In 1973, George Steinbrenner bought the New York Yankees and said that he had a five year plan for the Yankees to become winners. That following season the Boss and Gabe Paul, the first GM of the Steinbrenner era, made a series of trades to help to move the plan along to make the Yankees better. One of the trades got the Yankees left handed pitcher Rudy May and a very good second baseman by the name of Sandy Alomar. Sandy wasn’t the greatest second baseman of all time but he was very solid. Sandy was a leader and he gave off a winning attitude. Thurman Munson said at the end of that season, that it was not a coincidence that we really started to jell as a team when Sandy got there. I don’t think that I have ever known anyone in the game that knows more about baseball then Sandy.

Alomar had two little boys that he used to bring to the ball park every day, Sandy Jr and Robbie. Sometimes at the end of games they used to sit by their dad and listen to him talk to the other players as he would analyze certain parts of the game. Sometimes the two boys would even ask questions. But not kid type questions, intelligent questions. Robbie always had a glove in his hand-always. When Billy Martin became the manager and they traded for Willie Randolph from the Pirates for Doc Medich after the 1975 season, Billy thought that the Yankees should keep Sandy as a utility player and mentor to Willie Randolph. The Boss was totally in agreement with that because he knew Sandy was like a player coach. This was why, thirty years later, when Willie Randolph became the Manager for the Mets, the first thing he did was hire Sandy Alomar as his bench coach. Willie never forgot the things that his mentor taught him and wanted the same things thought to his Mets team. It is also no surprise that Sandy’s two little boys would grow up to become all star major league players and Roberto would become the greatest second baseman of all time and is enshrined into Baseballs Hall of Fame. They are truly baseball royalty. Sandy Sr would coach for several teams after his playing days and manage winter ball in Puerto Rico for many years. He and his sons helped to pave the way for many players from the island to become terrific players in the big leagues. All three of the Alomars would have been wonderful big league managers if the opportunity had ever arisen.

When Reggie Jackson left the Yankees after the 1981 season, he went to the California Angels on a five year free agent deal. During Reggie’s time there I would visit him quite often. The Angels weren’t the Yankees but they were an interesting group. One of the players that caught my attention was their catcher Bob Boone. The reason being that he was a very intense guy. He always seem to have a plan. He studied the other team and liked to share his observations. Bob reminded me a lot of Sandy Alomar. Because Bob was so intense, it was hard for me to get close to him but he sure did have a strong work ethic. Bob also had two little boys that I saw around the Park named Bret and Aaron. Like the Alomar boys from a decade before, the Boone boys were little baseball players. Since I wasn’t a part of the Angels, I would only watch and admire and think back to the Alomars and wonder if this was deja vu.
Well we all know what happened. Bob would coach and later manage the Cincinnati Reds, son Bret would become an Allstar player for the Seattle Mariners and Aaron would hit one of the most famous homeruns in Yankees history.
Oh and by the way, Aaron was also named manager of the New York Yankees after spending eight years in the broadcast booth for ESPN. Naturally some people are going to question the fact that Aaron has never coached or managed at any level but neither did former Yankees second baseman Jerry Coleman who left the broadcast booth for the San Diego Padres to do a fine job as a manager.

In talking to some of Aaron’s colleagues, including Harold Reynolds who I consider one of my closer friends in the game, I think the Yankees have made a good and exciting choice for both the Yankees and their very loyal fan base.
I can guarantee you that between Brian Cashman, the Steinbrenner’s and the Yankees brain trust, there is a solid plan in place and evidently Aaron Boone is the right ingredient for that plan.

Let’s not forget that last week Cashman was awarded MLB executive of the year.

The Boone family, like the Alomar’s, are baseball royalty and if you have any of them associated with your team then your going to be better for it and you are going to have a real good chance to win. I am a very old school guy, however when you take a look at the Yankees and all that youth and talent, then Aaron Boone might just be the right choice at just the right time.

When I asked Robbie Alomar for his thoughts on Aaron Boone getting the managers job, Robbie said, “He’s got baseball in his blood so he’s gonna be just fine.”

Cesar Presbott is a scout for the NY Yankees. Has been for the past 30 years

His main responsibility for the Bronx Bombers Is to find and recommend the best players available in the tri state area.

