We have just completed seven seasons of Hank’s Yanks baseball.

Hank’s Yanks is Hank Steinbrenner’s brain child, which helps hundreds of Tri-State Area kids play baseball, whether they can afford it or not. Approximately 15 kids have been drafted during that time. Many have received college scholarships and at least two are on 40-man rosters, with Williams Jeres about to be called up in September by the Boston Red Sox.

I was the original manager and proudly brag that my teams won three citywide championships.

The senior team is now led by New York City Police Officer Mark Wilson, who also manages two younger teams. We are very lucky and grateful to have Mark guiding these young players. He really cares about the kids and it makes Hank’s life with Hank’s Yanks easier.

A big appreciation goes to Yankee scout Cesar Presbott, who has always scouted all areas of New York and players he can’t sign now have been able to be parked on the Hank’s Yanks teams.

A big thanks goes to Jane Rogers, the general manager of the Staten island Yankees for always welcoming our teams there. A big thank you goes to all scouts who come to see our kids play and make them feel like they can make it to the Majors.

Finally, a special thank you goes to Leo Caputo for running two of our younger teams on the Connecticut Hank’s Yanks.

Youth Baseball is still flourishing in the New York Area and the Steinbrenner name is usually close by to give a helping hand to all kids.

When Brian Cashman made all the player moves last month, many people thought the 2016 season was over.

How do you trade Aroldis Chapman, Andrew Miller and Carlos Beltran to become a playoff contender? A month later, after all these moves were made, I sat down with the Yankees general manager to flat out ask him why he gave up on the season and he very confidently responded that he felt the Yankees could win with the young players he had.

Please enjoy the Q & A that I conducted with Brian on that day.

Ray Negron: Brian Cashman, you have probably lived one of the most intense weeks in Yankee history. Am I wrong when I say that?

Brian Cashman: It was busy, energetic and exciting. I think the results will pay off for this franchise for a long time.

RN: In my 44 years around you guys, I don’t remember a month when you went through so much from the standpoint of Chapman, Miller, Beltran, the aspect of bringing up the young kids. What kind of pressure were you living?

BC: Certainly a lot of heavy lifting conversations with the powers that be above. At the end of it, we were able to zig and zag, because we had some serious talent knocking on the door. It kind of reminded me back the winter of 1993, when we huddled with Gene Michael, the general manager at the time. We had a young Bernie Williams knocking on our door in center field. Roberto Kelly was in the big leagues. Would you trade a Roberto Kelly for a Paul O’Neill from the Reds? You had some depth in the system and you could rearrange.

We were able to trade a Beltran, because we had a young Gary Sanchez to come up and get some at bats. So there a lot of things that were in play here that made it beneficial for us to complete a lot of trades.

RN: The fact that you lived the George Steinbrenner/Gene Michael Era and the fact that you had men of that magnitude above you. Do you think that influenced you on how you went about your business now?

BC: No question. I do think I am in the unique situation that I have lived this general manager position for a long time and I learned as an understudy and an assistant for a lot of different general manager, who have been here under The Boss. There’s a lot of experience you can fall back on and learn from. You can do things your way, but you learned what you should do or could do based on the past. I did fall back on a lot of that stuff.

RN: Brian, the New York fans are getting excited with what we are seeing here with The Judge and the other players brought us. Is this what you were looking for?

BC: I think they should be excited. I think we have talent that could impact us that is hungry and deserving. That’s the biggest thing. Everybody has talent in every organization. But some more deserve than others. The crew we have on the come, these players are high end ability and deserving.

When I started in 1986 as an intern, the Bill Livesay and Brian Sabian and the architects of that ‘90s run that Gene Michael topped off with Bob Watson, it was Sabes with Bill Livesay. Those guys collected the Jeters, the Pettittes, the Riveras, and the Posadas. We had so much talent in the system. People forget Jay Buhner was a Yankee and Doug Drabek was a Yankee and Hal Morris and Carl Everett. We had so much talent and it played off in a big way in the ‘90s.

I think the current system we collected is approaching that type of level of a system. Hopefully we can ride that good young talent with some key free agents and trades to our benefit as we have done in the past.

RN:  Girardi. How strong has he been in this situation?

