Tampa: This morning I met my good friend Charlie Santoro at the Village Inn Diner outside of Steinbrenner Field. Charlie is a member of the YES Network. He’s probably one of the most loved figures in that organization. He’s an extremely lovable character who I am proud to call my friend.

Charlie always makes everyone laugh and he always makes you feel good about yourself. Saturday morning he wasn’t as lovable as he usually is. I asked him what’s wrong and he told me with the kind of year I just gone through, (I lost my Mom and Dad and I also lost my very dear friend Adele Smithers). He was afraid to tell me what he had to tell me.

I told him, what happened Charlie, let me know? And he informed me that Beatrice O’Neill passed away. For many of you out there who don’t know who she was, Beatrice was the lady who greeted everyone in the suites section of Yankee Stadium.

She had worked for the Yankees for many-many years and was a true favorite to George Steinbrenner. She was a lady of true class and dignity, someone the Yankees could not afford to lose because she made all the guests truly feel welcome.

Every time that me or Charlie walked up to the fourth floor the first thing we would do was hug and kiss Beatrice. We always used to tell her that she was a fashion statement because she dressed so elegantly. I always used to ask Beatrice for a date and she used to say,” I am old enough to be your mother-stop it.”

Mr. Steinbrenner’s suite supervisor, Joe Scafidi used to drive Beatrice and I home sometimes and we would flirt with her all the way home and at the age of 80, she loved it.

And, oh, how she loved “The Boss.” To Beatrice “The Bosss” was Cary Grant. He always made her feel like a million bucks. Whenever you met Beatrice you would never forget her because she was the Mom everyone wished they had, a true, sweet and darling person.

I will miss her forever as will everyone who knew her. Beatrice had a son,  daughter, and ten grandchildren. The one thing I can truly tell you about Beatrice, and that is, she was very proud to be a Yankee. True and true!

Weekends belong to Ray ESPN 1050 Radio 12-2pm Saturday and Sunday. Ray can also be read on Newsmax.  

Tampa:  Elvis Presley once said that a man is one thing and an image is another. I didn’t really know what Elvis meant by saying that until I was invited  to visit the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital through a personal call from their CEO Chantal Leconte.

Tuesday morning  in Fort Lauderdale Florida, after I parked my car, as I approached the hospital I saw this magnificent building with a statue in the front of Joe DiMaggio in his Yankee uniform with his arm around a little boy.  It was the most sensitive looking work of art that I have ever seen.  When I walked inside the hospital Chantal and her entourage were standing there waiting for me.

Their camera man started flashing pictures of me as if I was some sort of celebrity. I told Chantal,  she is treating me like I was a Yankees star and she said, “Today to these kids you are.” We proceeded to take a little tour of this magnificent building and she educated me on what it meant to the community and the poor sick children that are here everyday.

I asked her why it was important to have me there? She said, “I knew that after listening to you speak at another venue weeks before, I knew that you understood what these kids were going through and that you can truly brighten their day.”

Chantal mentioned to me that it was nice to have someone in the hospital who had actually known Joe DiMaggio. I said to her that I had met DiMaggio on many occasions throughout the years but that I did not really know him.

Chantal showed me many rare pictures dating back to 1936 right up until and just before he died, and how he truly loved children. I was truly blown away at the magnitude of the pictures. Evidently throughout the years this was one of Joe DiMaggio’s best and kept secrets.

This was something that Mr. DiMaggio took very-very serious. With each passing picture that I saw, I started to realize certain things that DiMaggio said to different people over the years and one of them being, you must help children before they get polluted by adults.

I now find it so profound that things make more sense. She even had a picture of DiMaggio and an African American boy in deep conversation before the boy had surgery.  In my mind all I could hear was Simon and Garfunkel “Where Have You Gone Joe DiMaggio, Our Nation Turns It’s lonely Eyes To You.”

Now every time that I hear different people saying what a crab Joe DiMaggio was I will turn to them and say, “What have you ever done for the children of this world?” Because today Joe is a hero to me, not for the 56-game hitting streak but for the hundreds of children that he reached out too and tried to help.

