Yogi Loses His Lifetime Love Carmen

A sad day for the Yankees family, but much more so for the Berra family. Carmen Berra, long time wife of Yankees legend Yogi Berra, passed away at an assisted living facility as the result of complications from the stroke she had suffered earlier this year.

The Berra's son Larry had this to say:

“She died peacefully -- she went the way she would have wanted to. We’re grateful that she and dad were able to spend some good time together (Thursday). I’m not just saying this because she was my mom, but she was one of the great women of all time.” ¹

In addition to her beloved Yogi, to whom she was married for 65 years, she is survived by their sons - Larry, Dale, and Tim, and 11 grandchildren.

Hal Steinbrenner, managing general partner of the Yankees, released this statement:

On behalf of the entire New York Yankees organization, we offer our deepest condolences to the Berra family. Having known Yogi and Carmen for so long, it is almost impossible to imagine two people who complemented each other better than they did. We will always remember Carmen’s smile and sense of humor, and her kindness and generosity will be deeply missed by all who knew her.” ¹

My condolences to the entire Berra family on their monumental loss.

1 - NY Daily News

Joba Headed to Tigertown

Joba looked like Oliver Hardy, but pitched like Stan Laurel.

Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal reported Wednesday morning that Joba Chamberlain and the Detroit Tigers agreed to terms on a free agent deal. ESPN's Buster Olney later added the details, one year at $2.5MM. He'll serve as a set up man for another free agent signee, Joe Nathan.

Chamberlain's days as a Yankee came to a close when the team didn't make him a qualifying offer after the end of the 2013 season. It meant the end of a career in pinstripes - one that took off like a rocket on lift off, but peaked early and then nosedived back to Earth.

In between there was Tommy John surgery, rules, midges, triple digit fastballs, nasty sliders, a DUI and a related insult of Yogi Berra, a "shush" incident with Mariano Rivera, a trampoline mishap, numerous cans of Red Bull, a cheesy mustache, a great father/son story, and non-maximized potential.

It didn't get much better for Chamberlain after his 2007 debut. Yankees fans had heard about the blazing fastball and a great arsenal of pitches, but seeing was believing.

The Yankees needed bullpen help in the summer of 2007 so the former first round pick (41st overall in 2006) was recalled from the minors. He made his debut at the Rogers Centre in Toronto on August 7 and threw two scoreless innings in a 9-2 Yankees win. Nervous, excited, and amped up, he walked two and struck out two.

Two days later he struck out four of the six batters he faced. The legend of Joba was born. He pitched 24 innings in his first season with a remarkable 34 strikeouts and six walks. He allowed a single earned run for a 0.38 ERA, won a couple of games and picked up his first Major League save. The "Joba Rules" were also instituted to protect his arm, but they didn't have much of impact until the following season.

He pitched out of the pen to begin and end the 2008 season with 12 starts in between. A year later he was a full-time starter, but couldn't match his prior success. From there it was injuries and ineffectiveness to the point that he couldn't be trusted in key situations.

Now he's got a clean slate with Tigers' first year manager Brad Ausmus.

Torre's #6 to Be Enshrined

1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8 (twice), 9, 10, 15, 16, 23, 32, 37, 42, 49. Those are the numbers that reside encircled in Yankee Stadium's Monument Park. Soon another number will be added to it - the 6 that Joe Torre wore on his back for the 12 seasons he was the Yankees' maanger.

With the announcement that Torre will be inducted into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame this summer, Yankees GM Brian Cashman announced that the Yankees will retire Torre's number 6.

No one has donned the number since Torre left after the 2007 season and Cashman said it would be done officially "at some point".

Once Derek Jeter's number 2 is retired there will no longer be a single digit number available for a Yankees player to wear. Perhaps the team will go to triple digits one day.

The one thing missing in all this is the #51. It does not matter that Bernie Williams did not officially announce his retirement. It's time for the Yankees to get it done, have a day for the center field guitarist and add his number to Monument Park.


