Remembering Thurman

(I'm reposting this and added a few new videos to the tribute.)

It was 33 years ago today, that Yankee Captain, Thurman Munson, died tragically in a plane crash. It was one of, if not the saddest day in Yankees history.

Here's a video about the man and his tragic death from ESPN:
Also, here is a three-part video of "Captain: The Thurman Munson Story" To you fans out there that were lucky enough to see him play, what is your fondest memory of Thurman?

2012 Old-Timers' Day Roster Announced

Here is this year's Old-Timers' Day roster that the Yanks released today:

(*Denotes First-Time Old-Timer)

Luis Arroyo
Jesse Barfield
Yogi Berra
Ron Blomberg
Dr. Bobby Brown
Homer Bush
Jerry Coleman
David Cone
Bucky Dent
Al Downing
Brian Doyle
Cecil Fielder
Whitey Ford
Oscar Gamble
Jake Gibbs
Joe Girardi
Rich “Goose” Gossage
Ron Guidry
Charlie Hayes
Rickey Henderson
Sterling Hitchcock*
Arlene Howard
Helen Hunter
Reggie Jackson
Tommy John
Pat Kelly
Don Larsen
Graeme Lloyd
Hector Lopez
Jill Martin
Tino Martinez
Lee Mazzilli
Stump Merrill*
Gene Monahan*
Diana Munson
Kay Murcer
Matt Nokes*
Paul O’Neill
Joe Pepitone
Lou Piniella
Willie Randolph
Bobby Richardson
Mickey Rivers
Aaron Small
Mel Stottlemyre
Darryl Strawberry
Tanyon Sturtze*
Ralph Terry
Joe Torre
Bob Turley
Roy White
Bernie Williams

The 66th Old-Timers' Day will be on Sunday, July 1, at Yankee Stadium when the Yankees host the White Sox. Ceremonies are scheduled to start at 11:15 a.m.

This Week In Yankees History (6/24-6/30)

This Week in Yankees History 

June 24th - June 30th

June 24th

1907 - Former Yankees C Rollie Hemsley (1942-1944) was born (1907-1942). On July 19, 1942, veteran MLB Catcher Rollie Hemsley was signed as a MLB free agent with the New York Yankees. He appeared in 174 games for the Yankees, hitting .262. In 1944, he was named to the AL All Star team. In 1944, he went into the military service. On March 25, 1946, he was purchased by the Philadelphia Phillies from the New York Yankees.

1908 - Charging the New York Highlander owners with refusing to spend money to build a winning team, Manager Clark Griffith resigns; Shortstop Kid Elberfeld replaces him following today's 6-6 tie game with the Philadelphia A's. The Highlanders fade fast and finished last in the American League with a club record of 103 losses.

1930 - The New York Yankees sweep their 2nd consecutive doubleheader from the Philadelphia A’s by scores of 10-6 and 11-1, as Yankees slugger Babe Ruth hits 2 more HRs and sets an MLB record with 8 HRs in 6 games.

1933 - New York Yankees signed veteran hurler George Uhle (1933-1934) after his release by the Giants. George would go 8-5 in 22 games with Yankees.

1934 - After being hitless in his last 21 at bats, New York slugger Babe Ruth hits a grand slam HR in a 5-0 Yankee win over the Chicago White Sox.

1936 - New York Rookie CF Joe DiMaggio ties 3 MLB records in the Yankees 10-run, 5th inning against the Chicago White Sox, hitting 2 HRs for 8 total bases. With 2 doubles, he equals the modern MLB record of 4 long hits in a game.

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This Week In Yankees History (6/17-6/23)

This Week in Yankees History

June 17th - June 23rd

June 17th

1903 - Former Yankees P Benjamin “Big Ben” Shields (1924-1925) was born (1903-1982). Ben Shields went 3-0 in 6 games for the Yankees.

1917 - The Giants and Yankees played the 1st Sunday game in New York City for a war charity in front of 21,000 spectators at the Polo Grounds.

1918 - The New York Yankees play an 8-inning 5-5 tie with the Detroit Tigers, called because the team had to catch a train to Cleveland.

1936 - Red Ruffing of the New York Yankees set an AL record for pitchers by recording up to 10 total bases. Ruffing hit 2 HRs as part of a 4-hit day (2-singles), helping the Yankees to a 15-4 crushing of the Cleveland Indians.