In 1984, I was lucky enough to work in a movie called “The Cotton Club” that was directed by Francis Ford Coppola and starred Richard Gere. I played a waiter in the club. Richard Gere introduced me to Mr Coppola as George Steinbrenner’s bat boy and from that day on for the next two months, Mr. Coppola treated me not like an extra but like one of the stars.

He was truly a gentleman to me everyday. Richard Gere, Gregory Hines, and Nicholas Cage all used to stare at me in amazement with the preferential treatment Mr. Coppola gave me over all the other extras on the set.

When filming ended at the “Rap Party” Mr. Coppola came over to me, shook my hand and thanked me for my efforts. I asked out of curiosity, I needed to know as to why he had been so nice to me? His response was, “Even though you may think you are just a bat boy, you are still a Yankee and when I was a little boy I was suffering from a very rare paralysis and a significant Yankee came to the hospital to visit me. He didn’t know me from Adam.”

Coppola would say, “I was just one of the sick kids at the hospital and this Yankees visit meant the world to me and for a little while I forgot how sick I really was.”

I asked Mr. Coppola who was that Yankee? He said, “Joe DiMaggio.” Thirty-three years later, It’s incredible that I am standing in a hospital named after a man that most of the world did not realize had this kind of a beautiful heart. Even though I had seen little samples of what this Yankee great was capable of off the field I never put it together until now.

Throughout the years I used to see my incredible boss George Steinbrenner do wonderful things and he would always tell me never to tell anyone and this is pretty much the same way that DiMaggio wanted to be able to do the good that he had done.

Now I understand. As the Boss once told me, if people find out the good I do, that’s their business but that is not the reason for the good that I do. Now I have to believe after my findings that this was part of the reason why the Boss and DiMaggio had such great respect for each other.

Tampa: A documentary has been in the works for some time now on the life of Super Scout Tom Giordano and the world of Major League Baseball scouts. Everyone from Atlanta Braves President John Hart to all-time hits leader Pete Rose are featured in this documentary.

The greatest second baseman of all-time, Roberto Alomar gives a testimonial with passion  about Giordano who is known by his peers as “T-Bone.” The documentary traces the home run race between “T-Bone” and Hank Aaron in the 1953 minor league baseball season right up to the time where he signs the beloved Baltimore Orioles Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr.

When “T-Bone” was told that Reggie Jackson was going to take part in this film he could not have been happier. Through the years they have always had a very special bond. Many baseball insiders remember that Giordano was a big reason why the Orioles made the trade for Jackson in 1976 and after the season Reggie presented Giordano with his Number 9 uniform shirt as a token of thank you.

When Reggie was asked if he would take part in this documentary at first, he questioned it but when he found out it was about “T-Bone” he jumped at the opportunity to let the world know what a wonderful human being this great baseball veteran has been.

Reggie looks at “T-Bone” today as if he was a father to him. The fact that “T-Bone” at the age of 92 has been in baseball over 70 years, Reggie mentioned, that must be some type of Guinness Book of World Records.

Another longtime baseball official who did not want to be identified mentioned there should be a special wing in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown for people like Tom Giordano, almost like they have at the Ted Williams Hall of Fame in St. Petersburgh Florida where ‘T-Bone” has a prominent display.

As “Mr. October” finished his heartfelt interview you could hear him say the days of the Tom Giordano’s and all the great scouts are a thing of the past and we will not see another “T-Bone” again.

Let’s enjoy this one while we have him.

Weekends With Ray on ESPN Deportes 1050 AM from 12-2pm. You can also read Ray on Newsmax.

Tampa – In the summer of 2005, I took a  young rookie by the name of Robinson Cano to the Hackensack University Medical Center.  I was there visiting an old friend David Jurist. David and his good friend Don Imus support the “Tomorrow  Children’s Fund.”

Tampa –  Today I walk around the new renovated  George Steinbrenner Field. I see the left field balcony and there is a big and bright number 15 displayed for all the fans and it naturally takes me back to my early spring training days with Thurman Munson.

It used to be a glorious time back in the 1970’s. I shared wonderful moments with Bobby Murcer. I had incredible times with Catfish Hunter. A player that many of the fans won’t remember but yet he meant a lot to me was an outfielder named Walt “No Neck” Williams.

