom’s three-run homer completed the scoring in this game … and, I’m sure Babe Ruth had a big smile on his face, as the Yankees hit “three” homeruns in honor of “The Babe’s” #3, and rang the bell on both foul poles — a sound that surely carried throughout the universe, the “Yankees Universe”, as new memories were made and the great Yankees tradition continued at the “new” Yankee Stadium.
Rare Moment Of The Game …
Two of the Yankees three homeruns were shots that hit one of the “foul poles”, which is rare enough. But, when was the last time you seen homeruns hit off each foul pole by players on the same team, in the same game?
Well, I can’t remember the last time I seen this extraordinary event happen.
In the first game at the new Yankee Stadium this rare event did occur, when Hideki Matsui hit a two-run homerun off the the rightfield foul pole in the 3rd inning; and, Cody Ransom hit a three-run homer off the leftfield foul pole in the bottom of the 4th.
The New York Yankees christened the new Yankee Stadium in style, with a 7-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs; and, with two special homeruns that christened both foul poles.
Photo Credits …
* Mickey Mantle homerun — 4.bp.blogspot.com/…/s400/Mick%27s+moonshot.jpg
* Don Larsen / Billy Martin — BestSportsPhotos.com
* Babe Ruth — http://www.gallerym.com/work.cfm?ID=278
— Jimmy Curran, “Baseball, The Yankees, and Life”
Update: Sunday, April 5, 2009 …
In the second game of the two-game exhibition series against the Chicago Cubs, on Saturday, April 4th, at the new Yankee Stadium, the Yankees ended their 2009 Spring Training with a 10-1 victory over the Cubs.
The ball seems to be flying out of the new ballpark, as the Yankees hit seven homeruns in these two games …
Three homers in game one — Robinson Cano (two-run homer); Hideki Matsui (two-run homer); and Cody Ransom (three-run homer) — accounting for all of the Yankees seven runs in their 7-4 win …
Four homeruns in the second game — Derek Jeter (three-run homer in the 3rd inning); two homeruns by Mark Teixeira (solo shot in the 3rd; and, three-run homer in the 4th inning); and Shelley Duncan (solo homer in the 8th) — adding up to eight of the Yankees ten runs in their 10-1 victory.
In Game Two … Andy Pettitte started for the Yanks and pitched four solid innings, allowing the only Cub run, on six hits, one walk, and two strikeouts … A.J. Burnett replaced Pettitte in the 5th inning and also delivered a solid effort on the mound, pitching four innings, allowing zero runs, on two hits, one base-on-ball, and six strkeouts … Brian Bruney (two strikeouts), and Phil Coke (one strikeout), closed out the game and Yankees victory, pitching a scoreless 9th inning.
To view “box score”, click on: Game Two: Yanks 10, Cubs 1
The new 2009 Basball Season is finally here …
Enjoy “Opening Day”, everybody !!!
— Jimmy [27NYY], “BY&L”
Snow Flakes, Spring, and Yogi Berra …
Well, the first day of Spring was greeted with early morning snow flakes here in New York; but, Spring prevailed over Winter, as the sun melted the little snow crystals before they had any chance of accumulating on the ground.
So, it was kind of a nice transition, as Winter had its final at-bat, and Spring very easily recorded the last outs of the season. Winter will surely redeem itself with a victory when it battles the Fall at the end of December later this year.
I guess it was certain Spring was going to arrive on time because Yogi Berra was scheduled to arrive back home in New Jersey today from Tampa, Florida. At least, that’s what was reported by the Yankee announcers, Ken Singleton and John Flaherty, before the Yankees 7-4 victory against the Toronto Blue Jays, on the YES Network last night, as the camera showed Yogi smiling and having a good time sitting in the Yankees dugout.
Yogi Berra always seems to be in the right place, at the right time. So, I’m sure when he arrives back North — Spring will be here.
Like Yogi once said, “if you don’t know where you’re going, you’ll wind up somewhere else“. So, I would say, when Yogi Berra returns home, it will be Spring.
Yogi Berra’s “highlights” from his 18 year New York Yankees career are amazing.
And, when I think about Yogi Berra’s great baseball career, my thoughts always go back to a few years ago when a reporter asked the Yankees “captain” Derek Jeter how it felt to have “four” World Series rings. Jeter’s response was priceless, and explains why Derek is a “winner”; a class act; and, a true Yankee who has tremendous respect for the great New York Yankees tradition.
