Bronx, N.Y., June 30, 2009 — On June 30, 1859, the Frenchman Charles Blondin became the first man to cross Niagara Falls on a tightrope. One hundred and fifty years later to the day, the Yankees took a night-long walk on a tightrope that ultimately ended in an 8-5 victory over the Seattle Mariners. Continue reading
Monthly Archives: June 2009
Nine the Hard Way
Bronx, N.Y., June 14, 2009 — Nine is a magical number in baseball, with nine players fielding positions on each team, nine innings of play. Three strikes make an out and three strike outs make an inning; three times three = nine. Three outs for nine innings makes 27. Three, nine, and 27 make a sort of trinity of baseball numbers. Continue reading
Hit ’em Where They Are
Bronx, N.Y., June 12, 2009 — The Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, opened on June 12, 1939, exactly 100 years after some sources give as the day the first baseball game in America was played. In the Hall, you can learn that the first “perfect” game was pitched by John Lee Richmond of the Worcester Ruby Legs, again on June 12, in a game that took place in 1880. There was nothing perfect about the ballgame played between the Mets and Yankees in the Bronx 129 years later, Friday night, June 12, 2009. This three-hour, 47-minute battle’s only chance to make an all-time superlative list would be under the heading of “most excruciating game ever.” Continue reading
Victory Alfredo
Bronx, N.Y., June 7, 2009 — When a team comes from behind to win late in games, the first place you tend to look at is the offense. And the Yankees did have some terrific at bats during their three-run eighth-inning rally in Sunday’s 4-3 win. But the game ball this day, and the “W,” goes to their veteran relief. Continue reading
A Calamitous Carom
Bronx, N.Y., June 3, 2009 — The Yankees fell 4-2 to the Texas Rangers in Yankee Stadium Wednesday night, as the home team returned the honor of the American League’s best record that they had just wrested from Texas the night before. Young Scott Feldman outpitched veteran Andy Pettitte, but the second biggest upset to anyone in a rain-soaked Bronx an hour before first pitch is that they played at all. Continue reading