This Day In New York Yankees History 5/24: Bernie Williams Day 2015

On this day in 2015 the New York Yankees honored former center fielder Bernie Williams with Bernie Williams Day at Yankee Stadium.


Also on this day in 1986 a drunk Billy Martin was fired as the co-host on Saturday Night Live after slurring his lines during a skit. The former Yankee manager sets fire to his dressing room at the end of show, the season finale for SNL.


Also on this day in 1956 Mickey Mantle went off at the plate going 505 with an intentional walk in an 11-5 victory over the Detroit Tigers. Mantle would hit a home run and four singles in the game to go with his walk.


Finally on this day in 1936 the Yankees Tony Lazzeri becomes the first player in major league history to hit two grand slams in the same game when the Yankees beat up on the A's 25-2. The future Hall of Famer also established a new American League record in the game with 11 RBI's.

This Day In New York Yankees History 5/24: Bernie Williams Day 2015

On this day in 2015 the New York Yankees honored former center fielder Bernie Williams with Bernie Williams Day at Yankee Stadium.


Also on this day in 1986 a drunk Billy Martin was fired as the co-host on Saturday Night Live after slurring his lines during a skit. The former Yankee manager sets fire to his dressing room at the end of show, the season finale for SNL.


Also on this day in 1956 Mickey Mantle went off at the plate going 505 with an intentional walk in an 11-5 victory over the Detroit Tigers. Mantle would hit a home run and four singles in the game to go with his walk.


Finally on this day in 1936 the Yankees Tony Lazzeri becomes the first player in major league history to hit two grand slams in the same game when the Yankees beat up on the A's 25-2. The future Hall of Famer also established a new American League record in the game with 11 RBI's.

So it Seems the Yankees Suck on their “Days”

Boy, the New York Yankees have made it a habit of losing on all these special events and days that they hold at the stadium don’t they? It’s becoming a trend more than a coincidence at this point and it’s a scary precedent that I don’t like being set. Let’s look at recent “days” at Yankee Stadium and their success rates. What does this mean in the long run? Absolutely nothing but it is still fun to take a look at regardless.

Derek Jeter Day – 5/14/17

10-7 loss to the Houston Astros

Jorge Posada Day – 8/22/15

6-2 victory over the Cleveland Indians

Bernie Williams Day – 5/24/15

5-2 loss to the Texas Rangers

Joe Torre Day – 8/23/14

5-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox

Paul O’Neill Day – 8/9/14

3-0 loss to the Cleveland Indians

Andy Pettitte Day – 9/23/13

4-3 loss to the Cleveland Indians

Tino Martinez Day – 6/21/14

6-1 loss to the Baltimore Orioles

Don’t Be Fooled, the StubHub Agreement is NOT a Good Thing for Fans

The New York Yankees reached an agreement with StubHub to let the ticket reseller become the official place to go to buy your New York Yankees tickets. The Yankees Ticket Exchange is a thing of the past, and good riddance, but don’t be fooled into thinking the StubHub agreement will be a good thing for the fans either. In fact, this may hurt the fans even more and is a deal that was put into place simply to line the pockets of the Steinbrenner family. Imagine that, right?

The deal with StubHub was made for six-and-a-half years and a cool $100 million and that deal starts on July 15, 2016. In the deal the Yankees have taken away the option to get a last minute ticket for well under the retail and face value of the ticket, the Yankees couldn’t have that no, and have replaced it with a “floor” or a minimum purchase price for said ticket. So the Yankees would rather the ticket go unsold and miss out on potential merchandise, vending, parking and other sales inside the stadium and would rather set the floor at 50% less of the season ticket holders price. So if a ticket is $100 you’re not paying any less than $50.

The Yankees saw another 6.5% drop in attendance last year, and that was with Joe Torre Day and Bernie Williams Day and this day and that day which they will not have in 2016, in a year where overall attendance was once again up in Major League Baseball. The YES Network ratings, which the Steinbrenner are still minority owners in, are down too. Now the Yankees are making it even more expensive and even more of an inconvenience to head to the stadium to see a last place or second-to-last place team struggle to score runs and blow leads left and right on days where the three-headed monster are unavailable. Sounds legit to me.

The Yankees also didn’t lift their ban on print-at-home tickets in the deal. Why? It’s not fraud, the Yankees honored an average of five fraudulent tickets a game last year which is what Hal Steinbrenner spent on drinking alone this weekend, but it’s because they wanted to screw StubHub and force people to their Ticket Exchange. The ticket exchange is gone and the fans still suffer. But hey, Lonn Trost can sleep well at night knowing that people who can’t normally afford premium seats in the stadium aren’t sitting there. Because no one is sitting there. Idiot. 

