How Cervelli's Mother Helped Him Get Through the Tough Times

It all started when Francisco Cervelli was fifteen years old, sitting at his kitchen table with his mother in Venezuela, telling her he was going to be a big league catcher someday in the future.  That is some big dream, right?  There are many young boys who say that, hoping to emulate their favorite player's careers in the  major leagues.  Cervelli wasn't just any young boy, though.  He made his dream a reality.

When Cervelli was playing in the Dominican Republic for the Yankees he called his mother crying, "I don't like the food. I'm not eating anything. It's tough here.' She said, 'Oh. You told me you wanted to play baseball,' and she hung up the phone."  Tough love, eh?  

Cervelli's mother has also been one to show what true love and strength is.  Damelis Cervelli has that mother's instinct; always knows when something is bothering her son.  Completing error after error in the International League, striking out in the batter's box left and right, Damelis knew something wasn't right with her son.  Once she received the phone call from him saying that he was fine and that nothing was wrong, her motherly instincts kicked in.  Right then and there Manuel and Damelis Cervelli hopped on a plane from Valencia, Venezuela all the way to Buffalo, NY.  

Once in his mother's embrace, it fixed everything for Cervelli.  Her instincts were right.  He needed his parents emotional support right now because he was having one tough season in the International Leagues.  Cervelli's parents didn't necessarily tell him what he wanted to hear at first, but after all the up's and down's we all realize that all our parents want is the best for us, just as Cervelli realized when his parents came to visit him.  

On the last day of spring training in the 2012 season, Cervelli was prepping to become the back-up catcher for the New York Yankees, behind Russell Martin. That was until the Yankees made a move and traded for catcher Chris Stewart.  This move sent Cervelli down to Triple A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, where the team had to play all their games on the road because the ballpark was in the midst of a big renovation.  Cervelli was down on himself for the way that he was playing.  He had a batting average in the .100's and lead the league in past balls.  Damelis Cervelli stepped in and said, "No matter what, just play. Baseball is so beautiful."  That was all Cervelli needed to hear.  

The Cervelli's traveled for three weeks, while Francisco was in the Minor Leagues last year.  Before Damelis left, she told her son that he better keep playing his game because baseball is his passion.  The minute he stops doing that, Cervelli's parents told him they are bringing him home with them.  

He has never seen his mother shed a tear in her life, even if she is upset, she does not show it.  She has always given Cervelli the tough love he needed.  As Cervelli rejoined the Yankees in the Major Leagues this past year, he faces another tough challenge: a fractured right wrist that he suffered on April 26th.  Cervelli's parents traveled to Florida where the X-rays were taken.  Although they had originally intended to go back home to Venezuela, they instead stayed by Cervelli's side when he went in to surgery to repair his wrist. As Cervelli stated, "I've always been a mommy's boy."

Hope you all enjoyed the light-hearted story just Mother's Day is approaching this Sunday. On that note, I wanted to say a Happy Mother's Day to my mom. Cervelli and I may have to compete, though, because I believe my mom is the strongest woman I have ever known.  

Exemplary Blog

When I was creating my blog, I first researched around the Internet to find other Yankee blogs that I find exemplary.  I'm a visuals-type of person.  I like using visuals when I'm working on a presentation or blog, and looking at visuals when I read an article. When I came upon the Pinstripedbible blog, it really struck my interest.  The graphics that the author used really caught my eye.  It didn't seem like just an ordinary blog.  I actually went and looked at the link to every recent graphic that had been posted.  There are 310 blogs that have been posted.                                                          

 

 

                                                               Pinstripedbible

 

 

On the Pinstripedbible website, fans are allowed to post as many comments as they would like through the Fan posts link.  Although there are certain rules for the Yankees community, known as Community Guidelines.  There is no cursing or offensive cursing allowed in any blog post.  Fans are also able to purchase tickets through the link on the website. 

 

Anything you need to know about the Yankees games or players, this blog has it.  about what is going on with the team?  Your tweets may just show up on their homepage!  After all, there is a reason why it is called the Pinstripedbible.

Yankee Stadium: Oh, What an Experience It Is!

Remember those days when bleacher seats at Yankee Stadium would cost 75 cents, hot dogs would cost 50 cents at the most, and the Subway fare was only 15 cents? Ninety years ago, John Phillip Sousa's band played the National Anthem. The Yankees ended up winning 4-1 to the Boston Red Sox. Now I'm not talking about the Yankee Stadium that the Yankees currently play in; this post is about the original stadium.



Though it was called the "House that Ruth Built," it was actually the second stadium, located at 161st street and River Avenue in the Bronx.  It was in the same location as the first one, which was built in 1923, but was remodeled in 1973.  The seating capacity was extended from 58,000 to 67,000 once the remodel was completed.  The wooden seats and beams that would block many peoples' view were removed for a more updated look.  Yankee Stadium lost a little bit of its charm during that the time of the remodel, but still retained most of its character.

 Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Alex Rodriguez, and Andy Pettitte have all played in the old Yankee Stadium where Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Lou Gehrig, Whitey Ford, and Joe DiMaggio both started and finished their amazing careers.  Yankee Stadium has hosted a number of other sporting events including the historic Joe Louis and Max Schmeling boxing match in 1938. "Did you know that underneath second base in Yankee Stadium there was (removed in 1976) once a brick vault fifteen feet wide that contained electrical, telephone and miscellaneous equipment for boxing events?" (Baseball Almanac)


One of the most important features that the old Yankee Stadium had was its own Monument Park in center field.  It was basically like an open museum for everyone to see every time they came to watch a game at the stadium.  Monument Park contained plaques, monuments, and the uniform numbers of the retired, Hall-of-Fame players.  A replica of Monument Park was created in 2009 for the new Yankee Stadium.

As former Yankee Bernie Williams stated about the closing of the old Yankee stadium,"concrete doesn't talk back to you---it's the people in the stands who made this place magical."  The new stadium may not have the same charm and character that the original stadium had, yet history is still being made every game.  After all, it is the people that wear the clothes; the clothes don't wear the people.  Just as it is not the wooden seats, nor the steal beams or concrete walls that make Yankee Stadium magical; It is the thousands of cheering, screaming, die-hard fans that do.

                                                    

Calling Preston Claiborne to the Pitcher's Mound!

 The New York Yankees brought up twenty-five year-old pitcher Preston Claiborne from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre last Friday to help boost the bullpen.  Claiborne is set to replace the injured Joba Chamberlain, as well as bullpen David Robertson.  Robertson has been dealing with discomfort and soreness in his left hamstring.   Relief pitcher Cody Eppley was designated for assignment in order to make room for Claiborne on the Yankees limited 40-man roster. 




  According to manager Joe Giardi, Claiborne's has a good fastball that can reach up
to 95 mph, along with a strong slider and change-up. 

  During his time in the minor leagues Claiborne had an era of 3.48, with three saves in three outings.  He's also allowed fourteen hits in 10 1/3 innings, with ten strikeouts. 

 "It's always a different animal coming from Triple-A and pitching against guys up here," Claiborne said. "Obviously I don't have the extended experience pitching at this level, but pitching in Spring Training and getting a little taste of what it's like and what veteran hitters are like, having that limited experience is definitely beneficial."

  Claiborne's first outing in the big league's was almost as perfect as they come.  He managed to retire all six batters, allowng the Yankees to come back and make it a 4-4 game.  The A's eventually broke the tie and edged out the Yankees 5-4.

My9 News: Yankee Stadium Trip

Story time, everyone!  I am sure that just from reading my blog you have noticed that I love talking about sports, especially the Yankees.  Why the Yankees?  Where did I get my passion for sports from?  Well, in this post you will learn the story of how I went from being just an athlete, to fulfilling a dream of mine to become a sportscaster in the Metropolitan area.

Here is the inside scoop:

 It all started in my Sophomore year of college when I was still undecided about my major.  I was watching the FOX 5 news, as I do every morning before school, and for some reason I was studying the anchors a little more than usual.  I thought to myself, I wonder how a news program is run, and how it all comes together.  At that moment, it all clicked.  From that time on, I knew I wanted to become a sportscaster. 

Why sports?  Ever since the age of five I have played sports.  Whether it was soccer, track, cross country, baseball, softball—you get the point.  Stemming from being an athlete, I began to have passion for sports.  I could honestly sit and watch sports all day.  I knew I could combine my two interests: speaking in front of the camera and, of course, sports.  This is where my quest to become a leading sportscaster began!

That spring, I enrolled in a class at school that was taught by a My9 news anchor.  Cool, isn't it?  I studied all of the in's and out's of becoming a news anchor, had to film news reports on camera, and even wrote my own scripts.

So what does this all have to do with the Yankees?  I'm getting to it, don't worry!

I took this picture at Yankees Stadium when I was given the press pass for My9 news.  Yes, for My9 news.
 

 

Spring turned into summer, and I needed an internship.  I took up the opportunity to pass my resume along to someone at the news station through my professor at school.  I received an email back just a short time later, went in for the internship interview, and was accepted into the program.  I made it known to the internship coordinator that I loved sports.  While working on the assignment desk at the news station, I would also sometimes work sports when there was a home game for the Yankees.  One afternoon, right when I arrived to my internship, I was told that I was going to Yankee Stadium with a reporter and cameraman.  As one can imagine, I was more than excited.  Driving to the stadium in a press van was an experience.   Once we finally arrived, my job was to scope out die-hard fans and ask them to be on camera. I was pretty successful,  if I may say so myself! 

