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.
The Heinlein quote specifically was referring to one of three Sues I know who have partial plan seats in Box 622, the only one of the three who attended tonight. It was a night of joyful visits in the Box, as a good friend and great Yankee fan who spent the offseason being diagnosed with, being treated for, and, to all appearances, successfully beating cancer, visited before the game. Then former 622er Matt, who moved to Seattle this past winter, joined his father and friends for a reunion around their row C seats as the “legendary” Eddie Layton played the National Anthem on the organ. The cheers from 622 were loud and joyous all night, even when we fell behind 2-0 in the third.
The aforementioned Sue, who has been a fan all her life and has been coming to games for years, moved to a seat right in front of Matt and gang (as there were plenty of empties on this night). When Roger’s fifth pitch to Terrence Long in the seventh (in an at bat that would lead to a walk and two on with nobody out) hit his bat, it headed right for me in a straight and true trajectory. Falling three rows short of my perch, the ball was hit both by Matt’s attempted hat scoop and the hands of the man in Row B to Sue’s right, and then it plopped, harmless as can be, in Sue’s lap. She never said how many years she’s been coming, hoping for a ball, and a gentleman doesn’t ask, but let’s just say the patience evoked in Heinlein’s line came to mind.
But, going further, I feel that way about the Yankee win too, as did most if they thought about it. It was just a question of time until Jason would send one into the night and bring us a late victory, and tonight was just the first of many, I’m sure. With the most proven front-line starting pitching in baseball, professional and talented relief, a bunch of veterans known for getting on base and quite a few who know how to send them home, it’s just a question of time, perseverance and perhaps a little faith and hope, until this Yankee cream rises to the Top. Waiting will, indeed, fulfill.
Rain never did come tonight, though it wasn’t pretty. I’m sure you know that Roger tied Fergie Jenkins in wins at 284 and that Joe became the fifth Yankee manager to total 600 wins. Freddie the Fan continued to show his true Yankee colors, and a flair for word play too, as his sign exhorted the Yanks to be “tough” on one side, while proclaiming they were “tuffer” than the opposition on the other. The balls and strikes guys on the Scoreboard “erred” in their haste (though some would agree with them) in the first, as they added an E to Oakland’s line score before the official scorer decided to award Giambi with an infield hit when his roller glanced off Pena’s glove at first.
In our “Jeter is not only a superstar, but a super guy” file was his glancing pat on rookie Pena’s rear with his glove as Carlos watched Karsay warm up in the seventh from his perch on second base. And although the Scoreboard is filled with all kinds of new graphics, this is the first time I noticed how cool their setup for the fifth-inning fan marquee (where fans can pay to have messages — including marriage proposals and Happy Birthdays, for instance — broadcast to their friends and loved ones in attendance) is, as they mimic the board above the famous news ticker in Times Square.
Kudos specifically to Roger, Derek, Jason, Bernie and Robin, and to Peter and Matt too. And to long-suffering Sue, of course. Old friends are the best friends.
BTW,TYW
YANKEE BASEBALL!!!