Welcome home Joe!

(Photos by Ken Carozza)

By Howard Goldin

Yankee heroes of several generations of fans gathered together at Yankee Stadium on Sunday to celebrate the organization’s 65^th Old Timers’ Day. More than 50 representatives of past teams of the iconic baseball organization were present to rekindle fond memories of the past. The Yankees are the only team that honors its former players on an annual basis.

The Yankees Senior Vice President/Director of Marketing Debbie Tymon, and her capable staff, as they do every year, spent a great deal of time and much thought to arrange a ceremony that will be unforgettable to the former Yankees and the fans in the ballpark and those watching on television at home.

An observer of the event for many years, Lou Piniella remarked, “It was really organized. Here in New York, they do it so well.” Of the Monahan tribute, Joe Girardi commented, “Debbie Tymon did a magnificent job in setting this up and keeping it a secret.”

To ensure the event does not seem repetitive each year, former Yankees who have never returned for an Old Timers’ Day are included. Clay Bellinger, Brian Boehringer, Jose Cardinal, and George Frazier, broadcaster for the Rockies returned on June 26.

Three others also making their inaugural Old Timers’ Day appearances, Lou Piniella, Joe Torre and Bernie Williams, were eagerly awaited by most of those in the Stadium. Each spoke of their delight in returning and of the importance of this event when they were members of the Yankees.

Lou Piniella, who has not worn the Yankees pinstripes since 1988, said, “When I was a player, coach and manager, Old Timers’ Day was my best day and that for my players. It’s wonderful being back in New York. It’s special for me. I always like to see the guys older than me; it makes me feel younger.”

Wearing a sling after recent rotator cuff surgery, Joe Torre used words similar to Piniella to describe his happiness of being back, “It felt good just putting (the Yankees uniform) on. I had been looking forward to this. I think I’m going to enjoy this day.”

Torre had returned to Yankee Stadium late last season for a tribute to George Steinbrenner. He referred to that experience as “an icebreaker” in his relationship with the Yankees. Torre’s prolonged and vociferous standing ovation of a greeting far overshadowed the greeting given to all the other immortals and stopped the show.

Continuing the tradition of the visits in past decades of the wives of Yankees idols like Claire Ruth and Eleanor Gehrig, the 2011 ceremony included the presence of Arlene Howard, Helen Hunter, Jill Martin, Diana Munson and Kay Murcer. Bobby Murcer’s niece , Dede Murcer Moffett, sang a moving version of the National Anthem.

The presence of family members on the field brought the truth to remarks made by Bernie Williams, “As a player, I always looked forward to this day. It made me feel like a part of a family that went on for 100 years, being part of something that was bigger than myself.”

Even senior citizen in the Stadium were given childhood memories of seeing players who began their Yankees years in the 1940s and 1950s. Among those from that era of great Yankees success were Yogi Berra, Dr. Bobby Brown, who attended medical school in the years during which he played for the Yankees, Charlie Silvera, Jerry Coleman, a Marine pilot hero in World War Ii and the Korean War, Hector Lopez, Don Larsen and Bill “Moose” Skowron.

Skowron, the Yankees first sacker from 1954 until 1962, has been diagnosed with lung cancer. He expressed his expectation of overcoming the disease through radiation and chemotherapy. Of coming back to these reunions, he stated, “This is my home. This is where I made a living. If they invite me, I will be here.”

Among the unforgettable scenes were seeing the three Yankees perfect game pitchers together, Don Larsen, David Cone and David Welles and seeing Colorado Rockies designated hitter Jason Giambi in the Yankees dugout during the ceremony and being kissed on the cheek by his former manager, Joe Torre.

A special edition to the ceremony, that was kept a secret, was the tribute to Yankees trainer Gene Monahan, who will retire from the organization this year after 49 years of service. Monahan was introduced by broadcaster Michael Kay with the words, “The personification of grace and class [who] represented the Yankees in the best way possible.”

A video salute that included former and current Yankees players such as Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera, Tino Martinez and Paul O’Neill was shown. A variety of gifts that will serve Monahan well during his retirement was presented. He was then enveloped by members of the 2011 team, who came onto the field.

At the end of the day, manager Joe Girardi told reporters, “We’ve all been itching for this day to get here for Geno. He’s meant so much for us in so many different ways.”

A two-inning contest, featuring some of the younger “Old Timers” followed the ceremony. The highlight was a homer by Martinez into the right field stands off David Cone. The lighthearted reminder of years past concluded the happy day.

A visitor from the West, Tracy Ringolsby, covering the Colorado Rockies during this series, was very impressed by the ceremony. The Baseball Hall of Fame inductee in 2005 said, “I saw one years ago when I was covering the Angels. No one can do this any more. The Yankees have a great tradition and do so much to keep it alive.”

Miracle plunge reunion

(Photo by David Greene)

By David Greene

Eleven days after the "Miracle" crash on the Bronx River Parkway, three individuals, forever connected by the parkway, met for the first time and now they are talking of collaborating on various projects.

