Yankees Old-Timers Day

Yankee Stadium 1923 (Photo: Baseball Fever) 

Old-Timers Day. The Yankees do it best. Obviously with the tradition and winning of the franchise, they have a lot of players with great accolades.

There are big-name players invited and there are also the lesser-known players invited. There were also players of many different eras. From the old guys like Whitey Ford and Dr. Bobby Brown, to Bernie Williams, Jorge Posada and many in between.

The players have changed over the years, as the alum have other obligations and times change, but it's always great to watch whoever is there.

In addition to the players, the Yankees also do a great job of honoring the widows of former Yankees who have passed away. The Widows at the 2017 OTD included, Helen Hunter (Catfish), Arlene Howard (Elston), Jill Martin (Billy),  Diana Munson (Thurman) and Kay Murcer (Bobby)

The Old-Timers Day Ceremony is currently emceed by the Yankees TV and Radio play-by-play broadcasters, Michael Kay and John Sterling.

The early Old-Timers Day had Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle along with Mrs. Ruth and Mrs. Gehrig, along with Mel Allen as the Master of Ceremonies.

Even though I'm a Yankees fan and the Yankees have the history that they do, I wish more teams, and others sports would do an Old-Timers Day and honor their history. Some do, but not a lot, and none like the Yankees.

Sports history is great and OTD is a great way to recognize it. Love that YES Network televises the OTD ceremony and game.

Thank you.....Ludlowe Baseball

Similar to what I wrote in March about the Ludlowe basketball team, I am here to write about the baseball team.

The 2017 Ludlowe baseball season ended on Saturday with a loss in the state quarterfinals.

Since I graduated in 2013 after being the student manager in the program for four years, I have continued to be around the team.

Now that I have graduated college, I will have a job and likely be unable to be around the team. As much as Mike Francese says that I have a "lifetime contract as team manager" that obviously does not pay and I have to find a job. Hopefully, I will still be able to see games and depending on the job I get, maybe I would be covering the team.

I have a lot of people to thank that have been a big part of my time with Ludlowe baseball.

Keith O'Rourke, "KO" who was the head varsity coach for the four years I was a part of the program. KO, thank you for allowing me to be a team manager for your program. Baseball has been my number one sport and you allowed me to stay involved with a game I love. I learned a lot from you about the game of baseball that I think about all of the time, even when I just am watching a game as a fan.

Mike Francese, "Franny" who was the assistant coach during my years and took over for KO in 2014. Franny, thank you for all your help with the scorebook when the players would try to tell me to change things in their favor. Thank you as well for allowing me to continue to be around the program after you took over as head coach.

Josh Marko, who was the freshman coach my freshman year. Coach Marko, thank you for getting me started as manager and for asking me to manage basketball. That was a fun freshman year.

Dennis Whalen, the junior varsity coach my sophomore year when I was the JV manager. Coach Whalen, thank you for teaching me things about the game.

To the rest of the assistant coaches, past and present, thank you.

Mike Silk and John Berardino, who were the varsity managers before me when I was a sub-varsity manager. Thank you for teaching me the ropes of being a student manager.

Carmi Mandelkern, who was the JV manager my junior year. Thank you for your assistance and I hope I taught you some things just as older managers taught me.

To all the managers after me: Mark Malone, Justin Keller, Spencer Foley, Nick Bochanis, Mike Renzulli and Alex Borruso, thank you. Even though I was still around, you guys did a fantastic job. Thanks for dealing with me still being around and I hope I did not do too much to overshadow the jobs you guys were doing.

The players...thank you for allowing me to be part of the team. We had a lot of fun times. From watching the 2010 team win an FCIAC Championship as a freshman, to the run we had in 2013 winning 12 of 13 to finish the regular season and making it to the FCIAC semifinals, to this years team making it to the state quarterfinals. It was a great ride. (I will always be the toughest scorekeeper ever)

Art Cockerham, the voice of Kiwanis Field and pretty much the all-around guy in the press box. Thank you for teaching me the scoreboard and thanks for allowing me in the press box with you the past couple of years.

And finally, to my parents especially, but to all the parents of the players in the program, thank you for your support along the way.

I will always love and support this program. Falcon Pride!

Senior Day 2013