Yankees retired numbers

1 - Billy Martin
3 - Babe Ruth
4 - Lou Gehrig
5 - Joe DiMaggio
7 - Mickey Mantle
8 - Bill Dickey, Yogi Berra
9 - Roger Maris
10 - Phil Rizzuto
15 - Thurman Munson
16 - Whitey Ford
23 - Don Mattingly
32 - Elston Howard
37 - Casey Stengel
42 - Mariano Rivera
44 - Reggie Jackson
49 - Ron Guidry

Yankees Introduce McCann to the Media

The Yankees introduced free agent acquisition Brian McCann to the media at 2:00 EST Thursday afternoon in what turned out to be a very quick press conference. After PR head Jason Zillo added McCann's name to the long line of Yankees' catching legends - Bill Dickey, Yogi Berra, Elston Howard, Thurman Munson, Jorge Posada - Brian Cashman welcomed McCann's wife Ashley with fresh flowers and two pairs of "onesies" for their children, 16-month old son Colt and 2-month old daughter Colbie.

Manager Joe Girardi then presented McCann with his #34 pinstripes jersey and Yankees cap and turned the mic over to him. The former Atlanta Brave thanked the Steinbrenner family and expressed his excitement for the chance to play for the Yankees.

He then took questions from the floor, including one that dealt with McCann's reactions to Carlos Gomez and Jose Fernandez that nearly caused bench clearing brawls between the Braves and Brewers, and the Braves and Marlins.

A clean shaven McCann downplayed both incidents, complimented both players on their ability, and said his instincts took over with Gomez who was yelling the entire way around the bases after hitting a home run.

McCann looks forward to "pick the brains of the pitchers" to get an idea of how they approach the game and each at-bat. The catcher also said he spoke with former teammate Mark Teixeira to get an idea of what it would be like to play in New York City. He's just four months away from finding out.

Updated 3:45 PM - Here is the video of the press conference.
 

Pinstripe Empire History of New York Yankees Rules the Book Shelves

Marty Appel's time working with and within the New York Yankees organization gave him the perfect insight to write his latest book, "Pinstripe Empire: From Before The Babe to After The Boss". It's a summation of baseball's most successful franchise from their humble beginnings as the New York Highlanders, through 27 world championships, and up to their playoff failings in 2011. 



The book begins with the idea of bringing a team to New York and the construction of Hilltop Park that would house the Highlanders, the pre-cursor to the Yankees. Those teams included Jack Chesbro, who won a team record 41 games. But save for one season, those Highlanders team were usually at the bottom of the barrel. 

Things would change with the acquisition of Babe Ruth, the construction of Yankee Stadium, and shrewd ownership and management. The first World Series title came in 1923 and Ruth hit his prodigious 60 home run in 1927. That was the year the lineup was known as Murderer's Row and to this day they are still part of the great debate as to which was the greatest Yankees squad of all time - '27, '39, '61 or '98? (For that matter the greatest team of all time.) I found it fascinating to compare and contrast the ownership over the years (e.g. Ruppert and Topping) and the styles of the managers (Huggins, McCarthy, Stengel, Martin, etc.).

The book allows all Yankees fans to share in those moments experienced in person or through the media, be reminded of moments forgotten, and to learn things anew. (I could name hundreds of Yankees off the top of my head, but I never had heard of one of their early great relievers, Johnny Murphy.) One of things I really enjoyed about the book is that it does not have to be read beginning with page one. (Though there are wonderful introductions from Yankees' greats Yogi Berra and Bernie Williams to kick things off.) 

I read the book in reverse order, going over 10 to 20 year periods at a time, starting with the reclamation of the 1990's up through today. It was a joy to relive the moment Charlie Hayes' squeezed the final out in Game 6 of the '96 series. It was the title that ended a drought of 18 seasons without a championship. 

