Yankee fans see superstitions as key to team's World Series success

Wednesday October 28, 2009 2:33 PM By Jason Fink

Good pitching and timely hitting usually are the keys to winning baseball games, but in the superstitious minds of some anxious Yankee fans, winning the World Series may come down to a tattered hat or a turkey sandwich.

As the Fall Classic begins tonight in the Bronx, fans will be doing their part with lucky charms, time-honored rituals and maybe even a prayer.

"I wear the same hat I’ve had for close to nine years," said Jeremy Cobin, 27, a Yankees fan in Manhattan. "Recently, the brim broke basically in half, but it doesn’t matter. I’m still wearing it."

At a pep rally the city is hosting for the Bronx Bombers at 12:30 p.m. today in Times Square, New Yorkers are encouraged to attend dressed in their Yankee gear.

Carla Pasquale, 24, of Manhattan, has two rings she wears for each game: one her mother bought her in Ireland for luck and a sparkly Yankees ring purchased by a friend.

"I’m also starting to think it’s good luck when my boyfriend watches the games with me, but since he’s a die-hard Phillies fan we definitely won’t be watching the World Series together," she said.

Superstitions — by players, fans and coaches — are ubiquitous in baseball.

"It’s a way to stabilize a certain emotion," said Richard Lustberg, a sports psychologist. "Some of them believe there’s actually a higher purpose, but part of it is just the routine. It provides structure for people."

Jane Heller, a Yankees blogger and author of "Confessions of a She-Fan," said she ate turkey club sandwiches when the team went on a five-game winning streak to begin the postseason, switching her meal only after the first loss to the Angels. Still, she stakes out the same spot on the couch for every game.

"It’s a way that fans try to have control over something that we can’t control," she said.

Sometimes that winning formula can be elusive.

Emma Span, 27, of Brooklyn, who writes for the Yankees blog Bugs and Cranks, said during the second game of the ALCS against the Angels, which the Yankees eventually won, she set her Bernie Williams bobble-head doll in different places throughout her apartment, hoping for some luck.

"Bernie was all over the place," she said. "Nothing worked, until he ended up under the bed, which seemed to do the trick."

Yankees fans on top of the world as Game 3 nears

Monday October 19, 2009 12:26 PM By Emily Ngo

Yankee outfielder Hideki Matsui breaks his bat in Game 2 against the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday. The teams meet again Monday. (Photo: AP)

The Yankees, undefeated in the playoffs, are at the top of their game.

Their fans, unnerved by last season’s disappointing end, are on top of the world.

“They will absolutely continue their streak. The players are clicking on all cylinders,” said Michael Govas, 23, of Bensonhurst, who donned a Bombers cap and jacket Sunday in a show of support.

Two wins away from the World Series, the Yankees are in California on Monday for Game 3 against the Los Angeles Angels.

But there will still be action at Yankee Stadium on Monday, where fans can watch the game, starting at 4:13 p.m., inside the main concourse or in the field-level seats. Entry is free and concessions will be open.

Manager Joe Girardi and his team topped the Angels in dramatic fashion on Sunday morning, feeding the fan frenzy with a 13-inning, 4-3 victory that gave the Bombers a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

This October is a far cry from last year, when the Yankees missed the playoffs for the first time since 1993.

“It’s destiny! This is the best team that’s ever been assembled,” crowed Alex Yeres, 27, of Manhattan. “Their egos are checked at the door. For once, they look like they enjoy each other and are playing together.”

Tabloid fodder third baseman Alex Rodriguez seemed to agree after the Game 2 win, saying, “I had a blast out there.” A-Rod hit his third
game-tying homer of the playoffs in the seventh inning or later on Monday, setting a new MLB record.

“What A-Rod’s gone through, with all the scandal and gossip, it rocked his career,” said Elbert Calderon, 43, of East New York. “But I think it’s made him stronger and put a focus on his life, set his priorities straight.”

The team’s success as they try for their 27th World Series title has less to do with luck than fate, fans insisted yesterday.

“This team is one of the best I’ve ever seen. I was sitting in the outfield of the [1977] World Series game where Reggie Jackson hit three home runs, but this team has ‘destiny’ written all over it,” said lifelong fan Tim Fowler, 51.

The Yanks’ chemistry – helped by the resilience of their bullpen, particularly closer Mariano Rivera, and the light-hearted touch of pranksters like pie-in-the-face fanatic A.J. Burnett – will earn them the 2009 World Series ring, supporters predicted.

“Seems like there’s been a lot of magic so far this year here,” team captain Derek Jeter said last week. Fowler, of the Bronx, seconded, “There’s never been a team like this. There’s no other team in their league.”

Phoebe Kingsak contributed to this story.

emily.ngo@am-ny.com

ESPN, MLB atones, moves Yankees game out of Yom Kippur

Tuesday September 1, 2009 6:31 PM By Marlene Naanes

ESPN and Major League Baseball  yesterday changed back the start time of the Sept. 27 Red Sox-Yankees game after getting backlash for moving it to the middle of Yom Kippur.

The game will now start at its original time of 1 p.m. instead of 8 p.m.

“I am pleased we were able to resolve this sensitive issue that impacted many baseball fans and are able to move the game at Yankee Stadium to 1:00 p.m.,” Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig said in a statement.

The game will be shown exclusively on ESPN.

Starting at the later time would have left observant fans holding useless tickets or unable to even watch the game on television. Yom Kippur, considered the holiest day on the Jewish calendar, begins at sundown on Sept. 27.

Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-Brooklyn and Queens), who wrote a letter to ESPN and the Commissioner of Baseball yesterday asking for the switch, said they did the right thing.

Meanwhile, the Yankees announced that the majority of postseason ticket prices will be less than what was charged in the 2007 postseason. Regular season ticket prices, excluding suites, will be charged for the American League Division Series.

(With AP)
 

Subway Series still gets fans revved up

Thursday June 11, 2009 7:30 PM By Ryan Chatelain

David Wright and Alex Rodriguez meet in the Subway Series this weekend. (Photos by Getty)

By Ryan Chatelain

Twelve years after the first Subway Series, Mets and Yankees fans say the fire still burns bright in their crosstown rivalry.

“At my job, people are excited,” said John Perez, 32, a Yankees fan from Manhattan. “They’re making bets all around.”

The teams will revive their oft-heated rivalry on Friday, as the Bombers host the Amazin’s for the opener of a three-game series.

