Bronx, N.Y., May 25, 2002 — Sometimes it pays to be greedy. Simply because we have been Sunday season plan holders for years, Sue and I had managed to witness Perfect Games in back-to-back years. And having added to our ticketage incrementally by purchasing the B (midweek) Plan after experiencing difficulty getting 1998 playoff tickets, the last thing we needed was for me to attend an additional Saturday game. Continue reading →

Bronx, N.Y., May 22, 2002 — After a day like today I simply have to tell you about “the thing about Box 622.” We signed off on purchasing our B Plan seats (in this box) in 1998 when it was a midweek nights only package of 33 games, simply because it was obvious that this was the only way we could guarantee ourselves playoff seats. The eight extra midweek day games were bestowed upon us the following year. You want playoff tickets to every game, well you’ll have to buy 41 games. We both work all day; how we would get to them we didn’t know, but we did what we had to do. Continue reading →

Bronx, N.Y., May 20, 2002 — I was as anguished as most Yankee fans tonight as I made my way to the Cathedral. El duque, with a balky back and fat pitch after fat pitch in a loss last Wednesday, would not be making his start tonight. Giving every benefit of the doubt that I feel I owe to ex-Yankees that return, I was prepared to do the same with the injured (and, even worse, ineffective in A and AAA ball) Sterling Hitchcock once the inevitable happened and the $6 million man got a start. But could the preliminary events have been less fortuitous? Not bad in his mop-up duties last Wednesday, he had clearly not recovered sufficiently when called upon around 12:30 am Saturday morning in the Giambi miracle game. And here he was less than 60 hours later about to start against a Blue Jay team with some boppers. Continue reading →

Bronx, N.Y., May 19, 2002 — Gorgeous, if cool, day in the Bronx, and I knew we were in for something good when I heard “The Voice.” Yes, that’s right, Mr. Bob Sheppard was on the job today. And although I was too consumed with maneuvering past 53,662 zombies dressed as Yankee fans to appreciate the difference while job no. 1 (the announcement of the lineups) was performed, Mr. Sheppard proved his value later. Major League Baseball is using the traditional seventh-inning stretch to honor those lost on 9/11, and those working to rectify it, but unfortunately the replacement announcer and the use of the old Kate Smith tape of God Bless America had reduced it to a boring exercise. Sheppard’s intro, and then the plaintive rendition of Irish tenor Ronan Tynan on that classic, restored the tears to my eyes today. It felt right. Continue reading →

Bronx, N.Y., May 16, 2002 — If you like a game that is no contest, where your team dominates in every way possible, tonight was the night. The evening and night were beautiful. We scored early and often. We hit four more homers, three of them the opposite way. And that’s not uncommon in the Cathedral, but it is when the other way is to left! Continue reading →

Bronx, N.Y., May 14, 2002 — “The boys are back in town,” Thin Lizzy blared over the Stadium loudspeakers at 7:00 pm as I struggled to make it to my seat for first pitch, and I found myself thinking that here was another Stadium tradition, I’m sure, that until now I have let wash over me without realizing it as I stare around the big ballpark in awe trying to drink it all in. I was certainly aware that “Welcome to the Jungle” is often played as the visiting (and home) players start their on-field warmups, and that the Evil Empire music from Star Wars accompanies the announcer calling out the opponents’ starting lineup. And the only way I know that our beloved Paul must have been present is that “Baba O’Reilly” followed “The Boys…,” but I’ll be listening for Thin Lizzy at the beginning of homestands from this day forward. Continue reading →

Bronx, N.Y., May 2, 2002 — Those words from the classic Heinlein novel, “Stranger in a Strange Land,” come to mind as I try to sum up tonight’s in-Stadium game experience. A game I fully expected would not be played Thursday morning, I will admit that I felt some dread and trepidation on boarding the 5:36 Bronx-bound train as the weather forecast gave an ominous report, including a “tornado watch” for the whole area. Continue reading →

Bronx, N.Y., April 21, 2002 — Today, Roger Clemens’s performance was stellar and the crowd’s reaction to him was warm and accepting as he defeated a team representing an American League city about as far from San Jacinto as possible. From where you ask? Well, you see, 166 years ago today, an army of Texans led by Sam Houston vanquished the Mexican Army at San Jacinto, thereby assuring Texan independence. Three years ago, newly acquired Yankee (and son of Texas) Roger Clemens tied an AL record with his 17th consecutive victorious decision by beating the Texas (hmmm!) Rangers in the Bronx, 4-2. Continue reading →