Red Sox fans suck as much as I thought they did: A retrospective look at my beginning years of a being a Yankee die-hard.

May 29, 2009

After a Yankees off-day yesterday, I found myself dying to write something, but nothing was jumping out to bite me and make me type. I was running out of Wang analogies and running out of energy, standing on my soapbox fighting for Joba’s place in the rotation. I pondered the idea of roster moves now that Posada’s back. Just wasn’t doing it for me. I even thought writing about the time I stiffed armed the Oriole Bird in the beak because he stole my Yankee hat one night. Don’t even TELL me how mean I was to do that. The Bird had it coming to him. He’s nothing but trouble, that guy. He doesn’t mess with me anymore either. After pondering other various moments that almost got me arrested, or at least “removed” from numerous ballgames and ballparks, I began to think back to my first Yankee game, September 23^rd, 1983, against the Red Sox.

I remember it being a warm night and I was so excited. I was 11 years old (totally giving up my age here. Oh well.) Those that know me may be surprised that I was that old when I went to my first game. Being the oldest and only daughter of three children, I suppose my parents really didn’t think about taking me to a game, being a chick and all. Silly parents.

I remember my uncle, who is now a FDNY lieutenant (shout out to the Harlem Hilton!), was there with us. This man was PUMPED up. So was everyone else around. I never saw so much excitement in my life. It was electric. Yankee fans screaming “F-YOU CHOWDAHEADS!” and Red Sox fan screaming back, well, nothing really that damaging to remember. The line up for the Yanks that game was as such:

1. Willie Randolph              2B

2. Ken Griffey                  1B

3. Dave Winfield                LF

4. Don Baylor                   DH

5. Graig Nettles                3B

6. Don Mattingly                RF

7. Bob Meacham                  SS

8. Rick Cerone                   C

9. Omar Moreno                  CF

   Ron Guidry                    P

Wow, right? I knew who they were. Topps was a staple for me back then.  The Red Sox line up was:

1. Jerry Remy                   2B      

2. Wade Boggs                   3B      

3. Jim Rice                     LF      

4. Carl Yastrzemski             DH      

5. Reid Nichols                 CF 

6. Dave Stapleton               1B      

7. Ed Jurak                     SS            

8. Rick Miller                  RF      

9. Jeff Newman                   C      

       John Tudor                    P 

 

Yankees won 4-3 with Guidry pitching a complete game for his 21^st win of the season. The man was on fire. Being a kid, I really didn’t pay much attention to anything else. Looking back on it now, something really bothers me. I remember the stands being fairly empty. Attendance was only 22,604. Not normal for a team that was 20 games over .500. And not normal for a game, in which a player, would be playing his last game there. Not any player; Hall of Fame player, Carl Yastrzemski.

Perhaps, now that I’m older and wiser, with a love for the game, is the reason that this is bothering me so. This man put 23 seasons in with the Red Sox Nation. The only team he ever played for. And half of the seats were empty. Where was the appreciation? Where were his fans? Granted, I know the game was at Yankee Stadium but come on?! You measly pissahs couldn’t drive 2 ½ – 3 hours to the Bronx to watch this man’s career come to an end? Listen, I don’t necessarily condone the visiting team’s fans to buy out tickets out from underneath the home town fans BUT this blows my mind away. Every single one of you clam shucking idiots, who called themselves Red Sox fans then, should be ashamed.

I look at Cal Ripken’s career as an Oriole. Another one-team lifer. Another Hall of Famer. Every ballpark during his last season was PACKED. It didn’t matter what team you were rooting for. Did Ripken have a better career? Sure he did BUT Yaz was the man in Beantown. Even back in the 70’s and 80’s it was rare to see a player spend his entire career with one team. Where was Yaz’s respect? I remember Bob Sheppard’s voice announcing Yaz’s first at bat. And the crowd rose with ovation. Every fan that was in attendance was cheering. And that’s how it should have been, but with a stadium at full capacity. You’re probably wondering why I’m not getting on the case of Yankee fans from that era. I have no reason to. For one reason or another, even with the tremendous line up that the Yankees had, they chose not to be there. And as for Red Sox fans that could have been there? The empty seats that night should have been filled with your chowdahead *****. Shame. I guess you guys have always sucked.

Written by mlblogsyankeemeg Posted in Dailies Tagged with Guidry, Red Sox, Ripken, Yankees, Yaz