GaryMrMets
07-19-2003, 11:40 PM
http://www.yesnetwork.com/team/index.cfm?cont_id=193995&page_type=wide
Old Timers’ Day Quotebook
YES Network Online
July 19, 2003
NEW YORK -- The 57th annual Old Timers’ Day featured some new faces, some old faces and a boatload of legends. The day featured a number of light moments, some of which are highlighted below.
“I never threw at hitters -- not even (Hank) Bauer.”
- Ryne Duren
“My superstition days are over. Life’s great, I don’t have to worry about what time I wake up or do any of those things I used to do when I was playing.”
- Wade Boggs, who was notorious for his eccentric routines.
“It’s a great fraternity; a special group. Less than one percent of players get there. It’s like going through all those years of school, you get your PhD and they call you ‘Doctor.’ I have my PhD in baseball.”
- Dave Winfield, on being inducted into the Hall of Fame.
“I can’t believe it didn’t happen before last year. I was there nine times, and I can remember the ninth inning coming around and the only people in the bullpen were me, the catcher and a coach. I’d be sitting there thinking, ‘Jeez, I hope this doesn’t go to extra innings, because I’m it.”
- Goose Gossage, on the 2002 All-Star tie.
“As a young player, you don’t realize it, but once you leave and you are not playing anymore, you realize how special it was to be playing here. Just the faces that you see, to me it was Yogi and Mickey and Whitey, the guys you see in spring training. All the guys I played with, Willie Randolph, Ron Guidry. The quality of the people you deal with is amazing. It’s been like that over time. It’s just a great franchise.”
- Don Mattingly, on being a member of the Yankees.
“My first Old Timers’ Day as a player was 1977. It was unbelievable, because you had Maris, Mantle, DiMaggio, you had a lot of the great players. I was in awe. Being in the clubhouse with those guys who I admired as a kid -- Mantle, Berra, Bill Dickey -- they were all here that year. What a neat year.”
- Bucky Dent
“I’m going to try to be the first guy to play in an Old Timers’ Day and play in the big leagues in the same year. We’ll see.”
- Jim Leyritz, on potentially making a comeback this season.
Before the Old Timers’ Game: “I feel fine. I’m not exerting myself at all.”
- Jim Kaat
After the Old Timers’ Game: “My arm’s hangin’. I need Advil.”
- Jim Abbott
Compiled by Chris Corbellini, Steven Goldman and Will Weiss.
http://www.yesnetwork.com/photos/winfield_inline_0719be.jpg
The honor of Old Timers’ Day at the Stadium wasn’t lost on Hall-of-Famer Dave Winfield.
Old Timers’ Day Quotebook
YES Network Online
July 19, 2003
NEW YORK -- The 57th annual Old Timers’ Day featured some new faces, some old faces and a boatload of legends. The day featured a number of light moments, some of which are highlighted below.
“I never threw at hitters -- not even (Hank) Bauer.”
- Ryne Duren
“My superstition days are over. Life’s great, I don’t have to worry about what time I wake up or do any of those things I used to do when I was playing.”
- Wade Boggs, who was notorious for his eccentric routines.
“It’s a great fraternity; a special group. Less than one percent of players get there. It’s like going through all those years of school, you get your PhD and they call you ‘Doctor.’ I have my PhD in baseball.”
- Dave Winfield, on being inducted into the Hall of Fame.
“I can’t believe it didn’t happen before last year. I was there nine times, and I can remember the ninth inning coming around and the only people in the bullpen were me, the catcher and a coach. I’d be sitting there thinking, ‘Jeez, I hope this doesn’t go to extra innings, because I’m it.”
- Goose Gossage, on the 2002 All-Star tie.
“As a young player, you don’t realize it, but once you leave and you are not playing anymore, you realize how special it was to be playing here. Just the faces that you see, to me it was Yogi and Mickey and Whitey, the guys you see in spring training. All the guys I played with, Willie Randolph, Ron Guidry. The quality of the people you deal with is amazing. It’s been like that over time. It’s just a great franchise.”
- Don Mattingly, on being a member of the Yankees.
“My first Old Timers’ Day as a player was 1977. It was unbelievable, because you had Maris, Mantle, DiMaggio, you had a lot of the great players. I was in awe. Being in the clubhouse with those guys who I admired as a kid -- Mantle, Berra, Bill Dickey -- they were all here that year. What a neat year.”
- Bucky Dent
“I’m going to try to be the first guy to play in an Old Timers’ Day and play in the big leagues in the same year. We’ll see.”
- Jim Leyritz, on potentially making a comeback this season.
Before the Old Timers’ Game: “I feel fine. I’m not exerting myself at all.”
- Jim Kaat
After the Old Timers’ Game: “My arm’s hangin’. I need Advil.”
- Jim Abbott
Compiled by Chris Corbellini, Steven Goldman and Will Weiss.
http://www.yesnetwork.com/photos/winfield_inline_0719be.jpg
The honor of Old Timers’ Day at the Stadium wasn’t lost on Hall-of-Famer Dave Winfield.