75 Years Later, A First Baseman Saves The Day

Ony July 4, 1939, Lou Gehrig gave one of the most courageous speeches of all time.75 years later, another Yankees' first baseman saved the Yankees from blowing a 6-1 lead. The Yankees held on to a 6-5 victory after the Minnesota rallied back from a five run deficit to get within one run of the Yankees' lead.

Up by a pair of runs, Yankees' reliever Dellin Betances ran into trouble in the 8th inning. Kendry Morales led off the inning with a single and the Betances proceeded to hit Oswaldo Arcia. The Twins picked up a run on a double steal and an RBI ground-out by Chris Colabello.  Eduardo Escobar stepped to the plate and a two-hit grounder to the right side of the infield. Ticketed for right field and a game tying RBI, the ball was suddenly in the glove of Teixeira, who laid out flat to his right to stop the game ruining baseball. He quickly got to his feet and made a perfect throw to Betances to nail Escobar for the final out of the inning.

Teixeira has had his share of troubles in the infield this season. His five errors this year are usually a season total, at most. The Georgia Tech product has had a number of injuries this season and has experienced continued soreness in his wrist from last season's tendon surgery. But he's had a decent bat, and not long after Major League Baseball honored Gehrig, Teixeira did this thing and the Yankees had a two winning streak.


Brian Roberts had a career high four extra-base hits in the game, with a triple and three doubles.

Chase Whitley was chased from the game after three innings. It was his third straight terrible start. David Huff is a candidate to replace him in the rotation.

Joe Girardi said it's a real possibility that CC Sabathia will not be back this season, because of his injured right knee. Surgery remains a possibility

Now Batting, Number 2, Derek Jeter...On Broadway

"Hey Mo, lets put on a show!"

The New York Yankees have been part of the Broadway scene before as the villainous, never lose team in "Damn Yankees". For those that don't know, it's the tale of Joe Hardy, a big fan of the Washington Senators that makes a deal with the devil. The show was a huge success and a movie version followed.

Now the Great White Way has a mix of old and modern day Yankees in the play, "Bronx Bombers". The play is written by Eric Simonson, who also brought (Vince) "Lombardi" and "Magic/Bird" (Magic Johnson/Larry Bird) to the stage.

Act I revolves the infamous 1977 contest between the Yankees and Boston Red Sox in Fenway Park. Yes, it is the game that Billy Martin pulled Reggie Jackson out of right field in the middle of inning. It was a national embarrassment as Martin and Jackson and their enormous egos nearly came to blows. Joining them in the stage version are actors portraying Yogti Berra and Elston Howard, who kept the two combatants apart in the dugout, and team captain Thurman Munson

The second act builds off of the first with Yogi stressed about the possibility of becoming the Yankees manager. He dreams of having dinner with his wife and Yankees Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Howard, and Derek Jeter, despite the fact the Yankees shortstop was three at the time and not a twinkle in the eye of a Yankees scout.

The play wraps up with the last game played in old Yankee Stadium. It sounds odd to say the least, and New York Times reviewer Daniel M. Gold described it as a "mawkish and sappy effort", and "...the play is no more than a schmaltzy sketch of athletes sitting around congratulating themselves."¹

I think I'll stick to watch the real drama that occurs every day with the Bronx Bombers. 


1 - NY Times, Oct. 9, 2013

Soriano Smash, Reynolds Foils Bosox

The Yankees front office overruled GM Brian Cashman when Alfonso Soriano could be had from the Chicago Cubs for a young pitcher at this year's trade deadline. For a time it was a decent trade with Soriano providing much needed help against left-handed pitchers. For the last four games it has been an incredible trade.

The 37-year old has made like the Incredible Hulk and smashed baseballs and pitcher's egos at an alarming rate. The Boston Red Sox and starter Felix Doubront became the latest victims in the Yankees 10-3 win Friday night.

After he hit four home runs and drove in 13 runs in back to back games against the Los Angels, Banner Soriano had four hits and a one ribbie in the finale against the Halos. The Hulk was back for the opener of a three game series in Fenway Park. Soriano gave the Yankees a 1-0 lead in the first on an RBI single and then broke open a 3-0 game with a 3-run home run in the 3rd inning.

It gave the left fielder 18 RBI in his last four games over which he has gone 13-18 (.722) Fellow Yankees Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio and Tony Lazzeri, and Jim Bottomley and Sammy Sosa are the only other players that have driven in 18 runs in four games. The hot streak has given Soriano a 1.021 OPS in 19 games since his acquisition.