This Day In New York Yankees History 5/24: Bernie Williams Day 2015

On this day in 2015 the New York Yankees honored former center fielder Bernie Williams with Bernie Williams Day at Yankee Stadium.


Also on this day in 1986 a drunk Billy Martin was fired as the co-host on Saturday Night Live after slurring his lines during a skit. The former Yankee manager sets fire to his dressing room at the end of show, the season finale for SNL.


Also on this day in 1956 Mickey Mantle went off at the plate going 505 with an intentional walk in an 11-5 victory over the Detroit Tigers. Mantle would hit a home run and four singles in the game to go with his walk.


Finally on this day in 1936 the Yankees Tony Lazzeri becomes the first player in major league history to hit two grand slams in the same game when the Yankees beat up on the A's 25-2. The future Hall of Famer also established a new American League record in the game with 11 RBI's.

Prediction on the Attendance inside Yankee Stadium in 2016

This is a picture of the average attended game at Yankee Stadium. This is not a picture of the Jorge Posada or Bernie Williams Day’s or anything like that and it’s not a picture of Yankee Stadium in the postseason against the Houston Astros. This is what the stadium looks like the other 75 or so games a year when it was convenient to print your own tickets at home and show up to a game at a reasonable price during a weekday or on the weekend.

Here is what I predict the stadium will look like after the fans were “protected” by the organization when print-at-home tickets were banned. The average fan can’t sit with the elite and the fan who decides on a Tuesday morning that he got off work unexpectedly and wants to head to the Yankees game can’t because he doesn’t have a ticket in hand or is one of the 19 people left in the world without a smartphone.

For whatever reason though Michael Kay will still announce that 40,000 or so fans showed up to that particular game. Funny how that continues to happen. Attendance will be down, way down, and Hal Steinbrenner will have his excuse not to spend… again. 

ICYMI: Bernie Williams Night Video

Game Thread: New York Yankees vs. Texas Rangers 5-24

Wow that ceremony for Bernie Williams was awesome and so long overdue. No one does it like the Yankees, nobody. The #51 is officially retired and the plaque is made for Monument Park so now it's time to win the game in true Bernie fashion, by any means necessary. Tonight the Yankees play host to the Rangers inside Yankee Stadium for the final time in this three game series with Chris Capuano and Yovani Gallardo on the mound for their respected teams. The game will be played at 8:05 pm ET and can be seen on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball.

The Yankees stay home tomorrow to play host to the Kansas City Royals on Memorial Day so thank a veteran and spend the day at the ballpark. Get your Yankees tickets off the blog by kicking the Yankees Tickets link at the top of the blog to grab a pair for any game of the Royals and Yankees series. If you can't make it or you're at home grilling out and enjoying the paid day off then join me on Twitter (@GreedyStripes) and/or on the comments section of the site to interact during the game.

Capuano is ready, Delino DeShields is ready, let's play ball. Go Yankees!

Meet a Prospect: Bernie Williams

First and foremost I want to welcome everybody to Bernie Williams Night at Yankee Stadium, boy is this one long overdue. Bernie Williams was a member of four World Series championship teams in his 16 seasons with the New York Yankees finishing with a career .297 batting average, 287 home runs, 1,257 RBI, 1,366 runs scored, 449 doubles, five MLB All-Star Game appearances, one Silver Slugger Award, four Gold Glove Awards and one American League Championship Series MVP Award. The only thing in Bernie’s life that he was half as successful at was his ability to play the guitar. Bernie has released two jazz albums since his unofficial retirement while being nominated for a Latin Grammy Award in 2009 and is now getting his #51 jersey retired inside Monument Park. What a life, this should be fun.

Bernabe Williams Figueroa Jr. was born on September 13, 1968 in Puerto Rico to Bernabe Williams Figueroa Sr., a merchant marine dispatcher, and Rufina Williams, a retired principal and college professor. The Williams family lived in the Bronx, New York until Bernie turned one years old, when they moved to Puerto Rico. Bernie not only played baseball growing up but he was also active in track and field and guitar playing. It was Bernie’s ability to play baseball that got him noticed by the New York Yankees in 1985 when Yankees scout Roberto Rivera found and eventually signed Bernie to a deal on his 17^th birthday. Bernie worked his way through the Yankees minor league system building his value with his bat as a switch hitter until he finally got his big shot in the Bronx in 1991.