Derek Jeter said …
“Well, over here with the Yankees we have a guy walking around with “ten” World Series rings. Basically, that’s the standard we all look up to each year”.
Of course, Jeter was talking about Yogi Berra, and the fact that Berra represents a connection to the awesome Yankees winning tradition, greatness, and history of the past.
And, this is the reason Derek Jeter, and Yankees owner, George Steinbrenner, have always set the goal of winning the World Series each year as the benchmark of a successful Yankees season. Anything less is a failure.
With Yogi Berra as the “Gold Standard” of success, how can any owner, manager, coach, player, team, or fan, go wrong following that great example?
Yogi Berra played for the Yankees from 1946-1963, and appeared in 14 World Series, including, “ten” World Championship teams.
Actually, counting Yogi’s seven additional appearances in the World Series as either a coach or manager, in which he was part of three more World Championship teams, Yogi Berra appeared in a record 21 World Series’, and has 13 World Series rings.
Yogi Berra has appeared in a World Series, as a player, manager, or coach in “five” different decades: * 1940’s … * 1950’s … * 1960’s … * 1970’s … 1980’s
Berra still hold numerous World Series records, including, hitting the first pinch-hit homerun in World Series play, in 1947; and, his greatest achievement, catching Don Larsen’s “Perfect Game” in the Yankees 2-0 victory in Game 5 of the 1956 World Seres.
During the regular season, Berra had a lifetime .285 batting average, with 2,150 Hits; 358 Homeruns; 1,430 RBI’s; and a .482 slugging percentage.
* Yogi Berra was selected to play on the American League All-Star Team 15 times.
* Berra won the American League MVP Award “three” times (1951, ’54, ’55).
* Between 1949 and 1955, on great teams with such stars as Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra led the Yankees in RBI’s “seven” consecutive seasons.
* Five times Berra had more Homeruns in a season than strikeouts, including, striking-out only 12 times in 597 at-bats in 1950, while hitting .322 with 28 HR’s and 124 RBI’s.
* In June, 1962, at the age of 37, Yogi Berra caught an entire 22-inning, 7-hour game, against the Detroit Tigers.
* Yogi Berra had the reputation of being a “bad ball hitter”; and, when he was once asked about swinging at “bad pitches”, Yogi replied, “if I can hit it, it’s a good pitch”.
* In 1972, Yogi Berra was enshrined into Baseball’s “Hall of Fame”.
* Also, in 1972, the New York Yankees honored Yogi Berra by retiring his #8 … [note: the Yankees have also retired #8 in honor of Hall of Fame catcher, Bill Dickey].
I could go on and on in this dedication in honor of Yogi Berra, but will end my stating the obvious …
Yogi Berra was one of the greatest players in baseball history; and a true “American Original” !!!
Thank you, Yogi, for still being a major part of the New York Yankees family; and, also, for all the many joyful moments you have given all of us throughout the years !!!
To view Yogi Berra’s lifetime stats, click on …
http://www.baseball-reference.com/b/berrayo01.shtml
The following are some of my favorite “Yogi-isms” …
Quotes by Yogi Berra:
* “You can observe a lot by watching”
* “It’s like deja vu all over again”
* “If I didn’t wake up, I’d still be sleeping”
* “I can’t concentrate when I’m thinking”
* “No one goes there any more; it’s too crowded”
* “It’s not too far, it just seems like it is”
* “We’re lost, but we’re making good time”
* “I knew I was going to take the wrong train, so I left early”
* “It gets late awfully early around here”
[referring to the bad sun conditions in left field at Yankee Stadium].
* “We made too many wrong mistakes”
[on why the Yankees lost the 1960 World Series to the Pittsburg Pirates].
* “It’s tough to make predicitions, especially about the future”
* “The future ain’t what it used to be”
* “Never answer an anonymous letter”
* “You better make it four. I don’t think I can eat eight”
[when asked how many slices his pizza should be cut into].
* “I want to thank you for making this day necessary”
[in a speech he said “necessary” instead of “possible”].
* “It ain’t over, ’till it’s over”
— What are some of your favorite Yogi Berra quotes?
— Do you know any different “Yogi-isms” than above?
