Old-Timers' Day

Members of the 1950 New York Yankees being honored at the 2010 Old-Timers' Day

Old-Timers' Day (or Old-Timers' Game) generally refers to a tradition in Major League Baseball of a team, especially the New York Yankees, devoting the early afternoon preceding a weekend late afternoon game to celebrate the baseball-related accomplishments of its former players who have since retired. The pattern has been copied intermittently by other sports but, due to the lack of day games (and total games, overall), it is not a regular feature of the season as it is in baseball. Furthermore, though other baseball teams may from time to time make use of this tradition in some form or another, it is generally accepted, especially when specifically referred to as "Old-Timers' Day," that this is a tradition of the New York Yankees.

History

The New York Yankees started this tradition in the late 1930s, when they held individual days to celebrate the lives of Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth while each was near death, but still very much beloved by their fans. Quite possibly the most well-known of the early Old-Timers' Days is Lou Gehrig Day, held on July 4, 1939. After hearing tearful speeches from friends and former teammates who had seen his career cut short by the illness, ALS, which would come to bear his name, Gehrig delivered a short speech referred to by many as the Gettysburg Address of baseball. Gehrig's declaration that he was the luckiest man on the face of the earth is thought by many to be the most famous line ever uttered by a baseball player.

Current Old-Timers' Day format

The first Old-Timers' Day was held on the final day of the 1947 season.

Every year, the Yankees invite up to 50 (sometimes more) former players to be introduced to the crowd in the hours leading up to the scheduled game. For this reason, the actual game played on Old-Timers' Day is often scheduled for 4:00 pm, and the festivities of the day begin around 2:00. The Old-Timers' Day ceremony involves each of the players being introduced, wearing a Yankees uniform with their number on the back, as their name, position, and a short synopsis of their triumphs as a Yankee are read to the crowd. For the last decade, this ceremony has been conducted jointly by John Sterling, the Yankees radio play-by-play announcer, and Michael Kay, one of the team's television play-by-play announcers and Sterling's former radio partner. By way of being introduced in a certain order, the old-timers are split into two teams, often called the Clippers and the Bombers (both of which, especially the latter, are common nicknames of the Yankees), although other names have been used. Hall of Famers or specific honorees are traditionally introduced last.

After the old-timers have been split into teams, they gather (often greeted by a standing ovation from the crowd) for a group picture. They then head into their respective dugouts to begin a two or three inning game (assuming time and the weather permit). This "Old-Timers' Day Game" is a defining feature of the Yankees' Old-Timers' Days. Because of the age of many of the players, and the game's relative lack of meaning, the game is not for true competition as much as it is a spectacle for fans nostalgic to see their favorite players from earlier decades (the game is also great for players yearning for one more inning on a Major League field).

Famous moments

Since this is the only game played for most, if not all players, all year, the games are generally low-scoring affairs and are usually only three innings or so in length. However, there have been some famous occurrences.

In 1991, Reggie Jackson made his first appearance at Yankee Stadium since retiring as a player. In the game, he got a hit, and made a shoestring catch in right field, belieing his image as a great hitter but a poor fielder.

In 1998, the Yankees celebrated the 20th anniversary of the 1977, 1978 and 1981 World Series that they played against the Los Angeles Dodgers, and invited some members of those Dodger teams. The game was won on a home run by Willie Randolph against Tommy John, who played in all three of those World Series, for the Dodgers in 1977 and 1978 and for the Yankees in 1981, on the losing side each time.

In 2003, Luis Sojo hit the game-winning home run off of Ron Guidry.

In 2011, Tino Martinez hit a two-run home run off of former teammate David Cone.

Legacy of Old Timers' Day

Some players who are considered 'staples' at Old Timers' Day include Hall of Famers Yogi Berra and Whitey Ford, among others.

Other Old-Timers' Games

From 1982 to 1985, an Old-Timers' Classic sponsored by Cracker Jack was played at RFK Stadium in [[Washington, D.C],] each July. The inaugural Cracker Jack game, played on the evening of July 19, 1982, was particularly memorable; then-75-year-old Luke Appling connected off Warren Spahn for a 250-foot home run to left field.