I was lucky enough to be at The Greg Bird Game.
2017 ALDS Game 3 — a potential final game of the season for the Yankees, who of course dropped the first two of the series to Cleveland. We were sitting in the first row of the third deck, somewhere outside the right field foul pole. I remember the euphoria of Bird’s homer, off of a then-unbeatable Andrew Miller, was a feeling I hadn’t had at an in-person game before. I’m not even sure how this game holds up in recent Yankee memory, but it’s a mighty
fine one in this fan’s mind.
I skipped a college presentation to make the pilgrimage to this game, my first postseason contest. I recall telling the professor, one of those cool ones that simply gets it, the opportunity that this was for me. She allowed it with little push back.
By this point, I was maybe a couple years removed from being a real “rah-rah” sort of fan, and had become more of an ardent observer of the game, happy to take in any information about any team or any player. But, when Aroldis Chapman came on to close that game, protecting just the 1-0 lead provided by Bird, it was difficult to remain in such a state.
My sister, who was the catalyst in even going to this game, at one point asked me if I was okay. Because, as Cleveland began to threaten in the ninth, all of the color had basically drained from my face. Although I wasn’t necessarily jumping out of my seat, it was, and is, a part of who I am.
I remember laying on the floor, as a much younger lad, deep into the night, ecstatically heading to bed after patiently waiting on Alex Rodriguez’s walk-off homer in the 15th inning of a random August game during the magic ‘09 season. We all have these moments, and I think the feeling sticks with us one way or another. I believe this sort of thing is a vital unifying glue for all of us.
I also remember when I heard that I’d gotten a spot contributing here at Pinstripe Alley, when I was coaching from a dugout.
Over the last four seasons I’ve had the privilege of covering everything from playoff runs, the WBC, and outrageous hypotheticals that had been floating around in my brain for years. From the procedural to passion projects, I always tried to keep in mind how cool it was that at least some people were reading things I had to say about the Yankees, and about baseball. What a dream!
Even more, it has been a privilege to work alongside so many smart and talented people here at PSA, who each do their part in making this site the best in the biz. Of course, a special thanks to Andrew, Madison, Jake, and now Dani, who do more work that you’d think to keep the train on the tracks.
As I’ve progressed in my life, I have only felt increasingly strong that one should spend their time on this earth with people and doing things that they love — little else matters. For most of my life, baseball has been a heavy hitter on my own personal list of those things, and I hope it always will be.
But, for now, as my life continues to be filled with these things, I have decided it fit to step away from contributing to this terrific site for now. For any and all who have read, I am grateful that you took the time, and hope I provided something in that transaction.
In the meantime, I will be keeping an eye on this game we love, and this site that provided me with such a cool outlet. But I’m also off to find more people and more things to care deeply about. It is my strong recommendation that you all do the same.
Thanks all, have good days out there.