1941 - Joe DiMaggio of the New York Yankees was credited with a hit in his 30th consecutive game when an easy grounder to shortstop bounced up and hit Luke Appling on the shoulder. The Chicago White Sox beat the Yankees by the score of 8-7.

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This Week in Yankees History (6/3-6/9)

This Week in Yankees History

June 3rd - June 9th

June 3rd

1929 - The New York Yankees released veteran 1B George “Tioga” Burns (1928-1929). George Burns played briefly with the New York Yankees in 1928, before finishing his long MLB career with the Philadelphia A’s in 1929. In 1915 with the Detroit Tigers, he beat out fellow rookie Wally Pipp for the Tigers 1st base job, Pipp was sent to the Yankees in a trade.

1932 - New York Yankees 1B Lou Gehrig hit 4 consecutive HRs in a game, he narrowly missed a 5th HR, stopped by a great catch by an A’s outfielder. His Yankees teammate Tony Lazzeri hits for the cycle as the Yankees beat the Philadelphia A’s by a score of 20-13. The Yankees set a MLB record for total bases with 50; both teams set a still-standing record for extra bases with 41.

1933 - After giving up 11 runs to the Philadelphia A’s in the 2nd inning, the New York Yankees rebound in the 5th inning with 10 runs, as they out slug the A’s by the score of 17-11. In the 8th inning, Babe Ruth will cap off the Yankees comeback with a 3-run HR.

1941 - At Cleveland Stadium, Yankees starter Red Ruffing shuts out the Indians 2-0. Ruffing allows 8 Tribe hits in the complete game victory. He is now 5-3 for the 1941 AL season. Al Milnar takes the loss for Cleveland. Buddy Rosar and Frank Crosetti lead the Yankees hitting attack, driving in 1 run apiece.

1950 - The New York Yankees sweep the Chicago White Sox by scores of 3-1 and 6-3 in a doubleheader at Yankee Stadium. In the 1st game, Yankees starter Tommy Byrne picks up his 6th victory of the 1950 AL season, holding the White Sox to 1 run with 9 hits, 3 walks and 5 strikeouts.

Phil Rizzuto and Hank Bauer each going 3 for 4 at the plate, lead the Bronx Bombers hitting attack. The Scooter drives in 2 Yankee runs, while Hank Bauer gets 1 RBI. In the 2nd game, Fred Sanford picks up his 3rd victory for the Yankees with relief help from Yankees Closer Joe Page, who picks up his 9 save of the season. Bill Wight takes the lost for the White Sox. Joe DiMaggio goes 2 for 3 with 4 RBIs including a HR in the game

1968 - The New York Yankees turn their 21st triple play in their team’s history, but lose to the Minnesota Twins by the score of 4-3. With the bases loaded and the go-ahead run already across the plate, Yankees P Dooley Womack catches a lined shot by Twins C Johnny Roseboro, who threw to Bobby Cox at 3B and then watched in awe as when Cox’s throw to 1B Mickey Mantle was in time to complete the triple-play.

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This Week in Yankees History (5/20-5/26)

This Week in Yankees History 

May 20th - May 26th

May 20th

1890 - Former Yankees P Jesse ‘”Jim” Buckles (1916) was born (1890-1975). Jim Buckles appeared in 2 games with no record for the 1916 Yankees.


1893 - Former Yankees P Walter Bernhardt (1918) was born (1893-1958). Walt Bernhardt appeared in 1 game with no record for the 1918 Yankees.


1897 - Former Yankees Closer Wilcy “Cy” Moore (1927-1929,1932-1933) was born (1897-1963). Wilcy “Cy” Moore was the relief ace of the 1927 New York Yankees, posting a 19-7 record with 13 saves. His Yankees pitching career totals were 36-20 in 142 games with 27 saves. Wilcy Moore is considered to be the 1st of the great Yankee closers in the team’s history.


1904 - Former Yankees P Peter Appleton (also known as Peter Jablonski) (1933) was born. Peter Appleton appeared in 1 game with 1933 Yankees posting no record. The Yankees sent him back to the Newark Bears (International League) in 1934. Pete originally came up with Cincinnati Reds. Also he played for the Cleveland Indians, Chicago White Sox, Washington Senators, St. Louis Browns and the Boston Red Sox in his 14 MLB season career finishing with a 57-67 record.


