This Day in New York Yankees History 7/4: July 4th Baseball

On this day in 1984 Yankees pitcher Phil Niekro becomes only the ninth player every to achieve 3,000 strike outs in his career.


Also on this day in 1983 Dave Righetti threw a no-hitter against the Boston Red Sox inside Yankee Stadium. This marked the first Yankees no-hitter since Don Larsen's perfect game in the 1956 World Series and the first no-hitter by a Yankees left-handed pitcher since George Mogridge did it in 1917. All at age 24.


Also on this day in 1939 the New York Yankees held Lou Gehrig Appreciation Day making Lou's #4 the first ever uniform number retired by the Yankees. Today is the day that Lou donned himself "the luckiest man on the face of the earth."

Finally on this day in 1930 the original "Greedy Pinstripe" was born when the former owner and "Boss" of the New York Yankees, Mr. George Steinbrenner, was born. Also a big happy birthday goes out to John Sterling, Pa Baseball!

So it Seems… Happy Birthday to Me!

Good morning everyone. I know it’s been a while since we last spoke, and for that I once again apologize, but life is just crazy right now. Life is crazy, work is even crazier and I just needed a day to myself. Today. Today is my birthday and against my better judgement I took the day off to recharge the batteries. I’ll pay for it when I return to work but I’ll worry about that when I get back. So Happy Birthday to me, the big 32, and thank you for all your continued support of me, the blog and the team we all share a love for.

Have a great day everyone. Especially you my lovely wife who took the day off with me to spend with me on my birthday. You’re the best and I loves you, because loves is plural and is so much more than just love. 

This Day in New York Yankees History 7/4: July 4th Baseball

On this day in 1984 Yankees pitcher Phil Niekro becomes only the ninth player every to achieve 3,000 strike outs in his career.


Also on this day in 1983 Dave Righetti threw a no-hitter against the Boston Red Sox inside Yankee Stadium. This marked the first Yankees no-hitter since Don Larsen's perfect game in the 1956 World Series and the first no-hitter by a Yankees left-handed pitcher since George Mogridge did it in 1917. All at age 24.


Also on this day in 1939 the New York Yankees held Lou Gehrig Appreciation Day making Lou's #4 the first ever uniform number retired by the Yankees. Today is the day that Lou donned himself "the luckiest man on the face of the earth."

Finally on this dsy in 1930 the original "Greedy Pinstripe" was born when the former owner and "Boss" of the New York Yankees, Mr. George Steinbrenner, was born. Also a big happy birthday goes out to John Sterling, Pa Baseball!

So it Seems… HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

June 10^th is a pretty damn good day. Why? Because on this day not so many years ago, because you are totally not old, the world just flat out became a better place. You, my love, were born. Happy Birthday to the most beautiful soul I’ve ever met, inside and out. Kari, I love you and I hope you enjoy your day. I’ll see you in a little while for your birthday party.

So it Seems the MLB Draft is Monday!

Monday, June 12 is every self-professed Prospects Humper’s dream! It’s the annual MLB First Year Players Draft!!! I can’t wait, I’m really excited about adding potentially another high-end prospect to an already stacked farm system. Be sure to tune in Monday on MLB Network at 6:00 pm ET to see who the Yankees take with their picks.

I hope that everyone has a great Friday and an even better weekend. Tomorrow is my soulmates birthday so I can’t wait for that. Everyone be good and know that I love you all. Especially you. Hey you. 

Happy Birthday to My Boy, My Heart & “Mine Evan”

Today is a big day for me Yankees family and I wanted to share it with you. Today my son, my first born son, Evan turns seven-years old. Seven years ago today at 1:41 AM I welcomed this little bundle of joy into the world three weeks earlier than we had planned. His room wasn’t finished, his bags weren’t packed and mom and dad didn’t think we were ready. We were ready, we just didn’t know it yet. The room came along quickly after he was born, the bag wasn’t as important as everyone made it out to be and after a few days we were home to begin our journey.