Soriano wasn't the only right-handed hitter to do damage last night. Mark Reynolds, who hadn't hit a home run in his last 68 at-bats before his release by Cleveland, found the top of the Green Monster in his first at-bat as a Yankee. It turned a 1-0 game into a 3-0 game and the rout was on. Reynolds, who also drove in a run with a single in the 9th, became the 22nd different Yankee to a hit home run this year. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it tied the franchise record set by the 1965 and 2000 Yankees teams.

Andy Pettitte earned his 8th win with his best game in months. It would have been even better if Joe Girardi hadn't left him in the game too long. He allowed three unearned runs - Eduardo Nunez with yet another error on his resume - in 6.1 innings pitched. Pettitte scattered six hits, walked one, and struck out five.

Doubront had dominated the Yankees the prior two times he faced them this season, but was charged with six earned runs in just four innings of work.

Alex Rodriguez was booed as expected with an accompaniment of "You do steroids" chant. Needless to say it was hypocritical coming from fans that saw their team win two World Series with failed drug test veterans Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz. A-Rod hit the ball sharply all night and reached base safely with two hits and a walk.

To make room on the roster for Reynolds, the Yankees demoted Preston Claiborne from the 25-man roster and designated Luis Cruz for assignment from the 40-man roster.

Mariano Rivera was prepared to enter the game in the 9th until the Yankees scored three times in the final frame. He had to get up in the pen again though when the Red Sox loaded the bases against Joba Chamberlain with two outs in the bottom of the 9th. David Huff made it unnecessary when he got Jacoby Ellsbury to ground out to Robinson Cano to end the game.

The Amazing Independence Days of Yankee Stadium

Yankee Stadium 1.0 saw seen plenty of incredible moments in its history. Perfect World Series games, overtime NFL championship games, heavyweight title fights,  rockers and clergy, and memorials to fallen heroes.

July 4 in particular has had it's share of special, touching, and reflective moments. None more so than in 1939 when the Yankees said goodbye to their captain, Lou Gehrig. The "Iron Man" had been forced into retirement after a diagnosis of Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, later known simply as "Lou Gehrig Disease". He was honored by the team and dignitaries on the 4th and delivered one of the most memorable, emotional speeches of all time.

"Fans, for the past two weeks you have been reading about the bad break I got. Yet today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of this earth. I have been in ballparks for seventeen years and have never received anything but kindness and encouragement from you fans. 

"Look at these grand men. Which of you wouldn't consider it the highlight of his career just to associate with them for even one day? Sure, I'm lucky. Who wouldn't consider it an honor to have known Jacob Ruppert? Also, the builder of baseball's greatest empire, Ed Barrow? To have spent six years with that wonderful little fellow, Miller Huggins? Then to have spent the next nine years with that outstanding leader, that smart student of psychology, the best manager in baseball today, Joe McCarthy? Sure, I'm lucky. 

"When the New York Giants, a team you would give your right arm to beat, and vice versa, sends you a gift - that's something. When everybody down to the groundskeepers and those boys in white coats remember you with trophies - that's something. When you have a wonderful mother-in-law who takes sides with you in squabbles with her own daughter - that's somethin . When you have a father and a mother who work all their lives so you can have an education and build your body - it's a blessing. When you have a wife who has been a tower of strength and shown more courage than you dreamed existed - that's the finest I know.

A remarkable speech  from a remarkable, courageous man. Gehrig's words have been referenced many times over the years from a number of sources (e.g. Mickey Mantle on his retirement day) and were immortalized in the film "Pride of the Yankees with Gary Cooper.

It was also the first unofficial/official Old Timers Day in Yankees history.

On July 4, 1983, George Steinbrenner celebrated his 53rd birthday and watched as the Yankees and Boston Red Sox squared off in an Independence Day matinee at the Stadium. Who could have predicted what came next?

Dave Righetti, the Yankees 26-year old starting pitcher, put nine goose eggs up on the board in a 4-0 Yankees win. The really special part though was the goose egg under the hits column on the Yankee Stadium scoreboard.

No Yankees pitcher had thrown a no-hitter since Don Larsen's perfect game in the 1956 World Series. Righetti might have taken the mound that day with a chip on his shoulder. Despite a 9-3, 3.53 record, Righetti was passed over for the AL All-Star team. If he was upset, Righetti took it out on the Red Sox.