Everybody, enjoy the first day of “Spring”, 2009 !!!
— Jimmy Curran, “Baseball, The Yankees, and Life”
“The Captain” #15 … Thurman Munson
The latest MLBlog Fan “Leader’s List” was just posted, and I’m proud to report that my mlblog, “Baseball, The Yankees, and Life” was ranked #15 on the list.
Thank You, to all who have visited my mlblog.
I appreciate the many kind words, and excellent comments, thoughts, and opinions that have been offered throughout the past weeks and months that I have been here at mlblogs/mlb.com.
As has been my tradition, I dedicate each new ranking number of my blog in honor of a special player or some other special meaning the number has in relationship to the New York Yankees, Baseball or Life in general.
So, with that said, my #15 ranking on this current Leader’s List is dedicated in honor of the great, all-star, catcher of the NY Yankees, #15, “The Captain”, Thurman Munson.
Thurman Munson was one of the greatest catchers in baseball history, who started his Yankees career by winning the 1970 Rookie of the Year Award.
He led the New York Yankees to three World Series appearances, in 1975, ’76, and ’77, and, helped the Bronx Bombers win World Championship’s in 1976 and 1977.
Munson won the 1976 American League MVP Award; three “Gold Gloves”; and, appeared in seven All-Star games; and, he was named the first Yankees Captain since Lou Gehrig, by Yankees owner, George M. Steinbrenner, III, in his brief 10 year baseball career.
Tragically, on August 2, 1979, Thurman Munson was killed in an airplane accident, as he was piloting his own jet plane, and died in a crash practicing take-offs and landings.
The whole New York Yankees Organization was present at a very emotional funeral service in Munson’s home town, Canton Ohio, a few days after his tragic death. On that day, August 6, 1979, the Yankees returned home to play a game that night at Yankee Stadium, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the historic ballpark.
Before the game started, the Yankees left home plate empty, and the Yankee Stadium faithful gave Thurman a ten-minute standing ovation that could have gone on for hours.
In the game, Bobby Murcer, who was one of Thurman’s closest friends, drove in all five runs, in a victory that was a tribute to the Yankee “Captain”.
The Yankees retired Munson’s #15, and to this day, his locker in the Yankees clubhouse remains empty, as a memorial to one of the greatest players in baseball history.
But, all these tributes will not be complete until Thurman Munson receives the ultimate honor, enshrinement into Baseball’s “Hall of Fame”, an honor that is long overdue.
Maybe, this year, 2009, which will mark the 30th Anniversary of the death of Thurman Munson, a movement will start that will re-focus attention on the greatness of Thurman Munson, and his clutch-hitting abilities, and leadership qualities, that will lead to him being voted into the Hall of Fame.
To view Thurman Munson’s Lifetime stats, click on …
http://www.baseball-reference.com/m/munsoth01.shtml
To view Thurman Munson’s Biography, click on …
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thurman_Munson
Thanks again to everybody who has visited my mlblog. It is greatly appreciated.
I will be away for a few days, for a much needed rest. So, please feel free to offer as many comments and thoughts on Thurman Munson, or any other topic, you would like to discuss. I look forward to all your comments, and will offer my responses when I return after this weekend, to this great Baseball Community, mlblogs/mlb.com.
May God Always Bless All Our Efforts !!!
— Jimmy Curran, “Baseball, The Yankees, and Life”
Baseball’s Hidden Treasures
The snow continued to fall today here in the New York area; and, as I watched the beautiful new snow flakes fall from the sky covering all the areas that I shoveled the previous day, basically hiding all my hard work, my thoughts drifted towards all the hidden gems of baseball.
There are so many wonderful images from our great game of baseball that can be written about; but, some special moments by our favorite players on the baseball diamond don’t really need words to describe the beauty of their actions and skills on the field. These special images will always shine so vividly in our minds.
This is the case with one of my favorite Yankee players from past Yankee teams that weren’t so good.
He played 10 seasons in the Major Leagues, including seven with the New York Yankees, from 1968-1974, recording a lifetime batting average of .229 with only 226 RBI’s. This was just before George Steinbrenner became the owner of the Yankees in 1973, but it was an era in baseball, before free-agency, when it was a good feeling to know that when spring training rolled along to begin a new baseball season, your favorite players would be making that trip to Florida still a member of the team that you rooted for.