1913 - The New York Yankees obtained shortstop Roger Peckinpaugh from the Cleveland Indians for INF Bill Stumpf and OF Jack Lelivelt. Roger would help stabilized the 1913 Yankees infield. He would be with the Yankees for 8 seasons, appearing in 1,219 games, hitting .257 for the team.


1923 - Babe Ruth’s 15th inning 2-run HR gives New York Yankees starter Herb Pennock, a 3-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox. Herb Pennock goes the distance for the Yankees allowing only 4 White Sox hits in 15 innings.

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This Week in Yankees History (2/26-3/3)

This Week in New York Yankees History 

February 26th - March 3rd

February 26th

1896 - Former Yankees P Harry “Rip” Collins (1920-1921) was born (1896-1968). On August 20, 1919, Harry “Rip” Collins was purchased by the New York Yankees from Dallas (Texas League). “Rip” Collins went 25-13 in 64 games for the New York Yankees before being traded to Boston Red Sox. On December 20,1921, Harry was traded by the New York Yankees along with INF Roger Peckinpaugh, P Jack Quinn, P Bill Piercy and $100,000 to the Boston Red Sox for Pitchers Bullet Joe Bush, Sad Sam Jones and INF Everett Scott. Rip would also pitch for the Detroit Tigers and St. Louis Browns.

1933 - Former Yankees reserve 1B/OF/C Johnny Blanchard (1955,1959-1965) was born (1933-2009). Johnny Blanchard was a 3 sport All-City whiz at Central High School in Minneapolis, MN; he not only attracted the attention of MLB scouts as a 3rd baseman but also the Minneapolis Lakers of the NBA who made him an offer. In 1951, Blanchard was signed by New York Yankees scout Joe McDermott for $20,000 as an outfielder. While in the Yankees minor league system, he made the transition to catcher. "I had to work my fanny off," said Blanchard. "I was not talented like Yogi or Elston. I think I got all the mileage I could out of my ability." Blanchard served in the U.S. Military Service during the Korean Conflict in 1953-1954, but when he was released from active duty.

He was back in spring training camp in 1955. After leading the Eastern League with 34 HRs in 1955 playing for the Binghamton Triplets, he received a late season call-up to the Yankees. He returned for good in 1959, he stayed in the Bronx until he was sent to the Kansas City Athletics during the 1965 AL season. The lefty-swinging Yankee loved Fenway Park. Of his 1st 6 hits at Fenway Park, 5 were HRs. On July 21, 1961, the Yankees trailed the Boston Red Sox 9-8 going into the top of the 9th inning when Blanchard, pinch-hitting for Clete Boyer, hit a grand slam HR off Boston right-hander Mike Fornieles giving the Bombers a 12-9 victory. The following day, the Yankees were again down 9-8, when Blanchard, pinch-hitting again for Boyer, homered off Gene Conley to tie the score as the Yankees went on to win. A couple of days later against the Chicago White Sox, he homered in consecutive at-bats against veteran Ray Herbert. His 4 HRs on 4 straight at-bats tied a MLB record. Blanchard hit 4 pinch-hit HRs during the regular season in 1961, plus 1 more during the 1961 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds. During the Yankees' storied 1961 AL season; he stroked 21 HRs in only 243 at-bats and hitting .305. Among the 1961 Yankees, only Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris had more HRs per at bat. He continued his clutch hitting in the 1961 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds with a 2-run pinch HR in game #3; another 2-run HR shot in the 5th and final game of the 1961 World Series, a game that he started.