Wade Boggs was still hitting .356 after the game, but "Rags" struck him out three times, including once in the 9th inning. Boggs flailed at the game's final pitch, but it landed in catcher Butch Wynegar's mitt for the 27th and final out of the day.  Graig Nettles, who rested while Bert Campaneris played 3rd base that day, and Righetti  celebrated the no-hitter and the All-Star break with a trip to Atlantic City.

Other Notable Yankees 4th of July Games

July 4,  1925 - future Hall of Fame members Herb Pennock of the Yankees and Lefty Grove of the Philadelphia Athletics dueled for 15 scoreless innings until the Yankees won 1-0. Pennock out pitched his fellow left-hander by throwing a perfect game through six innings and topped it by being perfect for the final 21 batters.

One year after Righetti's no-no, Phil Niekro struck out Texas' Larry Parrish for the 3,000th strikeout of his career.

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. 

Lou Gehrig Born 108 Years Ago Today

An amazing career, but and an even more amazing and courageous man. His speech on the day honoring him, July 4, 1939, still resonates today.

"Fans, for the past two weeks you have been reading about the bad break I got. Yet today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth. I have been in ballparks for seventeen years and have never received anything but kindness and encouragement from you fans.

Look at these grand men. Which of you wouldn’t consider it the highlight of his career just to associate with them for even one day? Sure, I’m lucky. Who wouldn’t consider it an honor to have known Jacob Ruppert? Also, the builder of baseball’s greatest empire, Ed Barrow? To have spent six years with that wonderful little fellow, Miller Huggins? Then to have spent the next nine years with that outstanding leader, that smart student of psychology, the best manager in baseball today, Joe McCarthy? Sure, I'm lucky.

When the New York Giants, a team you would give your right arm to beat, and vice versa, sends you a gift — that’s something. When everybody down to the groundskeepers and those boys in white coats remember you with trophies — that’s something. When you have a wonderful mother-in-law who takes sides with you in squabbles with her own daughter — that's something. When you have a father and a mother who work all their lives so that you can have an education and build your body — it's a blessing. When you have a wife who has been a tower of strength and shown more courage than you dreamed existed — that's the finest I know."

So I close in saying that I might have been given a bad break, but I've got an awful lot to live for. Thank you."

Jeter Doubles Up on Bernie

Derek Jeter doubled in his second at-bat to pass Bernie Williams for 2nd place on the franchise's all-time doubles list.

Jeter (450) now trails on Lou Gehrig (534).

25 or 6 to 4

All that slugging (not Posada and Carlson) going on in the Bronx..and on the road (Take note FOX and ESPN) has the Yankees on the brink of a new team record.- Players with 25 or more home runs.

The team is currently tied with the 1938 squad with 3 players and with Johnny Damon (1) and Robinson Cano (2) on the brink of reaching the season milestone, this year's team should set a new standard.

Hideki Matsui's game tying home run on Wednesday was his 25th, joining Mark Teixeira (36), Nick Swisher (27), and Alex Rodriguez (25) who had already eclipsed the mark.

The '38 team members with 25 or more were Joe DiMaggio (32), Lou Gehrig (29), Bill Dickey (27), and Joe Gordon (25).

Always overlooked on the great Yankees team is the pitching and the '38 starting rotation is no exception.

Red Ruffing 21-7, 3.31
Lefty Gomez 18-12, 3.35
Monte Person 16-7, 3.97
Spud Chandler 14-5, 4.03

Ruffing and Gomez are both in the Hall of Fame.

And now some classic Chicago.

Jeter Joins the Immortals

To paraphrase John Sterling, who uses the line for perfect games, Friday night Derek Jeter "achieved baseball immortality". The Yankees captain became the team's all-time hit leader when he ripped a hard shot between Orioles 1st baseman Luke Scott and the right field line to start the 3rd inning.

For a while it was unclear whether the Yankees-Orioles game would even be played. Heavy rains fell most of the day in the metropolitan area, resulting in a one hour-25 minute rain delay before play got underway.

Jeter struck out in his first at-bat against Orioles rookie pitcher Chris Tillman, but hit number 2,722 put Jeter one ahead of Lou Gehrig and brought the rain drenched crowd, including Jeter's family to it's feet. As he did when he tied the record Wednesday night, Jeter raised his helmet in salute to the fans, who serenaded him with chants of "Der-ek Jet-er".


Jeter, who later added an RBI single, is 16th among players who lead their respective teams in base hits.


