I sort of wanted to watch the Emmys last night but could not tear myself away from the final game at Yankee Stadium. The opening festivites (pictured) were just fabulous. Many of the old players were back (Whitey Ford, Reggie Jackson, etc.) and family members represented those that were no longer with us. The old players wore the same version of the uniform they wore when they were playing. The United States Army Field Band played the Star Spangled Banner which was fabulous. As the old players were announced they ran out and took their old positions on the field. Willie Randolph ran out and slid into second base, grinning and reveling in the dirt on his uniform.
I love the spirit of baseball; I always thought it just looked fun -- looked like a bunch of big kids out there having a good time. The dugout was so crowded with old-timers last night that some of the younger ones were sitting on top of the dugout swinging their legs.
It was a fun night but bittersweet, too. When the game was over and the Yankees had avoided post-season elimination one more time by winning 7-3, the Yankees gathered on the field for last photos. Some scooped up some dirt from the pitcher's mound and put into bags or cups for saving. Many fans had tears in their eyes and were reluctant to leave. Derek Jeter made an eloquent statement and the Yankees then took their caps off to the fans and made a lap around the stadium to salute them while Sinatra's "New York, New York" played in an endless loop.
The thing that really struck me, though, was the absence of Joe Torre; he didn't even merit a mention which was just shocking to me. After four World Series titles and twelve playoff appearances, I thought Torre should at least get a nod.
All in all it was very moving and I'm hoping that the new Yankee stadium brings lots of new and wonderful memories!
(Photo credit: Chang W. Lee/The New York Times)
Last night took me back forty years to when I was nine years old. I wasn't a Yankees fan, but I was in love with the game of baseball.
ReplyDeleteLet me take you to Grand River,Iowa in the
1960s. Baseball was probably the only sport ever talked about in town.
I grew up listening to men like Neal Keller, who was a Yankee hater. I liked old Neal, because he would tell me stories about baseball and about a team Grand River had in the early 1900s.
There was a story about Neal that went around town for years. I don't know if it's true, but even if it's not, it's funny. Like I said, Neal hated the Yankees. The story was that during one of the World Series in the early 60's (possibly 1961 or 1962 when the Yankees were playing, and won both.)
Neal had gone over to Leon, which was the county seat of Decatur County, and came home with a black eyes or two.
The story goes that Neal was sitting with a bunch of guys in front of the court house, and they were listening the game on a small transistor radio. Every time the Yankees scored, Neal would say, "G.D. Yankees!"
Well, there was at least one Yankee fan in the group, an old man with a cane. The old Yankee fan got tired of Neal cussing out the Yankees, and he go up, walked over to Neal, and popped odl Neal in both eyes with end of his cane.
Neal's son, Jack, was a huge Cubs, fan, and through Jack I became a Cubbie.
Neal never said who his favorite team was, but he could tell you about anything you ever wanted to know about each team playing that year.
During my Senior year, 1977, Neal passed away, and I lost a friend.
An especially fond memory of baseball was when I was in elementary school. We had a custodian named LLoyd "Pappy" Briner.
That was when the World Series was played in the day time, and Pappy, like many others during the World Series, carried a small transistor radio around, while he did his janitorial duties.
It's was funny how much a young boys in school need to pee when the World Series was being played. Pappy would stay on the first floor of the school, where the restrooms were located, and would tell the score when a young boy, and even a few girls, would pass by on his way to the the restroom.
It got so bad that the principal told Pappy to sweep each classroom more, even while classes were in session.
Were the classroom that dity, or was it so young boys didn't have to pee as much? Either way, we knew the score.
I fondly remember, even though I was disappointed, in what was probably the best series ever played, 1975 World Series between the Reds and the Red Sox. Carlton Fisk hitting that homerun in the 12 inning of the sixth game to tie the series three game each, that was one of the greatest moments in baseball. However, the Reds ended up winning the Series.
I loved the playoffs and the World Series, but they also brought some sadness. Because when the final out was made in the Series, I was going to have to wait until at least March, Spring Training, for baseball.
Last night brought back that feeling I haven't felt in years. The sadness of the end of a season. The end of the season had come for Yankee Stadium, but this time there will be no return.
the biggest baseball fan i know was emory's mother, trula. trula loved baseball. she loved the world series. she loved the kansas city royals.
ReplyDeleteseveral years ago, she started having stomach problems. she was hospitalized and after testing, she was handed a death sentence...pancreatic cancer. before breaking the news to her, the dr called emory and his 4 siblings to the hospital. the dr gave us the news. we were heartbroken. i'll never forget the sadness...the silence...the silent weeping. after a few minutes, emory's mother put her face in her hands and cried.
the dr set up an appointment with a hospice worker. we cried and comforted each other and emory's mother. then we decided to leave the hospital to talk, make plans and have a bite of supper.
when we returned to the hospital, trula had on the world series and was cheering for her favorite team. i sat in her hospital room that night admiring the grit and determination of this wonderful woman, who surprised her doctor and family by of surviving longer than a month or two. trula lived to celebrate thanksgiving, christmas, the new year and spring. she passed away just before her birthday in april.
i think of trula whenever i think of baseball fans and of the kansas city royals.