Monday, June 27, 2011

(Constant) Tino Martinez Hits A Bomb On Old-Timers' Day

Tino rounding 1st after Coney gave up the bomb.  (Daily News)
I just wanted to pass along this gem from yesterday's Old Timers' Day at Yankee Stadium.  For anyone who grew up during the Yankees' heyday of the late 1990's, this is especially meaningful.  Tino Martinez blasting a 2-run HR into the right field seats off David Cone with Bernie Williams on base?  Just typing that sentence brought back all kinds of wonderful memories.  Enjoy:




Posted by Jay Hyne at 6/27/2011 01:08:00 PM
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3 comments:

  1. Ben WolinskyJune 28, 2011 at 11:17 AM

    I was at the Old Timer's Day game and it was awesome. It was particularly special because of my affection for Bernie Williams. I wish I was there for BP to see him hit left-handed, but I had to settle for his at bat from the right side. When he hit the ball, I thought it was out. But his mannerisms were the same and he had his usual right-handed bat flip as he left the box.

    Same goes for Tino. Same traditional swing, guarding his chest with his left arm has he finished. But it was like old times...Bernie gets on base and Tino drills one into the right-field stands. The great irony is that the last time I went to Old Timer's Day, most of the players who played in the Old Timer's game played in the real game.

    The Strawman also just missed going deep. Mariano actually asked Michael Kay to introduce him as an old timer, but he would not oblige. Could have been the first player ever to play in the old timers day game and then get the save in the real game. Makes you realize how amazing it is that he is still this good when half of the old timer's were his teammates at one point.

    The ceremony for Gene Monahan was really special. I don't think we realize how much he has meant to the players over the years.

    One more side note - David Wells looks like he's in better shape than he ever was during his playing days. And Jeff Nelson looks like he could still get people out.

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  2. Jay HyneJune 28, 2011 at 11:58 AM

    Ben -- what a fantastic comment. I agree with everything you said, especially about Tino and Bernie's mannerisms at the plate, and how (relatively) fit Boomer & Nelson looked. Many of those guys seem like they could still play ball! Can't wait to see Mariano's cutter at age 50+....even when he's an "Old Timer" I'm sure it'll still be darn near impossible to hit squarely.

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  3. Ben WolinskyJune 28, 2011 at 12:34 PM

    The great thing is that it's just the beginning of many Old Timer's Days for these guys. In the past, if you went or watched it on TV, you knew the names and may have seen them play when you were really little, but you didn't have the same connection with the players that our parents did.

    Now, it's really something special. As Sterling and Kay described the players, you instantly knew which one they were talking about and a flood memories came flowing back, even for guys like Clay Bellinger and Charlie Hayes. They weren't phenomenal players by any means but they stick out in our minds because they were Yankees. It's just how our parents remember Brian Doyle and Rick Cerrone. We look at their stats and wonder what was so special. Luis Sojo was far from a great player, but if and when he makes his next Old Timer's Day appearance, he'll get a rousing ovation. Once a Yankee...always a Yankee (except maybe for Kenny Rogers). I can't wait to take my own children to Old Timer's Day and talk about these players.

    The one guy who I always dreamed about seeing at Old Timer's Day was Roger Clemens. What a thrill it would have been to take my children to see the man who at one point was considered one of the greatest pitchers of all time. Just shows you how steroids does more than merely taint a bunch of statistics.

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