Derek Jeter hit timeline:

1st Hit - 5/30/95 vs. Seattle, Tim Belcher
100th Hit - 7/17/96 vs. Boston, Joe Hudson
500th Hit - 7/20/98 vs. Detroit, Bryce Florie
1,000th Hit - 9/25/00 vs. Detroit, Steve Sparks
1,500th Hit - 8/16/03 vs. Baltimore, Rodrigo Lopez
2,000th Hit - 5/26/06 vs. Kansas City, Scott Elarton
2,500th Hit - 8/22/08 vs. Baltimore, Radhames Liz
2,721st Hit - 9/9/09 vs. Tampa Bay, Jeff Niemann
2,722nd Hit - 9/10/09 vs. Baltimore, Chris Tillman

Yankees Win on Historic Night

Derek Jeter makes his history with his 2,721st hit

Jeter Ties Gehrig as Yankees Rally
Written for Baseball Digest Online

Jorge Posada ripped a 3-run home run into the right field in the bottom of the 8th inning last night to give the Yankees a 4-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays. And Derek Jeter smiled. Jeter wouldn't have been happy last night had the Yankees lost on the night he tied Lou Gehrig as the all-time Yankees hit leader with 2,721 hits.

The current captain was 3-4 and had a chance to break the record in the 8th inning, but walked on a 3-2 pitch from Grant Balfour. But it was a still a historic night for Jeter, who is also the all-time hit leader at his position, having past Luis Aparicio earlier this season.

Entering the game in an 0-12 slide, Jeter laid a perfect bunt down the third base side to start the game with an infield single. He grounded out to shortstop in the third, but doubled to center in the fifth inning. That set up a dramatic 7th inning at-bat against Rays' starter Jeff Niemann. With the Yankees still trailing 2-0 and one out, Jeter ripped a first pitch fast ball past a diving 1ast baseman Chris Richard and into right field for the record tying hit.

The fans, including his parents, sister, and girlfriend (actress Minka Kelly) erupted in a long standing ovation. Jeter acknowledged the tribute, doffing his helmet on two occasions. After the game he self deprecatingly told ESPN, "I just tried to pull the ball, but as usual it went the other way".

Jeter was stranded on third inning, as every other Yankees base runner had been to that point. But the Yankees broke through against the beleaguered Rays bullpen in the 8th. Alex Rodriguez' lead off single finally knocked Niemann from the game and Hideki Matsui greeted Lance Cormier with a single to right, putting runners on the corners with no one out. Nick Swisher hit a potential double play ball to Richard, but the former Oriole, playing in his first major league game in six years, threw the ball into left field for a run scoring error.

One out later, Rays manager Joe Maddon sent for Balfour to turn pinch-hitter Jorge Posada around to the left side. It was a mistake. Posada hit a bullet into the right field seats for his 21st home run of the season and a 4-2 Yankees lead. With two down and no one on in the inning, Jeter stepped up to the plate and another huge ovation as he tried to surpass Gehrig. But after working the count full, he took a fastball well out of the zone for a base on balls. Balfour then left the game to a loud chorus of boos.

Joba Chamberlain had his, now custom, three inning start and quickly fell in a 2-0 hole in the 1st inning. Jason Bartlett led off the ball game with a home run and the Rays added another run in the inning on a Pat Burrell RBI single. Chamberlain ended up striking out the side and pitched well over the next two inning, which included a talking-to from Jeter.

Game Notes

The Yankees have Thursday off before starting a 3-game series at home with the Baltimore Orioles. You can see Derek Jeter try to break the record Friday night (7:05 P.M. ET) on YES and MASN in the area markets, plus the MLB Network will do live look-ins.

Jeter also stole his 300th career base, joining Rickey Henderson as the only Yankees to achieve that feat.

With Mariano Rivera unavailable last night, Brian Bruney and Phil Coke worked the 9th inning, with Coke picking up his second save.

The loss was the Rays 8th straight.

You Saw Derek Jeter Play

When it's all done, Yankees fans and Yankees haters, you will be able to say you saw Derek Jeter play. Just like your parents, grandparents said they saw many of the great players of the past.

Derek Jeter Ties History

Derek Jeter needs one more hit to pass Lou Gehrig as the all-time Yankees leader in career hits. That's because the current captain has had three hits so far this evening. The last, a first pitch fastball that he ripped past a diving Chris Richard (the 1st baseman was playing his first major league game in six years).

Jeter entered the game in an 0-12 skid, but laid down a perfect bunt single to open the 1st inning. After grounding out in his second at-bat, Jeter doubled to center to get within one hit of the Iron Horse.

Milestone Men

The Yankees continued their roll in Toronto last night, winning for the 7th straight time, 10-5. A close game was broken up late for the 2nd consecutive night as well.