If you know Cesar Presbott than you know that he loves Baseball but he loves people more. He is very loyal to the Yankees and he is very loyal to his players. Cesar was actually signed to be a Yankees scout by Lou Piniella and Billy Martin. They saw something in Cesar that only a true baseball man could see in him. Billy Martin called it big cojones. If you don’t know what that word means,just ask any Spanish guy.

Through the years he has signed many players but his biggest to date has to be Dillon Betances. Betances is a big man but a gentle giant.

Cecar has a passion for helping people both here in New York and in the Dominican Republic. Here in NY he loves to help the young and the hungry. For years with the help of many baseball people he has made sure that the poorest families always had a happy thanksgiving. On thanksgiving day he and his wife and what ever player is available go to a local shelter to make sure that those people are properly fed.

Since the year he first signed, Betances has been Cesar’s champion. He has never missed the turkey give away that Presbott puts together. At this years turkey give away many people said that there is no way that Betances would come because of his somewhat disappointing post season. Cesar however knew better and never lost faith in his guy and the fact that Betances would show up for his people. At one point the owner of the facility came over to me in a nervous state because she said that this was their biggest turnout and if Dylan didn’t show up it would be a bad thing. I told her that if Dylan said he was coming that you had nothing to worry about. Like clockwork Dylan Betances marched in to a capacity and cheering crowd. Dylan addressed the big crowd and his words gave much joy and hope to the mostly poor audience. After taking pictures with so many people he spent time with the latin media and then George King of the NY Post. King hit Dylan with questions that he really didn’t want to address but answered every one like a man

Dylan would like to stay a Yankee however he understands the business of the game. He also said that he was surprised at the fact that joe Girardi was let go but feels that the Yankees are headed in the right direction. He also thinks that CC Sabathia should be brought back. I told Dylan that if he didn’t come to the turkey event a lot of people would of understood but he said that I know what this event means to Cesar and i would never disappoint a man that does so much for people.

There were over a thousand turkeys given away. However the thing that really hit me was a lady leaving with her three kids saying thank God that now we can have a good thanksgiving. I may be biassed but as Cesar Dylan and I know……this is the Yankee way.

“It’s like a jungle sometimes it makes me wonder how I keep from going under.”

These are some of the lyrics to the song “The message.”

“The message” is one of the most famous and powerful rap songs of all time, done by Bronx born Melvin Glover, better known as Melle Mel and Grand Master Melle Mel.

Mel is the lead rapper and main song writer for Grand Master Flash and the Furious Five.

In the Bronx and throughout the world he was known as the Elvis Presley of rap.

I don’t pretend to be an expert on rap music by any means, However being Bronx born and so very proud of it, the song was very important to me because as it says, it kept me from going over the edge.

Like Melle Mel, I came from the Bronx when it was truly burning.

Melle Mel was my guest on my ESPN 1050am radio show this weekend. He didn’t have me at hello, however when he told me that the most important entity in the Bronx was a little company called the New York Yankees, it was over. He explained to me how the Bronx Bombers aren’t just a baseball team but an organization that the people in the poorest congressional district in the United States reach to in order to feel good about themselves. The fact that the Yankees are right there makes the people, especially the youth of the community, feel like they can reach for the stars. It’s like saying that if the Yankees can set up shop in the Bronx, than it can’t be that bad. Melle Mel explained how early Rap was about trying to really give a message to the people but that today’s rap may not necessarily be giving the right message.

Even with all his success Melle Mel has never left the Bronx and is still one of the most popular figures in the community. The radio show itself got even more exciting when we got a call in from the Bronx Borough President, Ruben Diaz to let Melle Mel know that he was listening and also appreciates all that he does for the Bronx. His Honor, Ruben Diaz, has always been a big fan of Melle Mel and rap music in general. To say that Melle Mel is proud of the Bronx or New York for that matter would be an understatement. He is a leader in the community and at the same time I found him to be a very respectful individual who also appreciates the success of others. The Bronx should feel proud that this is one of the products that came from this environment, just like academy award winning actor Burt Lancaster, Danny Aiello, Chazz Palminteri and Jennifer Lopez.