Spring was, and still is, a time of hope, and a time to dream. That hope and those dreams always focused on the new baseball season ending with the team that you rooted for winning the World Series. It didn’t matter that some of the players on your team maybe weren’t the best in the league, or even very good. They were familar faces, players that you grew up with as kids, and copied there batting stances in the baseball games that you played with your family and friends in the streets, and school yards, and fields, that were all within walking distance from you home.
And, of course, all the games ended when our mothers called out in unison, from the front doors of each of our houses, “dinner is ready”, at around 6:00 p.m. every night.
So, all this imagery brings to mind the favorite player I menioned above. And, that player is “The Stick”, Gene Michael.
Bobby Murcer also started his Yankee career around the same time, and was always my favorite Yankee player. But, Gene Michael was one of those special Yankee players at the time, along with Roy White, Horace Clarke, Jerry Kenny, Jake Gibbs, Mel Stottlemyre, and the new rookie, Thurman Munson, who were also there, part of the Yankees team year after year, familar faces and friends that Yankee fans knew would still be on the team after the long winter months ended, at the start of spring training, and throughout another baseball season.
On the most recent MLBlogs “Leaders List” my blog, “Baseball, The Yankees, and Life, was ranked #17. And, as I have done on previous Leader Lists, it has now become a tradition in which I dedicate my ranking in honor of some special meaning that number has to me in regards to a player or special event related to the Yankees, or baseball.
Gene Michael wore #17 during his playing days with the New York Yankees; so, he was the inspiration for this dedication.
But, it goes beyond the lifetime .229 batting average that Michael accumulated during his playing days [He did hit .272, though, with 24 doubles, 41 runs, 31 RBI’s, in 412 at bats, in 119 games, his best season, in 1969].
Gene Michael was an excellent fielding shortstop which kept him in the Yankees lineup. Also, he was famous for the “hidden ball trick” which he successfully executed five times in his career. That doesn’t sound like a lot of times, but the “hidden ball trick” is one of the rarest plays in baseball, as there have been fewer than 300 recorded successful executions of this play in baseball history.
When I hear Gene Michael’s name mentioned, the “hidden ball trick” is one of the first things that comes to mind; and, I do recall seeing Michael attempt the play many times, and actually remember a couple of the outs he recorded with the play.
Basically, for those who don’t know what the play is, the “hidden ball trick” is when an infielder deceives the runner by holding onto the ball, either by faking a throw to the pitcher by the pitcher’s mound; or, going to the mound to hand the ball to the pitcher, but not actually giving the pitcher the ball. In the latter case, the fielder hides the ball somewhere, either in his glove or shirt, and then goes back to his position, waiting to catch the base runner off guard, and tag him out.
Of course, during the whole attempt to deceive the runner, the pitcher must not stand on or astride the pitching rubber on the mound. If he does step on the rubber, it is a balk, and the runner advances one base. So, there really is an “art” in making this play work; and, Gene Michael was a master in “getting the out” on the play.
Gene Michael has been part of the Yankees Organization for about 40 years, serving in many different roles. First, as a player, then, coach, manager, general manager, super scout, and, his present position, vice-president and senior baseball advisor.
But, it was as “General Manager” that Michael shined the most, making his greatest impact in the Yankees Organization. He was the “architect” of building up the great Yankee Championship teams of the late 1990’s, when the Yankees signed or drafted future all-stars: Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada, Andy Pettitte, and others; as well as, trading for Paul O’Neill.
The dedication in honor of Gene Michael is long overdue, and very well deserved. All Yankee fans should be thankful that “The Stick” is still a very active part of the New York Yankees family. A special day in his honor should be scheduled at the new Yankee Stadium this year.
Gene Michael is a “gem”, and a “hidden treasure” in the Yankees Organization !!!
To view Gene Michael’s career stats, click on:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/m/michage01.shtml
To view Gene Michael’s biography, click on:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_Michael
Also a note of thanks to: ….. Julia, #4 ….. Elizabeth, #19 ….. and, Kaybee, #23 ….. On the latest Leader’s List !!!
They also dedicated their ranking numbers on the latest “Leader’s List” in honor of a special player. But, in addition, they all “expanded” my concept of dedicating our ranking numbers, and gave even more meaning to the number, by dedicating a whole post in honor of the same player and number. So, that expansion of my concept resulted in my above post, dedicated to #17, Gene Michael.
