Bronx Bomber Ball

Photo credit: MLB.com The Yankees announced on February 22nd that they will be retiring No. 21 to honor the career of the great Paul O'Neill. O’Neill (who gave me my first-ever introduction to the Who’s ‘Baba O’Reilly’ as a kid as I’d watch him walk into the batter’s box) was a fan favorite especially for those of us who became Yankees fans thanks to the 1996-2001 group.  His continued commitment to the Yankees as a YES Network announcer (along with David Cone) is a reminder of a different time.  Per Yankees beat writer Bryan Hoch , “Paul O’Neill Day” will be celebrated at Yankee Stadium, featuring a number retirement ceremony, on August 21, 2022 prior to the start of the Yankees/Blue Jays game schedule to take place (barring any delays related to the CBA negotiations).  O’Neill will go down as the 23rd Yankee to have his number retired, and all guests in attendance on August 21 will receive a commemorative ticket.  Over his nine seasons as a Yankee, O’Neill hit .303...

Yankees’ closer Aroldis Chapman has been awarded the American League Reliever of the Month award for May. During the month, Chapman was a perfect 11 for 11 in save opportunities and currently has 17 for the season overall. He is also sporting a 1.52 ERA for the season in 23.2 IP. This the fourth time in his career that Chapman has brought home a Reliever of the Month award and his second time as a Yankee. Chapman and Mariano Rivera are the only two Yankee pitchers to bring home a Reliever of the Month Award. Credit: Michael Owens/AP

Earlier today, Major League Baseball announced the results of this year’s Hall of Fame voting, and two former Yankees received the call to Cooperstown: Mike Mussina and Mariano Rivera. These two pitching greats, along with Edgar Martinez and the late Roy Halladay, will officially be enshrined later this year on Sunday, July 21. Photo Credit: Jim McIssac

Along with being Yankee enthusiasts, the staff here at BBB is comprised of avid baseball fans across the entirety of the sport. With that being said, we decided to complete a mock Hall of Fame voting using the 2019 candidates. Similar to the official voting, our ballots could only comprise of up to ten candidates, but choosing less than ten candidates was surely an option. Any player with a mark above 75% would be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, if the voting rested in our hands. Here are the results of the eleven ballots casted: Photo Credit: USA Today Sports

On the heels of the most recent decisions made by the BBWAA, I’m not sure how much stock I actually put into election into the Baseball Hall of Fame . What’s actually the criteria here? Is it as clouded as the criteria for, say, Rookie of the Year ? However… the inclusion of my all-time favorite Yankee, Mariano Rivera, on the HOF ballot has peaked my interest. Not to mention, the possibility of several Yankees from the good ol’ days of the ‘90s dynasty making Cooperstown history brings out feelings of nostalgia and longing. The BBWAA may or may not be unqualified to make these choices, but the facts of the situation are that just being on the HOF ballot is considered an honor. Photo Credit: Rob Carr Some of these guys on the ballot this year were the reason I got to stay up past my bedtime in October of 1996, 1997 and 1998. And I’d be doing them a disservice if I didn’t do something to commemorate their recognition. As such, without further ado… which Yankees...

There are a few things about the Yankees that I’m very stubborn about, things that no matter how hard you debate with me I’ll just never change my mind on. For instance, Joe DiMaggio is the greatest baseball player the world has ever seen, if I ever have a son, I want him to grow up to be the man Lou Gehrig was, and the 1927 team is the greatest that baseball will ever see. However, while I am of the mindset the ’27 team is the greatest, there will never be a season more impressive than 1998. The team won 114 games in the regular season while losing only 48. They won the AL East by a mind boggling 22 games and went 11-2 in the playoffs sweeping the San Diego Padres in the World Series for the club’s 24th overall championship. Their win total regular season and postseason combined was 125 which is still a major league record to this day.   Photo Credit: Mlb.com

Eight years ago today, Mariano Rivera notched his 500th career save, while also picking up his first career RBI (and only one). In a Subway Series meeting with the Mets, closer Francisco Rodriguez walked Derek Jeter to put Rivera up with the bases loaded. Rivera came up to bat, with no RBIs in his legendary career and having to face one of the best closers at the time in K-Rod. Rivera worked the at-bat to a full count before K-Rod lost him by pitching ball four. The walk gave Mariano his first and only RBI of his career.   Photo Credit: NY Daily News He then went on to shut down the Mets at Citi Field in the bottom half of the ninth. His 500th career save only added to his legendary career and put a stamp on the debate of who the greatest closer ever is. Known for his wipeout cutter, Rivera ended his career with 652 saves, the most of all-time. He also ended with 13 career All-Star appearances and postseason records in saves (42) and ERA (0.70). He becomes eligible for the...