Then it was on to the early 1970's when the Yankees began to be relevant again with new young stars like (my personal favorite) Bobby Murcer, Thurman Munson, Graig Nettles, and Chris Chambliss. It was a tumultuous time in baseball with the advent of free agency and the beginning of large player contracts (slim by comparison to today's deals), the inception of the DH in the American League (the Yankees' Ron Blomberg was the first to officially bat), the revolving door of managers- with Billy Martin seemingly caught inside the door - Steinbrenner's constant interference with all decisions, the renovation of Yankee Stadium and a temporary home at Shea Stadium, and last, but not least, the wife swap between pitchers Fritz Peterson (permanent) and Mike Kekich (temporary). 

It was also a time when young fans like me really got into baseball. Some of those Yankees teams came close to reaching the playoffs, but couldn't win the division when a division title meant everything. That all changed of course when a ship builder named George M. Steinbrenner III bought the Yankees from CBS. Appel did a great job of balancing his story telling between the early, crazed Boss with the later sentimental, sedate one. 

You can relive the race between Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle to pass Babe Ruth's single season home run record as part of the great 1961 squad. Unfortunately, it was also the beginning of the end for the great Yankees teams. They won five consecutive pennants from 1960-1964 with two World Series titles, but by 1965 the team was in disarray. The farm system lacked talent and the Yankees greats retired or were in the process of putting a wrap on their careers. If you were lucky enough, you were too young to remember the worst of the worst- 9th and 10th (last place) finishes in 1966 and 1967. 

Going back further, it's still hard to believe the glory years of the 1930 through the 1950's when managers Joe McCarthy and Casey Stengel combined for 18 pennants and 14 World Series titles (Bucky Harris also won a championship in 1947). Those teams had larger than life players in Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Berra, Mantle, and Ford. You learn just what a corporation the Yankees really were. When a player was no longer useful, he was quickly shipped out, no matter how big a star he may have been. 

All of the above is just the tip of the iceberg. Even if you are not a Yankees fan, this is a great read to learn about the greatest franchise in baseball history. And if you are a Yankees fan, you'll enjoy knowing more about the franchise than you thought imaginable. 

YCN: Remembering Moose Skowron

My latest piece for the Yahoo Contributor Network is about the loss of Yankees great Bill "Moose" Skowron. Though I never saw him play, I have fond memories of many an Old Timer's Day with Moose, Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, Joe DiMaggio and more.

Please click here to read the article.

Yankees Recognize Maris' 50th Anniversary

50 years ago this coming Saturday, October 1, Roger Maris stepped to the plate against the Boston Red Sox Tracy Stallard and sent a pitch into the right field seats for his 61st home run of the season. As the ball landed in the seats, the anxiety and stress of chasing the immortal Babe Ruth left Maris' body like an 800 pound gorilla jumping off his back.

Maris lost weight and his hair came out in clumps as he approached the ghost of Babe Ruth's legend. Then commissioner Ford Frick said the record would have an asterisk since Babe Ruth's record 60 home runs came in just a 154 game schedule. Everything had to be done to protect Ruth's legacy. But Maris did break the record and it held for 37 years until the first of two cheaters surpassed his mark.

With this weekend being the final regular season homestand, the Yankees honored Maris' legacy and his family with a ceremony at Yankee Stadium. In 1961 most Yankees fans wanted to see Mickey Mantle break the record. After all he was a lifelong Yankee. But 50 years later the Yankee Stadium crowd gave a huge ovation to Maris' widow Pat and their six children.

Captain Derek Jeter presented Maris' sons, Roger Jr., Kevin, Randy, and Richard with a bat used by their father. The ceremony came on a day when the Yankees were once again playing Boston.

On hand were former Maris teammates Yogi Berra, Bob Cerv, and Whitey Ford. Sal Durante, the then 19-yr old who caught the baseball was in attendance as well as Mickey Mantle's sons David and Danny.

If you ever in Fargo, ND, be sure to check out the Roger Maris Museum.


Red Barber's call of Maris' 61..not quite as effusive as Phil Rizzuto's call.

Baseball Digest Birthdays: Bill Dickey | Baseball Digest

It is very easy to get overlooked when you play on a team that has Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig on it’s roster. Such was the case for Hall of Fame catcher Bill Dickey. The 17-yr Major League veteran, who played every one of his games for the New York Yankees, was born on this date in Bastrop, LA in 1907.