During this streak, several Yankees have reached or closed in on milestones. Here they are.


The most talked about one of course is Derek Jeter's ascent to the top of the Yankees all-time hit list. The Captain took the collar last night, but remains just 8 hits behind leader Lou Gehrig. Jeter, of course, is downplaying the whole thing. You certainly don't have to be concerned about a Rickey Henderson, "...now I am the greatest" moment.

A stat of a lesser degree, not really talked about, is Jeter cracking the MLB top 100 for career at-bats . He's currently 92nd and with 28 games remaining (health willing, no days off), he should move up another 8 notches.

Some more Jeter factoids. He is just 14 total bases behind Joe Dimaggio for 4th in team history. He is 6 doubles behind Don Mattingly (3rd) and 13 behind Bernie Williams (2nd). He needs just 4 singles to reach 2,000 for his career (he's currently 47th in MLB). And finally, Jeter needs 11 more extra base hits to catch Yogi Berra for 6th place in that category.


People talk about home runs, and rightly so, when it comes to Alex Rodriguez, but A-Rod also picked up his 2,500th hit Wednesday night in Baltimore. Last night he hit home run #577, putting him 6 behind Mark McGwire for 8th place all-time. We'll refrain from any other comparisons.


A-Rod needs 14 more RBI to catch Cal Ripken for 23rd place. Next year, he'll become the 22nd player with 1,700 RBI unless he has a monsterous September.


Jorge Posada has played under the radar in his time in New York. But he's got his milestones both as a catcher and hitter. Last night he slugged his 241st career home run. That puts him 9 befhind #9 Graig Nettles for the 7-spot on the franchise list. He needs 27 more hits for 1,500 in his career. He needs just 6 doubles to pass both Bill Dickey and Mickey Mantle for 7th place in team history. And Posada is just one walk behind Tony Lazzeri for 8th place.


Oh, and A-Rod is the only Yankee, that we are aware of, to collide with a police officer during a game.





photos courtesy of Yahoo Sports

Yankees End Road Trip with a Bang

The Yankees finished off their very successful road trip (7-3) last night, bashing a career best (or worst depending on how you look at it) 5 home runs against Boston starter and loser (we mean that in more than one sense of the word) Josh Beckett. The 8-4 victory gave the Yankees their second straight series win against the Sox, and after having lost their first 8 games against Boston, they have won 6 of 7 contests with their division rivals.

Derek Jeter set the tone by hitting the first pitch of the ball game into the Boston bullpen in right-center. It was Jeter's 21st career lead off home run, tying him with Alfonso Soriano for 2nd best mark in franchise history (Rickey Henderson has the all-time record with 24 lead off HR's).

Hideki Matsui hit a pair of home runs for the 2nd time in 3 games, and the 3rd time in the last 7 games he has played. Strangely, Matsui has alternated the last 9 games between a hit or hits, and an Oh-fer. Matsui has also flown under the radar for the last 2 months. Since July 1, he's hitting .292 with 13 HR and 40 RBI in 41 games played. (His splits are .292/.374/.620)

Alex Rodriguez also went deep, just the 3rd time he has done so in the month of August. All 3 home runs have come against the Red Sox.

And Robinson Cano tied his career high with his 19th home run of the season. It somewhat made up for the 2 errors he made in the field. And..remarkably..Cano was complimented by EPSN's Joe Morgan for the way he pivots and turns the double play. But that didn't make up for a horrendous night of broadcasting by Morgan and his partners Jon Miller and Steve Phillips. (If you still don't believe there is an anti-Yankees bias on ESPN- did you notice they showed highlights of Boston's win on Saturday, but none of the Yankees' 20 run output on Friday?)

The game wasn't all about home runs though. Another great job by CC Sabathia, who ran his record in August to 5-0 (2.65 ERA) and now leads the majors with 15 wins. The big guy allowed 3 earned runs in 6.2 innings, didn't walk a batter, and struck out 8 (In August - 39 K, 5 BB). He threw 118 pitches, which would have been lower if not for Cano's misplays and a bad jump on a ball in left fielf by Johnny Damon.

Speaking of Damon and bad jumps, he leapt for a ball that hit nearly half way up the Monster. All righty then.

Phil Hughes worked for the first time in the series, throwing 1.1 innings of scoreless baseball.

Mariano Rivera pitched the 9th, also his first time in the series, in a non-save situation. He walked the lead off man on 4 pitches, but then retired the next 3 hitters with ease.