A guy who probably played first base better than anybody in the history of the game was a part of our world championship 1978 team by the name Jim Spencer.  Another guy that meant the world to me and he happened to win eight Gold Gloves as a center fielder was Paul Blair.

Another guy, Aurelio Rodriguez helped the Yankees win at the start of the 1980’s was also an incredible defensive wizard at third base. And of course our fearless leader on the field was our incredible manager Billy Martin, and then of course “The Boss” of bosses George Steinbrenner  was the man who always demanded for this team to win for our great city yet always had the greatest heart of anyone associated with the New York Yankees.

I think of all these men often. I miss them so very much and when I see the families at Old Timers Day I can’t help but cry.

Seven years ago a lady by the name of Sally Cook, who was associated with Columbia Presbyterian Hospital asked me if I could bring a player to read one of my children’s books to the kids there. I decided that I would bring a young rookie by the name of Brett Gardner.

It’s always easier to ask a rookie to assist you with a hospital visit than a veteran. And with the kids at the hospital when any one puts on that Yankees uniform as far as they are concerned those players are Superman.

I recall picking up Gardner at Yankee Stadium and driving him to the hospital. On our way there I remember him saying, ” I don’t know if I can do this.” He was actually quite nervous. I explained to him about the history of Yankees always visiting children at hospitals dating all the way back to Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig.

I told him about a lot of the Yankees who are no longer with us and how they always gave back to the less privileged. I even told him how Thurman Munson used to feel after spending time with a lot of these kids. Thurman never had to say anything because you always saw it in his eyes. In Mr. Steinbrenner you  would always see it in his smile.

When we arrived at the hospital Ms. Cook was nervously waiting for us at curb side. I introduced the two of them and she led us inside to where many of the kids were waiting.

Gardner went right up to the podium and was introduced by the President of the hospital and like a seasoned pro he read the children’s book “Goodbye to Yankee Stadium.”  Ironically that book was about all the spirits that played at Yankee Stadium.

The kids loved how Gardner read the book to them. It was if he was acting out all the different parts. When he finished reading the book he received a big ovation from everyone there. After signing many autographs we started to leave.  A little girl introduced herself to Brett. Her name was Alissa

She handed Gardner a little bracelet. She asked him if he would wear it at the game that night. She asked it he would do her a favor and Gardner responded, “What can I do for you?” She told him she had been waiting for a heart for over six months and she felt if Gardner hit her a home run that they would find a heart for her.

Gardner looked at her with a startled look in his face. She asked again if he would please try and he said that he would. He gave her a hug and then we jumped back in the car.

On our way back to Yankee Stadium, Gardner had a very sad look on his face. I asked him what was wrong and he said, “I hardly hit home runs and I am afraid of letting Alissa down.”  I told him, like in my children’s  book, just let the spirits handle it.

When he walked into the Yankees clubhouse he noticed his name was not in the starting lineup and he really got disappointed because now he was really not going to have a chance to hit a home run.

As faith would have it, Johnny Damon got into an argument with the umpire and got thrown out of the game in the sixth inning. Manager Joe Girardi looked over to Gardner and told him to grab a bat.

Gardner hit a line drive down the left field line The left fielder for the Minnesota Twins was the extremely fast Denard Span. For some reason he misplayed the ball and it went past him and all the way back to the wall and the even faster Brett Gardner raced around the bases the way Mickey Rivers would in the 70’s.

They tried to throw him out at the plate but Gardner got his hand at the plate just before the tag could be made. A miracle happened, an inside the park home run. As he ran into the dugout all he could think of was he fulfilled his promise to a very sick little girl who had been looking for a heart.

By the time the game ended and the players got into the clubhouse a call had came in that a heart had been found for little Alissa. It was as if the baseball Gods were looking over Brett and Alissa’s shoulder. This was something that was just meant to be.

It’s been almost ten years since this incredible miracle happened and I can joyfully say that Alissa is a beautiful young lady today thanks to the wonderful doctors, to the great soul of Brett Gardner and all the wonderful spirits that will always be known as New York Yankees.