The Yankees purchased Dickey after he finished high school in Arkansas and invited him to spring training in 1928. It was there that Dickey, who at a little over six feet was tall for the catchers of those days, made an impression on manager Miller Huggins. So much so that Dickey made his Major League debut on August 15 at just 21 years of age. The following season Dickey did more than just impress, he produced. The rookie hit .324, slugged 10 home runs, drove in 65 runs, and stroked 30 doubles. He was still learning to play the catcher position at the top level (he committed 12 errors), but he threw out 42% of would-be base stealers.

Dickey’s 1929 season would be the first of seven straight campaigns in which he hit better than .300 and produced a minimum .820 OPS. In 1932 Dickey reached the post-season for the first time, but you couldn’t tell from the way he handled the bat as the Yankees defeated the Chicago Cubs in four straight games to capture the World Series title. The 25-yr old catcher hit .438 (7-16) with four RBI and caught Hall of Fame pitchers Red Ruffing and Lefty Gomez. He had also developed into one of the best defensive catchers in the game.

Learn more about Bill Dickey from this 1994 Baseball Digest column edition written by Bill Broeg.

Dickey would go on to hit over .300 11 times and finished with a .313 career batting average. He missed the 1944-1945 seasons due to World War II, but came back in 1946 to play 54 games in his final year in pinstripes. He even spent part of the season as a player-manager. He led the Yankees to a 57-48 record as one of three managers used that season. He was an 11 time All-Star and finished in the top 20 in AL MVP voting nine times. During his time with the Yankees the team won eight AL pennants and captured seven World Series championships. While Ruth and Gehrig got the press, Dickey was the rock of the ball club, was considered a thinking man’s ball player and was highly respected in the clubhouse. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1954.

Dickey would later return to the Yankees as a coach to mentor a young catcher by the name of Yogi Berra, who had taken on Dickey’s #8. In a dual ceremony in 1972, the Yankees retired the number in honor of both Hall of Fame catchers. In 1999, the Yankees added plaques for both players in Yankee Stadium’s Monument Park.

Bill Dickey passed away on November 12, 1993 as one of the greatest catchers of all time.

Also Born Today:

Matt Belisle (Austin, TX 1930): The pitcher wasn’t having much of a career with the Cincinnati Reds over the 2003-2008 timeframe and things didn’t get much better when he joined the Colorado Rockies in 2009. But since then Belisle has been one of the steadiest relievers in the National League. Over the last two seasons, the right-hander increased his strikeouts per nine innings from a little over 6 to better than 8.5. With free agency pending and relief pitching at a premium, Belisle could find a nice payday this winter.

It's Officially Spring Training: Yogi's In Town

FullCountPitch - 61 Yankees Were More Than The M&M Boys

FullCountPitch.com

When you ask any baseball fan what they remember/know about the 1961 baseball season and the New York Yankees in particular, the first thing 99% of those queried would say would be “Roger Maris” and/or “Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle”. But looking back 50 years later, it is very obvious that the 1961 Yankees were about so much more than those two slugging teammates who chased the ghost of Babe Ruth.

The 1961 team was one of the greatest collection of ball players of all time. They could hit for average, for power, run, play defense, and pitch lights-out baseball. They were the most impressive slugging team of any era for more than thirty years, shattering the previous record for home runs in a season by belting 240. Their 109-53 won-loss record captured the AL pennant by eight games.

In addition to Maris’ record-breaking 61 home runs and Mantle’s 54 round-trippers, 1st baseman Bill “Moose” Skowron hit 28 home runs, Yogi Berra smacked 22, and his fellow catchers, Elston Howard and Johnny Blanchard each hit 21.

Read the rest of the story for free at FullCountPitch.com

The Daily Yankeeland

It's been a while since I put a Daily Yankeeland out there, so here we go.