BC: Joe and the staff have been great. I think from a baseball operations standpoint, I think everybody say a stagnant club that had been offensively not consistent in any way, shape or form. We needed to reset and thankfully with the leadership above with Hal Steinbrenner and his family, they were willing to do something that is not part of the DNA here and part of the fabric here, which is to fight another day, so to speak. They recognized we are closer to returning to the glory days now based on those tough decisions a few weeks ago. We have had a long successful competitive run. There are a lot of ways to climb that mountain, but I think we chose the right path.

RN: Last question. Do you see the Yankees making a run in September?

BC: We are on a run right now. The odds are against us, because there are so many teams in front of us. One thing, I don’t think any team, wants to play this team now. We are young and hungry. We have nothing to lose. I see opposing teams now in opposing dugouts, where they are expected to win and they are tight. Our guys are loose and having fun. We will see where it takes us. It could take us into the post season. That’s not out of the realm of possibility. But I say stay tuned.

RN: Brian Cashman, I love Frank Sinatra. I love his tune “That’s Life” and whenever I hear that song, I think of you.

BC: Hopefully, when you listen to that song, you will think of me for a long time. I want to stay in this thing to see that we get another ring down the line here, whether it’s in 2016 or sometime in the near future.

This was a big boxing week in my family. My son, Joey Negron, had his first boxing tournament, since he won The Daily News Light Heavyweight Golden Gloves Championship back in April.

This week, he beat two-time champ Leslie Jean for the New York Amateur Boxing Championship Light Heavyweight Division.

After the fight, my sons and I went to see the new movie Hands of Stone for a special screening for NY Sports Day. Throughout the years, I have been very fortunate to be in the company of Sugar Ray Leonard and Roberto Duran. As a matter of fact, George Steinbrenner had a special pay-per-view in the Yankee Clubhouse for all the players to see the first Duran-Leonard fight.

After Duran beat Leonard, Reggie Jackson had me deliver a Reggie model bat signed by Mr. October. I took it to his hotel and Duran would not stop swinging it. About two years later, I would see Duran again and he would ask me if I could get him another bat because, in a fit of rage, he threw the bat at a crowd outside his house.

In the movie, you actually see him throwing a bat at a crowd outside his house. I laughed my ass off when I saw this scene because I knew that would have been that bat.

Usher Raymond plays Leonard brilliantly. Edgar Ramirez is magnificent as Duran and, of course, Robert De Niro is Robert De Niro – the greatest.

John Turturro gets a loud honorable mention as the mob boss. John is such a great actor, you wish his part was bigger.

Knowing Duran, it’s as close to the truth as you can get.

I highly recommend it.

Rating: ****

As the community consultant for the New York Yankees, I try to reach kids of all ages and sports.

When asked to attend a career day at the Tobias Harris Basketball Camp, I was more than flattered because both Tobias and the kids wanted to hear my story. I found Tobias to be a true gentleman and New Yorker who has not forgotten where he came from. This is my interview with Tobias Harris and a special thanks to Chucka Erike, the camp counselor that helped set this up.

Ray Negron: Tobias Harris, a young man from New York City, born and raised. You are now with the Detroit Pistons. I just came over to your program over here. I see you are giving back. I am proud to say congratulations with what you are doing.

Tobias Harris: Thank you. It means a lot. Here right now, we are in the second week of camp.  It’s free counseling for the kids.  We had really good high school talent last week. Now we have some really good talented, different kids from five to 12. It’s been really good to be at camp, being around the kids and getting to know them.

RN: Throughout the years, I got to work Derek Jeter, Darryl Strawberry, and Reggie Jackson. A lot of times it seems like a concept of business. I see a concept of family here. Am I wrong?

TH: You are not wrong. It’s a whole family concept. That’s why it makes it real special. Everybody is in the family here. We don’t really do anything as a business concept or stuff like that. We just focus on the kids and understand them. Give them some inspiration. And show them different types of careers and different types of avenues you can go in life. It’s a lifestyle camp and that’s how we go with it.

RN: When you address the kids, you knew them by their first names. How did you do that and why is that important?

TH: I’m here every single day. I have my workout in the morning, right before camp, and I am to watch them throughout the day and the biggest thing is this allows them to realize interaction and spending time with them and get to know them.

RN: Last question, you are in Detroit. What are you looking for with Detroit and you?

