The New York Yankees recently celebrated their 75th annual Old-Timers’ Day, a cherished event that used to be attended by the legendary Babe Ruth. However, this year, the younger generation of Yankees fans had the privilege of seeing one of their childhood heroes, Derek Jeter, as an “old-timer”. This event is highly anticipated by fans, who flock to the stadium as if it were a postseason game, to pay tribute to their beloved former players. Interestingly, Old-Timers’ Day is also a special occasion for the opposing team.
The celebration took place before the Yankees faced off against the Milwaukee Brewers. Brewers shortstop Willy Adames couldn’t resist the opportunity to meet Jeter, so he eagerly sought him out after the ceremony. It was a brief encounter, but Adames was clearly thrilled, smiling from ear to ear and even hugging one of his coaches. Adames, who was previously the shortstop for the Yankees’ AL East rival Tampa Bay Rays, may have felt more at ease approaching Jeter now that he plays in the NL East.
Jeter, the former Yankees captain, received the loudest ovation of the day during his first Old-Timers’ Day appearance, and rightfully so. With a remarkable career that spanned 20 years, Jeter was a 14-time All-Star, a five-time World Series champion, and retired with the sixth-most hits in MLB history (3,465). He remains synonymous with the Yankees and their iconic navy-blue pinstripes.
The event also paid tribute to the 1998 Yankees team, which posted an outstanding record of 114-58 during the regular season and ultimately won the World Series. Their overall tally of 125 wins still stands as the most by any team in a single season. It’s worth noting that Jeter himself finished third in the AL MVP vote that year.
However, the current Yankees team is quite different from the powerhouse of 25 years ago. In fact, there is a risk of them finishing with a subpar winning record for the first time since many of the Old-Timers’ Day honorees began their careers. As of Saturday, the Yankees were 70-71, and they last finished with a losing record in 1992.
It’s worth mentioning that Adames even hit a home run against the Yankees the day before, adding an unexpected twist to the story.