Yogi Berra remained hospitalized with a fractured foot according to the Star Ledger's Marc Carig. It was originally thought that the living legend had gone home Sunday night.

ESPN's Rob Neyer says the Yankees will be rewarded by being patient with Joba Chamberlain.

The Washington Post's Allan Sloan knows the Boss jumped ship at the right time.

Lou Piniella has popped one cork too many. The former Yankees outfielder has decided to hang it up as manager after the season. Sweet Lou's old fashioned ways don't work with today's players too much and he certainly had to have tired of the Milton Bradleys and Carlos Zambranos of the world.

Kevin Long explains how he fixed Mark Teixeira's season long slump.

Sergio Mitre's last rehab start wasn't a good one. Pitching for Scranton last night Meat Tray allowed 3 earned runs and 4 hits in 4.2 innings.

Charleston RiverDogs are watching what they eat.

Yogi Misses OT Day

A bad week in Yankeeland continued today when it was announced Yogi Berra would miss Old Timer's Day after falling near his home.

Here's the official release from the Yankees:

The Yankees' Old-Timers Day festivities on Saturday will certainly carry a reverent tone, following the loss of owner George Steinbrenner. Unfortunately, one former Yankees great, Yogi Berra, will miss the festivities.

Berra suffered a fall near his Montclair, NJ., home on Friday night, according to a statement from his family issued on Saturday afternoon. Multiple media reports suggested that Berra hadn't broken any bones, but remained quite sore following the fall. Berra suffered some bruising and is now recovering at home.

From the statement, Berra's attention still seemed to be on the event at Yankee Stadium that he will be forced to skip.

"He is extremely disappointed he is unable to participate in today's Old-Timers ceremonies and see so many of his friends," the statement said. "He appreciates all the well-wishes and hopes to be up and about very soon."

Fathers and Sons: The Berras | Baseball Digest

Fathers and Sons: The Berras | Baseball Digest

I hope you enjoy this piece I wrote specifically for Baseball Digest. Please follow the link to the story.

Ring-A-Ling-A-Ling

It was a very festive opening day in the Bronx yesterday. That's what you get when you hoist another championship banner and hand out World Series rings to the winning participants. Just another day in Yankee Stadium, albeit the first time in the House that George (and the city) built.


No part of the day may have been more poignant or worth celebrating more than the return of Yankees long time trainer Gene Monahan. We were told during Spring Training, which Monahan missed for the first time since 1972, that the man known as Geno was battling a serious illness. Mariano Rivera apparently let it slip during interviews yesterday that it is indeed some form of cancer. Monahan was very emotional, but in good spirits as he came out to accept his ring from manager Joe Girardi and special guests Yogi Berra and Whitey Ford. The YS crowd gave a well deserved standing ovation.

The biggest ovation of the day though went to a member of the Los Angeles Angels. "He's the Hideki you know"...Hideki Matsui, of course, got a huge standing, thank you ovation from the fans and got a group hug from his former teammates. He also got pranked. Derek Jeter orchestrated it all - fake rings given (a Spring Training promotion) to Godzilla and Nick Swisher. Neither even realized what was going on until Jeter and Rivera gave them the real rings.


Bernie Williams threw out the first pitch, though the YES Network nearly missed it coming back from commercial breaks. There was a military fly over and broadway star Kristen Chenoweth (who looked like she was trying to be Carrie Underwood's doppelganger) sang the National Anthem. Then it was time for baseball.


Starter Andy Pettitte was the perfect pick to pitch opening day. After all, he had been on the mound for the clinching win in each round of the 2009 post-season. He also quickly gave Matsui a reminder that he's no longer a Yankee. A first inning strikeout was part of an oh-fer for Godzilla on the day.

Nick Johnson smacked his first Stadium home run in the bottom of the 1st off Ervin Santana and Derek Jeter went deep in the third. The Captain added an RBI single in the 4th (hit #2757) and Alex Rodriguez's brought home two more in the sixth.