Jeter had another multi-hit game and passed 2,700 career hits (2,701). He's not just 20 hits behind all-time franchise leader Lou Gehrig. Remarkable.

The moron called Jonathan Papelbon is feeling a little insecure these days (well maybe more insecure). Papelbon is upset at the prospect of the Red Sox possibly acquiring Billy Wagner from the Mets.

"I like the way our bullpen sets up right now," Papelbon said Sunday. "We have a good dynamic in the bullpen. We have guys who know how to work well together. It's not that simple."

Actually it is that simple (as is Papelbon). Getting Wagner would be a great addition to the Sox pen, and would ease some of the burden on Hideki Okajima. But clearly, this is about Papelbon concerns over possibly losing his closing job one day. Papelbon could have been a member of the 2004 Red Sox- he is most definitely an idiot.

Yang Beats Tiger in PGA...Oh and Yankees Lose

Yang's homage to the NHL

I was smart enough to shut off the Yankees game when they fell behind 7-3 and put on the last 3 holes of the PGA Tournament. The Yankees losing these days is a rarity, just as it is for Tiger Woods to lose a lead in a major PGA tournament, but that's exactly what happened.

Tiger, 0-3 in the prior majors this year, led for the first three rounds, but Y.E. Yang closed in and took a 1 stroke lead on Sunday. Both golfers bogeyed 17 and then Yang hit an amazing shot on 18 to set up a close out birdie. Tiger's approach to 18 landed in the rough and ruined his chances.

As for the Yankees, feh. That one word sums it up. Joba Chamberlain had another one of those outings that gives you fits (5 IP, 4 ER) and the bullpen, so good of late, was awful. Al Aceves, coming off a combined 7 scoreless innings against the Blue Jays and Red Sox, gave up 4 runs in just over an inning. Since developing some shoulder soreness in July, he's been scored upon in 4 of 6 outings. Newcomer Chad Gaudin was charged with a pair of runs and allowed 3 of 4 inherited runners to score.

The offense didn't do much against David Fister, who picked up his first major league win. Derek Jeter had given the Yankees a 1-0 lead with an RBI double in the 2nd, and after falling behind 2-1, Nick Swisher homered (for the 2nd straight game) with a man aboard for a 3-2 Yankees lead. But Chamberlain coughed it up in the 5th, giving up a pair of 2-out hits to put the Yankees in the hole for good.


Record Breaker

Another record now belongs to Derek Jeter. The Captain passed Luis Apiricio for most hits in a career by a shortstop when he picked up his 2,674 hit while playing the position. Overall, Jeter has 2,688 hits and is just 33 hits behind another captain, Lou Gehrig, for most career hits as a Yankee.

The Iron Horse is Remembered

July 4th, 2009

Filed Under: Yankees

Tags: Babe Ruth • Famous Speeches • Lou Gehrig • Lou Gehrig Day • Luckiest man on the face of the Earth • Old Timer's Day • Yankee Stadium

70 years ago today- July 4, 1939- one of the most memorable days in New York Yankees history, and for that matter in all of baseball, occurred. It was Lou Gehrig Day at Yankee Stadium, the day that the Iron Horse said goodbye to the fans, his teammates, the opposition, and his baseball way of life. (It was also the Yankees first official Old Timers Day).

In commemoration of one of the most significant speeches of all time, Lou Gehrig’s words from that day 70 years ago, will be read aloud in every major league park today.

photo courtesy of lougehrig.com

“Fans, for the past two weeks you have been reading about the bad break I got. Yet today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of this earth. I have been in ballparks for seventeen years and have never received anything but kindness and encouragement from you fans.

“Look at these grand men. Which of you wouldn’t consider it the highlight of his career just to associate with them for even one day? Sure, I’m lucky. Who wouldn’t consider it an honor to have known Jacob Ruppert? Also, the builder of baseball’s greatest empire, Ed Barrow? To have spent six years with that wonderful little fellow, Miller Huggins? Then to have spent the next nine years with that outstanding leader, that smart student of psychology, the best manager in baseball today, Joe McCarthy? Sure, I’m lucky.

“When the New York Giants, a team you would give your right arm to beat, and vice versa, sends you a gift - that’s something. When everybody down to the groundskeepers and those boys in white coats remember you with trophies - that’s something. When you have a wonderful mother-in-law who takes sides with you in squabbles with her own daughter - that’s something. When you have a father and a mother who work all their lives so you can have an education and build your body - it’s a blessing. When you have a wife who has been a tower of strength and shown more courage than you dreamed existed - that’s the finest I know.