On June 15, Michael Robles, 28, who survived plunging 22 and-a-half feet off the overpass and onto a parked car in front of a police station, met the driver of a car he nearly plowed into, and a man who lost five members of his family on the same stretch of road.

Maggie Nieves was driving northbound in the right lane on June 4, when Robles lost control of his vehicle in the left lane and headed straight for her. Narrowly the two cars missed and Nieves watched her rearview mirror in horror as Robles went airborne and flew off the highway at E. 180 Street.

Now outside the NYPD's Transit District 12 headquarters on Morris Park Avenue, Robles recalled, "They couldn't believe that I was walking around. When I got out of the car, I fell around here somewhere. I got out of the car, people were looking at me like I was a freak of nature or something."

Robles, the Bronx Democratic male district leader representing the Soundview section as well as a Con Edison worker and member of the Army National Guard, continued, "Not once have I gotten behind the wheel and felt scared or fear since the crash, it's almost like it never happened... God has given me peace about the whole thing."

Dexter Gardiner lost five members of his family and now cares for a sixth who survived the crash on July 9, 2006. That crash began in the southbound lane, but the car jumped the divider into northbound traffic, causing the multi-fatal head-on collision.

Nieves, who had arrived at the scene in tears shortly after the crash and could not believe that someone had survived, was also meeting Gardiner for the first time, and learning of a lawsuit against the city, Nieves stated, "Take his experience and what they fought for was valid, not because of what already tragically happened, but that case should have made them do more repairs, because it still has the potential to kill people."

Having not driven on the parkway since the crash, Nieves continued, "For whatever reason he lost control, when you hit the metal plates on this bridge, you could lose the alignment of the car... you sink into them and then you pop up again and I ride this all the time, not that I'm going to do it anytime soon."

"My son doesn't want to take it," Nieves shared, adding, "We just go local" now.

Now walking under the overpass, Robles offered to his new friends, "People can say, 'Hey, I love God,' but treat their neighbors horribly or don't care if their starving or don't care if their kid is in the hospital, and just go about their lives because their worried about themselves, so are you really sure you have that relationship with God, and I see that now."

Gardiner then shared with Robles and Nieves a program he has founded called, "True Talk," explaining, "I bring all the young kids and young adults together and we just talk about the daily life and what their going through. We started with like five and now we have twenty-five. Right now I'm holding it at my house, but it's getting so big that we have to find a new spot."

Nieves, who spent five and-a-half years at BronxNet before taking a job with the city, suggested Dexter appear on one of the shows to tell his unique and moving story.

Robles told Gardiner, "I have this drive in me to help make my community better, but what your doing is inspiring me to do more."

Now looking at the mangled fence Robles struck before landing on top of a police officer's pick-up truck, Robles recalled, "I know we came down and I remember making impact with the vehicle, but I don't remember hitting the fence."

Robles said of Gardiner, "I see the motivation he has to help others, especially with the incident with his family, which was so tragic but the positive things that he's doing in his community for all types of people from all over the city, it's commendable, and now I'm looking to help in any way I can... I look forward to partnering with him and coming out to his tournament this summer."

The 6th Gardiner Memorial Classic will be held August 13 - 14 at St. James Park, and had begun in 2006 in honor of a beloved grandmother. The family members were killed leaving the first game and since the crash the law firm Gersowitz, Libo & Korek annually presents scholarships to the best young student/ athletes. The event brings together some of the best basketball players from across the tri-state area.

In regard to attorney Jeff Korek's claim that the City of New York was found negligent because of the divider involved in the 2006 crash, as expected, a spokeswoman with the New York City Law Department responded, "This is a matter involving pending litigation. Because of that, I'm unable to comment on the issues further right now." Korek has stated he expects that case to come to trial before the end of this year.

Last week Charles O'Shea, a spokesman with the New York State Department of Transportation vowed to give a statement after hearing back from the maintenance division, he must still be waiting. If and when O'Shea responds we will gladly print whatever he has to say.

The city changed the center divider so that cars can not easily jump into opposite traffic but apparently has done nothing to a 3-inch curb and a 2-foot fence on either side of the highway, that seems to have been installed for the purpose of protecting pedestrians along a foot-path, and not drivers. It is not known if any other vehicles have ever driven off the elevated section of the Bronx River Parkway,

Those wishing more information of the basketball tournament log onto their website at: www.Gardinerfoundation.org.    

Post Office to customers: Take a hike!

(Photo by David Greene)

By David Greene

Despite an outcry from local residents, the United States Post Office has sent out postcards announcing the closure of the Van Nest Station, to take effect on Friday, July 1. 

All postal operations at 715 Morris Park Avenue will be moved to the Parkchester Station, located at 1449 West Avenue. 

Bronx Postmaster Howard E. Sample wrote to customers, "Because of the drastic decline in mail volume, the Postal Service is in a financial crisis and must take action to reduce the size of it's retail delivery network."