The Yankees would need every run they could get, because leading 7-1 in the 9th, David Robertson surrendered a grand slam to former Yankee Bobby Abreu. At least that way Rivera got to be part of the opener by picking up his 3rd save.

photos courtesy of Yahoo Sports

Notes

Jorge Posada is off to a hot start. He was 3-4 yesterday to raise his average to .429 and had a pair of doubles to move past Mickey Mantle for 7th place on the team's all-time doubles list. In typical Jorgie fashion, he also got thrown out at the plate.

Pettitte tossed six scoreless innings for his 1st win of the year and the 230th of his career and 193rd as a Yankee. It was also the 4th home opening win for Pettitte.

The loss had to be a minor thing for some of the Angels who had a tough day. Several of them witnessed a suicide from their hotel that morning. A former hotel employee jumped from the roof as the Angels were on their way out.

Not sure how long these will be up on Youtube, but a TOH to Zell's Pinstripe Blog for finding video of the ring ceremony.

We're On Our Way Home

Just a little over a half a day until the raising of the glorious 27th World Championship banner and the handing out of championship rings to the players, coaches, and front office personnel.

The Yankees arrived home after Sunday's 7-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays. The victory game the Bombers a 4-2 road trip that was comprised of series wins over both the Rays and the Boston Red Sox. Not a bad way to start the season.

Sunday's win was also big for A.J. Burnett, who had a rocky first outing in Boston and started out yesterday's game in shaky fashion. Burnett, the tattoed, pie smashing, right-hander allowed two first inning runs and admitted to not having confidence in his stuff. But Jorge Posada and pitching coach Dave Eiland helped settle him down and Burnett rewarded his teammates with six scoreless frames.

Alex Rodriguez hasn't homered yet, but he's getting darn close. A near miss in Boston, a near miss in Tampa. I expect him to break out any day now.

Posada and Nick Swisher both went deep on Sunday, with Posada's go-ahead shot coming against former teammate Randy Choate. Not the first time Yankees fans have witnessed a Choate failure.

In addition to the banner and ring presentations, one of tomorrow's highlight's will be Bernie Williams throwing out the ceremonial first pitch. Now, Bernie hasn't offically ever announced a retirement date, but isn't time the Yankees front office set up a Bernie Williams Day? Retire #51, etc?
Whitey Ford and Yogi Berra (who I thought for sure would be throwing out the first pitch) will be on hand to present the rings. Ceremonies to kick off at 12:15. (thanks to the Star Ledger's Marc Carig for providing ceremony info. Click here to see the complete schedule of events).

An added bonus of tomorrow's opener is the opponent. Because the Yankees start their home schedule against the Los Angeles Angels, Hideki Matsui will be on hand to receive his ring. Godzilla is off to a great start in his new home. He's already had 2 game winning hits and is hitting .370 with a couple of home runs and 5 RBI.

Best Pitch of Opening Day

photo courtesy of Reuters

Yankees ready to open their new home

This was my write up for Baseball Digest on today's home opener.

Yankees ready to christen their new cathedral

Posted By Drew Sarver On April 16, 2009 @ 10:01 am In Yankees | No Comments

The Yankees much anticipated home opener has arrived. Though they played two exhibition games with the Chicago Cubs on April 3 and 4, today’s game with the Cleveland Indians is the real deal. The team is bringing back as many former players as possible to help officially unveil the new stadium. As expected, Yogi Berra will have the honor of throwing out the first pitch.

Dignitaries expected to attend include NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg, NY Governor David Patterson, former NYC mayor Rudy Guiliani (who will not wear a Red Sox hat), local politicians (not Assemblyman Richard Brodsky), and many more.

The ceremonies will begin at 12:10 pm EDT with the West Point Marching Band performing John Phillip Sousa’s “Washington Post March” and “Stars and Stripes Forever“. Sousa himself performed at the original stadium’s opening in 1923.