“So I close in saying that I may have had a tough break, but I have an awful lot to live for.”

Gehrig’s words live on long after his death (he lost his life to the disease, that would later bare his name, in 1941). They’ve been referenced in other speeches since and epitomize the courage of the man.

There is still no cure for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. To volunteer your time, make a donation, or to learn more, go to ALS.org. To learn more about Lou Gehrig and hear audio clips of the speech, visit the official Lou Gehrig Website.

4 Days Until Pitchers and Catchers

Lou Gehrig would be ashamed of you A-Rod.

A Grand Finale

The final game and it's pre- and post-game ceremonies were a perfect send off to the Stadium. Kudos to ESPN and YES for a fantastic job all around. The day started out with ESPN Classic. We caught parts of Boomer and Coney's perfect games, Brosius' heroics in game 5 of '01, and Boone's big blast in '03.

We watched, with great envy, the fans pouring in from 1:00 on, stopping at the monuments, walking on the warning track, and the best of all, leaving their hand prints on the outfield wall.

ESPN's team of Karl Ravich, John Kruk, Steve Berthiaume, and Steve Phillips reminisced and talked to a number of former Yankees and some celebrities too. Getting John Sterling to do his body shaking, "thaaaaaaaaaaaa Yankees win" was classic.

At about 6:00 the ceremonies began with a great surprise. A pre-recorded message from Bob Sheppard, who then introduced the two emcees for the night, Sterling and Michael Kay.

The ceremony began oddly, using actors to re-create the 1923 opening day lineup. We think it was no coincidence that they were in the deepest part of center field so no one could see their faces.

Next was a salute to the players and managers who had plaques in Monument Park. More actors to represent Joe DiMaggio, Red Ruffing, Lefty Gomez, and Casey Stengel (the actor looked eerily like the Ol' Professor from the distance).

Each position on the field was saluted with a video montage and then an introduction of the past players from that position.

LF - Dave Winfield, Roy White

SS - Cora Rizzuto representing the Scooter,

3B - Graig Nettles, Scott Brosius

RF - Reggie Jackson, Paul O'Neill, Randy Maris representing his Dad

2B - Willie Randolph, who provided one of the highlights by sliding into second base, Bobby Richardson

1B - Moose Skowron, Tino Martinez

C - Yogi Berra, Joe Girardi, Michael Munson representing his Dad, Cheryl Howard representing her Dad

P - Whitey Ford, Goose Gossage, Ron Guidry, Helen Hunter representing her husband, David Wells, David Cone

CF - David Mantle representing his Dad, Kay, Todd, and Tori Murcer representing their husband and Dad, and then the biggest moment of the night. Bernie Williams, donning the Pinstripes for the first time in 2 years, returning to Yankee Stadium. Bern Baby Bernie received a raucous standing ovation for 2 minutes.

Notably absent was the inclusion of Roger Clemens in the pitching montage. And there was no real salute to the managers, which left out Joe Torre, Ralph Houk, and Buck Showalter.

The starting lineups were then introduced with each player joining the greats at their position. It also provided comic relief since Johnny Damon didn't realize what was going on and didn't have his cleats on. He quickly ran back to the clubhouse, put them on, and raced out to the field, the wrong field at that. They told him to go to left field even though he was playing center field, which only confused him further.

After the lineups were introduced, Derek Jeter, joined by his parents and sister, was presented with a Waterford crystal bat and ball, by Hal and Jennifer Steinbrenner (Swindal), to commemorate him becoming the all-time hits leader at Yankee Stadium.

The Babe's 92-yr old daughter, Julia Ruth Stevens, through out the first pitch to Jorge Posada, and then it was game time.

The Yankees won 7-3, more on that later, and then there were more festivities. Derek Jeter and his team gathered on the mound, and the Captain spoke to the fans. Thanks to Peter Abraham for the transcription of the speech,

“Every member of this organization, past and present, has been calling this place home for 85 years, There’s a lot of tradition, a lot of history and a lot of memories. Now the great thing about memories is you’re able to pass it along from generation to generation.

“Although things are going to change next year. We’re going to move across the street. There are a few things that New York Yankees that never change. That’s pride, tradition and most of all we have the greatest fans in the world.

We want you to take the memories from this stadium, add them to the new memories that come at the new Yankee Stadium and continue to pass them along from generation to generation. So on behalf of the entire organization, we want to take this moment to salute you, the greatest fans in the world.”