As a result, Blanchard is arguably one of the best-known 3rd-string catchers in MLB history. Overall, he appeared in the Fall Classic 5 consecutive seasons, from 1960-1964, he batted .345, slugged at .690 with 2 HRs. Following an exhibition game against the New York Mets, he was called into manager Johnny Keane's office and was given the news he had been traded to Kansas City. On May 3,1965, John was traded by the Yankees along with P Rolland Sheldon to the A’s for C Doc Edwards. Johnny took the trade news very hard. He cried uncontrollably in the Yankees clubhouse. His long time Yankee teammate Mickey Mantle sat down next to Blanchard and attempted to cheer him up. "Don't take it so hard, John. Just think, in Kansas City you're going to get a chance to play." "Hell, I can't play Mick, that’s why I'm crying." After appearing in 52 games with the Kansas City A's, he was purchased by the Milwaukee Braves. He played the last 10 games of his MLB career with the Braves at the end of the 1965 NL season. In 1968, he tried to make a comeback with the Atlanta Braves in spring training, but he didn’t make the team. Overall he hit .239 with 67 HRs and 200 RBIs. Blanchard's heavy drinking made it difficult to cope with the real world after his MLB baseball career was over. Aware that he had a problem, Johnny checked himself into the Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis for 34 days for alcohol treatment. He was then dry for over 25 years. On March 25, 2009, Johnny Blanchard passed away from a fatal heart attack.

1935 - The New York Yankees released longtime OF/P Babe Ruth (1920-1934), freeing him to sign a $20,000 contract with the Boston Braves of the National League. In 1934, Babe Ruth had endured one of his worst seasons with the New York Yankees-at least by his lofty standards-with a .288 BA with only 22 HRs and 84 RBIs.

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Retiring Numbers Soon?

The New York Yankees one of the most classiest sports organization in sports history. The reason why we have not seen any one wear 6 since Joe Torre left cause they are going to retire his number. They could have gave out recently retired Jorge Posada number 20. Also Andy Pettitte 46 have not seen that number on any ones back. No matter what your opinion is on each of the players and managers i have listed is they were great baseball players and better Yankees.

This Week in Yankees History (1/22-1/28)

This Week in Yankees History 

January 22nd - January 28th

January 22nd

1881 - Former Yankees C/1B Ira Thomas (1906-1907) was born (1881-1958).On August 20, 1905; Ira Thomas was purchased by the New York Highlanders from Providence (Eastern League). Thomas appeared in 124 games with Yankees, hitting just .195. On December 12,1907, he was purchased by the Detroit Tigers from the New York Highlanders. Later he would have with the Philadelphia A’s.


1913 - The New York Giants give the New York Yankees permission to use the Polo Grounds for the 1913 American League season only, as their lease on the Hilltop Park has expired. The Yankees will remain as tenants at the Polo Grounds through 1922 American League season, then moving to the new Yankee Stadium in the Bronx in April of 1923.


1918 - The New York Yankees traded C Les Nunamaker, 3B Fritz Maisel, INF Joe Gedeon, Pitchers Nick Cullop and Urban Shocker to the St. Louis Browns in exchange for P Eddie Plank and 2B Del Pratt. Eddie Plank, a 300-game winner, retires from MLB, but Dell Pratt gives the Yankees three good years of services at second base. Urban Shocker is the gem, posting four straight seasons of 20 or more wins with the Browns. Fritz Maisel, who the Yankees refused to trade in early 1916 for either Red Sox OF Tris Speaker (and cash) or White Sox OF Shoeless Joe Jackson, will hit just .232 in 90 games and be released by the team.


1927 - The New York Yankees released veteran reserve C Hank Severeid. He had retired from MLB. Hank hit .268 in 41 games for the 1927 Yankees, after being obtained from the Washington Senators.


1929 - The New York Yankees announced that they would be putting numbers on the backs of their team uniforms, becoming the 1st baseball team to start continuous use of the numbers. The first numbers are based on positions in the batting order; thus, Babe Ruth will wear number 3 and Lou Gehrig number 4. In a few weeks, the Cleveland Indians announce that they, too, will put numbers on their player uniforms. By 1931, all American League teams will use them. It will be 1933 before all National League players are numbered.

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Jorge Says Goodbye

Here's some videos of today's tearful press conference:


Jorge officially announces his retirement


Jorge answers questions from the media


The fans thank Jorge

More videos can be found here.

We have all been privileged to watch you play and fight for this team for the last 17 years. You did it the right way and most importantly, you were a winner. Thanks you, Jorge!

