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I have noted that last year I created a web-page that is dedicated to my experiences as a Yankees fan, from pre-school days until now.  That's over 50 years' worth of time!!

However, on March 10, 2010 the web-page provider changed hands and the my page's URL is now chaossurvival.jigsy.com/.  Between today and June 11 the provider will automatically direct a visitor to the new name.  After that it's too bad. 

Please take the time and visit my web-site at its new URL.  Comments are always welcomed.

Today I learned that one of my favorite Yankees from 50+ years ago had passed away on January 6, 2011.  Ryne Duren was the Yankees’ star relief pitcher from 1958 to 1960.  I remember seeing him on TV numerous times, and loved the way Mel Allen pronounced Ryne’s name in that Southern drawl.  On a few trips to Yankee Stadium, I would see Ryne in the Yankees’ bullpen with the other pitchers, and on one occasion saw him pitch in relief against the Cleveland Indians.  With those coke bottle sunglasses, he looked intimidating.  I am glad that I never had to face him in the batter’s box.  I always wondered how Yogi Berra and Elston Howard survived behind the plate when Ryne was pitching.

I did not know until 1993 when the Yankees paid tribute to Ryne in their annual yearbook that he had suffered from alcoholism and that it curtailed his baseball career.  However he overcame it and the story in the ’93 yearbook said that it was his greatest victory, greater than any on the mound.  I think that they are right.

RIP to one of my favorite Yankees and a great person. 

My brother in law gave me a book about Mickey Mantle, titled Mickey Mantle - The Last Boy.  It was written by Jane Leavy who also wrote a book about Sandy Koufax that I read a few years ago.

As for the book about Mickey, I am only on the third chapter but I am still interested in reading on.  Usually, if I do not get past the first chapter I know that the book is not going to interest me.  In the meantime, I will keep you posted on what I have been reading (so far, I learned that mining is not a safe occupation, at least not 75 years ago, and that Mickey's dad pushed him to excel).

Mickey's team mate Jerry Coleman was interviewed several times in the book.  Jerry was probably my favorite non battery position Yankee 53 years ago.  I remember having his 1957 Topps card.  My friends used to yell "Mickey Mantle" when they leapt over fences or did other pseudo athletic feats of skill. When it was my turn I would yell "Jerry Coleman".  After all, Jerry played with the Yankees just like Mickey did.  However, most of the psuedo-Yankee-fans did not know who Jerry was.  That was their loss.  Anyway, after the 1957 season, Jerry went into the announcer's booth and fortunately is still with us.

It looks as if Derek Jeter will be with the Yankees for another 3 years, pending the outcome of his physical (which he should pass). He’s guaranteed at least $17 million annually for 3 years. It may not be what he originally wanted, but it’s no small change. Most importantly, he will retire as a Yankee – something that the Yankees did not let happen with Babe Ruth 75 years ago.

Unfortunately, the Yankees were not able to do to the Texas Rangers what they did to the Minnesota Twins.  It seems that Texas had their number right after Game 1.  Some have said that the Pinstripers did not play their best.  I certainly hope that is not the case.  As followers of good sportsmanship, we have to congratulate the texas Rangers for a job well done and for a great season.  It's their first pennant in the franchise's history.

Unfortunately, for us, it's like they say/said in Brooklyn and Queens, "wait until next year".

The New York Yankees were able to sweep the Minnesota Twins in the first round - the American League Division Series - in a best of 5 series.  Later this evening we will see who they play in the next round.  Whoever it is, it does not look as if it will be as easy as round #1.  Let's wish the Bronx Bombers luck so that they can return to the World Series.

I had started to read Joe Torre’s book, The Yankee Years, but could not finish it because it was too difficult to follow.  While I managed to read several chapters, I usually know by the first chapter if I am going to like it or not.

 At the rate things are going these days, the Yankees may not make the playoffs or if they do, not get past the first round.  They are a ½ game out of first place, behind Tampa Bay.  They are playing the Red Sox this weekend, who always give them trouble.  We shall see. 

Congratulations to Alex Rodriguez for hitting #600. 