The players then took a lap around the Stadium, waving to the fans, who like them, didn't want to go home. Players did interviews with the media and scooped up dirt from the batter's box, the mound, and the bullpen, and took photos (would love to have the Bernie, Tino, Derek, Jorge, Mo, Andy photo).

Finally everyone went home and went to sleep. They had already lived a dream.

A Grand Finale

The final game and it's pre- and post-game ceremonies were a perfect send off to the Stadium. Kudos to ESPN and YES for a fantastic job all around. The day started out with ESPN Classic. We caught parts of Boomer and Coney's perfect games, Brosius' heroics in game 5 of '01, and Boone's big blast in '03.

We watched, with great envy, the fans pouring in from 1:00 on, stopping at the monuments, walking on the warning track, and the best of all, leaving their hand prints on the outfield wall.

ESPN's team of Karl Ravich, John Kruk, Steve Berthiaume, and Steve Phillips reminisced and talked to a number of former Yankees and some celebrities too. Getting John Sterling to do his body shaking, "thaaaaaaaaaaaa Yankees win" was classic.

At about 6:00 the ceremonies began with a great surprise. A pre-recorded message from Bob Sheppard, who then introduced the two emcees for the night, Sterling and Michael Kay.

The ceremony began oddly, using actors to re-create the 1923 opening day lineup. We think it was no coincidence that they were in the deepest part of center field so no one could see their faces.

Next was a salute to the players and managers who had plaques in Monument Park. More actors to represent Joe DiMaggio, Red Ruffing, Lefty Gomez, and Casey Stengel (the actor looked eerily like the Ol' Professor from the distance).

Each position on the field was saluted with a video montage and then an introduction of the past players from that position.

LF - Dave Winfield, Roy White

SS - Cora Rizzuto representing the Scooter,

3B - Graig Nettles, Scott Brosius

RF - Reggie Jackson, Paul O'Neill, Randy Maris representing his Dad

2B - Willie Randolph, who provided one of the highlights by sliding into second base, Bobby Richardson

1B - Moose Skowron, Tino Martinez

C - Yogi Berra, Joe Girardi, Michael Munson representing his Dad, Cheryl Howard representing her Dad

P - Whitey Ford, Goose Gossage, Ron Guidry, Helen Hunter representing her husband, David Wells, David Cone

CF - David Mantle representing his Dad, Kay, Todd, and Tori Murcer representing their husband and Dad, and then the biggest moment of the night. Bernie Williams, donning the Pinstripes for the first time in 2 years, returning to Yankee Stadium. Bern Baby Bernie received a raucous standing ovation for 2 minutes.

Notably absent was the inclusion of Roger Clemens in the pitching montage. And there was no real salute to the managers, which left out Joe Torre, Ralph Houk, and Buck Showalter.

The starting lineups were then introduced with each player joining the greats at their position. It also provided comic relief since Johnny Damon didn't realize what was going on and didn't have his cleats on. He quickly ran back to the clubhouse, put them on, and raced out to the field, the wrong field at that. They told him to go to left field even though he was playing center field, which only confused him further.

After the lineups were introduced, Derek Jeter, joined by his parents and sister, was presented with a Waterford crystal bat and ball, by Hal and Jennifer Steinbrenner (Swindal), to commemorate him becoming the all-time hits leader at Yankee Stadium.

The Babe's 92-yr old daughter, Julia Ruth Stevens, through out the first pitch to Jorge Posada, and then it was game time.

The Yankees won 7-3, more on that later, and then there were more festivities. Derek Jeter and his team gathered on the mound, and the Captain spoke to the fans. Thanks to Peter Abraham for the transcription of the speech,

“Every member of this organization, past and present, has been calling this place home for 85 years, There’s a lot of tradition, a lot of history and a lot of memories. Now the great thing about memories is you’re able to pass it along from generation to generation.

“Although things are going to change next year. We’re going to move across the street. There are a few things that New York Yankees that never change. That’s pride, tradition and most of all we have the greatest fans in the world.

We want you to take the memories from this stadium, add them to the new memories that come at the new Yankee Stadium and continue to pass them along from generation to generation. So on behalf of the entire organization, we want to take this moment to salute you, the greatest fans in the world.”

The players then took a lap around the Stadium, waving to the fans, who like them, didn't want to go home. Players did interviews with the media and scooped up dirt from the batter's box, the mound, and the bullpen, and took photos (would love to have the Bernie, Tino, Derek, Jorge, Mo, Andy photo).

Finally everyone went home and went to sleep. They had already lived a dream.

The Plaques