Captain Clutch

When I lived in NYC two girlfriends and I had partial-season Yankees baseball tickets.  After work we'd pop up to the stadium on the B or D train, drink beer, eat hot dogs and watch 'our guys'.  This was back in the '90's when the team was loaded and they won multiple World Series.  Certainly a fun time to be a Yankees baseball fan.  Our seats were behind home plate in the nose bleed section but we didn't mind.

During this time was also when Derek Jeter joined the team.  I remember the first time he ran out to shortstop and we looked at each other and remarked "who's that" (it helped that he was easy on the eyes!).  Now 20 years later, Derek Jeter is playing his last baseball season.  From early on my Dad always said the Yankees should make Jeter a Yankee for life - and they did.  My dad was never a fan of George Steinbrenner but George certainly gets points for getting this one right.

Being that it was Derek's last season, my girlfriends and I thought it only fitting to make our way to Yankees stadium this year to watch him play one last time. The day was even more special 1. because it was my birthday and 2. because it was Paul O'Neill day.  Paul O'Neil was my favorite Yankees player (until DJ came along) and the Yankees were honoring him with a place in monument park - his statue will live amongst the greats like Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Reggie Jackson (pretty impressive company!).  So not only did we get to see Derek play, but we also got to see Paul O'Neill and some of the other players from the team in the '90's that came to honor him, including David Cone, Jorge Posada, Tino Martinez, Mariano Rivera and coach Joe Torre.

This was the first time I had been up to the Bronx since they built the new stadium. It's lovely - more spacious, cleaner, more food & beer options and comfier seats.  I also appreciated that they kept some of the original elements from the original park like the foul ball poles and the frieze (top white decoration) so that it still has the same feel but with more modern conveniences.

We couldn't have asked for a more perfect day for a ballgame - bright sunshine, no humidity and a light breeze.  Unfortunately the Yankees lost but I couldn't think of a better way to spend my birthday - with a beer, a footlong, my girlfriends and 'our boys'.



We will miss you DJ but I'm pretty sure we'll have a date in the Bronx on Derek Jeter day.  You definitely earned a place in monument park.  Captain Clutch forever!