NEW YORK — Nostalgia gripped the Bronx again as Veterans Day returned to Yankee Stadium on Saturday for the first time since 2019.
This time it looked a little different. The New York Yankees canceled the annual reunion game because many of the retired players in attendance are recovering from various operations. Instead, emcees Michael Kay and John Sterling read lengthy biographies of each honoree while a short video played on the scoreboard.
Bernie is so proud of himself 🥹
(via @BryanHoch) pic.twitter.com/5D1qE6rBL1
— Talkin’ Yanks (@TalkinYanks) July 30, 2022
“Unless they get an influx of younger players, I don’t know if the older guys can keep playing,” joked Ron Guidry. “But, if they do it (the game) again, I’m sure the crowd would love it, so we’ll have to see what happens in the next couple of years.”
The 33-minute pregame ceremony featured many familiar faces: Guidry, Bernie Williams and David Cone, along with Yankees’ spouses Joan Ford (wife of Whitey), Jill Martin (wife of Billy), Diana Munson (wife of Thurman) and Kay Murcer (Bobby’s wife). Arlene Henley (wife of Elston Howard) also transmitted a video message.
Perhaps as notable as the Yankee greats who attended was the list of names that did not attend. Fan favorites Wade Boggs, Rickey Henderson, Mariano Rivera and Reggie Jackson were scheduled to appear at an autograph signing at the National Sports Collectors Convention in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Loud cheers and chants greeted Williams, and the ever-popular Mickey Rivers came running in from center field to loud applause. In years past, players would run into the infield from the home dugout, but this year, they made the long trek from the center field tunnel adjacent to Monument Park.
Aroldis Chapman came out of the New York bullpen to hug Luis Sojo during the pre-event press session. A handful of players from both the Yankees and Royals leaned into the dugout toward the second half of the ceremony.
“I remember coming here as a player and getting to see all these guys on Veterans Day,” Williams said. “I met Mickey Mantle, Whitey Ford. We had a chance to meet them behind closed doors in the clubhouse. Now things have changed a little bit, but I think the feeling is still the same.”
The game was the first without Dr. Bobby Brown. Brown, who watched the first Veterans Day in 1947 from the sidelines, died on March 25, 2021.
–
