Analyse This!

(CLICK THE HEADLINE FOR)...Another eulogy from another great Yankee who happens to be a celebrity. In fact Billy Crystal is such a fanatical fan, that he even got the Yankees to 'sign' him for a day, so that he could work out with them and get an at bat in an 'official' mlb (spring training) game.

Just so he could say- 'I played for the Yankees'.

Good bye Stadium.

Everyone has been narrating their favourite memorIes from the stadium...so here's my top 5 (or 6)

1. My 1st visit there in 1981...It was a Saturday or Sunday afternoon, and I and my then best friend Tony were taken for a game by his father. Not sure whom we played against- think it was the O's and we won. I remember the white fence above the Manufactuer's Hanover Trust sign in right field, and found that to be something unique. The stadium didn't strike me much as a cathedral then because I was more impressed with how far the ball actually travelled and how fast theb players actually ran. I also remember spending more than half my time there at the souvenir stand and coming back home sleeping in the car tired with a bucketload of Yankees stuff. (I was only 9)

2. Chuck Knoblauch's 3 run HR in the 7th inning of the 98 WS vs the Padres, followed by the close 2-2 call agaisnt Tino and then BOOM! Grand Slam. The series turned in that inning, and was effectively sealed the next night when Knobby worked an 8 pitch leadoff walk against Ashby. It was then won by Brosius against Hoffman, but that happened in San Diego so...

3. May 98. Yanks vs O's. 8th inning? Bernie Williams hits a game tying 3 run HR against Benitez. Next pitch- Benitez beans Tino Martinez betweeen the 2 & the 4 of his uniform. Bedlam ensues...the dirtiest fight I have EVER seen in baseball (yes even worse than the infamous Pedro vs Zimmer brawl in the '03 ALCS). I still remember Strawberry coming from nowhere and (sucker) punching Benitez. (He totally deserved it)
Peace is restored. Tino on 1st. Next batter Raines vs Benitez. Boom Home Run. That wasn I think when the 98 season, became the '98 season.
The post game comments made by big Stein were priceless. Still remember the postgame comment on Sportscenter where they showed Stein challenging Angelos to a boxing match: "Where's Costanza?!?"

4. Charlie Hayes catching the final out of the 96 WS, Boggs on the horsie, Torre and George in tears...

5. '03 World Series. Games 4 & 5. The back to back nights of 9th inning 2 out game tying homers against BY Kim and the D'Backs. It's a wonder Kim kept his sanity after those 2 nights. Also, Game 5 Top of 9th inning, the way the fans serenaded Paul O'Neill and refused to quiet down until he waved.

6. Today- the ovation Bernie received. He is possibly my favourite 'Dynasty Yankee'.


Fave sign carried by a fan at the stadium:

03 WS Game 5: 'MYSTIQUE AND AURA. APPEARING NIGHTLY'.