Yankees Old-Timers’ Day still carries the same name, but the feel around it has changed.
The annual celebration no longer features the kind of legends who once made the afternoon feel like a roll call from Cooperstown. Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra and Whitey Ford are gone. These days, the spotlight falls on names from later Yankees eras - Reggie Jackson and Mickey Rivers from the 1970s, then Mariano Rivera, David Cone, Jorge Posada, Bernie Williams, Tino Martinez, Hideki Matsui and Joe Torre from the 1990s.
Derek Jeter was missing again, after also sitting out last year because of what he said was a schedule conflict with his daughter’s birthday. The alumni game returned last season and remained part of the day this year.
What stood out on Saturday, though, was the turnout. With the temperature sitting around 90 degrees and the festivities starting at 12:45 before the 3:05 game against the Atlanta Braves, fans were being asked to commit to roughly six hours in the heat. Even with about 45,000 tickets sold, fewer than half that number were in their seats for Old-Timers’ Day.
Michael Kay, who emcees the event, addressed it on his radio show and made clear he noticed the difference.
“I don’t get it. It’s been a problem,” Kay said.
He pointed back to the old days, when his notes included names like Berra, DiMaggio, Phil Rizzuto, Mantle and Ford.
“It’s different than when I had that script in front of me in the mid-90s, and I’m introducing Yogi Berra, Joe DiMaggio, Phil Rizzuto, Mickey Mantle, Whitey Ford,” Kay added. “These are all-time greats! The names and the games, they echo in the halls of Cooperstown.”
Kay said the younger generation may simply not connect with nostalgia the same way.
“Maybe today’s younger fanbase is not into nostalgia,” Kay said. “I’m not sure, but how could you not be into the 1996, ‘98, ‘99, 2000 teams?
The final three people introduced at the stadium Saturday, Reggie Jackson, Joe Torre and Mariano Rivera. It’s a little different.
Although those are all Hall of Famers, it’s not Mantle, it’s not Berra, it’s not Ford, it’s not DiMaggio. It’s different.
Times change, people pass away.”
He said he wasn’t trying to tell anyone how to spend their money, but the empty seats still bothered him.
“These men that have created so many great memories for Yankee fans of all ages, they deserve more than this. They do,” Kay said.
“I’m not here to scold you, I’m not here to lecture you, not at all. I’m just here to point out that the place was half empty when I started introducing these great players.”
Kay’s concern is that the trend may not reverse soon. A Jeter appearance would obviously add some juice, but for now, the event seems to be dealing with a different era and a different kind of fan turnout.
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