Yanks Honor Old Timers with Win Over Sox

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, July 2- The Yankees and their fans
celebrated and commemorated the organization’s glorious history at the 66th annual
Old Timers’ Day on Sunday afternoon. Yankee heroes from the past 65 years were
on the field prior to the regularly scheduled game between the Yankees and
Chicago White Sox.

After the introduction of the more than four dozen former
Yankees and the widows of Elston Howard, Catfish Hunter, Bilrly Martin, Thurman
Munson and Bobby Murcer, the former players took part in a two inning “game”.
The annual festivities entertained those in attendance and brought back
heartfelt memories to several generations of Yankees fans.

The continuity between the generations of Yankees players
remains to the present as the current Yankees and those of the past meet and
get to know one another at the yearly ceremony.

At 2:07 pm, the scheduled contest began, Yankees starter
Phil Hughes gave up two runs in the first inning as singles by Kevin Youkilis
and Alex Rios each drove in a run.

Those two were the only runs scored by the Sox on Sunday.
Hughes blanked Chicago during the seven other innings he pitched. He
surrendered only six hits and one walk while fanning seven during his stint on
the mound.

Manager Joe Girardi was especially pleased by the
performance of Hughes in such an unbearably hot and humid day, “I
thought he made some mistakes with location [in the first] and then he was able
to make some adjustments. He was effective all day. To pitch eight innings on
this kind of day is amazing.”

The win was the eighth for Hughes in his last ten
decisions.

The long ball by the Yankees hitters, as it has throughout
2012, made an immediate impact. Raúl Ibañez led off the second with a single
and scored on a two-run homer by Eric Chavez, at third base in place of Alex
Rodriguez. The four-bagger tied the game at two.

Another two-run homer, this hit by Robinson Cano on a 3-2
count in the third put the Yankees ahead, 4-2.

The homer was Cano’s ninth in his last 14 games. The
Yankees second sacker has driven in at least one run in each of his last 11
games against Chicago.

Cano was one of four Yankees named to the American League
All-Star Team on Sunday. He will start at second, Derek Jeter will start at
shortstop and Curtis Granderson will start in the outfield and CC Sabathia will
be on the pitching staff.

The first place Yanks now embark on a seven game
pre-All-Star game road trip, three games in Tampa and four games in Boston.

(Photos by Gary Quintal)

Paulie’s Back in Pinstripes: Yankee legends braved the heat and returned to the Bronx to be a part of Old Timer’s Day. 

Yankees Elder Statesman

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, July 2- The only franchise in Major League
Baseball that recognizes and regular honors its history is the New York
Yankees. More than four dozen Yankees were at Yankee Stadium on a brutally hot
afternoon to take part in the 66th annual Old Timers’ Day ceremony on Sunday
afternoon.

Sunday’s contingent of former stars included Hall of Famers
Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford, Goose Gossage, Rickey Henderson and Reggie Jackson.
The widows of Thurman Munson, Elston Howard, Catfish Hunter, Jill Martin and
Bobby Murcer were there to visit with the teammates of their late husbands.

The eldest of the 2012 Yankees returnees was Jerry Coleman.
The 87- year old, a regular at the annual Yankees reunion, flew cross-country
from his native California to be in the Bronx for the event. The very good
humored San Diego Padres broadcaster said of the flight, “They
made the seats smaller. I had to sit like this.” He
then imitated someone clinching his body to be as narrow as possible.

He spoke with sincere gratitude of the treatment the former
Yankees received from the organization, “You wouldn’t believe all they do for
us, the transportation arrangements, the hotel, the meals and the cruise last
night.” Coleman’s description is valid as the
Marketing department led by Senior Vice President Debbie Tymon arranges all
such events with class and consideration.

Coleman humorously recalled his first game with the Yankees
in 1949, “The first play of the game was a
ground ball that went right between my legs. The next play was a one-hopper
that came to me and resulted in a double play. After that I said, ‘I’m saved.’”