Just look over your shoulder always! This story is dedicated to my Mom and Pop, Adele Smithers “The Mother of Recovery” and all the wonderful people that we lost in the last year. Thank you Phil Collins for writing such a wonderful song….”You’ll be in my heart.”

Weekends with Ray on ESPN1050 Impact 12-2pm and he can be read on Newsmax.

Ray Negron: Alex, Hal Steinbrenner has basically said he is happy you are here and helping with the  responsibility with the kids and you will show them the Yankees way. How do you feel about that?

Alex Rodriguez:  I am grateful Hal gave me an opportunity to come back in 2016  and not only to get my career back and rehab my life. I forever will be  grateful. I really love the kids and look forward to spending time mentoring them..

Negron:   You were a good Yankee regardless of all the stuff that went on.  How do you feel about that?

Alex: it was the greatest time of my career. It had its ups and downs.The one thing I will neve forget is always remember the 2009 world championship that was as good as it gets.

Negron:  Pete Rose said to me I got to know Alex Rodriguez. He is one of the greatest. He said, “I know the man.” I had a blast with him. He should have been bigger in New York than he was. Maybe had he not played behind Derek Jeter.  He would have been a king there and had a statue there.

Alex: Pete is a living legend and he is extremely intelligent and articulates the game in a beautiful way. I really enjoy my time with Pete. Listen, I have no complaints. I am one of the luckiest human beings on the planet and I get a chance to kind of pave forward with some of our great talent here in New York.

Negron: I regret the fact that George Steinbrenner didn’t get to see this like a Reggie. He went through scenarios with Reggie and he became his guy. Do you feel you are going to be the guy in helping the Yankees from the standpoint from psychological etc.?

Alex: Mr. Steinbrenner brought me here in 2004 and I forever will be grateful to the Steinbrenner family and now Hal and I have developed a nice relationship over the years. I really have enjoyed our talks. We both have two passions in common. We love the NY Yankees and we love young players and my job is to make those young players better.

Negron:  Roberto Alomar, what did he mean to you in your career?

Alex: He is one of my heroes and became one of my closest friends in the game, someone I admired. He’s baseball royalty. When you think about Sandy Sr.,  Sandy Jr. and of course his mother is probably the biggest baseball fan of them all so Robby is a dear friend.

Negron: Do what you have to do as far as these kids go. Know the New York fans love you and hey come on we want to see you in New York as much as possible.

Alex: Thank you Ray. Appreciate it.

Ray Negron can be heard on ESPN radio 1050 Every Sat and Sun from 12pm – 2pm. You can also find Ray on NEWSMAX.

The winter of 1995 George Steinbrenner asked me, “How can we keep Doc Gooden and Darryl Strawberry clean for a whole season?” I told him that I couldn’t give him that kind of guarantee. He asked me why not? I said, “Because I need my job in order to feed my kids.” He laughed out loud as only the Boss could. Then he got very serious again and asked, or should I say, demanded some type of guarantee.

He wanted Doc and Darryl real badly, he just didn’t want the embarrassment that sometimes comes with this type of heartache or should I say headache. With George Steinbrenner, I was never afraid of losing my job because of the great respect we had for each other, I just didn’t want to ever disappoint him. He had always been so great to me and my family and there is nothing that I wouldn’t have done for him.

Sometime that week I ran into an old friend of mine from high school who I knew used to do a lot of drugs. He had become a very successful Wall Street stock broker at Bear Sterns. I asked him how he had beat his daemons. He told me that he was getting help form one of his clients, who happened to head a drug rehab facility called the Long Island Council on Drug and Alcohol Dependence. He told me about an incredible lady named Adele Smithers and all of the work she was doing with people battling the disease of addiction. I asked him to introduce me to Adele.

Two days later I was at the home of Adele Smithers literally begging her to help me with Doc and Darryl. I had done my research of the incredible Mrs. Smithers and found out that Adele and her late husband Brinkley were truly the pioneers of drug and alcohol recovery. They literally spent millions on research and were the first to announce that as part of the scientist’s research, there was a gene that could tell us if we could become addicted to alcohol. Adele, I found to be a very interesting individual. I explained to her about my dilemma with the Boss, Doc and Darryl. She listened very intently and after some tea and cake sent me home and said that she would call me in a couple of days.