Williams replaced the injured Roberto Kelly in the second half of the 1991 season but did not do enough to stick in the majors. Williams was not long for the minor leagues though as an injury to Danny Tartabull forced Williams back into the show and back into center field in the Bronx where he was there to stay. Bernie was the regular center fielder until the 1993 season when a slow start prompted George Steinbrenner to insist that GM Gene Michael trade the switch hitter to the Montreal Expos for Larry Walker. Michael did not make the trade and Williams finished the season with a .268 batting average in his first full season with the Yankees. This was not the only time Steinbrenner attempted to trade Williams as once again in 1995, this time to the San Francisco Giants for Darren Lews, but then manager Buck Showalter convinced the Boss to keep Williams in the middle of the order, in center field and on the Yankees.

Williams made his name and his legendary status in the postseason leading the Yankees with a .429 batting average in the 1995 ALDS against the Seattle Mariners and leading the Yankees once again in 1996 against the Texas Rangers with a .467 BA. Williams followed that ALDS up with a .474 ALCS average with two home runs winning the ALCS MVP as the Yankees beat the Baltimore Orioles earning a trip to the World Series. In the World Series Williams had four RBI and a home run to help the team earn their first championship since 1978. Despite the playoff and World Series heroics Williams was the subject of trade rumors again in 1997 when Steinbrenner contemplated trading his center fielder to the Detroit Tigers for a package of young pitchers headlined by Roberto Duran (who?) and Mike Drumright (who?). Bob Watson, the Yankees GM, killed the deal keeping Williams a Yankee but not before discussing a deal with the Chicago Cubs to trade him for fellow outfielder Lance Johnson. Bernie used the trade rumors to build a fire inside him and helped his team win quite a few games in 1998.

The 1998 Yankees won an American League record 114 games that season with Williams batting .339 while becoming the first player to ever win a batting title, Gold Glove award and a World Series ring in the same season. The 1998 season earned Williams a seven year deal from the team worth $87.5 million making Williams one of the highest paid players of all-time at the time. Williams made the playoffs in every single season of that contract and ended up winning two more World Series in the time giving him four rings in six trips to the World Series in a Yankees uniform.

The 2005 season was Bernie’s last on that contract and it was not an easy one for the now aging Yankees center fielder. Williams only started 99 games in center field and another 22 games as a designated hitter due to his already weak arm continuing to decline. The team announced on August 2, 2005 that they would not pick up the option on Williams’ contract for 2006 and would instead opt to pay him a $3.5 million buyout making him a free agent. The team did offer arbitration to Bernie and ultimately signed him to a one year deal worth $1.5 million setting up his final season in pinstripes. Johnny Damon was signed to be the team’s center fielder in 2006 moving Bernie to left and right field when Hideki Matsui and Gary Sheffield were injured while also representing Team Puerto Rico in the 2006 World Baseball Classic. Williams collected his 2,3000^th hit of his career in July of 2006 and also collected his 443^rd career double for second on the Yankees all-time list but it was not enough for Williams to ever play on a baseball diamond again as a major league player, Williams was done.

Williams hoped to re-sign with the Yankees for the 2007 season and accepted a role as a backup outfielder and pinch hitter but rather than signing him to a new deal the team instead offered Williams an invitation to spring training as a non-roster invitee, an invite that Williams almost immediately declined. Williams did attempt a comeback in 2008 with the Gigantes de Carolina of the Puerto Rico Baseball League as he tried to get into baseball shape for the 2009 World Baseball Classic. Williams injured his quad while playing for Carolina jeopardizing his chances to play in the WBC for Puerto Rico due to the injury.

Williams attempted his second comeback with the Yankees before the 2009 season but once again was never offered a contract. Bernie may have lost that battle but he ultimately won the war when he returned to Yankee Stadium on September 21, 2008 to help say goodbye to Yankee Stadium. This marked the first time that Bernie had stepped foot inside Yankee Stadium since his playing years and received a one minute and 42 second standing ovation from the crowd when introduced in the Bronx. Williams also got to play for Team Puerto Rico in the 2009 WBC going 0-for-5 with two walks and while the results were less than what he would have wanted the fact that he was able to play and represent his country had to make the Puerto Rican born switch hitter proud.

Williams finished his career with a postseason record for RBI (80) and a 2^nd place finish in home runs (22), doubles (29), hits (128), total bases (223) and runs scored (83). Williams played a staggering 121 games in the postseason in his career. Williams also finished in the Top 10 in Yankees history in doubles, walks, hits, extra-base hits, home runs and RBI. Williams baseball career was only rivaled by his semi-successful music career showing that Williams had more talent than he knew what to do with in his lifetime.