This Week in Yankees History (1/15-1/21)

This Week in Yankees History 

January 15th - January 21st

January 15th

1890 - Former Yankees MLB Scout and Minor league Manager Johnny Nee was born (1890-1957). Johnny Nee was a major league baseball scout and a minor league player-manager. Nee, a young minor league infielder of 22 was chosen to skipper the Terre Haute team in 1912 as a player-manager. He served as a player-manager at many of his minor league stops including his last post as the leader of the Virginia League Kinston Eagles (1925-1926). During that final managerial season, one of his young charges was future Hall of Famer Rick Ferrell. Starting in 1927, Johnny Nee began a long career as a MLB scout for the New York Yankees. He was credited with discovering many future MLB players including Bill Dickey, Gene Bearden, Marv Breuer, Ben Chapman, Atley Donald, Tommy Henrich, Chink Outen, Billy Werber, Johnny Allen , Dixie Walker , Spud Chandler, Billy Hitchcock and Willie Jones. He left the Yankees for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1946. At the end of the 1949 NL season, Nee was named head of the Phillies minor league system.

1896 - Former Yankees P Michael Cantwell (1916) was born. Mike Cantwell appeared in one game with the Yankees in 1916.

1934 - New York Yankees slugger Babe Ruth signs a 1-year MLB contract worth $35,000. While the contract is considered a lucrative one for the times, it represents a pay cut of $17,000 for "The Babe".

1958 - The New York Yankees announced that 140 games would be televised on WPIX-TV this season. The broadcast deal is worth over one million dollars. Six days later, the Philadelphia Phillies agree to televise 78 games into the New York City area, which is without National League baseball for the 1st time since the National League’s inception in 1876. When the Yankees threaten to televise their games into the Philadelphia TV market, the Phillies quickly change their minds.

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This Week in Yankees History (1/8-1/14)

This Week in Yankees History

January 8th - January 14th

January 8th

1913 - The New York Highlanders signed former Chicago Cubs Manager Frank Chance to be their next manager. Chance previously won 2 World Series and 4 NL pennants as the manager of the Chicago Cubs. His New York Yankees managing record would be 118-170 (1913-1914).

1941 - The BWAA in The Sporting News poll names the 1940 MLB All Star team: Hank Greenberg (LF), Yankees Joe DiMaggio (CF), Ted Williams (RF), Frank McCormick (1B), Yankees Joe Gordon (2B), Luke Appling (SS), Stan Hack (3B) and Harry Danning (C) are the position players, while Bob Feller, Bucky Walters, and Paul Derringer are the pitchers.

1963 - Former Yankees minor league OF Shane Turner was born. The New York Yankees in the 6th round of the 1985 MLB amateur player draft drafted outfielder Shane Turner. He never appeared with the Yankees at MLB level. On June 10,1987, Shane Turner was traded by the Yankees along with OF Keith Hughes to the Philadelphia Phillies for veteran OF/1B Mike Easler.

1969 - Former Yankees P Brian Boehringer (2001) was born. On December 14, 2000, Brian Boehringer was signed as a MLB free agent by the New York Yankees. He went 5-9 in 56 games before being traded on July 4,2001 to the San Francisco Giants for reserve C Bobby Estalella and minor league player Joe Smith. The Yankees signed Brian as a MLB free agent in July of 2005, but he was released at the end of the month with no appearances with the Yankees at the MLB level.

1971 - Former Yankees AL All Star DH/1B Jason Giambi (2002-2008) was born. Jason Giambi’s best New York Yankees season was in 2002, when he hit .314 with 34 HRs and 122 RBIs. Jason was named to the American League All Star teams in 2002-2004. He appeared in 897 games for the Yankees, while hitting .260 with 209 HRs and 604 RBI’s.

1976 - Former Yankees P Carl Pavano (2005-2007) was born. Former MLB free agent P Carl Pavano was 9-8 in limited action (26 games) for the New York Yankees due to various injuries.

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This Week in Yankees History (10/9-10/15)

This Week in Yankees History 

October 9th - 15th

October 9th

1898 - Former Yankees 3B Joe Sewell (1931-1933) was born/ After playing 2B with the Cleveland Indians for 11 years, Joe Sewell joined the New York Yankees for the 1931-1933 AL seasons becoming their 3rd baseman. He hit .301 in 1931. Joe was on the 1932 World Championship team, hitting .272. Joe finished MLB career with a .312 lifetime BA and with only 114 career strikeouts, making him the toughest player to strike out, ever be elected to the Hall Of Fame.

1921 - Babe Ruth hits his 1st World Series HR to lead the Yankees to their 1st series game victory over the Giants by the score of 3-0. This game will be the only Sunday game that Yankee hurler Carl Mays ever hurled in his 15-year MLB career.