The very next day Adele asked me if I wanted to go to Florida with her to meet with Mr. Steinbrenner. I called the Boss and told him of my meeting with Mrs. Smithers and he agreed to the meeting with her in Tampa. It did help that Adele was a big Yankee fan and seven years before the Smithers Foundation had helped Doc and Darryl in their recovery efforts. The Boss had done his own homework on Adele Smithers and was impressed that I had brought in such a giant in the field. The two got along great. She explained so much about recovery that for the first time Mr. Steinbrenner really understood that addiction was a disease. From the business side,

Adele understood that the Boss could be a bully. However, from the human side she saw that the Boss really cared about Doc and Darryl and really wanted the best for them. Between the three of us we set up a game plan on how we would care for these two guys. Adele was doing this out of the goodness of her heart and the Boss asked me to check in with Adele. Doc and Darryl spent a lot of time with Adele and grew to love her like a mother. The Boss had a wonderful relationship with Adele and her money was no good at Yankee Stadium. Adele loved how philanthropic Mr. Steinbrenner was and if you knew Adele, than you knew she was the same way.

Adele once asked me how she could help with the charities that the Yankees were involved with, possibly the Boys and Girls Club. I went to our community relations director John Szponar and it was worked out so that the Smithers Foundation would sponsor a Spring Training Boys and Girls Club luncheon with all of the Yankee players. In her own quiet, dignified way, Adele was always there for the Yankees and for non-Yankees alike. For the rich and for the poor. For the black and for the white. When Hank Steinbrenner started Hank’s Yanks, a youth baseball program for underprivileged kids, Adele was one of our sponsors. She was there to help whatever kids may have had possible drug or alcohol issues or questions. When Adele contracted Parkinson’s disease, she still maintained her crazy work schedule. Nothing would stop this woman from doing what she felt she was here for. Nothing except God asking her to join him.

Today, I was on the phone with Steve Chassman, the head of the Long Island Council, about a boy with a problem. After we setup the boy’s appointment, I hung up the phone and it rang. The call was from Christopher Smithers, the son of Adele. He had been caring for her in California. Chris told me what I did not want to hear. Adele Smithers died this morning. Next to my Mom, the greatest woman I had ever known. She was a female George Steinbrenner. Very very tough and didn’t take any crap from anyone. With Adele, you knew who the Boss was. At the same time, she had the biggest heart in the world. God, she sounds just like Mr. Steinbrenner, I guess that’s why they got along so well. Only the people who had intimately worked closely to the Boss would know how important Adele Smithers was to George Steinbrenner.

Adele Smithers was here to help mankind and looked for nothing in return. Timing is everything in life and I can only say that Adele’s timing is just not good because we need her now more than ever. Adele Smithers was a second mother to me, Aris Sakellaridis, Doc Gooden, Darryl Strawberry and so many others. We will never ever stop missing you Adele. We will never stop loving you. We will never forget that you were the Mother of Recovery!

Ray Negron can be heard on ESPN radio 1050 Every Sat and Sun from 12pm – 2pm. You can also find Ray on NEWSMAX.

TAMPA – Yankee fans are probably the most passionate of all sports fans. They just can’t get enough news about their team. They want to hear from the media, they want to hear from the manager and general manager, but when they get to hear it directly from the man who signs the checks that’s the only time a Yankee fan truly feels satisfied.

I got a chance to sit down with Hal Steinbrenner in his Tampa office and I got to appreciate how well the Yankees co-owner really does know his team. Fans have to understand I have known this young man since he was eight years old.

And to see how he has grown up to be one of the leaders of the Steinbrenner family and really truly cares about the direction of this mighty organization makes me feel quite proud.

Steinbrenner was good enough to sit down with NY Sports Day and ESPN Deportes and I hope you fans appreciate – as I do –  the fact he is trying to lead the Yankees back to prominence.

Ray Negron: I am here with the Yankees Co-Chairman Hal Steinbrenner. 2017, how do you feel about it?