I asked Melle Mel how he felt about the fact that he is know as the Elvis Presley of rap and he responded by saying that it’s always been great but that if he was known as the Don Mattingly or Willie Randolph of rap, that would be ok too as he chuckled. Mattingly and Randolph being his two all time favorite baseball players. When I mentioned this to Willie he was flattered and said, “Wow, Melle Mel is a true legend in his field.”

Weekends belong to Ray on 1050 ESPN Deportes. Read Ray on Newsmax. 

Jersey Boys, the Broadway play, may have closed on Broadway after ten years, however for the people that just can’t get enough of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, they can still get the real thing. The great Frankie Valli made his annual New York appearance in Westbury this past weekend. For myself and fellow Four Seasons “junkies” it couldn’t come quickly enough. For me, the highlight is to be able to get to the theatre early and watch a musical genius like Frankie Valli prepare for the show with his musical director Robby Robinson, today’s Four Seasons and the rest of his band during the sound check. Robby Robinson starts the rehearsal by going over the roster of songs that they will be performing with the full band. The Four Seasons go over the back ground vocals until Robby feels that it’s perfect. Then the ageless Frankie Valli walks on stage and goes right to work. Frankie doesn’t miss anything during the shows preparation, every sound and every beat from all the instruments must be right on. He doesn’t want to disappoint any fan at his sold out shows. He will go over all songs until it sounds perfect and only then do you see a satisfied look on his face. Frankie reminds me of a champion boxer preparing for a title fight and Robby Robinson reminds me of his coach getting him ready for the event. Frankie also reminds me of how Yankees manager Billy Martin looked when batting practice ended and his team was about to play a big game. As he starts to leave the stage to head back to his dressing room Robby says,” Frankie, Ray is here.” Frankie looks over, sees me and says, “Get up here!” I don’t walk, I run up to the stage and give one of my true heroes a hug. We go backstage where there is a huge spread-Italian food that looks incredible, from Patsy’s, which is Frankie’s favorite restaurant in New York City. Of course, it was also Frank Sinatra’s favorite place. Frankie says let’s get some food and sit in my room. We talked about music, baseball and life. Frankie, as everyone knows, idolized Frank Sinatra and was very close to him. Frankie has many great memories with old blue eyes. One of the things that he shared with me was that no matter what Tom Lasorda says, Frank Sinatra was a true Yankee fan. Frankie also has nice memories with Joe DiMaggio and is forever grateful that during a period when DiMaggio didn’t like to sign autographs, he would get a baseball and sign it for Frankie’s son. Knowing DiMaggio as I did, that was respect because I saw him reject some dignitaries at times.

If you know Frankie Valli than you know that he is a really good guy and I can guarantee you that’s the reason that DiMaggio gave him true respect.

While sitting there, Dean Egnater, who has been with Frankie for as long as I can remember as his tour manager, walks into the room to go over some things and then Alan Gaba, assistant tour manager, comes in to check on the man and of course Stewie Stone, the comedian that has been opening Frankie’s show forever, comes in with his food, sits down and tells some very funny stories. Stewie actually lives in the same building as my boss, Yankees President Randy Levine, and he says, “The next time I see him I’m gonna ask him for a raise for you.” I start to laugh and beg him not to do that.

Some of the band members like drummer Craig Pilo and singers Brian and Brandon Brigham, Todd Fornier and Erik Bates actually address Frankie as “The Boss.” I tell Frankie that that’s how we addressed Mr. Steinbrenner. Frankie smiles because he can tell that I still miss my boss.

Then he responds by saying that he is glad That the Steinbrenner family has kept the Yankees, Thier brand is to important for the game.

As for the show itself, what can I say? Sherry, Swearin’ to God, My Eyes Adored You, the hits go on and on. The man is still on top of his game. I can say that because the fans were really very happy. When you hear all people both young and old saying Man what a show, nothing else needs to be said.

Jersey Boys, the play, was great. However, as Marvin Gaye and Tammy Terrell once said in their great song “Ain’t nothing like the real thing baby.”

Go see Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons at a city near you.

Luis Castillo has spent much of these last couple of months filling trucks with supplies to send to Puerto Rico. Luis is a young man with Puerto Rican and Dominican parents. He has a lot of family and friends that are suffering in this enchanted island and refuses to stop trying to help.

Luis is a person that for the longest time has understood that as being born in the Bronx, he needs to always be able to help his community. He has two young sons and knows that he must always be an example to them.