TH: Another great year. We have a lot of great pieces coming back and it is going to be a great year for us. Everybody is working super hard this off-season. The sky is the limit for us.

RN: I am looking forward to covering you. When you come in during the season to play the Knicks, act like you know me so I can impress my friends.

TH:  (Laughs) I sure will. I appreciate it.

Ray Negron is a sports executive with over 40 years of experience in baseball. His first job came from a chance encounter with George Steinbrenner as a youth. He has become an American film producer, a best-selling author, and a philanthropist. His memoir is entitled, “Yankee Miracles: Life with the Boss and the Bronx Bombers.” He also writes for NEWSMAX. He is also the host of Impact on 930 AM WPAT every Wednesday from 6 to 7 pm.

 

When I went to see Doc Gooden today, I didn’t know what I was going to find. This was going to be the first time I was going to see him since his so-called disappearance last week. I was pleasantly surprised that he actually looked decent. Not the Doc Gooden we all have seen in the past but also not the skeletal figure we have seen in the last couple of weeks. It’s difficult to write this column, because as most fans know, I sincerely love Dwight Gooden as a brother and always will.

Ray Negron: Doc, I have seen more love for you with this situation, than I have seen in 15 or 20 years. How do you feel about that?

Dwight Gooden: It’s a great feeling and it’s very touching. You are not talking about Doc Gooden the baseball player. You are talking about Doc Gooden the person. It is very touching. It’s a great feeling to have and I appreciate it very much.

RN: Dwight, will you use this to keep going forward in your battle for recovery?

DG: I do that every day. I went through almost everything in life. I lost my mom. I lost my dad. I lost George Steinbrenner.  Now with the speedbumps in the roadway with people saying things I didn’t do. I am thankful for all the support I can get. And I appreciate the fans for it.

RN: Dwight, when you go through the 12-step program, one of the most important things is anonymity. How do you feel about what Darryl Strawberry said?

DG: That’s the tough part. Even when go to Out for Cure, there’s always someone there who is not as well as they should be with anonymity. But what you talk about is yourself, so you know there might be something that might get out. But what I have to stress is anonymity because when it’s someone you care about and they go back and talk about it. That’s the issue.

RN: Will you eventually forgive Strawberry and the others, we are talking about?

DG: I have forgiven them already. I learned to forgive and it’s really for me to move on. I have too much going on. I have seven kids. I have two grandkids. I have my brother with me right now. I have a lot on my plate. I have my own recovery. So I have to forgive those people. I know they make mistakes. They are not perfect. I forgive them.

RN: Mets COO Jeff Wilpon and Yankees President Randy Levine have both extended hands out. How do you feel about that?

DG: That’s great. I was once a Met and once a Yankee and I appreciate to be remembered when my career was over. They appreciate me, not as a player, but me and my family as people. That means a lot to me.

RN: New York, Major League Baseball and people in general all want to love Dwight Gooden and are in Dwight Gooden’s corner. That means you have a responsibility to them all the time and  in essence, you and these fans will always be together. Do you agree?

DG: My responsibility to them is always being honest. If I do something, I go out and admit it. I don’t want to hide from anything. I am not perfect and I am going to make mistakes. But it’s what you do with those mistakes – help myself and help others – is what really counts.

RN: They are talking about you getting involved with productions and film making. This is something that you wanted to do, since I have known you. How do you feel about that?

DG: I am finally going to do things, I wanted to do. I always did things for others and now all my kids are grown, except two. I am going to do things with my life I enjoy. I never had a true hobby. One thing about filmmaking is it always has been a hobby. Working with you Ray, I learned things of what you did with your movies. I fulfilled my baseball dreams, but I want to live my other dream and it’s always been production.

RN: New York, America, and the world loves Dwight Gooden. Don’t give up on them.

DG: I will never give up on them. I never gave up on myself, number one. I always had them in my heart and they have been in my corner.

RN: Dr. K, Dwight Gooden. Thank you.

This interview can be heard during Impact on WPAT 930 AM tomorrow from 6 to 7 PM.

Ray Negron is a sports executive with over 40 years of experience in baseball. His first job came from a chance encounter with George Steinbrenner as a youth. He has become an American film producer, a best-selling author, and a philanthropist. His memoir is entitled, “Yankee Miracles: Life with the Boss and the Bronx Bombers.” He also writes for NEWSMAX. He is also the host of Impact on 930 AM WPAT every Wednesday from 6 to 7 pm.

