Why I can Root for the Yankees—and not Hold My Nose

Toward the end of the 1950’s and beginning of 1960’s, my brother and I would lie awake on summer evenings and listen to Yankee baseball on the radio. It was quite an experience to close our eyes and visualize what was happening on the field, while Mel Allen, Walter “Red” Barber, or Phil Rizzuto (who managed to partner up with our own Tom Seaver from 1989-1993) called the game. My first semi-clear memory of listening to Yankee games was when Johnny Blanchard hit four consecutive home runs in four consecutive at bats in three games in 1961. But. although there were two other baseball teams in New York through 1957, for us, only the Yankees existed. Then in 1958 both the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants packed up and moved to the west coast. We both were distraught at this occurrence. Hey, I guess you truly "don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone.” But there was soon to be good reason for two Newark, NJ kids to be happy.

Monday October 2, 1961, one day after Roger Maris hit his 61st home run, Charles Dillon Stengel (who three days earlier said, “It’ll be great to be back in the Polar Grounds. It’s a great honor for me to be joining the Knickerbockers.”) and his wife, Edna, arrived in New York. Casey Stengel was the first manager of the newest New York baseball team-The New York Mets. Since Roger Craig threw the first pitch to Curt Flood, on a cold evening in St. Louis, April 11, 1962, I’ve been a fan of the New York Mets.

That year, I watched and listened to the Yankees do what they had done forever-win the American League Title. They went on to win the World Series, defeating the San Francisco Giants in seven games. This time, Ralph Terry’s pitch to Willie McCovey was scorched to Bobby Richardson at second base; but, Richardson was right there to end the game. Terry had redeemed himself. Two years earlier, I was watching the seventh game of the 1960 World Series with my friend Alan, when Bill Mazeroski blasted a Ralph Terry pitch over the left field fence in Forbes Field in the bottom of the ninth. I was shocked; but, Alan was more than that. He was ablaze, infuriated, and very cranky, too. He ran out of the side door of his house, and took off like Superman, doing a belly flop on his backyard lawn; kicking, screaming, and punching the dirt.

Yes, I have some great memories watching the Yankees during the years of Mantle, Maris, Ellie Howard, and the sage, Yogi Berra; but, being an avid Mets fan, today it doesn’t faze me one way or the other if the Yankees win, lose, or make it to the World Series. I will watch every inning I can because I love the game of baseball. And, as long as The New York Mets are not their opponent, I want the Yanks to win the championship; particularly if the Philadelphia Phils or the Atlanta Braves represents the National League.

That said, I hope A-Rod piles up the goose eggs.

On edit, Oct 30, 2009 @ 11:45am: Please add Jimmy Rollins to any list of No-Goodnicks. If the Phils do win in five, don't be surprised if this little irritant says, "I knew it would be Pedro who'd lose the one game for us."