All of these incentives to do the right thing he credits to his eight years with the New York Yankees as a Batboy and clubhouse attendant. He says that while with the Yankees he discovered that being a Yankee was more than just playing baseball. He used to listen to some of the players like Derek Jeter and David Cone talk about the importance in helping and giving back to people, especially the less privileged. Through Jeter, he was able to understand about charity foundations and how you could use them to help the kids.  At that point, he decided that one day he would create his own foundation and help kids in the Bronx and make sure that they always have back packs and appropriate school supplies etc.

I asked him about how life with the Boss, George Steinbrenner, was in the clubhouse.  He said that even though most of the guys would get extremely nervous when the Boss came around, he only noticed true kindness by the Boss towards all of the kids. Luis told me of the time that the Boss was just sitting in the locker room while he was taking out heavy bags to a storage area. The Boss actually asked him if he could help him with the bags. Luis said.” No thank you I’m ok.” The Boss kept staring at Luis as he worked hard at completing his assignment. When Luis finished, the Boss called him over went into his pocket and gave Luis two hundred dollars. He told Luis that he appreciated his hard work and wanted to give him a little bonus.

Luis speaks of his time with the Bronx Bombers with great and true appreciation. As in the movie, “Goodfellas” Luis said that it was a glorious time.   If you know anything about the Yankees, it’s a Martin Scorsese movie anyway.  You would have to agree with him considering that they went to playoffs and/or the World Series just about every year while he was there.

I asked him if there were any regrets that came with the job and he said that as in all phases of life, yes of course. However, being with the Yankees, the good far outweighed the bad.

In the Bronx a lot of people remember the world champion batboy that Derek Jeter nicknamed Squeegee.

This weekend the community showed its love and appreciation by honoring Luis “Squeegee” Castillo, at the Evo Lounge in New York, for everything he does to help the less privileged both in the Bronx and in Puerto Rico.

I asked Luis how his time with the Yankees as a Batboy influenced all of the positive things that he does and he gave me a big smile and said, “The Yankees influence everything that I do.”

The New York Yankee organization should forever feel proud that they have taken so many kids from the streets of New York and helped make better people of them and have taught them so much about helping others.

I was once one of those kids and without the Yankees I don’t know where I would be today and the same for Luis and so many others that have become wonderful citizens all around our country because of the Yankees influence.

I know that Luis is grateful for his opportunity with the Yankees and the fact that he is a better person for it.   Like me, we are batboys forever.

If you’re a true Yankee fan than you remember July 4th 1983.  Yes, it is the birthday of our great country and the birthday of George Steinbrenner, however it is also the day that Dave Righetti pitched a no hitter against the Boston Red Sox. It was the first no hitter since Don Larsen’s perfect game in the 1956 World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers.

The other night, I had the pleasure of reuniting with Rags, as Righetti was affectionately known by his teammates. He came out to Long Island to help his former bullpen catcher and present day head baseball coach at Adelphi University, Dom Scala, raise funds for the upcoming baseball season. The event was held at Chateau Briand in Carle Place.  The room was filled to capacity with over 350 supporters of the Yankees and the great baseball program that Adelphi has put together through the vision of Coach Dom Scala.

When I told Righetti that I thought it was wonderful that he would do this for Scala he said, “There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for Dom.”

Most people don’t know that Dom Scala was in the bullpen that July 4th and was the person that prepared Rags for that game.

If I’m not mistaken, it must’ve been about 100 degrees that day and Scala would only recommend that Rags throw only a certain number of warmup pitches because of the heat. That may or may not have made the difference in Rags’ success that day.  I like to think that it did!

The rest is history-he pitched his historic no hitter. The former president of the United States, Richard Nixon, went to the clubhouse to congratulate Righetti and the no hitter turned out to be one of the best birthday gifts the Boss had ever received.

Last night, Righetti spoke about his three World championships with the Giants . He spoke about his wonderful marriage and his pride in being a father to his three kids. At one point he cried because of how blessed he has been with his incredible family. At that point quite a few of us in the audience started to cry because of how beautifully he shared such a private story. At that point I decided to take away some of the tension by asking Rags if he still did his Elvis Presley imitation. He started to laugh and said that if I asked to do it that he wouldn’t.

