Yankees

by Linda Burleson

Created on: July 19, 2008   Last Updated: April 28, 2012

Yankees fans have a reputation for being a tad overbearing, but hey, those are the local fans. Yes, I remember the way they treated some of their own, like Reggie Jackson, and how they have treated opposing teams playing in Yankee Stadium. Even so, I never go anyplace that there isn't at least one Yankee fan - in Texas, in Oklahoma, even in Atlanta, Georgia.

There is something very charismatic about the Yankees and their stadium. Their colorful history is incredible. They had The Babe, Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, and they have Arod and Derrick Jeter. The list is interminable, and whether you like the players or not, many of them are and have been through the years more than a little interesting and a lot talented. As for the stadium - just to say you have been to a game there makes people green with envy. A shining example of this is the home run derby this year. Josh Hamilton invited his seventy-one year old high school coach to pitch to him in Yankee Stadium. The two of them put on quite a show with Josh hitting more than thirty home runs, the coach said, "wow, I made it to the All-Star game at Yankee Stadium, and I only got one vote, Josh's". I still can not believe they are tearing it down. It epitomizes baseball history.

This is not to say there are not several great teams, with the BoSox being among them, but none can touch the indomitable Yankees who, without a doubt have the most interesting owner. George Steinbrenner has made some really strange decisions in his personal history with the team, but he always comes out smelling like a rose. I mean, how many times did he hire and fire Billy Martin as a manager? When the Seinfield Show did a parody of him, he took it all with a grain of salt, and it was a hilarious part of the show.

The American League Yankees have played in thirty-nine of the one hundred three Series through 2007 and have won twenty-six World Series championships. No other franchise has come close. In the National League, the Dodgers hold the top number as a participant, and that is only nineteen.

I do not live anywhere near New York, but I've rooted for that team all of my life, except when they have played my local favorite, which is also an American League team, so the Yankees come to town occasionally, which is always cool. The Yankees keep it exciting, and they are one reason baseball is still popular. I keep reading that it's dying on the vine, but when I attend a game, the stands are full, and teams are building bigger stadiums all the time. I know lots of little boys who play little league and dream of playing in the "Big Leagues", and to get to go to a Yankee's game would thrill every one of them.

While most sports have become almost brutal, baseball has retained some semblance of sanity. Granted, a broohaha breaks out occasionally when a pitcher brushes a batter back too often, but for the most part it is a display of personal skill with many of the players displaying charm and charisma. The Yankees hold the top spot for that.

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