Mets and Yankees faithful agreed the team’s new ballparks — Citi Field and the new Yankee Stadium — will add to the thrill of the games this season. The Yanks will get their first look at Citi Field when they visit the Mets from June 26-28.“There’s more excitement than ever,” said Mets fan Kevin Stroble, 36. “It’s a big battle between the two. Big-time rivals. With the new stadiums, they want to prove something.”

But even though the Subway Series still draws packed houses, some acknowledged the rivalry has cooled since Major League Baseball introduced interleague play in 1997.

“I think the players get a little sick of all the attention that is paid to it and how people treat this as something more than a weekend series,” said Benjamin Kabak, who writes for River Avenue Blues, a Yankees blog. “I know everybody likes to say it’s a battle for New York, but it can get a little tiring.”

Observers also pointed to the fact that there is no bad blood between any players, as was the case with Yankees pitcher Roger Clemens and Mets slugger Mike Piazza earlier this decade. (Clemens famously threw a broken bat in Piazza’s direction during the 2000 World Series. Both All-Stars are now retired.)

John Strubel, a writer for the Mets online magazine Flushing9.com, blamed the lack of intensity in today’s rivalry on George Steinbrenner stepping away from the Yankees’ front office.

“He hated the Mets,” Strubel said. “I think he pushed that on to his ballplayers. He really wanted to see them beat the Mets and stomp them out.”

Anastasia Economides contributed to this report.

Show your team support through cookies

Thursday June 11, 2009 11:51 AM By Lucy Blatter

Zaro's Bread Baskets in Penn Station and Grand Central are commemorating the upcoming Subway Series with Mets and Yankees cookies. What better way to show your support than by indulging in sweets?

The cookies (which are $3.25 a piece) will be available from today until Sunday, the 14th and Thursday, the 25th through Sunday, the 28th.

Shorter walls to blame for Yankee Stadium home run derby: Report

Tuesday June 9, 2009 8:11 PM By Pete Catapano

Johnny Damon homers Monday against Tampa Bay (Getty)

By Pete Catapano

Blame the home run derby at the new Yankee Stadium on the walls not the wind, a report released yesterday by Accuweather.com says.

Open now for two months, the Bombers’ new home in the Bronx is poised to set a record for long balls with already 105 hit this season, puzzling fans and experts alike.

While some of speculated wind patterns are to blame, the report says it’s the height of the outfield walls that’s a leading cause.

“Not only is the famed short porch even shorter in the new stadium, but the walls themselves are not as tall,” the report says.It notes that while the dimensions of the stadiums are identical, the new park is lacking the wall curvature of the old one, resulting in a “right field that is shorter by 4-5 feet on average, but to 9 feet in spots.”

Taking into account the dimensions of the field and wall height, AccuWeather.com has calculated that 19 percent (20 out of 105) home runs would not have flown out of the old stadium.

Furthermore, the report says that there’s been no change in the wind speed that has caused the homer onslaught.

The Yankees were unavailable to comment on the report by press time.

Yankees in red - you're not seeing things

Monday May 25, 2009 3:02 PM By Pete Catapano

Yankees pitcher Phil Hughes wears a red cap on the mound Monday in honor of Memorial Day (AP Photo)

By Pete Catapano

Here's a weird sight. That's Yankees pitcher Phil Hughes wearing a red Yankees cap while on the mound this afternoon against the Rangers in Texas.

It's not about style, it's about honoring Memorial Day in a league-wide showing of respect to the country's fallen soldiers. The umpires are also wearing red today in Texas. (The Rangers already wear red)

For those keeping score at home, this is the first time the Yanks have worn red hats.

The league will also do this on July 4 and Sept. 11

Yankees will have hands full with latest A-Rod controversy

Monday May 4, 2009 7:08 PM By Jason Fink

Derek Jeter, left, and Alex Rodriguez, in 2007. Newsday file photo

By Jason Fink

The Yankees' season is about to get a lot more interesting.

With injured star Alex Rodriguez set to return within a week, experts say the Bombers will have their hands full, as the controversial slugger and his teammates cope with the onslaught of negative publicity over the explosive tell-all bio published Monday.

Besides alleging more extensive steroid use than A-Rod has admitted to, the book portrays him as insecure superstar whose jealousy of teammate Derek Jeter borders on obsession.“It's a gossip cauldron and it could turn into a fire pit if not properly managed,” said John Murray, a sports psychologist. “Everybody will say it doesn't matter and talk is cheap but this is the biggest stage in the world and these players know what's being said about them.”

In one telling scene from “A-Rod: The Many Lives of Alex Rodriguez,” author Selena Roberts describes how on the night of the 2008 All-Star game at Yankee Stadium both players hosted parties with celebrity guest lists.

“Not even Madonna stopped by (A-Rod's party), and most of Alex's teammates skipped the bash in favor of the All-Star celebration hosted by Derek Jeter,” Roberts writes. “Alex was last seen sitting in a back booth at the 40/40 Club with his mother.”

A-Rod, 34, was constantly comparing himself to the team captain, Roberts writes, revealing something of an inferiority complex.

When out at nightclubs, according to the book, A-Rod would ask women: “'Who's hotter, me or Derek Jeter?'”

“'The Jeter thing ate Alex alive,'” a friend of Rodriguez told Roberts. “'It was always about Jeter.'”

In what could prove a continuing distraction, Roberts writes that the rift between the two stars split the team.

“The tension between Jeter and Rodriguez escalated to the point where the clubhouse - and management - began to take sides,” the book says. “In the middle was a team that, (outfielder Gary) Sheffield says, 'didn't know what to think about the soap opera.'”

All of this has left fans wondering whether the team, which has battled tabloid stories about A-Rod before, can ignore the sideshow.

“It's never good to have rivalry within the team,” said Mike Cioli, 36, of Manhattan. “I think they will be distracted but I don't see how it will affect the performance.”

Sports psychologist Robert Udewitz, who practices in Manhattan, said the hype surrounding A-Rod's off-field peccadilloes - which include a highly publicized divorce and alleged affair with Madonna, as well as the steroids admission - may well hurt the team.

“These little stressors become bigger and bigger,” he said. “You don't see too many teams who thrive on adversity.”

