Voice of unreason
Clamor from bleachers keeps Yankees at attention
Posted: Thursday October 01, 1998 07:20 PM
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The bleacher creatures are writing a new chapter in the Yankee legend CNN/SI |
NEW YORK (CNN/SI) -- If the New York Yankees can
push their way through the playoffs, they will have the comfort of knowing
that home field advantage is theirs for every series. That doesn't just
mean extra home cooking for the Bronx Bombers, either.
Home field advantage also keeps the Yanks surrounded by over 57,000
adoring fans, most of whom know them by name -- and are willing to prove
it.
Right field at Yankee Stadium has long been known to opposing players as a
war zone, where profanity is the least harmful thing hurled their way.
"I mean all kinds of stuff from batteries to baseballs to tennis balls,"
said Texas Rangers
outfielder Roberto Kelly
of the projectiles, "all kinds of stuff."
Said Anaheim Angels
right fielder Tim
Salmon: "They've got all their chants and all their songs and it's like
a fraternity crowd."
But the bleacher fans in The House That Ruth Built are not only
intimidating, but this year they are also informative. Following the first
pitch of each game, they present the roll call, chanting each player's name
in the starting lineup until each Yankee acknowledges the attention.
The celebrated introductions started with right fielder Paul O’Neill and
center fielder Bernie
Williams, the two senior Yankees who are also closest to the seats. But
early this year, when New York's season began to look like one for the
ages, the infielders received salutes, as well.
In return, the Yankees decided to subtly return the acknowledgement.
"We decided if they are going to do that every day and be that loud and
aggressive and into the game, we're going to acknowledge them," said
Yankees first baseman Tino
Martinez.
Said second baseman Chuck
Knoblauch, in his first year with the Yanks, "They don't move on until
you acknowledge them so you just kind of wave your glove to them or hand or
something like that and then they move on, so it's a lot of fun."
The clamor from the bleachers is not copacetic with every Yankee,
however.
"I didn't like it only because I'm so businesslike when it comes to the
game," said Yankees manager Joe Torre, who led the team to a World Series
championship in 1996. "But it's done so low-key and with such good taste I
think. And I like it, it's recognition from the people and I think the
players in turn give the recognition back to the fans that they appreciate
what they're doing."
Said O'Neill: "It's kind of like I see you, great, but let's get with the
game, you don’t want to make a fool of yourself out there."
Said third baseman Scott Brosius,
"When they start doing it you start thinking: OK, I have to try to
concentrate on the pitches and what's going on and I also have to hear my
name and get through that thing, too."
So as not to distract the pitcher and catcher, the fans exempt the battery
from the chant -- the lone exception being David Wells.
Wells just couldn't be left off the list after his perfect game. Now the
chant also extends to the designated hitter on the bench, and even includes
one of the team's batboys, who used to be a bleacher creature himself.
"I feel great," said Yankees batboy Luigi Castillo. "I feel like, I don't
feel like a ballplayer but it feels great that I used to sit out there and
I'm on the field now and they are chanting my name."
Yankee stadium is rich in tradition. The lineups here used to be
introduced by a man with a megaphone roaming the aisles. That was back when
names like Ruth and Gehrig were cheered wildly. Now, the bleacher creatures
are hoping their name-calling will give them a place in the stadium's
lore.
"They approve," said Mike Donahue, Yankee bleacher creature since 1995.
"They like it and it becomes part of the custom. There's stuff that's been
going on for 10 years that's never died out."
Said fellow creature Anthony Griek: "Just a little acknowledgement.
Nothing big. Not to show up the other team, but just a little nod to say
what's up, they respect us."
All the players and coaches may like the fan adoration but, as is often
the case in New York, there is some controversy over just who likes it the
most.
"It's been going around that Brosius really gets into it a little bit,"
said Knoblauch. "He lets it go on and on and on, and you look over at him
and he's even moving to their beat a little bit."
Added Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter: "He
sings his own name for a while. If you notice, they say his name more times
than anybody else."
On the contrary, says Brosius: "See, this is all started from our
shortstop down there, he's a storyteller out there and, truth be told, if
you guys listen over time and time again, you might hear Jeter's name
repeated more than anyone else's."
Counters Jeter: "Of course he's going to say that but if you go around and
poll the whole team everyone will say Scott Brosius."
The friendly war of words between teammates probably won't be resolved
anytime soon because the decibel level in the war zone is sure to rise with
each Yankee game this postseason. But the bleacher creatures will have
their work cut out for them. This year's demand for Yankee playoff
tickets forced the bleacher creatures to be split and spread around the
stadium. So if roll call is to continue, the displaced bleacher creatures
may have to recruit some more voices to their ranks.
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