The day before Father’s Day, my father-in-law and I took a bus, along with a bunch of other folks, from Oneonta in upstate New York to the Bronx in New York City, NY to see the New York Yankees play a night game versus the Detroit Tigers.
So why did we leave a little after 10 a.m. for a 7 p.m. game? It was Old-Timers’ Day. Former Yankees come back and get recognized; think of it as a family reunion. There is a certain relational connection, too; six widows of former Yankees were noted as well.
Before that ceremony, fans got a chance to visit Monument Park, beyond the center-field fences, where former Yankee greats, such as Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, and Joe DiMaggio, are honored with plaques.
It had been long announced that Willie Randolph (pictured left), long-time second baseman and then coach, was going to be honored, with his #30 being retired. His picture appeared on the cover of the special commemorative program. Willie spoke about growing up in Brooklyn, rooting for the Yanks.
A large number of returning Yankees are announced individually. The always entertaining and hugely popular Yogi Berra, who had turned 90 back in May, and who’d subsequently die in September, was not present but was mentioned. Some of the former players, coaches, and staff who had died in the past 12 months were mentioned, including former Oneonta Tigers pitching coach Bill Monbouquette.
Then a surprise. Mel Stottlemyre (pictured right), a fine pitcher for the Yankees when I was growing up, before becoming the long-time pitching coach, was also celebrated. His family obviously knew, but he was clearly gobsmacked. He had multiple myeloma in 2000, was in remission for several years, but the cancer reappeared in 2011 and he apparently was still battling it. Before Willie was #30, Mel was #30, and so his plaque in Monument Park will also bear that number.
Some of the younger retirees played a couple of innings of an intrasquad game. A few of the players, such as Paul O’Neill, and even 60-year-old Randolph, looked as though they could still play at Major League level.
As for the real game, the Yankees routed the Detroit Tigers, 14-3. Some young Yankee pitcher was put in the game late, gave up the three runs in the 7th, but shut out the team in the last two innings.
This was the first time I had been in the new Yankee Stadium, which opened in 2009 to replace “the house that Ruth built (1923-2008). I don’t think I’d been to the old stadium since 1977, so this was a rare treat.
Our bus didn’t get home until about 3:30 a.m., and it was 4 a.m. by the time I got to bed. (I got up at 7 a.m., and we went to Albany to go to church, but that’s another tale.)
Hi Roger
seems like a wonderful trip wich was all the much the offer of getting up earlie, worth!
How wonderful that there are meetings like this!
Have a nice abc-day/week
♫ M e l ☺ d y ♫ (abc-w-team)
Terrific memories. What an adventure to see so many get recognition for their efforts in the sports world.
That was quite a Father’s Day gift.
Great to honour the ‘oldies’ and remember their accomplishments.
I’m a SF Giants fan and someday I hope to visit Cooperstown. I haven’t been to an old-timer’s game yet.
OH! I would have loved to go to something like this. Love Love Love baseball but it isn’t as big here in the West as it is in the East of Canada.
Leslie
abcw team
Great idea to have a reunion of former great sportsmen.
Thanks for your visit. You are certainly OK!
Wil, ABCW Team.
I’m not much into sports, but have fond memories of going to baseball games with my father as a child. (I’ve also gotten into football, because my Texas A&M alumni daughters are big fans of their team.) Happy ABC Wednesday!
Haven’t seen this sport live yet, just some times on TV>
A wonderful event for you to attend. 🙂
Happy ABCW!
That was one long day.The festivities must have been worth it I believe.
Old Timers’ Day is something I would have liked to have seen. I haven’t followed baseball since the season of the baseball strike.
Wonderful!
You and your dad-in-law certainly shared a wonderful day. I’m not much of a baseball fan at the moment, but I would enjoy going to a Giants Oldtimer’s Day.
Even as an oldie myself, when it comes to sports I don’t know anything ! not even about tennis, 🙂
Great posts of wonderful memories for O ~
Happy Weekend coming your way,
artmusedog and carol
Oh well, I am old but I don’t know about this.
Happy October.
I believe I fit in the “old timers club” sometimes.
Yeah baseball!!!
Ann
Obviously I don’t know much about the yankees but I did knew they did this. SO nice the actually read about it. And even more respect you still got up (on time) to go to church!
must be a fun trip, may be for real baseball fan. a bit like the rugby fan now going all the way to England.