Melinda Hsia contributed to this story

Metro-North tests on-board announcements for new Yankee Stadium stop in advance of May 23 opening

Tuesday April 21, 2009 1:08 PM By Rolando Pujol

The electronic sign aboard a Metro-North train Saturday night already displays the name of the stop: Yankees -- East 153rd Street. The conductor had to clarify that the train was not stopping there -- yet. (Photo: Rolando Pujol)

By Melinda Hsia

Special to amNewYork

Attention Metro-North riders: Don’t be surprised to hear on-board announcements for the soon-to-open station at the new Yankee Stadium.

Metro-North has begun to test the electronic and audio announcements for the station, which will be called Yankees – East 153rd Street. It opens May 23, on time and on budget, officials at the commuter line said.Metro-North will move into the station exactly 24 months after the contract was finalized.

Tickets sales will begin on May 1. A one-way trip to the Yankees Stadium from Grand Central Terminal will cost $6.50 during peak hours and $5.00 off-peak. Fans coming from the Harlem and New Haven lines will pay the cost of traveling to Grand Central Terminal plus an additional $1 during peak time and $.75 off-peak for one-way tickets. For those with weekly or monthly passes there will be no additional charge.

But baseball fans won’t be the only ones to use the stop, as the station will operate like any other stop on the Metro-North line.

“We expect people in the Bronx to use it to go north for work more than for [going] down to Manhattan,” said Marjorie Anders, a Metro-North spokeswoman, “We do think

that there is a reverse peak for employment in Yonkers and Tarrytown.”

Trains will run every 20 minutes during rush hours and every hour at other times.

Citi Field ticket prices irk some fans

Sunday March 15, 2009 1:54 PM By Jason Fink

Tickets at Citi Field will go as high as $280. AP photo

By Jason Fink

The first tickets for the Mets’ new stadium went on sale Sunday, sparking outrage from some fans floored by the prices.

“I’m speechless,” said Matt Pignataro, founder of SevenTraintoShea.com, a blog about the team. “I was shocked by the pricing, especially the outfield seats.”

Seats at Citi Field, which hosts its first game April 13, range from a high of $280 to a low of $11. Prices depend not just on location within the stadium but on the opponent.

The most common category, Gold level games (those against the world champion Phillies, for example), will cost from $60 to $84 a ticket for outfield reserved seats and $150 to $210 for field level box seats. Of the 28 different seat types, 21 will cost $54 or more for Gold games.The cheapest game category, Value (several games against the Marlins and the Nationals), costs $120 for the most expensive seat but the majority range from $24 to $69.

“There’s a huge disparity between the cheap seats and all the rest,” said Neil DeMause, founder of fieldofschemes.com, a Web site critical of public financing for sports stadiums. “There’s no middle class in seating anymore”

The Mets did not return a call for comment.

Online sales began Sunday for games in April and May. Tickets will be available Monday at the box office and at the Mets clubhouse store.

It’s unlikely the Yankees will offer many bargains either.

The team has begun selling season packages — the smallest, an 11-game plan, ranges from $550 to $3,850 — but are requiring online registration for the first shot at buying single game tickets.

Fans have until 10 p.m. Tuesday to register on the team’s Web site for single game tickets and a drawing will be held for a chance to buy them online March 23.

The next day, whatever tickets remain will go on sale for everyone else.

Fans hungry for baseball season to start

Thursday February 12, 2009 3:14 PM By Pete Catapano

Mr. Met is pumped — are you?

BY PETE CATAPANO

An eroding economy. Weeks of freezing temperatures. Meltdowns by the Giants and Jets. Lackluster seasons by the New York basketball and hockey teams. No question, it’s been a depressing couple of months.

But there’s light at the end of the winter for many New Yorkers who are hungrier than ever for baseball’s spring training to get underway, which it finally does this weekend.

“I can’t wait,” said Ed Lefkowitz, a 71-year-old Mets fan from Brooklyn. “It’ll take my mind off of the rest of the crap.”

New Yorkers have no shortage of pro sports teams to root for, but the city has always held its baseball franchises near and dear, from the Dodgers and Giants of yesteryear to the Bronx Bombers and the Amazin’s of 2009.“Baseball was important during the big depressions, so it should be now,” Lefkowitz said.

While the Alex Rodriguez steroid scandal and the Joe Torre tell-all book has put a damper on the new season, there’s still plenty left for Yankee fans to be excited about. Besides a new stadium (although there’s many who will long for the old one), there are two new aces in CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett and a new big-time slugger in Mark Teixeira.

If odds makers are right, Yankee fans are right to have hope — they’re the favorite to the win the World Series at 5-2 odds.

The Mets, meanwhile, have added stars Francisco Rodriguez and J.J. Putz to bolster the bullpen. The team, which will also have a brand new ballpark, is at 7-1 odds to win it all.

“I've been looking forward to the season starting,” David Kalinowski, 39, of Queens. “Baseball and warm weather, that’s two things to root for.”

Both the Mets and the Yankees are coming off frustrating 2008 seasons. The Mets broke fans’ hearts by blowing the playoffs for the second straight year on the final day of the season. The Yankees, meanwhile, missed the post-season for the first time since 1993.

Even with the economy tanking, the national pastime will likely stay strong in New York and across the U.S, according to baseball historian Peter Morris. A Mets source said he didn’t expect a drop off in New Yorkers heading to Florida this spring. And the new stadiums in Flushing and the Bronx are sure to keep attendance high throughout the year.

“Baseball, it tends to keep its fans very well,” Morris said.

At least one New Yorker said he isn’t ready to sink his sorrows into the game.

“It seems irrelevant with everything going on now,” said Matt Wolf, 27, of Manhattan. “Major League Baseball is tarnished and pro sports seem foolish in the context of the economic climate.”

While the Yanks will play two preseason games at their new stadium, they will open the season in Baltimore on April 6. The Mets, who will also play two preseason games at Citi Field, head to Cincinnati on April 6 to open the year.

Andrew Breiner contributed to this story.

From revered to reviled?

Sunday February 8, 2009 2:53 PM By Marlene Naanes

By Marlene Naanes

Where have all the sports heroes gone?

In the span of a week, two of baseball’s all-time greatest players, Alex Rodriguez and Barry Bonds, and the winningest Olympian, Michael Phelps, all fell from their lofty pedestals. A photo surfaced of Phelps taking bong hits and A-Rod and Bonds were reported to have test positive for taking steroids in 2003.

“It hasn’t been a good week for heroes,” said Juan Espin, 27, of Brooklyn. “They’re still there, but ... it depends on how you define hero ... A-Rod was the non-steroid using hero, and there he goes.”