 

Towards the last few innings of the game, with my press pass in hand, we went to the press room to watch the last moments of the game.  Better yet, it was a Subway Series game (Mets vs. Yankees).  I first saw Kim Jones, who was the former commentator for the New York Yankees. Once the game was over, Joe Girardi and Jerry Manuel (former manager of the Mets) walked in for a press conference.  Girardi was not happy at all because the Yankees lost, so he did not talk much.  After the press conference the cameraman gave me a tape to run to the our other cameraman on the field.  As I was walking out, Jerry Manuel approached me and talked to me for a short time.  Before walking into the hallway to the field, a security guard actually asked me if I was a sportscaster because I resembled one. 

 

Once on the field, I handed the cameraman the footage.  While we were hanging out on the field, I was able to go inside the Yankees dugout and walk around on the Yankees home turf. 

 

All in all, it was an amazing experience that I will never forget.  It enlightened me as to the in's and out's of what it takes to me in the news industry.  Most people might back away from the limelight, while I chose to go forward.  This is only the beginning of my quest to become a sportscaster in the New York market.

The Jason Collins Story

This week history was made.  A current professional NBA player admitted that he was gay.  Some may not see it as a big deal; others may even be against it.  Regardless of the difference in opinions, Jason Collins became the first active player in a major American sport to declare that he was gay.

In a sports world where men are required to play the dominant masculine role, people are definitely going to judge Collins, just as they would a female basketball or softball player.  That is why many female athletes wear nail polish, dress up whenever they are off the court or field, have long hair, or wear make-up.  Do I agree that they should judge him?  Absolutely not.  In a world that is ever-evolving, we must accept people for who they are and not judge.  Yes, of course we are all going to have different opinions and not agree on any specific topic, but what Jason Collins did was courageous.  No one current male athlete has had the guts to do what he has just done.

For 34 years Collins had to basically live a lie.  He has had to live with the guilt eating away at him every day because he was afraid to tell anyone, even his closest friends and family, the truth about his sexuality.  The interesting fact is that all of Collins relationships were with females.  He was even engaged to be married to a female basketball player.  The relationship ended suddenly after approximately ten years.  Collins hid the truth from her, too.  She never knew the real reason behind the break-up until just the other day when Collins came out. 

Collins, who has a twin brother Jarrod, graduated from Stanford University.  It is a rare thing that twin brothers would be drafted in the same year, let alone in the top three rounds of the NBA draft.  Interesting fact is that Collins' uncle is the owner of the Harlem Magic Masters.  My father is actually very close friends with his uncle.  He had the opportunity to speak with the uncle, Jack, about it after the story broke, and he was more than accepting about the situation. 

Many of you reading this may ask, what does this have to do with the Yankees?  It turns out to be the biggest sports story of the week, the month, or maybe even the year.  Yankees manager Joe Girardi said it perfectly: "I believe as men and women, we're called to love others [regardless of] their race, their religion, their thought process, whatever they do."

In a world where there can be so much hate, it is finally nice for people to accept others for who they are.  Of course there is always going to be public backlash, as there has been with the Jason Collins story already.  We all have the right to have our own opinions, but when it is all said and done, it is easy to say that our nation is ever-evolving.  Years ago this would have never have happened.

The New Yankees Are Making A Name for Themselves

  Listen up all you doubters!  Yes, you who said that the Yankees wouldn't go anywhere this year because of some of the players' ages.  Now is the time to let the Yankees do the talking.  Although they have been faced with injury after injury, ten players to the disabled list to be exact, the new players have certainly stepped up to the plate.
 
  As of right now, the Yankees are seven games over .500.  Considering the Yankees had lost four out of their five games at the start of the season, it is easy to say the team is exceeding expectations.  Within the first month, the Yankees have a winning record of 16-10.  The team is also the American League leaders in home runs, with a total of 38 as of Wednesday night's game against the Houston Astros.  Robinson Cano currently has eight home runs, the most homers for the line-up; newcomers Lyle Overbay, Vernon Wells, Travis Haffner, and Brennan Boesch have a joint total of eighteen home runs.  The four of them also combine to have 46 out of the Yankees 110 RBI's.

"They brought in really good dudes," Hafner said. "Just a lot of veteran guys and good character guys. I think we've kind of known each other over the years, and the clubhouse has been great. Everybody gets along well and it's been fun." Excluding Hafner, the newcomers were picked up by the Yankees because other major league teams were no longer interested in them.  Wells, Overbay, and Boesch were all released from the Angels, Tigers, and the Red Sox. 

Not only are the new guys power hitters; they are also smart baserunners.  That was shown in Wednesday's game all thanks to Vernon Wells.  "They know how to play the game," Girardi said. "They're not going to get frazzled by situations. That's really important, because those situations are going to come up time and time again during the season."

This goes to show you can't count the Yankees out yet!  They have always been known as the comebackers for a reason.  Losing the first four of their five games and then coming back in the same month to be seven games over .500, now that is what you call a comeback.

injury updates; jeter's progress

  Oh–Yankees, Yankees, Yankees.  One injury after another; You just can't catch a break these days.  Derek Jeter's season is in doubt, Kevin Youkilis is now on the disabled list, and Mark Teixeira is still quite a ways behind from returning to the line-up.