Williams has come a long way from the player that had good speed but didn’t steal any bases. The player that had the range to play center field but the arm that should have made him a left fielder. The consistent hitter that didn’t seem to hit for enough power despite hitting in the middle of the order. The player that was almost traded twice that we publicly know about. Yes, Williams has come a long way and he is now enshrined in the greatest park in Major League Baseball history alongside the likes of Babe Ruth and Joe DiMaggio. Bernie Williams is now a Yankees legend. Congrats Bernie, it’s well deserved. 

Bernie Williams Career Highlights

Something to hold you over until the ceremony tonight on Bernie Williams night in Yankee Stadium.

TGP Daily Poll: Bernie Williams Night Loss

Yankees lost on Derek Jeter Day, Paul O'Neill Day and Mariano Rivera Day in recent years so why would you think the Yankees would win on Bernie Williams Day? The team tends to lose when it matters most to the fans lately.

Vote in our prediction poll on Knoda.com

Weekly Check In: Bernie Williams

Don’t worry Yankees fans I know it’s Luis Severino check in day but with him on the disabled list and his stats almost identical to what they were in the last check in( he did make one start on Thursday night and looked sharp) I figured why not check in on Bernie Williams. It is Bernie Williams Day after all so let’s take a look at what his stats looked like in his career when he finally decided to officially retire in 2015.

Regular Season:

Year	G	PA	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+
16 Yrs	2076	9053	1366	2336	449	55	287	1257	147	1069	1212	.297	.381	.477	.858	125
162 Game Avg.	162	706	107	182	35	4	22	98	11	83	95	.297	.381	.477	.858	125

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

Postseason:

Year	G	PA	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
12 Yrs (25 Series)	121	545	83	128	29	0	22	80	8	71	85	.275	.371	.480	.850
	G	PA	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
12 ALDS	48	215	36	51	16	0	8	33	2	26	31	.279	.367	.497	.865
7 ALCS	41	189	31	52	10	0	9	33	4	25	28	.321	.413	.549	.962
6 WS	32	141	16	25	3	0	5	14	2	20	26	.208	.319	.358	.677

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

Bern Baby Bern.

Saturday Night Open Thread

The Yankees game for the day is in the books as the grounds crew and personnel at Yankee Stadium prepare for Bernie Williams Day tomorrow night in the Bronx. I am preparing for that myself right here on the blog so tonight I leave you with a Saturday night open thread to discuss anything you guys want. Bernie Williams Day, the NBA playoffs, the fact that you’re still mad about the Draft Lottery, whatever you want. Have fun with it and enjoy.

Game Thread: New York Yankees vs. Texas Rangers 5/23

It feels like we just got done doing one of these and here we are again a mere 16 hours later doing another as it’s game time between the New York Yankees and the Texas Rangers. This marks the second time this weekend and the second time in this three game set that these two teams will go head-to-head in the Bronx. This afternoon CC Sabathia is on the mound for the Yankees facing off against the Rangers starter Nick Martinez. The game will be played at 1:05 pm ET and can be seen on MLB Network, WPIX Channel 11 and MLB TV.

Tomorrow night is the big ceremony for Bernie Williams Day where he will receive a plaque in Monument Park and his #51 jersey retired. Believe it or not there are still tickets available and we need as many fans as possible to be there because I have said it once and I will say it again, suits don’t cheer. If you can’t make it then that’s fine just join us Twitter (@GreedyStripes) or in the comments section to cheer on Bernie from afar.

It’s a beautiful afternoon in the Bronx and the ball should be flying out of right field today and frankly I’m looking forward to it. Go Yankees!

Game Thread: Texas Rangers @ New York Yankees 5/22

The Yankees are fresh off their second off day of the week and fresh off another road loss at the hands of the Washington Nationals on Wednesday night. The team will look to rebound tonight in the Bronx when the Yankees play host to the Texas Rangers. Michael Pineda and Colby Lewis is the pitching matchup in a contest that will be played at 7:05 pm ET and televised on the YES Network, MLB Network and MLB TV.

Just another friendly reminder that Bernie Williams night takes place on Sunday night when these two teams face off once again inside Yankee Stadium. Get your tickets for that game or any game this series right here on the blog by clicking the Yankees Tickets link at the top of the blog. If you can’t make it to the Bronx Sunday night or you have to be up early for work Monday morning then that’s not a problem just jump on Twitter (@GreedyStripes) or the comments section of the blog to chat with us during each and every single Yankees game.