Fans of Yankees slugger Rodriguez are facing the double whammy of revelations that the $300 million man may have tested positive while he was with the Texas Rangers and the embarrassment of former Manager Joe Torre’s book, which revealed A-Rod’s notorious clubhouse nickname — A-Fraud.The Yankees did not return requests for comment yesterday.

The mythic idea of the hero is at risk of going extinct in contemporary culture, experts say, as increasing steroid use, combined with the media’s willingness to report on such scandals, have forced the shortcomings of great athletes into the harsh light of day.

“When you find out about their personal flaws it sort of ruins the whole idea that there is such a thing as heroism,” said Elayne Rapping, a University of Buffalo professor who specializes in media and popular culture.

Peter Addhin, of Manhattan, however, said that learning about missteps like Phelps smoking pot does not necessarily diminish an athlete’s status as hero.

“The guy won eight gold medals,” said Addhin, 60. “If he’s on the bong maybe other people should be too. I want whatever he’s smoking.”

Some fans have opted simply to shift their definition of hero, looking to people like Derek Jeter, who may not be the best player but who is perceived as a nice guy and a team player, said A.J. Daulerio, editor of Deadspin.com, a sports blog.

“Our prototypical heroes, like being home run hitters, I think they’re going to have other qualities we’ll have to look for,” Daulerio said.

Baseball historian John Thorn said it is up to adults to be more realistic about what they expect from athletes and to explain to children the difference between myth and reality.

“You can admire Barry Bonds’ raw ability,” Thorn said. “You don’t have to buy the whole package.”

Andrew Breiner contributed to this story.

Yankee fans hot and cold on Torre book

Tuesday February 3, 2009 2:36 PM By Pete Catapano

Joe Torre is driven around by the Cardinals mascot in 2005. (Getty Photo)

As Joe Torre returned to New York on Tuesday to promote his controversial memoir of his time in the Bronx, the "The Yankee Years," we asked fans around town to chime in on the book:

“I’m ambivalent. It’s just to sell books. I don’t think I’ll read it.”

— Jim Booth, Red Bank, N.J.

“I don’t think people should talk until they’ve read the book. I don’t want to hear what other people have to say about it. I want to read it.”

— Mike Eppler, Flemington, N.J.

"Joe Torre was a good coach, and he did everything he could. They shouldn’t even bother him about it. You always have the good and the bad."

- James Hicks, Manhattan

"I want to read it. I’m sure even though he didn’t write it, he is likely to give insight into what the players like A-Rod are really like. You get an insider story. He doesn’t have an axe to grind, I believe what he says."

— Albert Von Chorba, Jersey City

“He was too scared to do it when he was coach, so why now? He doesn’t have any new information, he’s just trying to sell books.”

— Harriet Bush, Manhattan

“I think it’s unusual coming from him, given things he said in the past, about what stays in the clubhouse. A lot of people could have written this book but they didn’t. I’m surprised he’s still managing after this.”

— John Predmore, North N.J.

(Compiled by Andrew Breiner)

A defensive Torre returns home to promote book

Tuesday February 3, 2009 10:07 AM By Emily Ngo

By Emily Ngo

Joe Torre defended his Yankees memoir yesterday, facing fans for the first time since leaked excerpts began raising the ire of some New Yorkers and players.

At a midtown book-signing, Torre emphasized he had no regrets about the harshness of “The Yankee Years,” co-authored with Sports Illustrated’s Tom Verducci.

“I can’t help how other people look at the book,” said Torre, who managed the Yankees for 12 years, leading them to four World Series championships. “I know what I wanted the book to be, and I’m pretty comfortable with where it ended up.”

The book blasts third baseman Alex Rodriguez, saying that he was obsessed with Derek Jeter and that teammates called him “A-Fraud,” and questions the judgment of general manager Brian Cashman.

Nasty weather, an hours-long wait and even reports of his less-than-complimentary words about their beloved Yankees, however, couldn’t keep hundreds of supporters from turning out to greet Torre on the day the was book dropped in stores.

“A lot of this stuff is said on the field anyway,” said David Kagan, 37, who arrived seven hours early to claim the first spot in line. The Upper East Side resident asked fellow fans not to judge Torre, who now manages the Los Angeles Dodgers, but “to wait and see what he has to say.”The line of fans, most sporting Yankees caps and carrying the maximum three copies, snaked around the aisles of the Barnes & Noble on Fifth Avenue — the first stop on Torre’s promotional tour — and down the sidewalk outside. Not all of them were fully confident in Torre’s motivations.

Mordy Rothman, 30, admitted that trash-talking belonged in the dugout. “Whatever’s in-house should stay in-house,” said Rothman, of Flatbush. “He should have waited until he was retired [to release the book], but he had something to get off his chest.”

Torre insisted he didn’t breaking clubhouse conduct codes by disclosing information about his 2007 exit and other controversial details.

“I don’t think I violated anything,” he said. “At least, that was my intention.”

Later while being interviewed on WFAN, Torre said he wouldn’t take back anything in the finished product.

“I feel good about it and wouldn’t change anything in it,” he told Mike Francesa. “The stuff I talked about in the clubhouse, it was more to give people a taste and a flavor of what it’s like to be down in the bowels of the ship on everyday basis.”

Torre also told Francesa he didn’t intend for the book to be a tell-all and felt badly when the negative passages were first made public.

Kagan, in line since 5:30 a.m., said he believes in Torre, “a consummate New Yorker” even since his relocation to the West Coast. After scoring an autograph, Kagan said, “He was very nice, and he looks tan.”

Investors rush to own piece of Yankee Stadium

Tuesday January 27, 2009 1:31 PM By Garett Sloane

The Yankees sold out $259 million in tax-free bonds yesterday to pay for their new stadium, according to Goldman Sachs, the underwriters of the sale. Investors snapped up $192 million worth of the 40-year bonds that offered 7 percent interest. The rest of the bonds had varying rates of maturity and interest, but sold just as well. “Who doesn’t want to own a piece of Yankee Stadium,” said Tom Doe of Municipal Market Advisors.

Torre tell-all: A-Rod was 'A-fraud'

Sunday January 25, 2009 9:08 AM By Pete Catapano

In his soon-to-be released book on his time with the Bombers called "The Yankee Years," a bleak picture of the team's relationship with star Alex Rodriguez is painted.

According to two published reports, teammates frequently called Rodriguez "A-Fraud."