Coleman’s playing career was far better than he likes to
joke. The second baseman’s first season was so good that the Associated Press
chose him as American League Rookie of the Year. In his sophomore season, he
received the Babe Ruth Award as World Series MVP.

When asked which of his teammates he was closest to, he
pointed to the man sitting next to him in the dugout, Dr. Bobby Brown. Brown,
one month younger than Coleman was a schoolmate of Coleman’s in San Francisco.
Brown, after his playing days ended, became a renowned cardiologist and later
President of the American League. Another teammate of the two, Charlie Silvera,
back-up catcher to Yogi Berra, was a childhood friend as well.

Coleman’s baseball career was twice interrupted for
military service. He was the only Major League player engaged in active combat
duty during World War II and the Korean War. He values the wartime service to
his country in much higher terms than he does his years in baseball.

The articulate Coleman spent seven years as a broadcaster
with the Yankees after his playing career concluded where he again teamed with
his double play partner, Phil Rizzuto.

After relocating to California, Coleman broadcast for the
California Angels for two seasons. In 1972, Coleman began a position he still
holds as a broadcaster for the Padres. He missed only one season as a
broadcaster, 1980, when he managed the Padres.

His excellence as a broadcaster earned him the Ford C.
Frick Award in 2005 and enshrinement in the broadcast win of the baseball Hall
of Fame. Currently Coleman does not travel with the Padres. He works
approximately 30 home games during the season.

Despite the difference in age, he appears close with the
players on the team. While sitting in the White Sox dugout before the “Old
Timers’  were introduced, the broadcaster engaged in very friendly
conversation and humorous banter with former Padres, Jake Peavy and Orlando
Hudson.

Anyone who gets the opportunity to converse with the
octogenarian will be enlightened, entertained and uplifted as I was on Sunday.

One can also learn a great deal more
of his interesting life by reading his 2008 autobiography, American Journey: My
Life on the Field, in the Air and on the Air.

(Photos by Gary Quintal)

Paulie’s Back in Pinstripes: Yankee legends braved the heat and returned to the Bronx to be a part of Old Timer’s Day. 

Yankee Old Timer’s Day

(Photos by Gary Quintal)

Paulie’s Back in Pinstripes: Yankee legends braved the heat and returned to the Bronx to be a part of Old Timer’s Day. 

Fireworks

(Photos by Gary Quintal) 

Independence Day came early this year as Bronxites celebrated the birth of our country. Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. and State Sen. Jeff Klein held the annual Salute to America fireworks event at Orchard Beach on Friday. In addition to a host of fireworks which rivals Macy’s annual event, Bronxites were treated to the sounds of Alive N Kickin’.

Psycho Shoots Up Street

By Dan Gesslein

BRONX, NEW YORK, June 29- It was a miracle no one was killed when a gunman opened fire up and down a Soundview street on Wednesday. Now cops are asking for the public’s help to catch the psycho shooter.

Police surveillance video shows the gunman opening fire without regard on a Soundview street. Other bystanders are seen on the tape taking cover across the street as the gunman fired.

At around 11:30 p.m. two men was standing in front of 150 Leland Avenue when the suspect approached them and started shooting wildly. As the victims tried to run away, the gunman chased after them continuing to shoot as he ran. 

The victims managed to escape the shooter, hopped into a cab and went to Einstein Hospital. They were treated for gunshot wounds to the elbow and knee.

The gunman is described simply as a black male last seen wearing a plaid shirt, blue jeans and white sneakers. 

Anyone with information is urged to call CRIMESTOPPERS (800) 577-TIPS. The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers Website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or texting their tips to 274637(CRIMES) then enter TIP577.