Our journey has taken us through highs and lows, valley’s and peaks, tears and smiles but we’ve made it. He’s in school now and too damn smart for his own good. Really. He gets a letter sent home once a month at least for having “too much” energy but at the same point his teacher, which I love by the way, sends home second grade reading and homework and he knows it like he’s been doing it all his life. He’s sweet, he’s kind, he’s gentle, he’s a smart butt but he’s mine and I love him.


The whole “mine Evan” thing started when he was learning how to talk, he was “mine Evan” and I was “mine dada” to him and it kind of stuck. Anyway I wanted to share this little bit of myself and my family with you this morning and I also wanted to wish my big boy a very Happy Birthday. I hope you get everything you want out of this world and then some Evan, and I’ll be right here beside you for every bump in the road and every bit of it along the way.


Happy birthday!

Happy 3rd Birthday to My Boy, Hayden

What else can I say that I don’t already say every single day about this kid? This kid is my heart and my pride and joy along with my other son, Evan, and while he wasn’t exactly part of the plan he was the best decision I never made. So today is your day little guy, Happy 3^rd birthday from Dad and everyone here at The Greedy Pinstripes. Enjoy your day J

Happy Birthday to My Heart & Soul

There’s no ifs ands or buts about it. The Greedy Pinstripes would not be with it is today without the woman that I chose to marry nine years ago. Now I’m not saying this site is all me because it’s way beyond just me. There’s a group of talented writers here and a group of even more talented and passionate commenters and followers of the blog that make this blog, I just spam the site with content because I like to ramble on and write a lot. The woman that allows me to do that is my wife, Crystal, and today is her birthday.

I wanted to start the day off by wishing my beautiful wife a very happy birthday, 29 again and still holding. We’ve had our ups and downs and we have our quarrels and disagreements but at the end of the day we always find ourselves back to know what’s important in life and focusing on that. Thank you for everything that you do and thank you for everything that you are. I love you, I embrace your flaws and I fill in the gaps where you lack and you do the same for me.

I love you and enjoy your day. 

This Day in New York Yankees History 7/4: July 4th Baseball

On this day in 1984 Yankees pitcher Phil Niekro becomes only the ninth player every to achieve 3,000 strike outs in his career.


Also on this day in 1983 Dave Righetti threw a no-hitter against the Boston Red Sox inside Yankee Stadium. This marked the first Yankees no-hitter since Don Larsen's perfect game in the 1956 World Series and the first no-hitter by a Yankees left-handed pitcher since George Mogridge did it in 1917. All at age 24.


Also on this day in 1939 the New York Yankees held Lou Gehrig Appreciation Day making Lou's #4 the first ever uniform number retired by the Yankees. Today is the day that Lou donned himself "the luckiest man on the face of the earth."

Finally on this dsy in 1930 the original "Greedy Pinstripe" was born when the former owner and "Boss" of the New York Yankees, Mr. George Steinbrenner, was born. Also a big happy birthday goes out to John Sterling, Pa Baseball!

This Day in New York Yankees History 6/26: Mo No-Hitter and Derek Jeter’s Birthday

On this day in 1995 Mariano Rivera throws a five inning no hitter against the Rochester Red Wings of the International League. Mo finished his minor league career with a 27-18 record and a 2.35 ERA with seven complete games, this no hitter and another seven inning no hitter on his resume.


Also on this day in 1974 Derek Sanderson Jeter was born a mere 20 years before he became quite possibly the greatest Yankee of all-time and definitely the best Yankees player of my generation. Happy birthday Jetes!





Finally on this day in 1944 the great state of New York had a three team baseball game for charity. The Polo Grounds held roughly 50,000 fans that watched a six inning game between the Brooklyn Dodgers, New York Yankees, and New York Giants. The way it worked was a team would play consecutive innings against the other two teams and then would sit out the third inning. The money went for war bonds and the final score was the Dodgers 5, the Yankees 1, and the Giants 0.