In addition, the book details how A-rod was obsessed with teammate and friend Derek Jeter.

The 477-book, written with Tom Verducci, will be released on Feb. 3. Torre, who last managed the Yankees in the 2007 season, is beginning the second year of a three-contract as manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

— Pete Catapano

(AP Photo)

City's share of Yankee stadium costs double

Tuesday January 13, 2009 2:30 PM By Jason Fink

The 'Y' being lowered into place at the new Yankee Stadium. AP file photo

By Jason Fink

The city’s costs for the new Yankee Stadium have more than doubled in two years, said City Comptroller William Thompson, who accused the Bloomberg administration of low-balling its original estimate.

The capital cost for the city is now $325 million, up from its estimate of $129 million in 2006, the comptroller’s office said today.

“It’s willful. Costs don’t just go up dramatically like this,” said Thompson, a mayoral candidate.

He called the stadium project, which already includes $942 million in tax-exempt bonds, “the latest in a long series of deals where the city does not protect the taxpayer.”

A spokesman for Mayor Michael Bloomberg called Thompson’s complaints “political theater” and questioned why the comptroller, as a member of the Industrial Development Authority board, voted in favor of the stadium deal in 2006.

“It’s hard to believe he doesn’t know . . . New York City is getting back more tax revenue than it will cost and the South Bronx is getting thousands of new jobs and more than $1 billion in private investment,” said the spokesman, Andrew Brent. “He is, after all, the comptroller.”

The authority is to meet on Friday to approve $370 million in additional tax-exempt bonds for the project.

Thompson said he is asking the authority to delay its vote on the additional bonds, and if it does not, he will vote no.In addition, a committee led by Assemb. Richard Brodsky (D-Westchester) has subpoenaed the authority’s chairman, Seth Pinsky, and Yankees President Randy Levine for a hearing tomorrow to deliver documents related to the bonds set for approval Friday.

Brodsky said he was opposed to any public funding for the stadium, particularly at a time when the city is facing painful budget cuts.

“The Yankees are one of the wealthiest corporations in the world and I see no reason they shouldn’t be paying for the stadium,” he said.

A spokeswoman for the team did not return phone calls seeking comment.

News of the comptroller’s findings had other local officials in a fit, questioning why the city is putting up millions of taxpayer dollars for a team that freely throws around money.

“The Yankees have spent $423.5 million on free agents this offseason — for them and the city to ask New York’s hard working taxpayers to foot the ever expanding bill on the new stadium is nonsensical and unfair, especially in difficult economic times,” said Councilman Eric Gioia (D-Queens), a candidate for public advocate.

Top 10 New York Stories of 2008:

Sunday December 28, 2008 2:52 PM By Sean Joseph

Eliot Spitzer resigns as governor in March with his wife, Silda, by his side. (Getty)

By Pete Catapano and Rolando Pujol

It’s safe to say 2008 was rather on the unpredictable side. We saw massive economic meltdowns, bizarre political scandals and history made as Sen. Barack Obama was elected to the White House.

While no list could cover the entire landscape of a rather monumental year, here are the top 10 New York stories of 2008:

DOUBLE DOSE OF FARE HIKES

Although fares and tolls already went up in March, the MTA proposed a whole new set of hikes as it copes with a $1.2 billion budget deficit. Along with service cuts, the MTA said in worst-case scenarios, single-ride fares could rise to $3 while monthly MetroCards could top out at $105.

Also coming into play is the possibility of tolling on the East River bridges. If implemented, the tolls could keep the hike down.

SPITZER SCANDAL

In the most shocking scandal of the year, the state’s political “golden boy” was literally found with his pants down when it was discovered he was a client of high-priced escort service.

Just a year into his administration, New York’s governor was discovered to be spending thousands of dollars on prostitutes, particularly the now-famous Ashley Dupre. Spitzer, or “Client No. 9” as he was described in court papers, resigned on March 17 but didn’t face charges. This lead to the installation of the state’s first black governor, David Paterson.

Michael Strahan, left, and Eli Manning celebrate the Giants' first Super Bowl victory since 1991. (AP)

GIANTS WIN SUPERBOWL

New York got its first victory parade since 2000 as the Giants recorded one of the most-unlikely Super Bowl victories.

After winning three road playoff games, the Giants were a double-digit underdog against the unbeaten New England Patriots. Eli Manning, the game’s MVP, connected with Plaxico Burress on a 13-yard touchdown to give the Giants a stunning 17-14 upset. It was the Giants first title since 1991.

DEATH OF HEATH LEDGER

The city was stunned by the Jan. 22 death of 28-year-old actor Heath Ledger in a SoHo loft, where mourners immediately mounted a massive makeshift memorial. While an accidental overdose was blamed and Ledger’s friend Mary-Kate Olsen was embroiled in the controversy, she eventually did not have to testify about Ledger’s prescription drug use.

Ledger, who had just finished work as the Joker in “The Dark Knight,” had recently separated from his wife, the actress Michelle Williams.

GOODBYE TO SHEA AND YANKEE STADIUMS

A crowd of 54,610 bid farewell to Yankee Stadium on Sept. 21, with a 7-3 victory over the Baltimore Orioles. Derek Jeter addressed the crowd from the pitcher’s mound after the game in an emotional goodbye to the most storied venue in sports. The Yanks were eliminated from postseason contention the next day, leaving them out of the playoffs for the first time since 1993.

Meanwhile, the Mets final game at Shea was a sad one. The Amazin’s were knocked out of postseason contention in their final game at Shea, a heartbreaking 4-2 defeat to the Florida Marlins on Sept. 28.

POPE VISITS NYC

Though he lacks the celebrity wattage of his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI still dazzled the city during his three-day visit to New York City. His tour in April included stop at Yankee Stadium, the United Nations and a synagogue, a first for a pope visiting the United States. The themes he sounded include reconciliation in the aftermath of the clerical sex-abuse scandal.

BUDGET CRUNCH

Struggling to close a $15.4 billion deficit, Gov. Paterson unveiled a startling tax-and-slash budget package that touches upon virtually every part of life. The governor also proposed deep cuts to funding to New York City, which is itself cutting jobs, reducing services and hiking taxes as it struggles to cope with the Wall Street collapse.

HARLEM CELEBRATES OBAMA

In a historic display of jubilation to match the election of Barack Obama as the nation’s first black president, residents of Harlem, the symbolic seat of the city’s African-American community, cheered the news in spontaneous, joyful street celebrations. Indeed, horns honk and people shout from windows in neighborhoods all around the city as the Democrat-heavy New Yorkers exult.

