68th Annual Old-Timer's Day--and my nephew's first day at Yankee Stadium!

June 22, 2014

Just missed! Willie Randolph, just two weeks away from his 60th birthday, braces himself after narrowly
missing a hard hit ground ball. Former teammate and baseball legend Reggie Jackson looks on.

Some dates are easy to remember. May 17, for example. Ron Guidry struck 18 California Angels, David Wells pitched a perfect game against the Minnesota Twins, and Bruce and Jeanne Donohue had their first date. All four of these great people were proudly in attendance at the 68th annual Old Timer's day at Yankee Stadium.

Tino Martinez catches a fly ball in Right Field after taking over for Paul O'Neill.
Today, the Yankees could have used O'Neill and Tino at any position!

June 22nd is also easy to remember. It's the day Ted Lilly became the first Yankee southpaw since Ron Guidry to emerge victorious in a 1-0 shutout and the day my nephew Anthony entered this world. In 2002, Ted Lilly outpitched Jake Peavy of the San Diego Padres and gave Mariano Rivera a much-needed day-off. Anthony also gave my sister a much-needed relief from being pregnant. It's fitting that today marked his first trip to Yankee stadium.

Still Mick the Quick after all these years: 65 year-old Mickey Rivers shows the speed and the glove as he races down a line drive and makes an over-the shoulder basket catch in Center Field.

The old-timers certainly played better than the new timers, as the current Yankees saw themselves at the losing end of an 8-0 shutout. Tanaka pitched well enough to win, but Brian McCan't made a compelling case for bringing John Flaherty out of retirement, and the Yankee bullpen staged an epic collapse that would have been unthinkable if Jeff Nelson and Graeme Lloyd were able to play.

As we walked back to the parking garage, I asked my Anthony what he thought about the game.
"I like Mick the Quick" he said. "But the new Yankees, they stunk today. They needed Babe Ruth and  Mickey Mantle!"

Well said. It's nice to know he takes after his uncle.