Happy Birthday to My Boy, My Heart & “Mine Evan”

Today is a big day for me Yankees family and I wanted to share it with you. Today my son, my first born son, Evan turns six-years old. Six years ago today at 1:41 AM I welcome this little bundle of joy into the world three weeks earlier than we had planned. His room wasn’t finished, his bags weren’t packed and mom and dad didn’t think we were ready. We were ready, we just didn’t know it yet. The room came along quickly after he was born, the bag wasn’t as important as everyone made it out to be and after a few days we were home to begin our journey.

Our journey has taken us through highs and lows, valley’s and peaks, tears and smiles but we’ve made it. He’s in school now and too damn smart for his own good. Really. He gets a letter sent home once a month at least for having “too much” energy but at the same point his teacher, which we love by the way, sends home first grade reading and homework and he knows it like he’s been doing it all his life. He’s sweet, he’s kind, he’s gentle, he’s a smart butt but he’s mine and I love him.

The whole “mine Evan” thing started when he was learning how to talk, he was “mine Evan” and I was “mine dada” to him and it kind of stuck. Anyway I wanted to share this little bit of myself and my family with you this morning and I also wanted to wish my big boy a very Happy Birthday. I hope you get everything you want out of this world and then some Evan, and I’ll be right here beside you for every bump in the road and every bit of it along the way.

Happy birthday!

Flurry of Backup Catchers off the Board Only Means One Thing

This has been a week of small milestones for Major League Baseball and for the New York Yankees specifically. The deadline to tender players a contract or not passed with a flurry of minor signings and trades while 43 players joined the free agency market while the Yankees sat back and lit some candles on a birthday cake. New York wished Gary Sanchez a very happy 23^rd birthday this week while a flurry of back up catchers were being scooped up in free agency and acquired via trade. The fact that the Yankees were content to stay away, at least at the time of this writing, from the backup catcher suggest only one thing.

Gary Sanchez is going to be the Yankees backup catcher on Opening Day 2016. Many speculated, beat writers specifically, that Sanchez would begin the season in Triple-A after spending just 35 games with the Scranton RailRiders in 2015 but at least right now that doesn’t seem to be the case. Sanchez got an extended look in the Arizona Fall League as he faced off against some of the premier talent across the league and showcased his power and talents all the way through the AFL Stars Game. It seems like the Yankees and Brian Cashman specifically have seen enough to hand the reigns over to Sanchez after trading John Ryan Murphy earlier this offseason.

I love the idea of having Sanchez on the bench. He is a right-handed bat with a ton of power at just 23-years old. Sure his development may be slowed a bit as the backup catcher, Murphy didn’t play all that much in 2015, but New York can move him around if need be. The Yankees absolutely cannot played Alex Rodriguez 150+ games next season, even as a DH, and Sanchez can play a huge role in that department filling in for A Rod while still giving the team some right-handed pop in the lineup. The lineup against left-handed pitching would be better as well with Sanchez, in my opinion anyway, as a significant upgrade over Murphy at least offensively.

Maybe in a pinch Sanchez could learn first base as well. You never know. All we know right now is all signs point to Sanchez as the backup catcher for Brian McCann next season. 

Happy 2nd Birthday to my Boy, Hayden

It was this day two years ago that I had my heart stolen a second time, my second son was born. I made the joke earlier in the week that my wife had to wait until at least the weekend to have our baby boy because work was catering in turkey, ham and all the side items and deserts to go with it on Friday, November 22, 2013. I'd trade the turkey and the ham for Hayden any day.

So today we make the trip to Burger King with our Minions decorations in arms and have his second birthday party. I can't wait. Enjoy the day and enjoy your families, on a holiday or not. Have a great one!

World Series Game 5 Open Thread

My birthday is tomorrow and I'm too old to stay up all night drinking. You know what I'm doing? Going to bed, very soon actually. Every Sunday I get up early with my boys, cook them breakfast and enjoy the morning while letting the wife sleep in. That's my plan again this weekend so I leave you with this open thread for the night. Enjoy, you never know when you can't enjoy again.