This was the culmination of the presidential elections that started with New Yorkers Sen. Hillary Clinton and former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani as their respective parties’ front-runners.

DEADLY CRANE COLLAPSE

On a quiet Saturday afternoon in March, a towering crane collapsed in the Turtle Bay neighborhood of Manhattan, killing seven people and sparking outrage over lax oversight of the city’s development boom.

It turned out the construction site did not meet zoning code. Reforms followed, but additional construction deaths kept worries high.

TERM LIMITS EXTENDED

Although in the past he was vehemently against extending term limits for New York City elected officials, Mayor Michael Bloomberg flip-flopped this year when he decided to run for a third term.

Saying the city needs him because of the economic crisis, the mayor lobbied for support in the City Council to change the law, which they did on Oct. 23 by a 29-22 vote.

Big spenders: Yanks' cash flows despite economy

Tuesday December 23, 2008 12:11 PM By Jason Fink

By Jason Fink

Apparently, nobody told the Yankees about the economic downturn.

By signing free agent star Mark Teixeira, 28, today to an eight-year deal worth $180 million, the Bronx Bombers have now committed $423 million in salary in just the last month.

They landed the other big fish on the market, pitcher CC Sabathia, to the tune of $161 million over seven years, and locked up righty hurler A.J. Burnett with $82.5 million over five years.

The team, which missed the playoffs this year for the first time since 1993, now has the four highest-paid players in baseball: Alex Rodriguez (10 years, $275 million) and Derek Jeter ($189 million over 10 years) top the list, followed now by Teixeira and Sabathia.

That could change when free agent Manny Ramirez signs somewhere but, at 36 years old, he’s unlikely to get as many years as Teixeira.

The Teixeira signing comes a day after the Yankees received a luxury tax bill of $26.9 million on last year’s payroll.

The marquee names are coming to the Bronx as the Yankees prepare to move into their new stadium in April. The bold moves also outshine the biggest catch the crosstown rival Mets made this off-season, the signing of closer Francisco Rodriguez to three years and $37 million.

Mike Cameron may also end up a Yankee

Thursday December 11, 2008 6:29 AM By Mae Cheng

The latest to don pinstripes may be veteran centerfielder Mike Cameron.

The Yankees are in talks to trade Melky Cabrera for Cameron, according to Newsday.

Cabrera was seen as part of the Yankee's future, but failed to produce the numbers in his at-bats that the team needed.

This comes a day after the Bronx Bombers scored CC Sabathia, the most coveted starting pitcher on the market. The whopping $161 million, seven-year deal makes Sabathia the highest paid pitcher.

Cameron is a Milwaukee Brewers' teammate of Sabathia's as well as his good buddy, all the more to make the Yank's latest big-time investment comfortable in his new home.

Too much for CC?

Wednesday December 10, 2008 2:24 PM By Pete Catapano

(AP)

BY PETE CATAPANO

The Yankees shunned behemoth contracts in recent years, choosing instead to develop their young players.

But what a difference a year without the playoffs makes.

Going back to their old playbook, they Yankees pulled out $161 million from their wallet yesterday for CC Sabathia, signing the most coveted starting pitcher on the market to a seven-year deal that makes him the highest paid player in the position.

“They’ve been in dire need for a front-line starter for quite some time now and Sabathia is the best around right now,” said A.J. Daulerio of sports site, deadspin.com. “If they start throwing obscene amounts of money at Derek Lowe and A.J. Burnett, well, that would really prove they haven’t learned from their mistakes.”

The contract is big (and so is Sabathia, who’s 290-plus frame has some wary), though some say the Yankees had no choice but to cough up the cash to right their ship. This year, they missed the playoffs for the first time since 1993.

“They’re moving into a new stadium in which they’re charging a lot of money for tickets and luxury suites,” said Dave Pinto a former ESPN analyst and owner/author of baseballmusings.com. “They want to win.”

Despite having by far the biggest payroll in the league year after year, the team hasn’t won a championship since 2000.

The 29-year-old lefty’s contract will trail Alex Rodriguez’s $275 million, 10-year deal with the Yankees as well as Derek Jeter’s $189 million, 10-year contract with the Bronx Bombers.

There’s also some concern about Sabathia’s physical condition.

“I would not pay $160 million for seven years for a 300-pound pitcher,” said Jim Jacobs of Yankeesbaseballblog.com.Some Yankee fans would further argue that $161 million is a lot to spend for any one player, given that the economy is sliding and that the team is asking the city for $370 million more in public bonds to finance a new stadium.

“The sport has evolved into a business,” said Brooke Smith, a 22-year-old architect’s assistant from Williamsburg. “It's not just the good old American game that it used to be.”

At least one fan believed that winning is priceless.

“Other teams develop winners, the Yankees buy winners,” said Chris Basilas, 47, of Bayside. “We want winning teams.”

Pinto said that at the end of the day, the Yankees will still have to answer to their fans.

“When the team starts playing bad, the tickets will go down,” Pinto said.

The Yankees may not be done with their shopping spree yet. They still might re-sign Andy Pettitte, and have had talks this week with Ben Sheets and agents for Burnett. Adding those pitchers will put them well over the $200 million mark again.

Aline E. Reynolds and the AP contributed to this story.

CC Sabathia agrees to join Yankees

Wednesday December 10, 2008 6:06 AM By Mae Cheng

The courtship is over and the Yankees have got their man.

CC Sabathia has told the Yankees that he wants to pitch for them, according to published reports. The team said it is "extraordinarily optimistic" that an agreement will be reached for a seven-year/$160 million deal.

The two sides are still finalizing the details, but some of the money will likely be deferred, Newsday is reporting.

The deal would make Sabathia the highest paid starting pitcher.

Take me out with my ball team

Thursday November 20, 2008 3:24 PM By Ryan Chatelain

Yankees and Mets coffins cost $5,995 — about $1,000 more than a comparable traditional casket. (Photo by Tiffany L. Clark)

By Ryan Chatelain

Steven Galante is a die-hard Mets fan, and he has the casket to prove it.

Galante, 42, of Smithtown, Long Island, is the first known area resident to purchase one of the new coffins emblazoned with baseball team logos and colors.

“You wear your favorite hat when your team plays,” Galante said. “I guess, when you’re dead, why not go out in the best way that you want to?”