  With all of the news to keep track of, I decided to dedicate this blog to updating the injury reports for the fans.

•   It was discovered that Jeter has a new fracture in his surgically repaired right ankle. The fracture was thought to have happened after Jeter felt stiffness in his ankle during a game on March 19th in Florida, against the Phillies. Although not being able to play has been both frustrating and tough for Jeter, he maintains a positive attitude about it, stating that there is no doubt he will be back before the season ends.  It is to be expected that he won't return until after the All-Star break in July, though no date has been set.  Originally, Jeter was set to make his debut on Opening Day 2013, after injuring in ankle during the play-offs last year.  "My job is to be ready for Opening Day. I feel like I didn't do my job," he said. Jeter stated, "My job was to be ready; unfortunately, I wasn't. I don't regret it, because I think you have to set goals to try to reach those goals. I'm never one to just sit back and have a lot of patience when it comes to anything being wrong." 

• Catcher Francisco Cervelli is set to have surgery on his fractured right hand.  During a game off of a foul ball against the Toronto Blue Jays.  Catcher Chris Stewart will now take the leading role in the position, while top prospect Austin Romine has been called up from Triple A for back-up.  Cervelli is expected to be out for at least a month and a half.  "It is disappointing for him because of all that he has been through," Girardi said.  After the Yankees acquired Chris Stewart to back up former Yankee Russell Martin, Cervelli was sent down to Triple A for most of the 2012 season.  He worked extremely hard during the off-season in order to prove he deserved to be an everyday player in the Yankees line-up.  Although Cervelli and Stewart were battling to become the everyday catcher, Cervelli played in 17 of the first 22 games, as opposed to Stewart's eight games.

 

• Starting pitcher Ivan Nova has soreness in his elbow, causing him to leave the game early last week. Before the start of the third inning where he was faced with a comeback single, Nova approached Joe Girardi and trainer Steve Donohue about discomfort right above his tricep or elbow.  He continued to pitch into the third inning, but was taken out by both Girardi and Donohue after they noticed he didn't look okay.

• Kevin Youkilis is now on the 15-day disabled list due to a stiff back.  Youkilis missed nine games due to the soreness in his back.  He received an epidural the other day in order to reduce the pain.  Youkilis will not be able to come back earlier than mid-May because he played Girardi put him in Saturday's game, which makes him ineligible to return any earlier. 

•  Outfielder Curtis Granderson taking batting practice, he is expected to return to the Yankees line-up at the beginning of May.  Granderson fractured his right forearm during the team's home opener during Spring Training.  On a two ball and two strikes count. he was by J.A. Happ.  “Five pitches in we have a little setback,” Granderson said. “They said it could be worse, but… Now we rest, recover, get it back and get ready to play whenever that day comes.”  Granderson will be a free-agent following the 2013 season.  He led the Yankees in homers for the past two seasons. 

• First baseman Mark Teixeira is still a little ways from returning to the team.  Teixeira tore his tendon sheath in his right write in the midst of preparing for the World Baseball Classic .  Originally, the first baseman was set to come back on May 1st, but that timetable doesn't appear to be realistic right now.  Tex says his wrist is still quite stiff, making it difficult to continue to progress into hitting baseballs.  He is currently taking dry swings as practice.  "I've said all along, this is probably the most unpredictable one," said Girardi.

• Bullpen reliever Joba Chamberlain was just put on the 15-day disabled list for an oblique strain.  Chamberlain stated that he felt quite a bit of discomfort while prepping for a game this past week.  Tests results later on showed the oblique strain, which makes him the tenth Yankees player to be placed on the disabled list thus far. 

 

 

 

So What's It Really Like Behind the Scenes? Interview post

I recently got the chance to interview Jonathan Galed, who works as a photographer for the WTVT-TV news station in Tampa, Florida.  He has covered the Yankees many times before, and has even interviewed some of them.  Since I want to be in production and in the news industry, Mr. Glaed would be a good connection to have.  Especially since he covers the Yankees and I am a huge fan!

 

1)  What has been your favorite event for the Yankees that you have covered?

 My favorite event was covering the first spring training meeting between the Yankees and Red Sox in Fort Myers at the former home of the Red Sox spring training, City of Palms Park. I was with the CBS station WINK-TV. It was a nationally televised night game on ESPN. My reporter and I were covering the fan element as it pertains to the rivalry. There is a lot of Red Sox fans in Fort Myers so that game is always a big one for the area. We shot pre-game warm ups and player interviews, fans enjoying the game, and then went live inside the ballpark post-game. First exposure to how ESPN rolls and the amount of equipment they bring. Funny story: I was packing up my live truck and pulling back cable, making a comment that I have so much cable to pick up (about 500 ft of a/v and power). A tech from ESPN taps my shoulder and says he has 1 mile. Of audio only. I promptly stopped complaining.
 

