Say Goodbye to Yankee Stadium
You may know the Yankees are counting down the days to the last regular-season game at Yankee Stadium by having a VIP or VIPs pull a lever once a game is official to change a number on the centerfield scoreboard. After Sunday’s sixth home game of the season, the number stands at 75. Here’s who has done it so far:
Game 1: George Steinbrenner
Game 2: Giants’ Ahmad Bradshaw, Aaron Ross and Steve Smith
Game 3: Paul O’Neill
Game 4: John Flaherty
Game 5: Joe Pepitone
Game 6: Yogi Berra
Who would you like to see do it? And who do you think should have the honor of pulling the lever for the final regular-season home game? Tough call since Yogi has already gone. Seems like kind of a waste to use him for Game 6, doesn't it?
Here are 20 suggestions from Jim and Anthony in semi-alphabetical order:
Aaron Boone
Scott Brosius (who told the Yankees he wouldn't appear at Oldtimers' Day until he's 40)
Roger Clemens (but he has to be in the owners' box and he has to bring a lawyer)
Cotton-eyed Joe
Billy Crystal (then he gets to bat in the bottom of the sixth)
Bucky Dent
Doc and Darryl
Freddy the fan
Whitey Ford
Jeffrey Maier
Tino Martinez
Don Mattingly
Stump Merrill (representing the down years)
Regis Philbin (he's here all the time anyway)
Bob Sheppard
John Sterling
Donald Trump
Ronan Tynan
David Wells (think he may have put on a few pounds since he's not playing?)
Bernie Williams
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Comments (15)
I think there should be some kind of fan involvement. Make it a contest or something. Perhaps the season ticket holder that has had their tickets the longest (an individual, no corporation)? A reward for years of dedication. I could go on for a while with suggestions, but I'll spare everyone.
Don't spare everyone. That's what blogs are for! Good suggestions. Keep going....
Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera and Andy Pettitte. No one deserves to "close down" the Stadium more than those four.
Or...bring back Joe Torre to do it. :)
David Cone
Bubba Crosby (hey if Flaherty gets to...)
Bucky Dent
Goose Gossage (maybe right around when he goes into the Hall?)
Ron Guidry
Reggie Jackson (ugh)
David Justice
Jimmy Key
Tony Kubek
Don Larsen
Jim Leyritz (if legally possible)
Sparky Lyle
BOBBY MURCER
Graig Nettles
Lou Piniella
Willie Randolph
Bobby Richardson
Mickey Rivers
Cora Rizzuto (we've heard about her enough on the radio!)
Moose Skowron
and, of course, Ken Phelps (only joking!)
The Janks would have molto cogliones if Jim Bouton said goodbye.
Freddie should do it... 20+ years of being there... he's been in a commercial... you can always here the pan on TV during the home games... I think it would be perfect payback from the team for his dedication...
Ansky says: Let Freddie pull the lever the last time.
If you're considering Torre, then you have to consider Buck. Clearly, anyone with a monument as one of the living legends will be selected, that's not even debateable.
The Steinbrenner Character from Seinfeld
Jeffrey Maier
how about New York's own Mayor Rudy Giulliani or Manager Joe Torre
Here are the suggestions I like the most that we missed...
The Steinbrenner character from Seinfeld... Very funny...
Cora Rizzuto... nice touch...
Bobby Murcer... don't know how we missed him...
Don Larsen... for sure
No love for Jeff M Jim? That kid is as much responsible for the '96 title as anyone!
He was on our original list, and he was my choice, too!
Bobby Murcer, obviously
Diane Munson
Roy White
Mel Stottlemyre
Rod Gilbert/Bryan Trottier (leading scorers for their teams all-time)
Sparky Lyle
The Maris kids
Eddie Layton
Phil "Mr, Laffs" Linz, Jim Bouton, Al Downing,Tom Tresh,Hector Lopez, Johnny Blanchard,Bobby Richardson,Tony Kubek,Luis Sojo,Chris Chambliss, Sandy Alomar and I am sure there others that will be mentioned. These Yankees I have listed are some of my favorites.
Isn't the Babe's daughter still around?