Hal Steinbrenner: Every year is exciting. It’s a fresh start. This year, though, it’s different because all of the young talent, all of the young kids we have. Guys like (Greg) Bird, who has already been up here. (Luis) Severino and (Aaron) Judge. But also some other guys. (Gary) Sanchez is also in that group. Other guys like Chance Adams and (James) Kaprielian, who we might see this year. It’s just a lot of youth. It’s been a lot of years since we had since we had such a good nucleus of young talent. So it’s exciting.

RN: Diane Munson was here this weekend with the Yankees ladies fantasy camp asking about Gary Sanchez. What’s your feeling on Gary Sanchez?

HS: Obviously he had a tremendous start to his Major League career. We will see about this year, but he is the real deal. He has the temperament for New York, just a tough catcher, and it’s going to be exciting to see his numbers after a full year.

RN: Hal Steinbrenner 2017 as opposed to Hal Steinbrenner 2011 or 12. You seem to be more into the team and more into the knowledge of your team. How do you feel about that?

HS: We’ve grown up with these players. We have been talking bout them the last three, four, and five years. We have high hopes for them and through the years, they have progressed perfectly. In some cases, without a hitch. It’s great to finally see them at this level because we have been following them for so long. It’s exciting.

RN: What about the fact the Bronx has taken a real surge with the Yankees and want to be involved with the Yankees?

HS: I think it’s tremendous. We monitor social media and we know what our fans are saying, conventional media as well. Everybody is very excited. They all want to be part of this youth movement. They see great potential as we all do. Everyone is pretty keyed up about this year.

RN: Our fans are pretty bright. They know the Yankee history. They also seen you grow up with the Yankees. Do you feel the aspect that you have a true responsibility to these people?

HS: We always felt we have a responsibility to these people. That’s why we do our best every year. If we have money come off the payroll, for instance, we do our best to put as much of it back into the club as we can. We know what our fans excellence and they expect to win. We try to give them that. We do our very best. That has not changed.

RN: I am going to let you go. Thank you so very much. You have us some good news and I thank you for that.

HS: I hope the year pans out very well and I hope we live up to everyone’s expectations. Thanks Ray.

Weekends belong to Ray on ESPN 1050AM on Impact Saturday and Sunday 12-2pm. You can also read Ray on Newsmax.

TAMPA – This weekend, I came to the NY Yankees Fantasy Camp.  It’s the one time of the year that I can sit down with Diane Munson, Thurman’s wife, and soul search and talk about days gone by.

To Thurman Munson, I was always his little brother and Diane was like my sister.  Whenever Diane was in New York at the end of that particular homestand, I would always drive Thurman and her to Teterboro Airport. Those rides were the most hilarious of times because Thurman and Diane used to poke fun at each other and we would scream with laughter.

I never saw a Yankee couple more in love. I always wished that I could someday have a marriage like that.  Diane asked me about this new Yankee catcher named Sanchez. I told her that I had already done a couple of charity events with Gary and for me he represented the spirit of Thurman in a very nice way.

I asked Diane if she would like to send a message to Gary Sanchez on  behalf of the Munson family, and she said she would love to.  Here is the message that was transcribed by NY Sports Day from Diane Munson: “Hi Gary! I can’t wait to meet you in February and I heard nothing but wonderful things about you. I look forward to it. I heard you are a gamer, just like Thurman Munson. It’s going to be my pleasure.”

I hope that Gary Sanchez understands the magnitude of what Diane is trying to say.

Weekends belong to Ray Negron on ESPN Deportes 1050 Impact Saturday and Sunday from 12-2pm. You can also read Ray on Newsmax.

I was recently attending a charity event for the American Cancer Society.  I noticed that they were auctioning off different sports and entertainment items. The most interesting was a painting by the terrific pop artist, Riz Robinson.  It was a very deep piece of John Lennon.  Mr. Robinson saw me staring at the painting and asked me what my attachment to it was. I told him that John Lennon was a spiritual mentor to me and that Lennon and Paul McCartney were my all-time favorite song writers.

November 1977, one month after Reggie Jackson had hit the three home runs in game six of the 1977 World Series, Reggie and I went jogging in Central Park.