To view Julia’s, Elizabeth’s, and Kaybee’s posts and dedications, click on …
* Julia’s Rant’s — Dedication to #4, Joe Cronin …
http://werbiefitz.mlblogs.com/archieves/2009/01/4_retired.html
* The Future Blog of the Red Sox — Dedication to #19, Fred Lynn …
http://redsoxgirl46.mlblogs.com/archives/2009/01/future_blog_of_the_red_sox_mak.html
* Unfinished Business — Dedication to #23, Adrian Gonzalez …
http://kaybee.mlblogs.com/archives/2009/01/vizquel_interested_in_padres.html
Also, thanks to everybody who has visited my mlblog. I appreciate all your support, and always look forward to your excellent, comments, thoughts, and kind words. All are “welcome” to visit anytime !!!
— Jimmy Curran, “Baseball, The Yankees, and Life”
And, Don’t Forget Joe Gordon And Tony Kubek
The Hall of Fame selections were announced the other day, and as expected, Rickey Henderson easily slid into the Hall on a first ballot vote of 95% of the baseball writers who have the great honor of voting for which players are enshrined into baseball’s “Hall of Fame”.
Rickey received 511 of the 539 votes cast, and one has to wonder what the other 28 baseball writers were thinking when they didn’t include Henderson on their ballots. It’s not like each writer could vote for only “one” player on their ballot. Each voter can choose up to “ten” players out of the ones on the list. Even if all of the 28 voters thought nine players were more deserving then Henderson being enshrined this year, surely Rickey earned, at least, a 10th place vote by these select-few, honored, baseball writers. Puzzling ???
Of course, Rickey Henderson was very excited when he heard the news that he had been voted into the Hall of Fame, but he had only one person on his mind when thinking about who he would thank in his acceptance speech. Billy Martin.
In Kevin Kernan’s, January 13, 2009, New York Post article, Rickey said, “I wish he [Billy Martin] was here because I think most of all he believed in me more than anybody believed in me. He was like a father figure to me. I know, in his burial that he’s turning over and he’s jumping for joy. I can feel that he’ll say that he knew that this day would come, and I wish he was here.”
Billyball was fun to watch, in all those years Rickey played for the Oakland A’s, breaking just about every stolen base record in baseball history for manager Billy Martin. As Martin’s son, Billy Martin, Jr., said, “I think my father understood Rickey better than some other guys. They trusted one another.”
Henderson played for many teams, and, I remember him most as one of the greatest leadoff hitters in baseball history, during the time that he played for the New York Yankees.
Congratulations, to Rickey Henderson. His “Hall of Fame” acceptance speech should be a “classic”.
Also, selected for enshrinement into the Hall of Fame, was the great Boston Red Sox player, Jim Rice.
This was Rice’s last year of eligibility to be selected by the Baseball Writers; and, after a long 15 year wait he finally earned a well deserved trip to Cooperstown. He played his whole career with the Red Sox, and was one of the most dominant players of his era during the years, 1974-1989, in which, he won the MVP in 1978 and played in 8 All-Star games.
Congratulations, to Jim Rice, whose next honor should be his #14 being retired by the Boston Red Sox.
Along with Rickey Henderson, who will enter the Hall of Fame in an Oakland A’s cap, two other former Yankee players will also be enshrined in Baseball’s “Hall of Fame” this year on July 26th. Joe Gordon and Tony Kubek.
Kubek received the 2009 Ford C. Frick Award, which honors outstanding broadcasters with enshrinement into the Hall of Fame.
Tony Kubek played for the Yankees in the late 1950’s and early ’60’s; but, I never had the pleasure of watching him play during his Yankees days, which was limited because of an injury in the 1960 World Series, when a groundball took a bad hop that bounced into his throat.
But, it was a pleasue to listen to Kubek as an “expert” baseball analyst, on the NBC “Game of the Week”, with Curt Gowdy and Joe Garagiola, during the ’70’s and 80’s; as well as, when he was an analyst on Yankees games with announcer, DeWayne Staats in the early 1990’s.
Very simply, in my view, Tony Kubek was one of the best baseball analyst’s in broadcasting history; and, I truly missed him when he no longer was a broadcaster on Yankee games.