If I were to throw a big time party, I would have to ask Debbie Tymon to plan it. I’m sure many of you are asking, “Who is Debbie Tymon?” Debbie is the Yankees’ Senior Vice President of Marketing – our own in-house party planner. Any event that takes place on the field is planned and overseen by Debbie.

This was a classic weekend for her at Yankee Stadium. Friday was the Alex Rodriguez on field farewell ceremony. Debbie did such a fabulous job that I can honestly say I saw so many people who had never liked A-Rod, with tears in their eyes, as every sentimental and orchestrated moment took place. His little girl’s coming on the field with Mariano Rivera and his mom being led by none other than Mr. October, Reggie Jackson, was right on because of the respect that A-Rod and Reggie have for each other and the love that A-Rod has for Mo. The only thing I will not give Debbie Tymon credit for was the “God like” thunder heard when Hal Steinbrenner gave Alex the framed uniform.

All in all, Friday was a great start to an incredible weekend which was followed on Saturday with the 20th anniversary celebration of the 1996 Yankees that brought back almost every member of that team. If Don Zimmer had been there, then I would have given Debbie credit for the lightning the night before. However she did have a beautiful video of Don Zimmer shown on the scoreboard, which made it perfect. How she gathers up all these players from years gone by is a miracle – a Yankee miracle!

Sunday came with another celebration planned by Debbie. This one for the great Yankee closer, Mariano Rivera. The “Core Four” was there along with David Cone, Tino Martinez and their manager Joe Torre. Also present was Pitching Coach Mel Stottlemyre and the wonderful and very talented, underrated trainer, Gene Monahan. I say underrated because during the 40 years that I have been in baseball, I have never seen a more hard-working trainer on any sports team, and God knows I have seen a lot of them.

Also at the presentation was Jennifer Steinbrenner-Swindal, The Boss’s eldest daughter.

Mariano gave a very nice, humble and to the point speech. Hal Steinbrenner making the on the field presentation was the perfect touch because having the Steinbrenner presence is always special. It would have been nice to have Hank and Hal, the two Steinbrenner boys, present that day but as Doris Day once said, “Que sera sera.”

Debbie Tymon, you have been doing this for a very long time in a very beautiful way. I congratulate you and your hard-working staff. One of George Steinbrenner’s favorite songs of the 1970s was Carly Simon’s “Nobody Does it Better.” The last four words to the song are, “Baby, you’re the best.” The Boss would have agreed that Marvin Hamlisch – who penned the tune – wrote it for you, Debbie!

Congratulations we still have not seen your best and I’m glad about that.

No one will ever forget 1996.

It was the year that we were introduced to the greatness of Derek Jeter, the gracefulness of Bernie Williams, the power of Tino Martinez, King Leyritz’s homerun, Doc’s no-hitter, Strawberry being saved from the minors by the Boss to get some very timely hits, and of course Girardi’s leadership. And who could forget Cone’s strength, Wetteland at the end of every game teaching a young Mariano Rivera the way a closer does the job, Cecil Fielder’s power, Charlie Hayes’s grit, Wade Boggs’ desire, Pat Kelly always ready and yes it just wouldn’t work without the warrior Paul O’Neill.

It was a great team put together by Gene Michael, Brian Cashman, Bob Watson, Mark Newman, Billy Connors and Joe Torre and his staff led by Don Zimmer, Jose Cardenal, Mel Stottlemyre and Tony Cloninger.

However, two other coaches stood out for me, Willie Randolph and Chris Chambliss. Both unsung heroes of that staff, but two coaches who more than anybody on that staff, knew how to win the George Steinbrenner way. They understood the Boss’ mentality and were able to make the players understand that there was a method to his madness. In a very dignified way they did more than their job without stepping on any of the other coaches, and more importantly the manager’s toes. Egos can be touchy in baseball and they understood that. People forget that these two great guys were a very big part of the Boss’ first AL championship team of 1976.