2) Some directors can get quite loud when yelling in your ear while covering a game. How do you react and stay calm during possible pressure situations?

Honestly, the best way to deal with a loud producer is to be proactive. Directors only talk to the production staff, producers talk to news crews. A happy producer wants to see all the elements they're expecting from you to be ready to go. Have the video that's going to air in ahead of time and have your live shot up with everything working. If you have a problem call them. Producers don't normally yell and scream unless they're inexperienced. And if all else fails, take the earpiece out!
 

3) Do you use portable or fixed-position cameras?

 I use a portable Panasonic p2 camera (HD). I'm field work so all my gear is meant to be portable.
 

4) Which Yankee player do you or did you look forward to interviewing the most? And why?

 I've interviewed CC, Kuroda (through translator) Pettitte, Rivera, and Carl Pavano (when he was with the Twins). I enjoyed the Rivera interview the best (press conference where he announced his retirement). Mariano was always my favorite Yankee growing up so I was the most excited to interview him. Even thought it was a press conference with a lot of reporters we all ask the same stuff. However, my dream interview would be with Paul O'Neil or Bernie Williams. They define what scrappy baseball is. They played with so much intensity. And I've always wanted to know what made that 1998 team so special. Was it a collection of talented veterans and young rookies? What happened in that clubhouse? And I'd want to hear why O'Neil beat up so many coolers and how many bats he'd go through a season.



It would have been a dream of mine to be at Mariano Rivera's press conference!  Although Galed had said that Mariano Rivera was his favorite player, I must say that mine would be Derek Jeter.  They are both two of the classiest people that have played the game.  The fact that Mr. Galed was able to interview future Hall-of-Fame players is something I hope to accomplish in my career. 
 

Wikipedia Post: Part II.

  They changed my comment I made to the Yankee Stadium Wikipedia page! Although I'm not quite surprised they changed my comments because some take these Wikipedia pages seriously, I still thought I had a valid point.  I have had many professors tell their students that Wikipedia is not a valid source for information because anyone can edit the page; It seems as though if you write something silly, they will correct your remark, but anyone can a comment on the page.  


  Here's what I wrote in my previous blog post concerning the Yankee Stadium Wikipedia page: The Yankee Stadium Tell-All.   

  As of now, the Yankee Stadium Wikipedia page says: "The stadium has also been criticized for its lack of fan noise. During a Sunday Night Baseball telecast in 2012, commentator and former Red Sox manager Terry Francona spoke about the different atmospheres in the old and new stadiums saying that "As a visiting team, especially for the Red Sox, by the time the (national) anthem was over, you couldn’t wait to get back in the dugout. Now (there is) a little different (kind) of fan sitting around down there by the dugout." Games at the new stadium do not feature the same deafening crowd moments and often sound eerily silent.^[72] 

 I thought it would be amusing to write the same comments in again that I had previous to it being deleted.  Yankee Stadium has always been a tough stadium to play in due to the amount of pressure the fans put on the players. The noise, especially during playoff season, is something to experience. The whole stadium is lit up; the fans are running around the streets chanting for the Yankees. Even some Yankee players, such as A.J. Burnett had a tough time playing in New York due to the amount of pressure. Baseball players from other teams look forward to playing here because of the experience. It is like no other stadium.

I decided to check back ten minutes later, and found a new message from a subscriber on WIkipedia, saying it is in no way meant for advertising or using a soapbox. I need to look at the Wikipedia policy page. Ha! It was worth a try to put my comment on the page.   

How To Steal A Base

  Stealing a base is a technique every baseball player has to learn, but not many can master.  Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner is one of the best at this craft.  He has 138 stolen bases since his major league debut five years ago.  Although Gardner is one of the fastest in the major leagues; stealing  a base is not all about speed.  Some of the all-time best base runners were not the fastest in the game, instead they focused on reading the pitcher, timing, and skill. 

 This is a short tutorial on how to steal a base.

                                                    How to Steal A Base




  1) Read the sign:  Once you have successfully reached first base, the key is to be aware of your coaches and the pitcher's actions. In the MLB, there is a first and third base coach.  As a player, you should be listening to what the first base coach is saying to you while you're on the base.  In the meantime, the third base coach will be throwing out various signs to pay attention to.  The pitcher usually has an idea if a batter is getting ready to steal to second base.  He will throw back to the first baseman a few times to keep you close to the base.  You need to pay attemtion to an tip offs, such as the wind-up the pitcher takes before he throws.  Pitcher Andy Pettitte is known for throwing batters out at first because of his little movement and quick reaction.

  2) Get a good lead:  Getting a good lead is extremely important when stealing a base.  Faster runners can take a bigger lead off of first because they can get back to the base quicker if the pitcher throws to the first baseman.  Digging your cleat into the ground ensures that you do not slip as you start to run to second.

