Since Sunday was Old-Timer's Day at Yankee Stadium -- and since no one can do an Old-Timer's event the way the Yankees can -- today's 'Around the Yankee Universe' is dedicated to Sunday's festivities.
The Yankees are, in fact, the only team that still holds an Old-Timer's Day celebration. The participants, as always, enjoyed it. Not everyone, though, seems enamored with the event.
Here is some of what was written and said about Old-Timer's Day.
From NBC Sports.
It might be time to put this Old Timer's Day thing on the shelf for a couple years until guys like Jeter and Mariano and O'Neill are old and gray and haven't been heard from in 10 years. Then you celebrate them and everyone's happy and it's a great time for all. Or do it every 5 years. But do the Yanks really need to do this every year?
If you continue to have these ceremonies where the greats (and some non-greats) all trot out, the oversaturation factor kicks in. Within the last 12 months, the Yanks have now had four similar celebrations - All-Star Game, final game at Old Yankee Stadium, opening of New Yankee Stadium, Old Timer's Day - where the team honors its past. Seriously, we get it. The Yankees are the greatest franchise ever. You had us at the 183rd time you told us.
MSNBC's Keith Olbermann, a diehard baseball fan, enjoyed the event.
the 63rd Annual Yankees' OTD remains one of the highlights of the year, and with a new fan hero, no less. Don Zimmer, who once vowed never again to wear a Yankee uniform even at events such as these, reversed his decision this year, and even with the likes of Yogi Berra, Reggie Jackson, and Whitey Ford in attendance and in fine health, Zim did no worse than the fourth loudest roar - and might've topped them all.
Zimmer, incidentally, enjoyed putting on the pinstripes one more time.
"Coming back here and seeing your friends, it's special," said Zimmer, who was surprised with a kiss on the cheek from Andy Pettitte as he spoke just outside the clubhouse. "All the guys, it's a very special day."
Mike Mussina, a new old-timer enjoyed the day. And yes, he is still insisting he is content with his retirement, despite winning 20 games a season ago.
"I'm enjoying it. I really am," said Mussina, who retired last year at 39 after becoming the oldest pitcher to win 20 games for the first time. "People tell me, 'Well, you're going to have to find something to do and you're going to get bored with it.' Well, maybe someday I will.
"But right now, with two boys under 11 years old, there's a lot of stuff I've got to do so I'm really good with being retired."
Kimberly Jones of YES was busy doing several on-field interviews, but also took time to blog about the day. She took special note of the reaction of Detroit's Justin Verlander and other Tigers.
Not only does he (Verlander) have fantastic stuff, he gets it. Verlander stood on the top step of the visiting dugout and watched the Old Timer's introductions. "Amazing," he said. Standing beside him was 20-year-old teammate Rick Porcello, the pride of Seton Hall Prep. And, of course, Jim Leyland was on the top step of the dugout the whole time. Leyland clapped heartily for Zimmer, his best friend, and for Yogi, his childhood hero. The Tigers were well-represented in the dugout at a time when a lot of players could have been hanging in the clubhouse.
Anthony McCarron noted that A.J. Burnett made sure to get an autograph from Dwight Gooden.
"He was always one of my favorites," Burnett said. Asked what he said to Gooden, Burnett joked, "Can I please have your autograph, sir? I just told him I’ve always been a huge fan and I had something I wanted him to sign from the old days.
"I just collect stuff from strikeout pitchers," Burnett added. "I’ve got a bunch of 3,000 strikeout photos, Nolan Ryan stuff, Gooden. (Bob) Gibson’s one I haven’t gotten yet."