On Saturday afternoon (July 17th) the Yankees had their annual Old Timers Day when they honor the players from years ago.  This year they honored the members of the 1950 team who are still alive.  I did not recognize any of the names except Whitey Ford since he was on  the team later in the decade and I got to see him at the Stadium (and have his baseball card too).  Then they introduced the other old timers, among them were Reggie Jackson, David Cone, Ron Guidry, Mickey Rivers, Oscar Gamble, Roy White, Cecil Fielder, Rick Cerone, and Bill Skowron.  After the living players were introduced they introduced the widows of these prominent former Yankees: Elston Howard, Thurman Munson, Catfish Hunter, Billy Martin, Bobby Murcer, and Bob Sheppard.  Then they had a short old timers game and the team called the Bombers beat the Clippers.  However, we really did not care who won, since it was all for fun and everyone had a great time.

On Saturday afternoon (the 17th) for dinner my wife Ellen and I decided to try a new Hunan Chinese restaurant in Flushing called  the Hunan Kitchen.  It opened last month and I asked Ellen if she would like to try it.  She checked the menu and decided yes.  I had a dish of sautéed lamb with onions, greens and pepper sauce.  It was HOT and my eyes started to water and my sweat glands went into high gear.  Of course I asked for extra glasses of water.  Ellen had orange beef which is good but a bit mundane for my tastes.  However, we thought that the meals were good and not too expensive.  The Hunan Kitchen is at 42-47 Main Street in Flushing and if you are ever in that neck of the woods, do stop in.

On Sunday morning after church I had WFAN radio on in my car and the announcer and callers were discussing memories of Bob Sheppard. When I hear that I know that it's not a good sign. Sure enough, when I got home I checked Yahoo news and it said the Bob Sheppard, the Voice of the Yankees, had passed away at the age of 99. I knew that he had to be 90+ since he graduated from St. John's University in the 1930's (1932 to be exact) so that meant he was not a young man. Still, I always marveled on how he enunciated every name and word when he was at the microphone.

Mr. Sheppard was also my speech teacher when I attended St. John's back in the early 1970's. Not once did he ever mention his other job outside the university. My wife Ellen graduated high school (St. Agnes Cathedral High School) with his younger son Christopher.

With Bob Sheppard gone, it will not be the same at Yankee Stadium. RIP Professor Sheppard.

Two days later George Steinbrenner left us. Hopefully Bob announced his arrival in Heaven. While many of us did not agree with everything George did, we knew that his heart was in the right place and he made us New York baseball fans proud. I kind of suspected that he was not in good health when he turned over the operations to his sons. Hopefully the apples did not fall too far from the tree.  RIP George and please go easy on Billy up there in Heaven.

Hopefully this will be the exception to the law of 3's.  Losing two important members of the Yankees Family in two days is traumatic enough.

On May 21^st the 3 of us went to an alumni barbeque at St. John’s University’s Jamaica campus.  We had done the same thing last year and had a good time. 

The next day my wife and I were in a Best Buy store pricing laptops and getting the hang of using them.  While there one of the sales staff told me that José Lima had died a short while ago.  Since I was using a laptop and googled “José Lima” and sure enough, there were several articles discussed the pitcher.  All of us baseball fans are saddened by his passing. 

I finished the book about Manny Ramirez titled Manny Being Manny.  It’s a great insight into the mind of the super star and why he is the way he is.  I came away learning that a good mentor is priceless.  I also got to appreciate Manny for being a great player, even if he is a bit eccentric.  Today I went to the library and took our Selena Roberts’ book, A-Rod, about #13.  I will keep everyone appraised on what I read.

On Thursday the Bees had a game with their arch rival, Debevoise & Plimpton.  The game got underway at 6 PM, and I started to keep the score for both teams.  When the middle of the Bees’ batting order came up I saw that one of the players was not in the dugout.  He had to work late and could not make the game.  The manager put me in and I came up to bat as an extra hitter.  This time I hit a line drive right to the second baseman and was out.  In the next inning lightning started to flash and then came the rain.  The umpire called the game after 3½ innings.  We will replay the game, which is not a bad thing since D&P was ahead 3-1.

Today I watched part of the Yankees – Indians game and watched them lose 13-11.  They blew a 4-0 lead and allowed Cleveland to go ahead.  There are already people calling for Joe Gerardi’s scalp.  No matter what the score was or who won, we are all concerned with the well being of the Indians’ pitcher David Huff.  David was hit in the head by a line drive off of A-Rod’s bat.  It seems as if history is repeating itself.  In 1957 another Indians pitcher, Herb Score, was hit in the face by a line drive off of the bat of the Yankees’ Gil McDougald.

Herb was never the same on the mound, but did go on to become a successful Indians announcer.  We hope that David will return to the mound soon.