As a rookie in 1976, Willie helped to hold the infield together and was a natural leader that the great Yankee manager Billy Martin would love. Chris Chambliss would save the season by hitting perhaps the biggest home run in Yankee history. They lead, as players in 1976, to make the manager’s job that much easier, just as they would in 1996 as coaches. Two guys that understood the Boss and Billy Martin and the true will to win in 1976 and were able to teach this new group of young Yankees in 1996 that very thing. Every day they were teaching and instilling the Yankee way. They did a great job. It takes a whole organization and a lot of money to run any big business but it also takes the bloodlines of being a Yankee to help become a winner. Randolph and Chambliss were winners and were able to pass it on the Steinbrenner way.

This weekend New York honors the 1996 Yankees for their great championship season. I will be there to cheer them on and be very proud that in a small way I was a part of that. I will also walk across the street to where the old stadium was to honor Catfish, Thurman, Billy, Bucky, Mick the Quick, Roy White, Bloomberg, Oscar, Nettles, Sweet Lou, Dock Ellis, Chicken, Dirt, and all the 1976 Yankees.

I will never forget Frank Sinatra and Cary Grant sitting in the Boss’ suite acting like excited little boys as Chambliss’s home run cleared the right-field wall. Of all of the celebrations, 1976 was the one championship that I thought made the Boss the happiest, probably because it was the first championship and how dramatic that home run would be. One championship is not better than another, it’s like saying which kid do you like best. Please enjoy what happened in 1996 but let’s not ever forget the Boss’ first championship team and the people that helped get us there.

A special thanks to “Teenager” (Willie Randolph) and “Snatcher” (Chris Chambliss) for connecting the bloodlines and, of course, to Billy and the Boss – the two guys who loved the Yankees the most.

Ray Negron is a sports executive with over 40 years of experience in baseball. His first job came from a chance encounter with George Steinbrenner as a youth. He has become an American film producer, a best-selling author, and a philanthropist. His memoir is entitled, “Yankee Miracles: Life with the Boss and the Bronx Bombers.” He also writes for NEWSMAX. He is also the host of Impact on 930 am WPAT every Wednesday from 6 to 7 pm. To read Ray’s archive, Go Here Now.

 

Alex Rodriguez will always be my go to guy. For 10 years, when kids were in trouble, I was always able to go to Alex and he would help. I would say that a group of kid’s needed “x” amount of money to play Little League, or I needed him for a school outing, etc. He never questioned it. He just went into his pocket and helped out or visited the kids.

Sometimes, I would tell Alex that a visit at the ballfield, hospital or school would have a bigger impact than money and he would make many an unannounced visit to the kids. I will never forget one day when we set up a visit at a ballfield in the Bronx after a Yankee game, and there were over 3000 kids and parents waiting for him. A negative person – who probably was not an Alex fan – said that there was no way that A-Rod would show up because he had just struck out five times in the game.

The kids were very disappointed to hear that, but all of a sudden a loud screeching cheer was heard and you could see the people open up like the parting of the Red Sea to let Alex Rodriguez through the crowd. He spoke to all of the kids and parents about love and the fact that like so many others, he had come from a broken home. He spoke about how his mom had been his everything and how mentors in his life helped him to be where he is today. He spoke beautifully and with dignity and told the kids about how reading was so important in his life. He spoke about how the head of the Boys and Girls Club had picked up the slack in his life when his father was not there. He told them how Lou Piniella, his manager in Seattle, was more a father figure than a manager. I listened with tears in my eyes because I know Piniella and I know of the incredible person that he is. To know Alex Rodriguez is to love him.

I know that I am loved in different parts of the Bronx because Alex has never let me down when it came to going to different areas and events and quietly helping a lot of people out. I will never forget a couple of times when the field was wet at Yankee Stadium and batting practice was called off. One time, Alex and I went to an empty lot on River Avenue and played stickball with the kids. Only kids were allowed in the lot. Adults watched from the outside part of the chain-link fence. When we got there, there were about 10 kids, word spread and we finished with about 300 kids on the lot. After we finished playing, we took the kids to Billy’s Sports Lounge for hot dogs and soda.

Billy Martin once told me, after I said to him that I had been a bad person before George Steinbrenner and the Yankees gave me a second chance in life, “Show me a person that says he’s never messed up and I’ll show you a liar.” Everyone deserves a second chance- A-Rod was no exception. Can he have an attitude? Yes he can. But, can’t we all sometimes? I am proud to know Alex Rodriguez but I am even prouder of how Hal Steinbrenner and the New York Yankees organization has dealt with the A-Rod situation and let him go out very much the way George Steinbrenner would have, with his pride and his dignity.