So, Congratulations, to Mr. Kubek, on receiving this awesome award and honor.
And, finally, but not forgotten, on December 7, 2008, the baseball Veteran’s Committee, by a vote of 83.3% [10 of 12 voters], selected the great second baseman, Joe Gordon, for induction into the “Hall of Fame”.
Joe Gordon played for the New York Yankees and Cleveland Indians, from 1938-1950. He was a great fielding, power hitting second baseman, who played on five World Championship teams, and was a nine-time All-Star.
In 1938, his rookie year with the Yankees, Gordon replaced Hall of Famer, Tony Lazzeri, and hit 25 homeruns that year, which was the first time an American League second baseman hit 20 homers in a season; and, also, was an AL record for second basemen until 2006.
In 1939, Joe Gordon hit 28 homeruns, including, three homers in a game on June 28th, and finished the season, second in homers on the Yankees, behind the great Joe DiMaggio.
And, the best example of his value to the New York Yankees, was in 1942, when Gordon hit .322 with 18 homeruns and 103 RBI’s; and, also, led the league in turning double plays with Hall of Fame shortstop, Phil Rizzuto. Gordon won the American League MVP Award in 1942, beating out Ted Williams of the Red Sox, who hit for the “Triple Crown” that year.
At the time it was announced that Gordon had been voted into the Hall of Fame, another Yankee great, Jerry Coleman, had this to say about Joe Gordon, “He was one of the greats of the game; a truly brilliant defensive player; and, the perfect second baseman with his ability to turn the double play and hit for power in such a difficult hitter’s park as Yankee Stadium. He made Phil Rizzuto and Lou Boudreau better, as Gordon wasn’t just good, he was great”.
Joe Gordon played on four World Series winning teams with the New York Yankees, and served our Country for two years [1944-’45] in the military; but, was traded to the Cleveland Indians, at the end of the 1946 season, for Allie Reynolds. He helped the Indians win the 1948 World Championship by leading the team with 32 homeruns and 124 RBI’s.
Yankees owner, George Steinbrenner, who is originally from Cleveland, remembers Joe Gordon as a player, and released the following statement after it was announced that Gordon had been voted into Baseball’s “Hall of Fame”.
Mr. Steinbrenner said, “Joe Gordon was a great second baseman, a great Yankee, and an inspiration to millions of American’s for many years. The Yankees are proud of his election.”
Congratulations to Joe Gordon on being enshrined into the Hall of Fame.
To view the lifetime stats of these “Hall of Famers”, on Baseball-Reference.com, click on …
* Joe Gordon
http://www.baseball-reference.com/g/gordojo01.shtml
* Rickey Henderson
http://www.baseball-reference.com/h/henderi01.shtml
* Jim Rice
http://www.baseball-reference.com/r/riceji01.shtml
* Tony Kubek
Mark And Leigh Teixeira Are Now Yankees
Mark, “I want you to be a Yankee” … Leigh Teixeira
The New York Yankees battled the Angels, Red Sox, Orioles, and Nationals, in their quest to sign the best position player in this year’s “free-agent market”. And, in this battle, it has been reported that the Washington Nationals actually offered the highest amount of money to sign Mark Teixeira; and, according to Yankees GM, Brian Cashman, just a couple of hours before the Yankees signed Teixeira on December 23th, “all indications were he was going to be a Red Sox”.
In the end, though, the Yankees offer of: $180 Million over 8 years, was the winning offer in the great Mark Teixeira Sweepstakes of 2008.
But, money aside, ’cause Teixeira was going to get pretty much the same amount of money and number of years from “any” team that he signed with, it was Mark’s wife, Leigh, who turned out to be the major deciding factor in the Teixeira family coming to the “Beautiful Bronx”.
As he was taking questions at his “press conference” yesterday, at the old Yankee Stadium, Mark Teixeira talked about the role his wife had in his decision to accept the Yankees offer to play in New York.
Mark said, during this whole free-agent process he kept asking his wife what her thoughts and opinions were regarding what team he should play for. Leigh would keep telling Mark, “I just want you to be happy.” But, over dinner one night, Mark asked Leigh a more direct question, “if everything’s equal, where do you want to go”?
That’s when Leigh made her now famous quote, “I want you to be a Yankee” !
Well, from all Yankee fans, Thank You, Leigh !!!