One thing that I found interesting was how he talked about all the former Yankee employees that are out in San Francisco. From the General Manager to the hitting coaches etc. Rags said that they are known as the “Yankees West.” He spoke of his time with the Yankees, New York and all his teammates with great love. He had some wonderful Boss and Billy Martin, Bobby Murcer and Nettles stories. He told some great George Steinbrenner stories that really showed just how hands on the boss really was and how angry the players could get but how much respect and admiration they had for the man known as the Boss. With all of his success I could tell that Rags has missed the Yankees He spoke of how he supports Dom Scala and the great job that he does not just with his college kids but with all kids that he comes in contact with

The great thing that Dave Righetti and Dom Scala have in common is that they are still in love with being a Yankee. Whether you were a batboy, warmed up pitchers in the bullpen or got to strike out future hall of famer, Wade Boggs, to win a no hitter, as long as you got to wear that pinstriped uniform you are forever a New York Yankee.

I know Tony Bennett says he left his heart in San Francisco but in this case I think Rags left his heart in New York.

Weekends belong to Ray on 1050 ESPN Deportes, Sat. and Sun. from 12pm – 2pm. Read Ray on Newsmax. 

For the last twelve years I have had the honor of being a board member of the Ted Williams Hall of Fame. In 2006, I had the honor of being acknowledged for my community service.

If you know any thing about Ted Williams then you know that community service was very important to him. It was a subject that he shared with George Steinbrenner. When Ted first opened the museum, the Boss was one of his very first guests.

As a board member, I have the thrill of nominating and being involved in the selection process of the inductees. Last year, I had the pleasure of selecting my childhood hero Gene Michael. After the event Gene made me cry when he told me that it was one of the biggest moments of his baseball career.

The year before, museum president, Dave McCarthy asked me about the great pitcher that had recently retired, Roy Halladay. I remember calling my good friend and Halladay’s former manager of the Phillies, Charlie Manuel. I asked him about Roy’s character as a person. Charlie said he was all that and more. An Incredible team mate and his work ethic was like no one else. He also said that more than a player he was a hall of fame person. I reported this to Dave Mccarthy and he said that was all that we needed to hear. I will never forget that after the ceremony Roy said that being inducted into the Ted Williams Hall of Fame and receiving Ted’s signed bat was an incredible thrill. He was very quiet with the exception of how many times he had said thank you. The other thing that impressed me about Roy Halladay was that he came back to the ceremony the next two years to honor the former players that were to be inducted. Very classy act by a very classy man.

I didn’t really know Roy the person with the exception of the time spent with him at the Ted Williams Museum. I feel great pain for his beautiful young family, wife Brandy and his two young sons. To say that it reminds me of my wonderful friend Thurman Munson, who we lost in 1979 at the age of 32 because of an airplane accident, would be an understatement.

I just want to say that the Ted Williams Hall of Fame will never forget the beautiful moments that Roy Halladay gave us. We will miss you and Gene Michael so very much. Thank you Roy for the nice humble person that you were. The kids that idolized you will forever be better people because of it.

A special thank you to Ted Williams daughter, Claudia, for always keeping her dad’s dream alive.

Weekends belong to Ray on 1050 ESPN Deportes on Saturdays and Sundays from 12pm to 2pm. Read Ray on Newsmax.`

It’s been forty-five years since Jackie Robinson left this world. To say that it’s a better world since Mr. Robinson left us is a big question. I know that society has advanced in diverse ways. I know that the world is more accepting of diversity. Today, kids of all colors can attend all types of schools. And, in baseball, we have African American and Latino managers.

I would also like to think that, today, our children can have the same dreams. With all that said, I wish that we didn’t have to be so sensitive in our overall approach to life. I would like to think that in our society we could joke around with each other like we used to, and laugh at each other like we did when we were kids. The one thing that I loved about Jackie Robinson was that he respected his fellow man. If he had something to say, he had no problem saying it. If certain things were wrong in our society, he had no problem pointing these things out in a respectful way.

I also would like to think that Jackie would be happy with the overall advancements in America. Jackie would be proud that New York has had its first African American manager — Willie Randolph. Had he lived, you can bet that Jackie would have been at Shea Stadium rooting Willie on. Baseball has done some wonderful things to make the game, and life in general better for all man. The reason I bring up Willie Randolph is because he is a person that I shared the same minor league uniform with when, as teenagers, we played in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. So, to say that I am proud of what the “black skinny kid” from Brooklyn accomplished would be an understatement.