  3) Bluff the pitcher:  Although players on the field must be on alert when there is a base runner, some teams are simply not paying attention.  Many times if there is only one base runner on and it is not a pressure situation, the pitcher won't pay attention to the player on base.  A good base runner will bluff once or twice by taking a big lead and pretending that he is taking the jump to second.  The catcher will then throw the ball to the second baseman, if he knows he has a chance of getting the player out. 

  4) Time the pitcher's movement:  When in the batter's box, watch the pitcher's movement and timing.  It'll help you when you are on first base and getting ready to steal.

  5) Learn how to use the bag:  When you are sliding into the base, make sure that the fielder has as little room as possible to tag the base.  This means sliding into the base feet first.  If they are fielding the ball in front of the base, slide towards the back of the base and vice versa.

Just remember, stealing base is not all about speed.  Consistency, time, and skill are all qualities that good base-runners have.  If you follow these tips and watch the videos, you are on your way to become a great base stealer!

Oh, Sweet Caroline!

 Who said the Red Sox and Yankees can't get along?  Following Monday's bombings at the finish line during the Boston Marathon, the Yankees dedicated the end of the third inning to playing the song "Sweet Caroline," a tradition at Fenway Park.  

  Before the start of the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Yankee Stadium, there was a moment of silence held for all of the victims, as well as for the city of Boston.  Former Red Sox Kevin Youkilis discussed the tragic event to reporters on Tuesday. Needless to say, this story hits very close to home because he's had family members running in the marathon while he waited at the finish line for them.  "We were pretty much sick to our stomach," Youkilis said. "For my family and I, it was supposed to be a good off day with the kids, but it turned into a lot of phone calls and worry."

  The finish line of a race is a moment to rejoice and celebrate what you accomplished.  Although I have never ran a marathon before, I attended a half marathon in New York City a few months back.  There are hundreds of people walking and standing around, cheering on the runners as they approached the finish line.  Families are waiting to congratulate loved ones; while dedicated marathon runners are running to finish off an amazing feat.  Once you see that finish line it's like nothing else matters at the moment except the experience of what you have just completed.

 As a runner, myself, I was thinking of signing up for a 10k race in New York City in June.  It's as if we now have to take extra precautions even when we are so focused on this long, tough run ahead of us. 

What happened in Boston on Monday was a tragic event, to say the least. Some of the people who were running in the marathon were doing it in rememberance of the Sandy Hook victims.  The Yankees organization said it best: "We stand united with the participants, volunteers, staff and spectators of the Boston Marathon and the people of Boston."

Rivera and Pettitte: History in the Making

Savor the moments in history, Yankee fans.  Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera pitching in the same regular-season game since July 8, 2010.  You won't be seeing these two pitching together much longer, since Rivera announced his retirement after the 2013 season.  Pettitte's decision on retirement is still up in the air, but chanyear playing professional baseball, as well.


While starting pitcher Pettitte recorded his first win of the season against Boston; Rivera struck out a batter to earn his first save of the season.  Both pitchers suffered season-ending injuries last year, which is the main reason why Rivera chose to come back for the 2013 season.  After injuring his ACL while catching fly balls in the outfield during a pre-game, Rivera feels like has unfinished business to take care of, a.k.a. the World Series Championships.  As Pettitte stated, "It'll be special for me watching him this year and know that after this he won't be closing any games for us. I'll savor it as much as I can. But we have a lot of work to do, a task at hand that we have to focus on, also." (yankees.com) 

Apart from when Pettitte was traded to the Houston Astros for three seasons, the duo have been a constant force in the Yankees winning legacy.  Back in 1997 Rivera made his debut as a closer for the Yankees after struggling to find a place as a pitcher.  Fast forward to 2013 where Rivera has saved 69 of Pettitte's 246 wins.  Rivera has recorded at least one save in eighteen seasons,  another Major League record bringing his total to 609 wins all-time.

Here's are a few more accomplishments the duo have succeeded in together: 

1.  Five World Series Wins
2. Seven American League pennants
3. Pettitte has 19 wins in the post-season. (All-time Major League record)
4. Rivera has 42 saves in the post-season. (All-time Major League record)

It has been debated whether Pettitte belongs in the Hall of Fame. There is no doubt that Rivera belongs there, though.

Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the New York Yankees

Although I have never officially researched it, I often wondered how the Yankees got their team name.  That is until I came upon an article today on the Yankees website about how the team just celebrated their 100th year anniversary. Before I discuss how successful the Yankees have been since the name change on April 10, 1913; it is only necessary to take a big step back in history to when the team first was accepted into the American League. 

•  Originally a Baltimore franchise, owners Frank Farrell and Bill Devery purchased the team for $18,000 and relocated to New York City.
• The team, named the New York Highlanders, were accepted into the American League as of March 12, 1903. 
• The Highlanders home turf was located between 168th and Broadway at the Hilltop Park.
• In April of 1913, the team changed their name to the Yankees, after moving to the Polo Grounds to share the space with the New York Giants. 
• This change came after almost ten years of the local newspapers using the name the "Yankees"instead of the Highlanders, in order to save space in their headline.
• The team's first game as the official Yankees ended up in a loss to the Senators. 
• The Yankees first win was against Boston. 