Also, at yesterday’s press conference, Leigh added, “I thought it would be special for him [Mark] to be a Yankee” ! “When you think of a baseball team, they’re the team. I knew Mark would love the new Stadium; and, he knew the Yankees as an Organization would do what it takes to win. In the back of his mind, he always knew the Yankees would be a great place for him.”
Viewing the constantly “smiling” Mark Teixeira throughout his introduction to the City of New York at the Stadium yesterday, all could see just how special Mark feels it is to be a member of the New York Yankees, the team of his favorite baseball player, Don Mattingly.
Mark Teixeira looked confident; talked with great pride of now being a member of the Yankees and the great Yankees tradition; and, said all the right things in his brief statements to assembled media.
Teixeira said, “No one’s going to expect more out of me, than me. I believe I have yet tapped my potential; and, I’m trying to get better. I haven’t accomplished anything yet, since I don’t have a World Series ring on my finger”.
And, talking again about his decision to sign with the Yankees, Teixeira said, “in the back of my mind, the Yankees were always at the top. Once Leigh said, ‘I want you to be a Yankee’, it was a done deal”.
Yankee fans have to thank the Steinbrenner family, George, Hank, and Hal; and, GM Brian Cashman for making this deal happen.
Cashman has been very busy this winter, signing the top three free-agents on the market, Mark Teixeira, CC Sabathia, and A.J. Burnett. And, Teixeira is the “crown jewel” of all the signings.
Talking about Mark Teixeira, in Kevin Kernan’s [Jan 7th] New York Post article, Brian Cashman said, “He’s got that All-American look; he’s Paul Bunyan; he’s well-educated; he’s the All-American high performer; and, he’s not a loud personality. He’s very disciplined, structured, a hard worker that’s got exceptional ability. It kind of fits our clubhouse”. Cashman continued, by saying, “Teixeira kind of has the same qualities as, Captain, Derek Jeter.”
Hal Steinbrenner was on hand, representing the Steinbrenner family; and, in an interview with Ken Davidoff of Newsday, [Jan 7th], said, “we had about $80 Million come off [the payroll]. So we have some money to spend, and we’re going to reinvest it. And, that’s going to continue, whether people like it or not. That’s for the fans. They deserve the best team we can put out there.”
Steinbrenner also said, “We’ve got a lot of great young pitching; Now we’ve got some position players who are coming through the system. We’ve spent as much on player development as anyone. And, we’re going to continue to do that, too. It’s a good balance of veterans and kids.”
So, it’s good to know that Hank and Hal Steinbrenner are going to continue with the same winning philosophy that their father George believes in. And, that’s, spending money; reinvesting it back into the team, by signing top free-agents; and, also, spending on player development.
As we move forward from the Mark Teixeira signing, the Yankees tradition of great first basemen continues …
Lou Gehrig, Chris Chambliss, Don Mattingly, Tino Martinez, Jason Giambi, and now … Mark Teixeira !!!
Manager Joe Girardi was asked where Mark Teixeira will bat in the Yankees lineup, and as of now he is still undecided. Girardi said, “We’ve added a great player who has a lot of character. Where he bats in the lineup will be discussed with my coaches when spring training starts next month in Tampa.”
So, where Mark Teixeira will bat in the Yankees lineup, will be the start of another great debate for the Yankees braintrust, and all Yankee fans, to ponder and discuss the rest of the winter; into spring training; and, into the new 2009 baseball season.
But, for now, all us Yankee fans are very happy that Leigh Teixeira wanted her husband to be a Yankee !!!
To view Mark Teixeira’s lifetime stats on “Baseball-Reference.com”, click on:
A Christmas To Remember, Teixeira Signs With Yanks
Christmas came a little early for all Yankee fans this year, as the New York Yankees have now given a “third” wondrous Christmas gift to the Yankee faithful, with the signing of superstar, first baseman, Mark Teixeira. This signing completes a beautiful set of three “crown” jewels, that also includes, “ace” starting pitchers, CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett, signed earlier in this festive holiday month of December.
The Yankees could not have given a more wonderful set of presents, that will bring much joy and happiness to all Yankee fans, and the great City of New York, during many winning, and hopefully, Championship, baseball seasons over the next five to eight years.