One of the two most important men in my baseball life was Billy Martin. I can honestly say that Willie was one of the people in this game that Billy respected most. I recall Billy telling George Steinbrenner that young Willie should be a Yankee captain because Willie was always a leader — especially after we lost Thurman Munson. And, lo and behold, Willie became a Yankee captain. Later, Willie would serve as a terrific Yankee coach who would go on to mentor a young Derek Jeter and many future Yankees.

When I’ve talked to Willie about his wonderful contributions to the game, he always gives the credit to the great Jackie Robinson. I would like to think that kids of color understand what Jackie did for them and how the Willie Randolphs and others continued to make their lives better.

Willie Randolph has always been a strong man who was always there for all people — not just black people — because it was the right thing to do. If you knew anything about Jackie Robinson then you would know that Jackie was the same way. He was there for African American causes, but also causes that affected other minorities. He truly was a credit to the game and a credit to society.

Along the same lines, I’m proud to say the same about Willie Randolph and all his contributions to the game and society. I’m glad that we don’t have to wait 45 years before we can thank him. Willie, you may not be managing or coaching a major league team right now but, in the great tradition of Jackie Robinson, you continue to make meaningful contributions to society. For that, we thank you.

The 2017 baseball season was a very nice surprise for the New York baseball fan considering that we were not expecting a lot from this team and the fact that the Yankees were rebuilding, to say that it was a great year would be fair. Brian Cashman and his baseball people knew that these players were good. The question was when would they be ready to compete with the “big boys.”

Well, to everyone’s surprise they were ready coming out of spring training.

At this point, the whole organization got into motion to do what was right for those players, the fans and all of New York.

The fact that I have been around the Yankees since the beginning of the Steinbrenner era, it was easy for me to recognize the direction that the team was going to go. It was also easy for me to realize that the moves that Hal Steinbrenner allowed the baseball people to make was not only in the best interest of the Yankees but also the whole city of New York.

As a true baseball fan and also a fan of the Yankees and the Steinbrenner brand I have to tell you that I couldn’t be more proud of Hal Steinbrenner and how he has handled this incredible type of pressure in running a juggernaut brand known as the New York Yankees.

I had the opportunity to watch his dad, George Steinbrenner, run this team for many years. As fun as you think it may be, it’s not always a day at the beach. The stress that goes into running the Bronx Bombers is impossible to explain because of how difficult running a major league team really is.

I must add that today running this organization has to be three times as tough with the global reach of the organization.

It’s a great time to be a Yankee fan, to see the emergence of the Aaron Judges and the Greg Birds and all the other baby bombers.  It’s great to know that more great young players are on the way because of the work of Damon Oppenhiemer, John Kramer and all the people in the Yankees farm system. The thing that I am most happy about is that Hal and Hank Steinbrenner are still where they are supposed to be-at the top of the Yankees hierarchy approving and not approving of the moves that need to be made in order for the Yankees to be where they are supposed to be-at the top of the Baseball world!

It doesn’t hurt to know that the Yankees do have the best general manager in all of baseball in Brian Cashman. Just to watch some of the moves that he has made at crunch time during the trade deadline tells you that. As we would say in the Bronx, “to say that Brian has a set of big ones would be an understatement.” Finally I must add that Jenny and Jessie Steinbrenner are the Pride of the Yankees. Like their dad, they never forget the little people. I’m very proud of the fact that Jenny has spent a lot of time in the Bronx and made the teachers and principals there feel important. My mom, who I lost last year was a teacher in these neighborhoods and always told me how thankless the job could sometimes be but that would make her fight harder because at the end of the day it was always about the kids. This year we saw the Boss’s little girl there more and Jessica, or Jessie as the Boss would call her, will never understand how important her presence is. The enthusiasm on her face as she gave Derek Jeter his award, when he was honored this year, told the whole story.

Many fans were ready to hang Joe Girardi from the stadium facade for possibly making one mistake during the playoffs but you have to admit that the guy and his whole coaching staff really did do a terrific job with this young ball club.  They gave respect and got respect back.  The veteran trainer, Steve Donohue, and his staff did their usual terrific job that they inherited from Donohue’s long time mentor, Gene Monahan.  You can’t forget Matt Krause and what he does with the guys from the standpoint of strength and conditioning.  He’s as good as they come.

