Old Timers' Game capped by Dent’s single, Reggie’s jaunt

[GaryMrMets]

http://www.yesnetwork.com/team/index.cfm?cont_id=193990&page_type=wide

Old Timers' Game capped by Dent’s single, Reggie’s jaunt

By Chris Corbellini
YES Network Online
July 19, 2003

NEW YORK -- Pitcher Mike Torrez has little luck facing Bucky Dent. Not in 1978 at Fenway Park. Not even in an Old Timers’ Game 25 years later at Yankee Stadium.

Dent’s three-run homer in the seventh inning against Torrez over the Green Monster vaulted the Yankees to a 5-4 victory during a memorable one-game playoff for the pennant in 1978. On Saturday Dent did it again, lining a two-run single down the third base line in the second inning off Torrez to take a 2-1 lead in the Bombers’ eventual 4-1 win over the Pinstripers in another amusing, leisurely played Old Timers’ Day Game.

Grinning widely as the Pinstripers held a 1-0 lead, Torrez looked for some mock-retribution against Dent, the manager of the Yankees Triple-A Columbus club and first-time participant in the event, by throwing the first pitch over and behind his head. Dent drilled the go-ahead single on the following offering.

The pace of the game was unhurried on a joyous, sun-drenched field, but Reggie Jackson couldn’t let the opportunity to claim the spotlight from these Yankees legends slip away. Jackson provided the theatrics in what was essentially a father-son style exhibition during the third inning with an inside-the-park home run to left center, sliding into home plate for good measure.

“Yogi to me is synonymous with it, and Whitey Ford, those are the guys,” said Yankees manager Joe Torre of his Old Timers’ memories. “Of course, Reggie knows that the game is for him. And I say that lovingly. You look at that black in centerfield, and Reggie has to come to mind.”

However, the sellout crowd saved the loudest cheers for perennial Gold Glove first baseman Don Mattingly and Hall of Fame shortstop Phil Rizzuto at the end of the introduction of all 52 former Yankees by current play-by-play men Michael Kay and John Sterling. The festivities began at 2 p.m. before Game 3 of the Indians-Yankees series.

“It’s a lot of fun seeing these guys coming out, guys you haven’t seen in awhile,” said Mattingly. “Now you see some of the younger old timers coming out, Pags [Mike Pagliarulo], some of the other guys, Jimmy Abbott. Those guys are a lot of fun.”

Not all first-time attendees understood all of the responsibilities that come with being an Old Time Yankee. Abbott, who hurled a no-hitter 10 years ago against the Indians at the Stadium, was one of eight first-timers present and admitted he didn’t know there was a game scheduled during the festivities. With no prep time, Cliff Johnson doubled off Abbott in the first inning, who picked up the save.

Of the veteran Old Timers, four are also Hall of Famers: Jackson, Rizzuto, Yogi Berra and Dave Winfield. Waxing nostalgic, Winfield said he most enjoyed the Stadium in a game’s waning moments while an eight-time All-Star in New York.

”To me, it was the ninth innings,” said Winfield, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2001. “Whether we were winning or losing, because everyone was on their feet and they were into every pitch. We won so many games then, it was a lot of fun.”

For Mattingly, he recalled one series in particular as a favorite, his lone playoff appearance in the American League Division Series in 1995 against Seattle, where he hit .417 with a home run and six RBI.

”The greatest moment was warming up for the first playoff game in 1995,” said Mattingly. “I felt like I was floating on air.”

Mattingly said he’d consider returning to the Yankees organization beyond his few at-bats at Old Timers Day and occasional visits to Legends Field during spring training, but only after his children are older.

The crowd then let out another yelp of approval in what was a fitting afternoon homage to Yankee past.

Chris Corbellini is a writer/editor for YES Network Online. He can be reached at ccorbellini@yesnetwork.com.

http://www.yesnetwork.com/photos/mattingly_inline_0719be.jpg
Don Mattingly (left) gets a hug from Reggie Jackson after getting an ovation from the Yankee Stadium crowd.

[PopTop]

I went to one at The Stadium in July 1988 ... Mantle didn't show, and that kinda' ticked me off ... But Joe D was there, along with tons of other Pinstripers ... Horace Clarke jerked one down the LF line and out for a homer :eek:




by Mark Feinsand @ MLB.com (http://houston.astros.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/news/mlb_news.jsp?ymd=20030719&content_id=434651&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb)

'Old Timers' have Bronx fun

NEW YORK -- Bucky Dent stepped to the plate in the second inning of Saturday's Old Timers' Game at Yankee Stadium, and a familiar face stared back at him from the pitchers mound. It was Mike Torrez, the former Yankees hurler who, as a member of the Boston Red Sox, served up the home run that changed Dent's life 25 years ago.

That home run, which gave the Yankees a one-game playoff win for the 1978 American League East title, must have been fresh in Torrez's mind, as the right-hander fired the first pitch over Dent's head. One pitch later, Dent lined a single down the left-field line, scoring two runs and bringing the crowd to its feet.

That was just one of many memorable moments from the 57th annual Old Timers' Day, which brought together more than 50 former Yankees players at the House That Ruth Built.

"It's fun to come back and goof around," said Don Mattingly, who received the loudest ovation of any player during the pregame introductions. "Except now, when we're done, we're sore and stiff."

The "Bombers" team defeated the "Pinstripers" squad by a 4-1 final, as Dent's two-run single proved to be the game-winner. Reggie Jackson added an "inside-the-park-home run" in the third, though in reality it was a triple with an error.

Among the former Yankees on hand were Hall-of-Famers Jackson, Dave Winfield, Yogi Berra, Phil Rizzutto and Whitey Ford, as well as Don Larsen, who threw the only perfect game in World Series history. Some recent Yankee heroes took part in the festivities as well, including Wade Boggs, Luis Sojo and Jim Leyritz, all of whom played for current manager Joe Torre on at least one championship team of the 1990s.

"We're still a family here," Leyritz said. "This is pretty cool. When I hit that home run in the 1996 World Series, [Yankees media relations director] Rick Cerrone told me that I'd always be a part of Old Timers' Day. Not having been an everyday player or a marquee guy, to be included in this is a great honor."

"There's a lot of tradition and history here," Winfield said. "The fans always helped boost my game to its top level, because they were always into the game from the first out to the last."

Next to Mattingly, the biggest ovation of the day went to Jim Abbott, who played with the Yankees in 1993 and 1994. Abbott, who was born without a right hand, will always be remembered for his no-hitter against the Cleveland Indians in September 1993.

"One of the beautiful things about baseball is the history. I feel honored that they would invite me to participate in this day," Abbott said. "I was really excited about it. I got a 'save the date' card, and I wasn't sure if they meant to send it to me or not."

Abbott remembered the Old Timers' Days when he was playing for New York, saying he was in awe of some of the former players walking around the home clubhouse.

"I remember seeing Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle, which was amazing," Abbott said. "There's no pressure here, we can just go out and have fun. I was always a little intimidated by Old Timers' Day as a player."

Abbott got the save in the Old Timers' Game, pitching a scoreless third inning.

"It's a great chance to see some old friends that you played with, and you also get to see some guys who you have always heard so much about," Abbott said. "So many of the stories are the same, only some are from 1964 and others are from 1994. It feels great to be here. I admire the Yankees for their loyalty and their commitment to tradition.

"It's hard to believe I have the pinstripes on again," Abbott said. "Putting the uniform on, that's one of the things I miss the most."

[Snoopy]

Always a fun event to watch :D