It was a beautiful brisk day and at this time I could still run really well. Reggie liked running with me because I would make him run harder, I always wanted to beat Mr. October but he was deceptively fast.  Three quarters of the way to the west side of the park, I noticed two very familiar figures. It was John Lennon and Yoko Ono.

John Lennon noticed Reggie before Reggie noticed Lennon. I screamed to Reggie, “Stop Jack!  It’s John Lennon.” I was in shock because I had always been a giant Beatle fan.  Reggie and Lennon shook hands and then Lennon introduced Yoko Ono to Reggie.

Lennon said to Reggie “I don’t know your sport, but I do know that right now you’re bigger than the five Jackson’s put together.” Reggie laughed at that and I guess you could say that John scored big points with that comment. John told Reggie how much he loved New York and Reggie replied about how intense and crazy the city could be. Yoko never really said much and I was just mesmerized watching two entertainment gods of the era enjoying one another. Years later, I asked Reggie if he ever thought about that time that we met John Lennon and reminded him of what Lennon said that day.  Reggie smiled. You have to remember that Reggie had met all of the greats from the last six decades. Stars from film, TV, music and sports. We are talking about greats like Sinatra, Mohamed Ali, Pele, you name it. I believe he even met Elvis but I’m not sure, Today, Reggie understands the magnitude of John Lennon and what Lennon meant to the world and he must think to himself, “that’s pretty neat.” That’s what Reggie’s smile told me.

Years later I spent time with Paul McCartney, right after his wife Linda died of cancer. Paul was just the coolest guy. He was the youngest 60-year-old guy ever. I was working for the Cleveland Indians and a good friend introduced us. Every time that I ran into Paul he was always great. One time I told Paul that I loved writing and was thinking about doing a children’s book.  He told me to put my soul into it and not to be afraid, something that some of the great writers that I have met had also shared with me.  I didn’t know what he meant until I started to write the book. I was scared because I wanted it so badly and I wanted it to be great.

My publisher was Harper Collins and the book imprint was Regan Books and the great publisher Judith Reagan.  Judith had known of my story and my friendship with George Steinbrenner. She thought that this was the real book, however that would be a book for another day.  When going over the children’s book, Judith told me not to tell anyone about the book except for Mr. Steinbrenner who had given me permission to write it.  Since I knew a lot a writers I decided to ask everyone for advice. I wanted to tweak the manuscript to try to make it better and better. At one point Judith said,” Do you understand that I like your idea for the story and I have editors that will help shape it up? If you keep asking all these people for their advice, one of them is going to say that they wrote it.” Boy she was right. After the book came out and started to have success, some guy started saying that he wrote it. When I saw Paul McCartney again I gave him a copy of the book and told him what had happened.   Paul told me that the same thing had happened to him when he wrote one of his first songs. I asked him, “What did you do?” He said,” I sat down and wrote another song and it had to be better than the first.” He told me that I had to do the same thing to shut this guy and all the other jealous souls up. It was the best advice that Paul McCartney could have given me and I love him for it.

I went to Mr. Steinbrenner to tell him what was being said and he was quite annoyed and like Paul, the Boss told me that I had to prove that the first book wasn’t a fluke and I had to come right back with another one. My next two books went to number one on Amazon.

This year, I start my seventh book and if I have one regret it is that Thurman Munson and Billy Martin didn’t get to see me accomplish such an incredible feat. The reason for this is that like Reggie and the Boss, Billy and Thurman always motivated me. My very first published writing was actually a story that I did about Munson entitled “Five days in August.” I wrote it in 1979 and it appeared in a magazine years later.

Let’s just say that I was a kid who always happened to be in the right place at the right time. I will forever be grateful to the kindness and sincerity and of course musical genius of John Lennon and Paul McCartney. I was not disappointed when meeting two of my heroes– thank you.

A special thank you to the 1974 Yankees, Mr. Steinbrenner’s first contending team, also known as “the band on the run” named after the McCartney song because we were playing that 1974 & 1975 season at Shea Stadium while they renovated Yankee Stadium.

Finally a special thanks to the great sports artist John Pennisi for being able to re-create a wonderful moment in my life with his god given talent as an artist.

Hear Ray Negron every Sunday at 11am-1pm on 1050 ESPN or read him on Newsmax.