Crackin' Up

Yankees Bullpen Fails to Save

White Sox Win, 4-3

(Maybe it's the heat but Yankee fans weren't the only ones who exhibited strange behavior. The bullpen blew Ivan Nova's stellar performance. Photos by Ken Carozza)

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, June 29- The Yankees relievers in the ninth inning of Thursday night’s contest failed to preserve a 3-1 lead. A three-run homer by Dayn Viciedo of Chicago ended the Yankees five-game winning streak and the six-game winning streak over the White Sox. New York remained five games in front in the American League East as every team in the division lost on Thursday.

Yankees starter Ivan Nova made a strong attempt to win his sixth straight decision. The 25-year old pitched 7.1 innings. He gave up only a single run during his impressive stint on a two-out home run to Alejandro de Aza in the fifth. He surrendered five other hits, walked three batters and fanned five.

The Sox threated Nova only in the fourth as base hits put runners on first and third with no one out. A short fly to Center and a double play ended the threat without a run being scored.

Chicago starter Dylan Axelrod also pitched an outstanding game. Axelrod only faced difficulty in the fourth and fifth frames. A-Rod doubled to lead-off the fourth. After two batters were retired, Nick Swisher and Raúl Ibañez walked to load the bases. Eric Chavez grounded to third to end the inning without a Yankee run.

The Yankees put their first runs on the scoreboard after two were retired in the following inning. Curtis Granderson singled. He scored on A-Rod’s second double in two innings. Rodriguez crossed the plate on a double by the next batter, Robinson Cano.

A two-out homer by Mark Teixeira, his 13^th of 2012, in the bottom of the eighth put the Yanks ahead, 3-2.

The outcome was determined in the top of the ninth as the White Sox put three on the board against Yankees relievers. The Yankees pen men entered the contest second in the majors in ERA and second in allowing inherited runners to score.

Alex Rios began the ninth with a single off Cody Eppley, who retired the final batter in the eighth. Yankee skipper Joe Girardi then brought in Clay Rapada. The lefty did what was hoped for, got A.J. Pierzyinski to ground to the pitcher for what appeared to be an easy double play. Instead of two men being out, Rapada threw the ball into center field. David Robertson a righty, then came into the game and gave up the winning blow.

In the post-game press conference, Girardi faced a barrage of questions regarding his use of the relievers. Of not using closer Rafael Soriano, who has 17 saves in 18 opportunities this year, “I can’t run him out five out of six days after the very tough day yesterday and get him hurt.”

Explaining why he didn’t begin the ninth with Robertson, he said, “We’ve only used him once back-to-back. I’m going to be cautious.”  Robertson was on the disabled list from May 15-June 14.

Adam Warren of the Yanks will make his Major League debut in the second contest of the four game series on Friday night. He will face Jose Quintana (2-1) will a minuscule Era of 125.

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BP Hails Supreme’s Upholding of Obamacare

(Views on the News)

The following statement is from Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. on the ruling by the Supreme Court upholding the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act:

“Today the Supreme Court delivered a major victory for the American people by upholding the‘individual mandate’ of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act today.

“This is an important law that affects millions of residents across the country. In a Borough where a high percentage of residents are uninsured, it is imperative for this law to remain so that Bronxites can access and afford the care they need. According to the Bronx Health Link, had the bill been upheld in its entirety, about 99,000 Bronx residents would have gained insurance coverage, and the uninsured rate would have gone down from 21 percent in 2009 to 14 percent. Moreover, up to 70,000 more New York State residents would have been eligible for Medicaid starting in 2014.

“It is because of this law we have made a fundamental and transformative change to how those with preexisting conditions will receive the care they so desperately need. It is because of this law we have taken a substantial step in fixing a broken system.

“But there is more work to be done; by striking down the Medicaid expansion we have missed a tremendous opportunity to impact those areas with the greatest economic need. We must continue push Congress to make the needed reforms to Medicaid so that more Americans can receive benefits under this important program.

“We thank the President for his leadership. Residents in our Borough and those across the country will have greater rights and protections when it comes to healthcare. Today is a victory for all Americans,” said Bronx borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.