Many thanks, and Christmas Blessings, to the Steinbrenner family, George, Hank, and Hal; Yankees General Manager, Brian Cashman; and, the whole Yankees Organization, for making these awesome moves this winter.
It was an interesting day following all the Mark Teixeira developments.
The Yankees were very quiet up to now regarding their interest in signing Teixeira. Then, the reports came flowing in, that the Yankees were very heavily involved in discussions with Tex and his agent Scott Boras. The Boston Red Sox and Washington Nationals were also still in serious discussions for Teixeira’s services.
As I was traveling around in my car this afternoon, taking care of some last minute Christmas errands, I kept updated on the Mark Teixeira negotiations by listening to Jon Heyman’s, SI.com and WFAN reports, on Mike Francesa’s WFAN radio program, that was co-hosted by Joe Benigno and Evan Roberts, today, for the vacationing Francesa.
Little by little, the reports seemed to be leading in the direction of the New York Yankees, as the winner of the great “Mark Teixeira Sweepstakes” of 2008.
My travels finally took me to my bank, to conduct some “serious” banking business.
When I left my car to enter the bank, there were still various reports that the negotiations were starting to heat up, and the Yankees were very much involved in these discussions with Teixeira and Boras.
I completed my banking transactions, and returned to my car about half past three. After starting the car, and turning on the radio, my “Christmas Wish” had come true. Listening to Benigno and Roberts on WFAN, again, they were discussing the Jon Heyman reports that, yes, indeed, the New York Yankees had reached an agreement with Mark Teixeira; and, Tex made his decision to accept the Yankees offer of: 8 years for about $180 Million [$22.5 Million per year].
I gave out a loud “cheer”, sitting alone inside my car, in the parking lot of my bank.
It was very appropriate that I heard this great news while looking at a “bank” through the windshield of my car. It’s also ironic, because my serious banking transaction was like picking up a lonely penny on the ground, compared to the “real” serious money matters that were being discussed during the Mark Teixeira negotiations.
But, hearing about the Yankees signing of Mark Teixeira, was like receiving many pennies from Heaven. And, since we just experienced our first major snow storm here in New York, the pennies could even be many millions of snowflakes, that have created a beautiful wintery scene of snow covered streets, trees, and fields throughout most of our area.
In the spring, these fields will turn to green, and will be sprinkled with “gold” from the bats, cleats, and gloves of our new and old Yankee heroes. All these snow covered fields will then become “Fields of Dreams”, renewing our hope for many great days of baseball ahead, that will also, hopefully, lead to playing baseball in October and winning another World Championship.
My excitement forced me to make sure this “Christmas Gift” signing of Teixeira was true; so, I turned the car radio to 1050 ESPN, and was now listening to Max Kellerman, filling in for the vacationing Michael Kay.
“Yes, it’s true”, I cheered, as I heard Kellerman talking about the reports by ESPN’s Buster Olney, that, confirmed what I had already heard on WFAN, “Mark Teixeira is a Yankee”.
So, I headed to the Post Office, to complete my tasks on this very historic day in New York Yankees history, while turning the radio dial back and forth between WFAN and 1050 ESPN, to listen to every detail reported about the Teixeira deal.
Santa’s “rogue” elf on my “last post” was correct. And, Mark Teixeira chose the second Christmas Gift, the package for about $180 Million over eight years.
Anyone reading this post, who has tickets to the “Opening Day” game at the new Yankee Stadium, please make a point to check-out the box seats in the field level section behind the Yankees dugout. If he was able to convince Santa that this trip to New York was necessary, there will be a little elf sitting in one of the seats, somewhere right behind the Yankees dugout.
He will not be hard to find, as he will be the only person in the Stadium eating candy canes.
If you get the chance, just stop by his seat, and say “thank you”. The elf will know what you are talking about.
But, don’t wait ’till the end of the game, ’cause there’ll be a sleigh waiting to take the elf back to the North Pole.
And, as soon as Mariano Rivera records the final out of the game, to save the Yankees first victory at the new Yankee Stadium — it will be like magic — Before Frank Sinatra finishes signing “New York, New York”, the elf will be soaring high into the “Yankee Blue Sky”, leaving behind a trail of empty candy cane wrappers.
Merry Christmas !!! … And, to all, a “good night” !!!
— Jimmy Curran, “Baseball, The Yankees, and Life”
Baseball, The Yankees, and Life... 