Old-Timers Day Still a Treat

Not many teams, if any other than the Yankees, still have old-timers day. Of course not many teams have the legacy of the NY Yankees either. The names and faces have changed over the years, but old-timers day is still a treat that I look forward to every year.

I attended several of these festivities as a kid in the early 1970s. It was special seeing these Hall of Fame players, the greats, all in the old Stadium. I remember Elston Howard legging out an inside the park home run that went to the old scoreboard in left-center field. Yesterday his widow, Arlene, was in attendance.

Joe D., Mickey, Yogi, Bill Dickey, Mrs. Ruth, Mrs, Gehrig, Frankie Crossetti, Scooter, Lefty Gomez, Casey Stengel, Mel Allen, the list goes on and on. It was quite amazing.

Now my boys are the old-timers. Bobby Murcer, Reggie Jackson, Graig Nettles, Bucky Dent, Goose, Mick the Quick, Ed Figueroa. Part of yesterday's celebration was the 30th anniversary of the 1977 team, the first WS champion in 15 years. Thurman's widow Diane, and Catfish's widow Helen were both there, as well as Billy Martin Jr.

And of course our more recent heroes. Donnie Baseball, Paulie, Scott Brosius, Jim Leyritz, Straw.

There aren't too many of the true old-timers left. Scooter sent a message that was read. Whitey and Yogi were there and Luis Arroyo, the first real closer on the Yankees. There was Bob Turley, the Yankees first Cy Young award winner in 1958. And of course Mr. Perfect, Don Larsen.

They don't move like they use to, but they still do in our memories and our dreams.