The first batch of the caskets is being distributed to funeral homes nationwide and cost $5,995 each — about $1,000 more than a traditional coffin made of similar materials.Twenty teams’ caskets will be available by December, including the Yankees and Mets. The manufacturer, Michigan-based Eternal Image, plans to have all 30 franchises accounted for by the end of 2009.

Since the company began selling team-branded urns in 2006, CEO Clint Mytych said the Yankees have attracted the most customers. Two other sports leagues also may be added to Eternal Image’s future roster, he said.

At a time when the funeral industry is focusing on the celebration of a life, rather than mourning a death, the baseball caskets are enlivening a typically grim experience.

Galante learned of the coffins in June when he attended his grandmother’s funeral at The Branch Funeral Home in Smithtown. Branch co-owner John Vigliante told Galante about the coffins that were slated to hit the market.

“I said, ‘Hey, the first day you get them in, let me know. I’ll be planning my funeral,’ ” Galante recalled. He pre-purchased his casket a week after Branch received its first shipment last month.

Since then, the Mets and Yankees coffins have been a hot topic of conversation among clients, Vigliante said.

“They may feel like, ‘For me, that’s too much. But maybe for Uncle Joe, he would love this,”’ he said.

The velvet-lined caskets are made of 18-gauge steel with exterior white ash wood accents — the same wood used in major-league bats. Logos adorn the outside shell, as well as an inside panel and pillow.

Mike Coutu, 23, who lives on Long Island and works in the Financial District, said he’d consider being buried in a Mets coffin.

“I know my roommate from college would be all for this,” said Coutu. “He’s a huge Mets fan, too. He would definitely do it.”

When shown a photo of the coffins, Yankees fan Alex Duque said the caskets weren’t for him but conceded that other fans would welcome them.

“That’s totally extreme,” said Duque, 31, of midtown. “But I guess if that’s how you want to go out … why not?”

Tying the knot like a superfan

Thursday November 20, 2008 3:18 PM By Ryan Chatelain

By Emily Ngo

Before you take your love of New York baseball to the grave, you may first want to flaunt it down the aisle.

Manhattan designer Linda Bekye created an elaborate Yankees-themed wedding dress in 2003 that sold for $1,800. Full-length, pinstriped and bedecked with sequins, the satin gown was meant to match Bekye’s $350 Yankees tuxedo.

Canada-based Magic Mud also offers wedding cake toppers for $185 featuring a bride and groom sporting miniature Yankees caps.

If you want to be more discreet, wedding garter sets emblazoned with Mets or Yankees logos are available on eBay for about $30.

Forget that last Yankee Stadium blowout ...

Wednesday October 8, 2008 7:33 AM By Lauren Johnston

Sorry Bombers fans, that last bash in the House that Ruth Built is a no-go.

Our business guru Garrett Sloane (see smooth photo to the left) got the scoop on this one. The story was that after the last game, there would be one more big concert to bid the stadium a fond farewell.

But now, not so much. Read HERE.

Yankee Stadium dirt anything but dirt cheap on eBay

Tuesday September 23, 2008 4:44 PM By Emily Ngo

Ever thought you would pay good money for dirt? Savvy entrepreneurs are hoping to capitalize on Yankees fans’ love for their cherished stadium by selling dirt from the baseball field for as much as $199.99.

The offers were found on eBay and Craigslist yesterday, along with ticket stubs from the last game played at the House that Ruth Built and paint chips from there.

“It’s kind of like taking advantage of people who are vulnerable to their emotions right now,” said Ryan Smith, 20, a die-hard fan from the Upper East Side.

The team played its last home game at the 85-year-old stadium Sunday to a packed house of fans who were warned by officials in the days leading up to the big finale not to take home anything they didn’t pay for.

It seems, however, that some people didn’t listen. Dirt was being offered for sale on the Web in vials, in glass containers that read “Yankee Stadium Infield Dirt, Final Game, September 21,” or simply heaped in a pile on a table.Yankees fan, Laurence Watkins, 23, of the Bronx, scoffed at the offers. He said he is willing to spend $2,000 on the right team memorabilia, though he wouldn’t purchase it online.

“I’d rather go to the store,” Watkins said. “That’s a true fan.”

Yankees officials could not be reached for comment yesterday.

A sports memorabilia dealer, however, warned buyers to be wary of the online offers, saying that it’s difficult to verify an item’s authenticity.

The team currently is in negotiations with the city to parse out who owns what items from the stadium. Those pieces that the team claims as theirs — parts of the center field scoreboard, carpet and shower stall doors from the clubhouse — are already officially on the block for thousands of dollars.

Gabe Esquilin, 40, a fan from the South Bronx, said he understands how things work in a capitalist society. During games in the late '70s and early '80s he said he took the back of a chair and some dirt from the stadium. He has since thrown out these pieces, but if he had kept them, he said he would also probably try to sell them on eBay.

Despite his love for the Yankees, Smith said he would never buy Yankees Stadium dirt, explaining: “Dirt is dirt.”

— Rebecca Wolfson

Donut and a cuppa Joba

Tuesday July 22, 2008 6:51 AM By Lauren Johnston

If you love the Yankees, and you love iced coffee, well today could be your lucky day. We know for sure Yankees pitcher Joba Chamberlain stopped by the E. 29th St. Dunkin' Donuts today to honor an FDNY hero with the award of free iced coffee for one whole year.

But the word on the street, or the blogs anyway, is that he'll stop at two more Manhattan locations and award three java-lovers the same certificate of free cupsa joe for an entire year.

Did you see Joba today? If so, let us know and submit a photo [HERE]

Old star celebrates All-Stars

Monday July 14, 2008 5:55 AM By Lauren Johnston

It's the final countdown to tomorrow night's All-Star game at Yankee Stadium, and in just one of many events around town to help you pass the time until the starting pitch - former Yankees captain Don Mattingly will be in Manhattan today to take a group of NYC kids on a tour of the

Sports Museum of America at 26 Broadway at 11:15 a.m.

Other events today:

It's an All-Star day in NYC

Friday July 11, 2008 6:42 AM By Jamshid Mousavinezhad

It's going to be all All-Star all the time until the game next week - so here's the round-up of what's on the roster for today:

All day:: Fun activities and events at the All-Star Fanfest at the Javits Center, 655 W. 34th ST.