                                                       

  
It is safe to say that no other professional sports team in history has accomplished as much as the Yankees have.  With 27 World Series Championships and 40 American League Pennant wins, the Yankees have conquered it all, yet still continue to make history almost every year. 

Cheers to another 100 years, Yankees!

(Little history for all of you Yankee fans. Enjoy!)
Timeline of the Bronx Bombers

Opening Day: Yankee Stadium 1923

The story of opening day at Yankee Stadium all started on February 6, 1921 when news circulated that the Yankees purchased ten acres of land in the Bronx, just across from the Harlem River, from William Waldorf Astor.  The purchase price of the land was $675,000. That land was where history was going to be made. What a bargain, right?  Previously, the Yankees shared the Polo Grounds with the National League Giants.  Once attendance started to soar for the Yankees due to stand-out performances from the players, the Giants basically told the Yankees to pack up and vacate the premises.  Once co-owners of the Yankees Jacob Ruppert and Tillinghast l'Hommedieu Huston purchased the property, the plans were in place to build a three-story structure that be the first to ever be called a  'stadium.' 

 

Construction on Yankee Stadium amounted to $2.5 million and amazingly only took 284 days to build.  The American Flag and Yankees pennant were hoisted by center field by the Seventh Regiment Band, John Phillip Sousa, and both the Yankees and Red Sox.

 

On April 18, 1923 with a crowd of just over 74,000 fans, Yankee Stadium opened its doors to the world to watch the Yankees take on the Boston Red Sox.  As history was made, fans crowded themselves outside the gates of the stadium.  Babe Ruth, one of the greatest players in the history of the game, scored a three-run home run to lead the Yankees to their first win at Yankee Stadium.  What a way to finish off a historical day in the Bronx!

 

 

      Other Yankee Stadium facts:

• Yankee Stadium became "The Home of Champions" due to the amount of World Series they won.
• The Yankees won their first World Series against the Giants (remember the Giants kicked them out of the Polo Grounds?)
• The stadium was expanded in 1928.
•  It completed a $1.5 million renovation in 1966 to 1967.
• The Yankees moved to Shea Stadium for three season after a 1973 decision to renovate the ballpark once again.
• On September 21, 2008 the Yankees finished off an incredible end to what was the original Yankee Stadium, before it was to be torn down.
• Catcher Jose Molina scored the last home run; Andy Pettitte was the winning pitcher, while Mariano Rivera threw the last pitch to close the game.
• The all-time Yankee attendance was recorded at 151,959,005.
 

 

 

Lou Gehrig: An Inspiration to Many

     On June 19, 1903 a Yankee legend by the name of Henry Louis Gehrig was born.  Although stricken by poverty and his dad's battle with alcoholism, Gehrig's parents fought to give their son the education he deserved.  His athletic prowess was noted at an early age by his parents.  Gehrig was a gifted athlete in both football and baseball.  His parents devotion to his school work and his athletics enabled Gehrig to enroll at Columbia University, playing both baseball and football.  "Columbia Lou" quickly became a fan favorite. 

 

  Lou Gehrig Speech

   Shortly after he started college, the Yankees began to notice Gehrig's talents as a baseball player .  In April 1923, the Yankees signed Gehrig, who was just nineteen years old at the time, to a major league contract. Upon signing this contract he would earn $1,500, which helped his struggling parents in more ways than they could have ever imagined. 

 

 

   Sent in to replace the first baseman, June 15,1923 was Gehrig's introduction as a professional athlete for the New York Yankees.  He went on to play 2,130 games consecutively, which broke a Major League record.  (Gehrig's record was eventually surpassed by Cal Ripken Jr.) That is no ordinary feat,however.  At that time, Gehrig did not just hold the record for consecutive games played in the MLB; throughout his career, he scored 100 runs each, thirteen seasons in a row.  Through his leadership, the Yankees won six World Series Championships. Meanwhile Gehrig would earn the Triple Crown, break another Major League record, and became the first player to ever hit four home runs in one game in 1931. 

 

     Due to his diligent work ethic and the ability to play through any road block, Yankee fans nicknamed Gehrig "The Iron Horse." Also unlike many players in the major leagues todaywho are outspoken and very confident, Gehrig was much more reserved.  He kept to himself more so than his other teammates.  This did not fare well with some of them, especially Babe Ruth. 

 

    However, no one knew that Gehrig's last record-breaking season would occur in 1937.  Just one year later in 1938, he started to have difficulty completing the most basic tasks such as tying his shoes.  Although he still played through all of the pain, Gehrig had a below-average season. When the following season approached, Gehrig realized that he could no longer play baseball.  After visiting many doctors, he was diagnosed with ALS (now known as Lou Gehrig's disease).  On April 30, at the age of 35, Gehrig played in what would be his last game. 

