As long as I can remember and for no other reason than simply being a fan, Mr. George Steinbrenner, the boss himself, always brings holiday cheer by improving my beloved Yankees and bringing that holiday spirit my way. I know the holidays are on their way when the New York Yankees, the greatest franchise in sports, gets a gift for the fans that hopefully keeps on giving and brings a smile. No other team does this year after year like the Yanks do and this is part of the reason that its such an empire. The owner cares about winning as much as, if not more than the fans. I may not always agree with who comes and goes, but every December there is another gift of hope for the upcoming season. In my lifetime, that I can remember there have been many gifts in December and they are:
1991--Danny Tartabull, come on, he was on Seinfeld
1992-Jim Abbott-later threw a no-hitter the following season, Jimmy Key-was a big game pitcher for the 1996 season particularly, Wade Boggs-another Boston great realizing that greatness is further south in the Bronx---think riding that horse
1993-Louis Polonia-stole some bases
1994-Jack McDowell-middle finger to the fans, gotta love it, Tony Fernandez-last great Yankee shortstop before #2 Derek Jetah
1995-Resigning Wade Boggs, David Cone-most dominating big game pitcher I can remember as a Yankee, Tim Raines-1996 Championship alum, Mariano Duncan-1996 Championship alum
1996-Mike Stanton-special lefty reliever added greatness to bullpen for years
1997-Chilli Davis-on the 1998 and 1999 championship team-power hitting DH, Scott Brosius-2001 game 4, 1998 World Series MVP
1998- Resigning of David Cone and Bernie Williams, keep greatness with greatness
1999-Roger Clemens-love him or hate him now, then, one of most dominating pitchers ever
2000- Dwight Gooden-back again after winning World Series and throwing no-hitter in 1996, Luis Sojo-underappreciated, got big hits and did all the little things right
2001-Jason Giambi-"if you can't beat em, join em", Rondell White-fast outfielder, Robin Ventura-sweet swinging third basemen from the Mets, David Wells-coming back again Boomer
2002-Todd Zeile-from the Mets, Jose Contrares-Cuban dominant pitcher, later won World Series with White Sox in 2005, Hideki Matsui- Godzilla-Japan's Babe Ruth in the house that Ruth built, Resigning-Clemens and El-Duque
2003-Javier Vasquez-hard throwing pitcher, Kevin Brown-Won World Series with Marlins-big game pitcher, Miguel Cairo-all the little things, Ruben Sierra- came back bigger and better, Aaron Boone-just hit that Home Run here's a contract, oh you got hurt, we need a third baseman.......Alex Rodriguez-contract is huge but this guy can play, 2007 season I have never seen anything like it, Gary Sheffeild- loved him, Torre comments-fahget you, Tom Gordon-good in relief for a bit
2004- Randy Johnson-doomed from the start but in his prime never better, Tino Martinez-back in pinstripes good to have it happen, Carl Pavano-big contract for a guy who pitched maybe 20 times in 4 years for 40 million dollars, each start about 2 million dollars
2005- Johnny Damon-the tradition continues, Kyle Farnsworth-big name big joke, Octavio Dotel-big name, DL
2006- Kei Igawa-lotta hype no delivery, Andy Pettitte-welcome back with that stare and cutter, big time
2007- Alex Rodriguez-couldnt have opted out at a better time I didnt even realize the Sox
won the series because everything was AROD this and AROD that, huge, Andy Pettitte-one year deal
2008-C.C. Sabathia-biggest contract in baseball history for a pitcher, 2007 Cy Young award
winner, could have had one this year in the NL, we'll see, but thank you, A.J. Burnett- Dominant right handed pitcher, another large contract, thank you George
There is probably more to come before the holidays are over, but I am excited, New Ballpark, New Faces, big time....Go Yankees.......