To see team president Randy Levine and COO Lonn Trost always put the importance of the brand first tells me that the Yankees are in great shape for a long time to come.  The death of Gene Michael was devastating to the organization, however the fact that he was one of the greatest baseball minds that the Yankees ever had is one of the reasons why we are where we are. We will miss him but thank God we had him.  I think the Boss would be very proud of what his kids have accomplished for the city of New York. Especially this year because of the fact that the city needed a good shot in the arm. But as Frank Sinatra once said, “The best is yet to come.”

MLB recently announced that the most valuable player award for the World Series would be named the Willie Mays Award.

It’s a nice gesture because Mays was a great baseball player, one of the ten greatest of all time. However, when it comes to the World Series, nobody did it better than Mr. October, Reggie Jackson. For that reason I will tell you why this award should have been called the “Mr. October Award”! You are talking about a guy (Reggie) that played in six World Series, won five world championships and was the most valuable player in two. You are also talking about a player who saw three pitches in Game 6 of the 1977 World Series and hit three home runs.

I remember after he hit the first homer, I suggested that he take a curtain call and he said no. After he hit the second homer I asked him again to take a curtain call and again he refused for whatever the reason. I said to him,” If you hit a third you will take one then.” and Reggie said ‘Man your crazy but I will.’” Wouldn’t you know it but on the first pitch from Charlie Hough, he would hit a knuckleball deep into the black in center field. When he got into the dugout as he started to sit down I went to his ear and said, “You promised the fans a curtain call.” And then I started to push him out of the dugout–I must add I didn’t have to push hard. That game would become one of the greatest in Yankees history.

One of the biggest songs of that year (1977) was Carly Simon’s “Nobody Does it Better” If you were a television sports producer you couldn’t help but use that song in any report dealing with Reggie. The words to that song symbolized the greatness of what Reggie Jackson accomplished so much so that forty years later I can honestly say that no one has had a better World Series since.

Ninteen Seventy-Seven was the Summer of Sam, a crazed killer (The Son of Sam as he was known) walked the streets of New York and shot and killed over a dozen innocent young lady’s and you never knew when he would strike again.  That same year on August 16, Elvis Presley, the king of rock and roll, died.  New York City was rocking to Saturday Night Fever and made a mega star out of John Travolta and the city streets were stinking big time because of a garbage strike. In the Bronx, graffiti was all over the place, walls subways etcetera.

Whatever could happen in the city that year did. Between the tempers in the Yankee clubhouse and the fires all over the Borough, the Bronx was literally “burning.”

On October 18, during the World Series between the Dodgers and the Yankees, Reggie Jackson arguably put on the greatest show in World Series history and brought a team and a city together.

I will also never forget that after that game, Reggie and Billy Martin sat in the manager’s office together with their arms around each other and that actually meant a lot to me because Billy always treated me like a son and Reggie has always been a big brother to me however I knew those emotions wouldn’t last, but that’s a story for another day.

One month after Reggie had hit the three home runs in Game 6 f 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, referring to Michael Jackson and the Jackson Five.” Reggie laughed at that and I guess you could say that John scored big points with that comment. Lennon 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, television, music and sports. We are talking about greats like Sinatra, Muhammad Ali, Pele, you name it. I believe that 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.

That wonderful, crazy 1977 season also brought two people who started out on opposite sides of the clubhouse, together to tell each other how much they appreciated each other. Those two guys were Reggie Jackson and Thurman Munson. It was one of the most beautiful moments that I had witnessed in baseball because of the sincerity in their eyes. From that moment on, they never had a cross word with each other and Thurman and Reggie did become true friends. (I remember that Reggie actually flew with Thurman a couple of times and one day Reggie gave Thurman a check for gas but Thurman never cashed the check!)

I was a kid who always seemed to be in the right place at the right time and I will forever be grateful for the kindness and sincerity of these special people in my life.Today is the fortieth anniversary of George Steinbrenner’s first World Championship and for me the greatest performance in a World Series game by a player and on this day Thurman Munson would give Reggie Jackson the greatest nickname in sports, MR OCTOBER!