1926 - St. Louis Cardinals Grover Alexander scatters 8 hits in Game 6 of the 1926 World Series while the Cards tee off Yankees pitchers at Yankee Stadium for a 10-2 romp that sends the 1926 World Series to a 7th game.

1928 - Yankees slugger Babe Ruth hits 3-HRs in a World Series game for the 2nd time in his Yankee career as the Yankees beat the St. Louis Cardinals by a score of 7-3. Yankees starter Waite Hoyt picks up the win for the Bombers.

1938 - In the 1938 World Series, the Yankees became the 1st team to win 3 successive World Championships defeating the Chicago Cubs by the score of 8-3. Yankees starter Red Ruffing posted his 2nd victory of the 1938 World Series game as the Yankees sweep the Cubs for the 2nd time in 6 years.

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The Brand New Joe DiMaggio Stamp

From the NY Times:

Next summer, Joe DiMaggio will appear — for the first time — on a United States Postal Service-issued stamp as part of the 2012 Major League Baseball All-Star stamp series. The collection, announced on Monday, will feature three other Hall of Fame baseball players, though only Mr. DiMaggio’s name has been released.

Mr. DiMaggio’s postal debut is “long overdue,” said Stephen Kearney, manager of stamp services for the postal system. “Yankees fans are already very confident about their legacy, but this will just reinforce that,” Mr. Kearney said. “I think the biggest reaction we’ll get is, ‘What took you so long?’ ”

This Week in Yankees History (8/7-8/13)

This Week in Yankees History

August 7th - 13th

August 7th

1886 - Former Yankees INF and HOF MLB Manager James “Bill” McKechnie (1913) was born. Bill hit only .134 for the New York Yankees in 1913. He would have a long successful career as a MLB Manager (Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals, Boston Braves and the Cincinnati Reds) in the NL appearing in 4 World Series (1925,1928 and 1939-1940). Bill faced his old team the Yankees in the 1928 and 1939 World Series. He was elected to Baseball’s Hall Of Fame in 1962.

1915 - Another Hall of Famer player takes a turn on the mound, as George Sisler pitches to 2 Yankees in the 6th inning, hitting one and walking the other. The Browns-Yankees game is called at the end of 10 innings with the score tied at 4-4.

1929 - Former Yankees P Don Larsen (1955-1956) was born. Don Larsen went 45-24 in 121 games with New York from 1955-1959 after coming to the Yankees in the big 17-player trade with the Baltimore Orioles in the winter of 1954. His greatest moment as a Yankees pitcher was his Perfect Game against the Brooklyn Dodgers in the 1956 World Series. After the 1959 AL season, Don was traded to the Kansas City A’s along with OF Hank Bauer, 1B/OF Marv Throneberry and OF Norm Siebern for the A’s OF Roger Maris, INF Joe DeMasteri and 1B Kent Hadley. Don would appear in one more World Series in 1962, as a member of the San Francisco Giants, working out of their bullpen against his former Yankee teammates.

1929 - For the 2nd game in a row, Babe Ruth hits a grand slam HR as the Yankees roll to a 13-1 win over the Philadelphia A's in the opener. Mickey Cochrane’s HR in his one at bat for the A's only run as the Yankees score 10 runs in the 1st two innings. George Pipgras is the winner for the Yankees. The A's take the nightcap by a score of 4 -2, as starter George Earnshaw goes 8 innings for the victory.

1938 - New York Yankees starter Red Ruffing’s no-hit bid ends in the 9th inning, when Cleveland Indians OF Roy Weathery doubles with one-out, but the Yankees still win the game by a score of 7-0.

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The Day The Captain Died

32 years ago today, the Yankees lost one of their all-time greats, Thurman Munson, in that tragic airplane crash in Canton. In honor of Muson, here is the 3-part Captain: The Thurman Munson Story:

Apparently, Some NYC Sports Fans Are Quite Delusional

From Daivd Seifman:

Sports bar debaters should have a field day with this one: a new poll found that Derek Jeter is tied with Babe Ruth as the greatest Yankee of all time.

So say 1,528 New York City residents questioned by Quinnipiac University pollsters, who placed the 3,000-hit Yankee on the same lofty plane as one of the most exalted figures in all of sports history.