Big Mike is ready, the Rangers are ready, let’s play ball. Go Yankees!

Game Thread: New York Yankees @ Kansas City Royals 5/17

The New York Yankees will play their 17th game in their last 17 days this afternoon when they make one more trip to Kauffman Stadium to take on the Kansas City Royals. This afternoon the Yankees will watch as Chris Capuano makes his season debut after being activated off the disabled list against Edinson Volquez of the Royals. The game will be played at 2:10 pm ET and can be seen on the YES Network and MLB TV.

You now have less than a week to get your Yankees tickets in hand before the team returns home to the Bronx and Yankee Stadium to play host to the Texas Rangers. The team will also honor Bernie Williams with a plaque in Monument Park and will retire his #51 jersey next Sunday in the Bronx and you can be there live if you click the Yankees Tickets link at the top of the blog. If you can't make it to the Bronx to watch the games live or you just prefer to watch the games at home then that's not a problem as long as you join us on the comments section of the site or on Twitter (@GreedyStripes) to chat it up with us during the game.

Mr. Capuano, take it from here and take care of my light work. Go Yankees!

Game Thread: New York Yankees @ Tampa Bay Rays 5/11

For the eight time already this season it is game time between the New York Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays. I'm not sure how I feel about playing all your American League East rivals so early in the season since it should create a ton of scoreboard watching in September but what do I know. Anyway tonight the Yankees send CC Sabathia to the mound to face off against Alex Colome for the Rays. The game will be played at 7:10 pm ET and can be seen on the YES Network and MLB TV.

The Yankees are on the road for a week's worth of games before returning home to Yankee Stadium to play host to the Texas Rangers on Bernie Williams Day. Get your Yankees tickets for that series and the return to the Bronx by clicking our Yankees Tickets link at the top of the blog. If you can't make it to the Bronx then join us in our comments section and join us on Twitter (@GreedyStripes) to live chat with us during almost every single game.

Colome is on the mound and Jacoby Ellsbury is ready to start a new extended hitting streak so I'll get off here and catch the beginning of the game, hopefully a Yankees victory. Go Yankees!

Game Preview: Baltimore Orioles @ New York Yankees 5/10

The New York Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles complete their four game series this afternoon in the Bronx in a Mother’s Day showdown at Yankee Stadium. This has been a closely contested series and I expect nothing less from each team this afternoon in the getaway game. This afternoon the Yankees will send Michael Pineda to the mound looking to finish off the series on a high note against the Orioles starter Bud Norris. The game will be played at 1:05 pm ET and can be seen on the YES Network and on MLB TV.

• Pineda pitched easily his best game of the 2015 season last time out when the big right hander went eight innings against the Toronto Blue Jays. Pineda did not allow a run and has now won his last six decisions dating back to the 2014 season.

• Norris pitched maybe his worst start of the 2015 season last time out when his Orioles faced off against the New York Mets. Norris allowed three runs in the fourth inning but was able to go seven innings in a season high. The Orioles lost to the Mets in the contest though as New York completed the sweep over Baltimore.

After this game this afternoon the Yankees head back out onto the road to face off with the Tampa Bay Rays, Kansas City Royals and Washington Nationals before returning home next weekend for a series with the Texas Rangers and Bernie Williams Day. The Yankees keep winning and keep staying in first place making this a fun season to be a part of thus far. Let’s keep the good times rolling this afternoon in the Bronx. Go Yankees!

Game Thread: Baltimore Orioles @ New York Yankees 5/8

The New York Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles play tonight under the bright lights in the Bronx in front of what is expected to be a rather large crowd inside Yankee Stadium tonight. The two men with all the pressure to put on a good show for this large gathering of fans will be Adam Warren for the Yankees and Miguel Gonzalez for the Orioles. The game will be played at 7:05 pm ET and can be seen on the YES Network and MLB TV.

You only have two day games left in the Bronx after tonight before the team heads back out onto the road to continue their schedule. Get your Yankees tickets now for this series or the next home series where the team honors Bernie Williams on Bernie Williams Day. If you’d rather stay home or can’t make it out to the ballpark then don’t feel bad, a lot of us can’t. Simply jump on the comments section of the site and/or Twitter (@GreedyStripes) to interact with us during each and every game. I’m like the annoying guy sitting behind you crunching on popcorn, drinking too much beer and second guessing every decision each manager makes so it’s almost like being there live!

Warren has a habit in pitching in some big games for New York and doing exceptionally well so I’ll let him take it from here while I catch up on some binder reading. Go Yankees!!