11 a.m.: Yogi Berra hosts a lighting ceremony celebrating MLB All-Star Week in the Empire State Building lobby

11 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Opening of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game: 100 Years of Music, Musicians and the National Pastime” exhibition at the New York Public

Library for the Performing Arts, 40 Lincoln Center Plaza.

1 p.m. to 3 p.m.: New York Yankees legend Rich “Goose” Gossage makes appearance at Modell’s/MLB Road Show fan event; Modell’s, 51 E. 42nd St.

5 p.m. to 7 p.m.: Spike Lee unveils New York Yankees 26 Championship Pennant cap, New Era, East Fourth Street between Lafayette and Broadway.

Follow Lady Liberty's All-Star tour

Sunday July 6, 2008 2:48 PM By Rolando Pujol

Urbanite told you last week about those All-Star-Game-inspired representations of the Statue of Liberty that are popping up all over town. Seeking further documentation, we sent out Tim Fiorvanti with camera in hand. Check out his photo gallery here. And visit the statues yourself by following this nifty guide.

If it's rain delay on Channel 11 ...

Sunday July 6, 2008 1:02 PM By Rolando Pujol

... then it's time for The Odd Couple! At least, that used to be the case for years when PIX had the rights to the Yankees. So imagine our delight when the Mets went to rain delay Sunday afternoon, and Felix and Oscar once again stepped up to the plate. Nice nod to Gotham television tradition, WPIX.

Now, if only Yankees games returned to PIX, then all would be right with the world.

-- Rolando Pujol

Score free Bon Jovi tickets

Wednesday July 2, 2008 9:03 AM By Emily Ngo

That's right. Bon Jovi's playing a show in Central Park on Saturday, July 12. Hosted by the city and the MLB in conjunction with the all-star break, the show is free. Here's where to score tickets (because you need one to go to the show):

Starting today until the show:

— Yankee Stadium (here's where the bulk will be)

— Shea Stadium

— KeySpan Park, Brooklyn

— Staten Island Yankees (9 p.m.)

On Friday, July 11:

— DHL All-Star FanFest, Javitz

— Emily Ngo

City accused of Yankee parkland 'shell game'

Thursday May 22, 2008 5:53 PM By Rolando Pujol

The new Yankee Stadium, still under construction, right, is seen from the New York Police Department's Super Surveillance Helicopter, next to the current stadium on Tuesday. (AP)

A parks watchdog group released a study Thursday accusing the city of playing a “shell game” in replacing South Bronx parkland lost in the construction of the new Yankee Stadium.

NYC Park Advocates say the Bloomberg administration is only making up for 21.78 of the 25.3 acres being taken up by the new ballpark, opening next year.

“Elected officials sold them [residents] down the river,” said Geoffrey Croft, president of NYC Park Advocates.

Croft charged that the city’s Department of Parks and Recreation has manipulated its figures to show there has not been a reduction in parkland.

The parks department declined to comment on the report, but issued its own breakdown of park projects in the South Bronx, which shows a five-acre gain in recreational space.

-- Ryan Chatelain

A night at the park

Friday May 16, 2008 4:54 PM By Liz Esquirol

So here it is the 84th and last season at Yankee Stadium....or as they have stamped on the ticket "The Final Season." Sounds kind of ominous - even for the nicknamed Evil Empire. I don't much like the end of anything - except maybe the end of the work day.

Star Spangled Banner

What I do like is the start of the game - that feeling of anticipation. Getting your hotdog, finding your seat, and standing for the playing of the Star Spangled Banner. This was my view the night I was there. Such a wholesome picture - three of our Yankee players, facing the flag....and a closeup of Jeter's behind in living color on the Diamond Vision screen - boy, do I love baseball!

It was a chilly Friday night - the stands were full (or relatively) and the fans were hungry for a win. It was the return of the great broadcaster and former outfielder Bobby Murcer to the television booth after a bout with cancer. The young welcomed him back with homemade signs and enthusiastic grins. And the crowd cheered as Bobby waved to the fans below.

You can see the entrance to the new stadium as you exit the subway - the "Y" and "S" had yet to find their posts on the granite and limestone exterior. Seemed odd to see the virgin stadium lurking in the shadows - to view this gated castle in production.

Yankee Stadium Gate

Since 1923, Yankees home games have been played there (with the exception of the '74 and '75 seasons when it was undergoing renovations.) That's a lot of games and an impressive number of championships. It will be bittersweet to see the old stadium go - but change is good, right? But please, please don't tell me it's the final season for the always entertaining grounds crew YMCA dance? There are some traditions that must remain.

-- Liz Esquirol

Yankee Stadium: Beginning of the goodbye

Sunday March 30, 2008 5:49 PM By Rolando Pujol

Our Ryan Chatelain catches up with Bucky Dent, neighborhood businesses and fans as the team begins its final season at the House That Ruth Built. This will be a strange season in many ways. One fascinating aspect is that you'll have two Yankee Stadiums side by side: The 1974-75 version, which undid lots of the original detail, and the new ballpark, which is a throwback to the old stadium Ruth knew, and restores that lost detail in a slightly more compact stadium.

The new Yankee Stadium took another symbolic step forward Saturday with the installation of the "eagles" next to the stadium name. Compare Saturday's photo with the way the sign looked in 1948. It's uncanny.

It seems that, somehow, the Yanks could have worked with the original, keeping the team on the same sacred ground. It's one of those turn of events we'll never accept. But it's hard to dismiss the beauty of the stadium rising next door.

-- Rolando Pujol

Flags fly at half-staff at Yankee Stadium in 1948 to mark

the death of Babe Ruth. (AP)

The New York Yankees unveils the re-created "eagle" medallions and lifts them into place Saturday at the main entrance of the new stadium (Alejandra Villa/Newsday).

Saving "The Bat"

Sunday March 23, 2008 10:18 AM By Rolando Pujol

After a vigorous fan campaign, the Mets came to their senses and agreed to save -- kind of -- the Apple that has graced Shea Stadium since 1980. We hedge because they've only committed to having an Apple presence at the new Citifield -- not necessarily our favorite Apple.

But what about The Bat at Yankee Stadium, that most cherished of meeting places? Newsday's Anthony Reiber couldn't get a firm answer about the prospects for the 120-foot-tall Louisville Slugger. Will it be kept in place, moved to the new stadium, get demolished or be auctioned off? It's anyone guess at this time.

Maybe it's time to launch a "Save the Bat" campaign, before it's too late.

-- Rolando Pujol

Photo: Getty Images, 2006