Taking My Wife Out to Dinner Open Thread

So as many of you saw on Thursday I wished my wife a very happy birthday this week but until now I haven't been able to take her out to dinner. We went out on Thursday but it wasn't the birthday dinner I wanted to take her out to nor the birthday dinner that she deserved. We had inventory at work on Friday (which means early to work and LATE to leave) and inventory reconciliation on Saturday (rinse and repeat the early and late departures) so we're just now getting to do it right.

So while we eat, celebrate and be merry I leave you with an open thread for the night with one of my wife's favorite artists right now as the musical recommendation. The name of the song is Animals by Maroon 5. Enjoy.

Happy Birthday to the ROCK of The Greedy Pinstripes

I want to take this opportunity to start the day by telling my very beautiful, patient, loving and wonderful wife a very happy birthday. Truth be told she is the absolute rock that holds The Greedy Pinstripes together some days. She is the one that very patiently cooks dinner more than she should, watches both kids more than her fair share and she is the one that gets neglected some days when the Yankees are playing or there is a lot going on in the hot stove or on the rumor mill. Thank her, not me.

On this day, your day, I wish you a happy birthday my princess. You're wish is my command.

Happy 40th Birthday Alex Rodriguez

A big Happy Birthday goes out to the Yankees DH, Alexander Emmanuel Rodriguez. Alex Rodriguez gave himself a 40th birthday party a couple days early this weekend when he hit three home runs against the Minnesota Twins in a single game leading me to post this tweet:

hey @Twins ....... pic.twitter.com/xGHgxvrhtM

— Greedy Pinstripes (@GreedyStripes) July 26, 2015

Happy Birthday Alex

This Day in New York Yankees History 7/4: July 4th Baseball

On this day in 1984 Yankees pitcher Phil Niekro becomes only the ninth player every to achieve 3,000 strike outs in his career.


Also on this day in 1939 the New York Yankees held Lou Gehrig Appreciation Day making Lou's #4 the first ever uniform number retired by the Yankees. Today is the day that Lou donned himself "the luckiest man on the face of the earth."

Finally on this dsy in 1930 the original "Greedy Pinstripe" was born when the former owner and "Boss" of the New York Yankees, Mr. George Steinbrenner, was born. Also a big happy birthday goes out to John Sterling, Pa Baseball!

This Day in New York Yankees History 6/26: Mo No-Hitter and Derek Jeter’s Birthday

On this day in 1995 Mariano Rivera throws a five inning no hitter against the Rochester Red Wings of the International League. Mo finished his minor league career with a 27-18 record and a 2.35 ERA with seven complete games, this no hitter and another seven inning no hitter on his resume.

Also on this day in 1974 Derek Sanderson Jeter was born a mere 20 years before he became quite possibly the greatest Yankee of all-time and definitely the best Yankees player of my generation. Happy birthday Jetes!

Finally on this day in 1944 the great state of New York had a three team baseball game for charity. The Polo Grounds held roughly 50,000 fans that watched a six inning game between the Brooklyn Dodgers, New York Yankees, and New York Giants. The way it worked was a team would play consecutive innings against the other two teams and then would sit out the third inning. The money went for war bonds and the final score was the Dodgers 5, the Yankees 1, and the Giants 0.

The Big Five

Five years ago today at 1:41 AM in Jasper, Georgia my best friend was born, my son Evan. Today my son turns the big five and his life is ready to change, hopefully for the better. This is the year he starts school, makes new friends, rides the bus, and God willing sees his first live Yankees game. So to my best friend, my pride and joy, and one third of my heart…. Happy Birthday little buddy.

We’re having a pizza and game room party at the local pizza shop and it’s a Minecraft themed party if you guys want to show up and bring a gift. If not you will just have to root on the Yankees without me.

Have a great day everybody!