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Showing posts from June, 2019

50 Years Ago This Season

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Man landed on the moon, while here on Earth, the Mets stunned the baseball world. Saturday, many of the surviving members of that miracle team reunited at the ballclub's current home Citi Field for a joyful, sweet and at times, poignant celebration. Ask any of the 1969 Mets, and to a man, they'll tell you their championship would not have been possible without the guidance, wisdom and occasional tough love from their manager.

On This Date in 2000...

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The Yankees get three sacrifice flies in their eight-run fourth inning -- Tino Martinez (seen above) had the first, then Jose Viziciano and Bernie Williams, accounting for all the scoring to back Andy Pettite's shutout pitching in an 8-0 victory at Comerica Park. Vizcaino's fly didn't account for an out, since left fielder Bobby Higginson dropped his ball, accounting for this extreme rarity. The only other time a team had three sacrifice flies in an inning was July 1st, 1962, when the Chicago White Sox accomplished it against the Cleveland Indians.

Thursday Walk Off Hero

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Phillies shortstop Jean Segura earns the spotlight for capping Thursday afternoon's wild 9th inning rally. With the Phils down 3-1 after the Mets scorched the Philadelphia bullpen, Maikel Franco and Segura turned the tables on New York closer Edwin Diaz -- and did it quickly! Handed a lead and three outs from a victory to end a four-game skid, Diaz began with a no-no, walking Cesar Hernandez. Bang! Lead erased; save blown; game tied. After striking out JT Realmuto, Diaz let the rest out of the air out of the balloon, walking Sean Rodriguez, giving up a Scott Kingery single and then watching Segura send a laser to the left field seats. Four game Phillies sweep -- their first over their division rivals since 2007 -- and new life for a club that staggered into this series having lost 16 of 22. And they came from behind to win in every one of these games. Credit goes to Segura, who didn't come to Philadelphia with expectations attached to now-teammates Bryce Harper and JT R

Walk Off Toward London

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Gleyber Torres earns this spot thanks to Wednesday's walk-off hit that pushed the Yankees past the Blue Jays. On a club with the raw power of Gary Sanchez, the charisma of Aaron Judge and the overall excellence of DJ LeMahieu, this 22 year old middle infielder might just be its best overall player. Watch Torres day-in, day-out and maybe you think, "another Altuve." Or Alomar. For someone barely six feet tall, this Venezuela native sports surprising power, while reaching all fields with singles, doubles and triples. No situation seems too big. And this year, his defense has become much steadier. Very impressive for a second year player. Add that dash of style you see in this bat flip and you've got a player worth watching. ( My image of Torres is from the June 20th Yankees/Astros game .)

Another Round of Old Timers Day Images

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Above: a couple of Tampa natives who made their mark in New York, Tino Martinez and Lou Piniella Below: Jerry Hairston Junior with Lee Mazzilli Above: Bernie Williams Below: Sweeny Murti and Suzyn Waldman visit with Willie Randolph Above: Mariano Rivera Below: 1978 champions and headliners Bucky Dent and Ron Guidry Above: Don Larsen, whose 1956 World Series perfecto remains a one-of-a-kind milestone Below: How many faces do you recognize in the dugout? Above: Mariano Rivera with trainer Gene Monahan Below: 1978 champs (clockwise from lower left) Chambliss, Dent, Guidry, Randolph and Rivers Above: Lee Mazilli, Mariano Rivera, Gene Monahan Below: Bobby Brown (the last surviving member of the 1947 champs) and Tino Martinez Above: David Cone and David Wells Below: Scott Kamieniecki and Reggie Jackson apparently snapping a selfie, as David Wells watches Above: a classic reunion of the only three Yankees to throw perfect games --

More From Old Timers Day

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We're around the batting cage just before the Yankees 2019 Old Timers Game. Above: Roy White Below: Aaron Boone Above: Jerry Hairston Junior Below: Bernie Williams Above: Johnny Damon Below: Scott Bradley, briefly a 1980s Yankee catcher -- and the longtime baseball coach at Princeton University, with Suzyn Waldman Above: centerfielders past and present, Johnny Damon and Bernie Williams bookend Aaron Hicks Below: Al Downing with John Sterling Above: the Yankees have enjoyed great success with Panamanian-born players, Ramiro Mendoza and Hector Lopez. Below: A couple of legendary lefties, Ron Guidry chats with C.C. Sabathia Above: David Wells Below: David Cone

Old Timers Day Images

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My favorite event on the Yankee calendar... Old Timers Day, as memories are rekindled, dreams are renewed and the fountain of youth flows freely. I'll be adding images over the next few days, so check back for glimpses of the human side of this baseball tradition. Above: Johnny Damon shares a hug with Willie Randolph, while Luis Sojo looks on. Below: Lou Piniella Above: Ron Guidry waves to the earlybirds in the stands. Below: WFAN colleague Sweeny Murti with John "Flash" Flaherty. Above: Al Downing's expression suggests that he's thinking of his days on pennant winning teams at the old Stadium across 161st Street. Below: Jason Giambi enjoys a laugh outside the batting cage. Above: 1978 World Series standout Brian Doyle. Below:  Trainer Gene Monahan and Paul O'Neill. Above: '70s speedster Mickey Rivers Below: '90s bullpen standouts Graham Lloyd and Jeff Nelson Above: Doctor Bobby Brown, the last surviving member

A Day for Memories

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It's my favorite middle-of-the-season event: Old Timers Day at Yankee Stadium, where beloved (and occasionally overlooked) names from the past return to the Bronx and don the pinstripes to again feel the love from fans. Here's a personal favorite among my Old Timers Day images: from 1996, with Joe DiMaggio and Phil Rizzuto in street clothes, surrounded by such other Yankee legends as Whitey Ford, Reggie Jackson, Don Larsen, Ron Guidry and Chris Chambliss. I'll be on at the Stadium with my Canons to capture some of the informal moments, the reunions of ex-teammates and generations of Bronx baseball interacting before the formal ceremony begins.