Colors will be presented by New City Police and Fire Departments, and the West Point cadets will unfurl a 75′ x 150′ American flag. Then there’s the one part of the pre-game ceremonies I have an issue with. Kelly Clarkson, the American Idol winner and pop star, will sing the National Anthem. It’s great that they wanted to have a live performance, but a pre-recorded version by the late Robert Merrill should have been played instead. That truly would have brought the magic from the old stadium to the new. At the conclusion of the anthem, the Air Force’s 174th Fighter Wing will fly F-16 fighter jets overhead The unit recently returned home from Iraq.

The Yankees sent out a press release with the former players expected to be in attendance:

Luis Arroyo, Jesse Barfield, Berra, Ron Blomberg, Bobby Brown, Horace Clarke, Jerry Coleman, David Cone, Chili Davis, Bucky Dent, Al Downing, Dave Eiland, Ed Figueroa, John Flaherty, Ford, Joe Girardi, Gossage, Ken Griffey, Ron Guidry, Charlie Hayes, Rickey Henderson, Jackson, Tommy John, Jim Kaat, Don Larsen, Hector Lopez, Tino Martinez, Lee Mazzilli, Gene Michael, Jeff Nelson, Graig Nettles, Paul O’Neill, Joe Pepitone, Randolph, Bobby Richardson, Mickey Rivers, Buck Showalter, Bill “Moose” Skowron, Luis Sojo, Mel Stottlemyre, Ralph Terry, Bob Turley, David Wells, Roy White, Williams and Dave Winfield.

Opening Day History

This is the third time a version of Yankee Stadium has been opened/re-opened. The most famous opening, of course, was the very first one. An announced crowd of 74,000 (it was reportedly actually 60,000) packed Yankee Stadium on April 18, 1923 to see the Yankees play the Boston RedSox. Babe Ruth put his stamp on “The House that Ruth Built” with a 3-run home run in the third inning. The Yankees won the game 4-1.

After two years of exile at Shea Stadium, the Yankees re-opened the renovated Yankee Stadium on April 15, 1976. Bob Shawkey who won on opening day in 1923 threw out the first pitch. Minnesota Twins outfielder “Disco” Dan Ford hit the first home run (Mickey Rivers would hit the first Yankees home run two days later), but the Yankees prevailed 11-4 before 52,613 fans . Dick Tidrow was the winning pitcher.

Probable Pitchers for Series

Thursday - Cliff Lee (0-2, 9.90) vs. CC Sabathia (1-1, 4.50)
Friday - Anthony Reyes (1-0, 6.00) vs. Joba Chamberlain (0-0, 1.50)
Saturday - Fausto Carmona (0-2, 9.00) vs. Chien-Ming Wang (0-2, 28.93)
Sunday - Carl Pavano (0-2, 16.71) vs. A.J. Burnett (2-0, 2.70)

Baseball Prospectus Comes to New Jersey

Got an email today from Dave Kaplan, director of the Yogi Berra Museum (If you haven't been there, it's a great place to visit. You might even run into Yogi...try not to get him mad like we did though.) Some of the stat fiends from Baseball Prospectus will be there this Sunday to discuss the 2009 season.

Here are the details:

A team of baseball-mad scientists from Baseball Prospectus 2009 will make their bold projections in a lively panel program at the Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center on Sunday, March 1 at 2 p.m.

Baseball Prospectus is the nation's best-selling baseball guide book and bible for fantasy players. As far as we know, the book's authors have never tested positive for steroids. BP is widely recognized as the game's most accurate projection model and will be available for purchase at the Museum, which is on the campus of Montclair State University. For more info, call (973) 655-6891.

8 Days Until Pitchers and Catchers

Yankees 101

Where was this course when I went to college? Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida is offering "Reflections in Pinstripes: Viewing Life through the New York Yankees". Professor Ted Curtis has had no problem filling his lecture hall with students who want to learn about business, ethics, and life with the Yankees as the basis.

"I read an article about a course up in New England that was being taught called 'Red Sox Nation,' and I thought, 'There's no way I can have higher education having a course on only the Red Sox without a course on the Yankees, as well,'" Curtis said.

The lifelong Yankees fan will be discussing the poetry of Yogi Berra when the class meets next. Now that's a topic I can really get into.