 

Another Subway Series has come and now is pretty much gone, but I don’t want to forget the fact that the New York Mets – especially  Mets PR  heads Jay Horwitz, Harold Kaufman, and Ethan Wilson –  welcomed Yankee people into Citi Field and they always make us feel like royalty. The class they always display, not only to the Yankee brass, but to the Yankee fans that go there at this time of year, I find incredible and all stadiums, around the league, can learn from these people.

I know we do a good job at Yankee Stadium, but I love that a great job is also done at Citi Field.

Ray Negron is a sports executive with over 40 years of experience in baseball. His first job came from a chance encounter with George Steinbrenner as a youth. He has become an American film producer, a best-selling author, and a philanthropist. His memoir is entitled, “Yankee Miracles: Life with the Boss and the Bronx Bombers.” He also writes for NEWSMAX. To read Ray’s archive, Go Here Now.

August 2, 2016 is the 37^th anniversary since the great Yankee catcher and team captain – even though he would not permit you to call him that because he wanted to be like everybody else – died in a tragic airplane crash.

This past Old Timers Day, I  walking through the suite section of Yankee Stadium when about 100 feet in front of me I saw two recognizable figures.  The woman was definitely Diana Munson and all of a sudden I got the chills because the man next to her had a striking resemblance to Thurman Munson. By the time we were face to face my eyes were filled with tears. The man was Thurman’s son, Michael. Without saying a word the three of us hugged and Diane said, “He looks like his dad doesn’t he?” I quickly nodded “yes” because I couldn’t speak. She asked me if I still think of Thurman and I responded, “Every day!”

I was recently watching Bob Costas interviewing Reggie Jackson on the MLB network.  Reggie was asked if he regrets not being friends with Thurman Munson. Knowing Mr. October the way that I do, I knew that the question really bothered Reggie. Just like Game 6 of the 1977 World Series, Reggie was ready to respond. “There is a guy still with the Yankees today by the name of Ray Negron. He set up a lunch for Thurman and me so that we could settle our differences,” Reggie responded. After that lunch, I can honestly say that Reggie and Thurman became very good friends. I remember the two of them talking during that lunch about life in general and about how they grew up.

The good, the bad and the ugly.

When Thurman started to fly he brought Reggie along on a flight or two. When the Yankees went on the road and I was escorting the team, Reggie would have me put Thurman’s car in his personal garage. When we won the 1978 World Series, Thurman went out of his way to find Reggie in the crowded clubhouse in Los Angeles, to be able to have a toast. The clubhouse was crowded and public but when their eyes met you could tell that the toast was very private, personal and more importantly, happy.

Exactly one year earlier, Reggie would hit three home runs in Game 6 of the 1977 World Series and at the end of the night, Thurman went by Reggie’s locker and said to him, “You sure put on one hell of a show Mr. October.” They both laughed and Reggie said, “Mr. October… wow I like that nickname and Thurman with a big grin responded, “You can keep the name, no charge.” That had to be Thurman’s best gift to Reggie. The name Mr. October and a true and honest friendship that I know Reggie cherishes to this day.

Tom Hanks once said in the baseball movie A League of their Own, “There’s no crying in baseball.” If Tom Hanks had known Thurman Munson, even he would have cried. When Thurman died we had a team meeting the next day.  I was sitting on the floor in the clubhouse and witnessed George Steinbrenner, who loved Thurman like a son, tell the team how Thurman had died and he started hysterically crying. I saw Bobby Murcer try to take over for the Boss, but the pain was too much and he also broke down in tears.  At that point, Reggie stood up and quoted some strong words from the Bible and I looked over at Billy Martin, who was silent with his glasses on to hide his swollen tear-filled eyes, and my other heroes and realized that it was okay to cry. That day there was crying in baseball.

Thurman Munson we still love you and miss you so much.

Ray Negron is a sports executive with over 40 years of experience in baseball. His first job came from a chance encounter with George Steinbrenner as a youth. He has become an American film producer, a best-selling author, and a philanthropist. His memoir is entitled, “Yankee Miracles: Life with the Boss and the Bronx Bombers.” He also writes for NEWSMAX. To read Ray’s archive, Go Here Now.