Ruth and Jeter were both mentioned by 23 percent of those polled.

No one else broke double digits -- not even the legendary figures who comprise the Yankee pantheon.

Joe DiMaggio was mentioned by 9 percent; Lou Gehrig, 8 percent and the mighty Mickey Mantle, 3 percent.

However, there was this important side note:

Old-time fans scratching their heads need to know this: if it weren't for women and baseball fans under 35, The Babe would have come out on top, as he has in just about every other poll ever conducted.

Leaving pitchers out of the debate for now, Ruth, clearly and without question, is no 1. After all, nobody has every dominated a sport like he did. Number 2 is Gehrig, followed by DiMaggio, then Mantle, and then Jeter. And if you asked the man himself he'd probably agree.

It is hardly an insult to suggest that Jeter ranks 5th behind those names, so calm down you Jeter obsessed 96ers, this is not a knock on the captain.

What are your rankings? Tell me your top 5 Yankee offensive players of all-time in the comments section below.

2011 Old-Timers' Day Roster

This is the group who will be in the Bronx today:
(*Denotes First-Time Old-Timer)

Luis Arroyo
Jesse Barfield
Clay Bellinger*
Yogi Berra
Ron Blomberg
Brian Boehringer*
Dr. Bobby Brown
Homer Bush
Jose Cardenal*
Rick Cerone
Jerry Coleman
David Cone
Al Downing
Brian Doyle
Cecil Fielder
Whitey Ford
George Frazier*
Oscar Gamble
Joe Girardi
Dwight Gooden
Rich "Goose" Gossage
Ron Guidry
Charlie Hayes
Arlene Howard
Helen Hunter
Reggie Jackson
Pat Kelly
Don Larsen
Graeme Lloyd
Hector Lopez
Kevin Maas
Jill Martin
Lee Mazzilli
Ramiro Mendoza
Gene "Stick" Michael
Diana Munson
Kay Murcer
Jeff Nelson
Graig Nettles
Joe Pepitone
Lou Piniella* (Welcome back!)
Mickey Rivers
Charlie Silvera
Bill "Moose" Skowron
Aaron Small
Mike Stanley
Mel Stottlemyre
Darryl Strawberry
Joe Torre* (Welcome back!)
David Wells
Roy White
Bernie Williams*

Sliding Into Home Sits Down With Bernie Williams

During a very nice event held by SoBe Life Water in Madison Sq. Park, Sliding Into Home Media got to finally sink it’s teeth into an interview with the great Bernie Williams. The event featured actresses Hillary Duff and Jessica Szohr along with Sports Illustrated Swimsuit rookie of the Year model, Kate Upton.




Our interview time was short, but I got a chance to really get to know Bernie afterward. Bernie mentioned that he had run into rookie sensation Bryce Harper in Vegas. He commented on how big the kid was at age 18 but also had some interesting opinions on bringing him up to the majors so quickly. Bernie is a strong believer that a minor leaguer foundation not only builds and develops baseball skills but also prepares you for life. On several occasions Bernie referred to the level of character one builds by going through the minor league system as opposed to being brought to the big leagues at a very young age.

Look ma, matching shirts!

Bernie and I made more small talk and he said that roger Clemens was by far the toughest pitcher he ever faced. He and his teammates were thrilled when Clemens became a Yankee simply for the fact that they no longer had to face him.

When I told Bernie that he was Carlos Beltran's idol, he modestly said he appreciated that and considered Beltran a good friend. He also said that Beltran had consulted with him about joining the Yankees in 2005 and when Bernie gave no signs of retiring, Beltran later chose the Mets. The two of them also shared the same agent (Scott Boras).

Bernie was a great guy and we’d like to thank him and the wonderful people at SoBe for inviting us to their successful event.

Berra Hospitalized After Fall in Yankees Clubhouse

Luckily, it seems like he's going to be OK. Here's more from the St. Petersburg Times:

Yankees icon Yogi Berra was hospitalized Thursday morning "as a precautionary measure" after tripping and falling in the clubhouse at Bright House Field, about an hour and a half before the first pitch of a New York Yankees-Philadelphia Phillies spring training game.

"He was alert, in good spirits," before he was taken to Morton Plant Hospital, said Yankees spokesman Michael Margolis.

Update 4:45 PM: