Old-Timers Day

[Stormtrooper]

This Saturday, the New York Yankees continue one of the greatest traditions in all of sports, Old-Timers Day. For those of you who are unfamiliar with such an awesome event, the premise is simple. Take a boatload of retired players, recognize them for their on-field accomplishments during a pregame ceremony, and then let them take the field "one last time" for a few innings of less-then-competitive Baseball. It is a great day for the players, for which the day (really the weekend) is a reunion of sorts; however it is even more-so a great day for fans of all ages, as the older fans get to see the players they grew up watching/idolizing, and the younger fans get to see the people that came before them. The first Yankees Old-Timers Day was on July 4th, 1939 (they didn't play a game then), when the Yankees honored Lou Gehrig, and he made his famous "Luckiest Man on the Face of the Earth" speech. The event was made annual in 1946.

The current format for Yankees Old Timers Day is dividing up all the old timers who show up (usually 50, although the past couple years had more because of the old and new stadiums) into 2 teams. However, years ago, the format was slightly different. What the Yankees would do is have 1 team of Yankees Old Timers face off against a team of non-Yankee Old Timers (I believe if they could, the team would be comprised of the days opposing teams former players).

I have a few questions about such a fun event.

1. The premise of Old-Timers Day is awesome, right? I know I love it (and Yankee fans better love it), but for non-Yankee fans, the idea of seeing the players of years past is great, right?
2. Why are the Yankees the only team to do this? I know the Yankees have a more glorious history then the other franchises, but every team that is pre-1980 would likely have enough players to warrant an event. I can't see why teams like the Red Sox, Dodgers, Tigers, Cardinals, etc don't do such an event.
3. If the Old-Timers day festivities were broadcast on TV nationally, would you watch it (if your team wasn't playing at the time)? Before you get on me for being a bias New Yorker thinking everyone wants to watch the Yankees, I ask this because my parents (both of which are Mets fans) love Old-Timers Day.
4. Similarly, If they went back to the previous format of Yankees Old-Timers vs. other Old-Timers, would you watch it if it aired in your area?

 

[People's Champ]

This actually sounds like a fun event to attend. I like the idea and have no idea why other teams don't try this out. I for one love attending Giants activities when they have them going on in the park, and I think if they added a day (or made it a weekend thing) like this I would be all for it. The format of having it be your teams oldtimers vs the opposing team's oldtimers would be a fun game to attend and watch. As you said it benefits the older fans as well as educates the younger ones as well.

Having said all that, I'm not too sure I would watch it on tv. Going to the ballpark and watching games is fun, but some of that has to with the park itself and just the overall experience of being at a game. As big of a Giants fan as I am-and believe that I'm a big one-I find it hard to sit and watch a baseball game on tv. While I love the Giants, basball is not exactly high on my favs to sit and watch. So I'm not sure sure I would watch this type of event on tv. To me this seems more like an event to attend and have a good time rather than watching on tv.

 

[The People's Peep]

Old Timer's Day is a great event. I have tried on numerous occasions to get tickets for the day, but it is one of the hardest to get tickets of the year for Yankees fans.

If Yankee fans are any indication, this event would be accepted by other fans as well. The older fans get to see some of their all time favorites and the kids get to see the history behind their favorite team. Also, its just really fun to see all of the great players of the past get together and just have fun playing the game they love.

I actually like the current format better. Its better to see all old timers of one team in their home stadium than to have old timers from another team only act as an opponent. As for watching on TV, I really enjoy watching it on TV every year. Recently, they have mic'd up a player or two during the event. For example, they had Paul O'neill talking with the commentators while he was batting and playing the field. It was very amusing and if they keep doing the same thing, it can be a really entertaining event to watch.