 

    July 4, 1939 was the day that Gehrig would make his famous, inspirational speech in front of thousands of fans at Yankee Stadium.  Wearing his old uniform, Gehrig couldn't help but fight back tears while addressing his teammates, managers, and everyone who supported his amazing career. 

 

   Many did not know that originally Gehrig did not want to give the speech, but with no script and no teleprompter here is Lou Gehrig's tearful, yet thankful goodbye speech:

 

  Gehrig passed away on July 2nd, 1941 at the age of 37.

 

 

 

 This is an example of how one man can go from living in poverty to becoming a  Hall of Famer, while becoming an inspiration to millions of people. 

 

 

 

The New York Yankees: Serving One Community to Another

Similar to a large, well-known corporation, community service is a substantial part in a professional sports teams day-to-day events.  The Yankees, being one of the most well-known sports teams have done countless selfless acts for the community.  Between Hope Week, Thanksgiving Food Drives, donating money to relief efforts; it is easy to say the Yankees have accomplished it all.  The team is constantly raising awareness for people in need of assistance, including establishing a partnership with the New York Blood Center.  They have also recently donated $500,000 to relief efforts in the  wake of the devastating tornadoes that have occurred in the southern part of the country. 


One of the most popular community programs that the Yankees do every year is Hope Week.  Dating back to 2009, Hope Week is done to inspire people to commit acts of kindness to help others in need. "At its core, HOPE Week is about people helping people. The one thing everybody has - no matter where they come from, what their financial situation is or what kind of skills they possess - is time."  For everyday during that week, the Yankees shine the light on a specific person, group, or organization that they find inspirational in more ways than one.  For one day, the deserving honorees have a media circuit that are allowed to film with them for the entire day.  Players and coaches bring on little surprises to each individual; even joining them during batting practice and on the field before and after the game.  Hope Week is truly an inspiration to others.  To see these deserving peoples' faces just light up when see the players who are like celebrities to them, is simply touching. 

 
Opening Day against the Red Sox on April 1st will be dedicated to the residents of Newtown, Connecticut in the face of the Sandy Hook elementary school tragedy.  Before the game, police officers and others who came to the aid of the victims will be honored by the organization.  Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig has also asked all major league teams to wear the ribbons during Opening Day.  The ribbons will also be painted onto the field for the crowds to see to remember the horrific events that occurred only a few months ago in the small, close-knit community of Newtown. Additionally, the Yankees will have "Newtown Day at Yankee Stadium" on July 7th for the approximately 3,000 school children and their families to attend. 



Now I know there are many other charitable functions that the Yankees have been a part of, including what the players have done individually, but I wanted to just touch upon a few of them in this blog post.  Just remember: "The one thing everybody has - no matter where they come from, what their financial situation is or what kind of skills they possess - is time."  One never knows how just one small act of kindness can greatly affect others. 
                              

Yankee Legend, Mariano Rivera, Announces His Retirement

 On Saturday, March 9th at the George M. Steinbrenner field where the Yankees are in the midst of spring training,  closing pitcher Mariano Rivera officially announced his retirement, concluding the 2013 season.  With his teammates by his side, Rivera discussed how honored he was to wear the pinstripes all throughout his career.  Day of sadness? Maybe for his many fans who will miss him running up to the mound during the ninth inning to save the game; but for Mariano there is no sadness, just blessings. This brings an end to Rivera's amazing career, including seventeen seasons with the New York Yankees. 

  Pitcher Andy Pettitte recalls the days back in 1996 when Mariano Rivera was first starting in the major leagues.  He had no remarkable pitches and his fastball didn't have much to it.  "It was like, `Man, he'd better come up with a little bit more stuff to be able to start in this league,'" Pettitte said.  The following year, Rivera was sent to the bullpen a year later and he has never looked back. 

  Who is going to replace the hopeful-future-Hall of Famer? Well, the question is simple.  No one.  The thing about Mariano Rivera is that he is not just one of the best closers of all time; nor is he just a great teammate. Rivera's integrity, sportsmanship, classiness, and dignity encompass it all.  He is a role model to the young rookies just starting out in the MLB, and an inspiration to young little-leaguers who only dream of making it to the MLB. Yet, Rivera has never been named the AL (American League) MVP, nor has he ever won a Cy Young award.

  His statistics speak for itself.  Rivera is a  seven-time pennant winner, five-time World Series Champion, and a 12-time All Star. In his seventeen years in the major leagues he has 608 saves, with an earned run average under 2.30.  In his playoff appearances over sixteen years, Rivera has a .070 ERA and 42 out of 96 saves.  As Yankees GM Brian Cashman stated twice, ""You'll never see that again, you'll never see that again." 

   We can only hope that Rivera gets what he deserves in his last year with the Yankees.  He deserves to throw the last pitch in the ninth inning and save the game to win the 2013 World Series with the New York Yankees.