Almost a perfect tribute to Yankee Stadium…
Most Yankee fans agree that the farewell to Yankee stadium on Sunday night was a memorable tribute. Even if you didn’t watch the farewell ceremony Sunday and aren’t a Yankee fan, you can read this nostalgic essay by Billy Crystal (and there are other links on the left to more essays) to get a sense of what Yankee stadium embodies to its fans.
But since Sunday night, others have pointed out that something was missing from the ceremony. Or rather, two people were missing. Both Joe Torre and Roger Clemens, two Yankee greats, were completely excluded, for different reasons, from any mention in the pre-game ceremonies.
On a night when the Yankees wanted to be remembered with class, for all the memorable moments the organization has had over the years and all those who have contributed to those moments, it was only fitting to include Torre and Clemens. After all, Torre’s legacy brought the Yankees to twelve consecutive playoff appearances, not to mention the four World Series titles won under his management.
And how could the Yankees leave out the seven time Cy Young award winner? The guy who brought the Yankees to World Series wins in 1999 and 2000, not to mention a handful of ALCS victories? The guy who is second in all-time strike-outs only to Nolan Ryan? And while playing for the Astros in 2003, recorded both his 300th career win and 4,000th career strike-out on June 13 at none other than Yankee Stadium? How could these credentials possibly be overlooked?
Yes, Roger Clemens still sits in the midst of the whole steroid scandal. Some believed that if he had been in Yankee Stadium in person he would have been booed. Speaking as a Yankees fan, he should have at least been included in the pitcher’s montage. Overlooking his achievements is what one blogger compares to a “Communist party whitewash.”
It was clear that in not mentioning Torre, the Yankees still hold a grudge against him for turning down the one-year contract offered to him following the 2007 season. The organization clearly still has it’s own issues with that. But with Clemens, the matter was one of hypocrisy, as many were quick to point out.
Clemens, whose chances as a future hall of famer are slim now with the allegations of steroid usage, has had an arguably better career than most of the Yankee players who are hall of famers. But apparently the Yankees see his steroid usage as a touchy subject, and enough of a reason to have left him out of Sunday’s festivities. But why then did the Yankees allow both Andy Pettitte and Jason Giambi, both admitted steroid users, to start in Sunday’s game?
It’s clear the Yankees themselves didn’t really think through what they were doing by not mentioning these two men. One thing is clear though: it did offend a lot of fans (read comments to this blog here to see what some fans are saying).
At least in November, when the Stadium officially closes, the Yankees have one last chance to redeem themselves. Hopefully they will pull off some class and give Clemens and Torre the credit that is deserved.