Open Thread: Thoughts on Old Timer’s Day

Matt Casey, writing for the Circling the Bases blog over at NBC Sports, has some pretty harsh words for the Yankees annual celebration:

But do the Yanks really need to do this every year? If you continue to have these ceremonies where the greats (and some non-greats) all trot out, the oversaturation factor kicks in. Within the last 12 months, the Yanks have now had four similar celebrations – All-Star Game, final game at Old Yankee Stadium, opening of New Yankee Stadium, Old Timer’s Day – where the team honors its past. Seriously, we get it. The Yankees are the greatest franchise ever. You had us at the 183rd time you told us.

Most of the legends have passed on (Mickey, Joe D). Now, Yogi and Whitey are surrounded by the likes of Dave Eiland, Homer Bush, and Aaron Small. To put things in perspective, imagine the Mets celebrating Old Timer’s Day with Tom Seaver, a couple other dudes from ’69, but also Rico Brogna, Bill Pulsipher, and Keith Miller. Everyone would make fun of it, right? Not to equate Mets history with Yankees history, but hopefully you get the point.

Casey, of course, completely misses the point. Old Timer’s Day isn’t for gloating about the success of the franchise. It’s there to give the fans a chance to see our favorite players again. It allows us to grow old with our idols, even if we only get to see them once a year. It’s about seeing Moose again, or Zim, or Paulie a few years back. And in the next few years it’ll be about Mo, Andy, Jeter and Jorge. It’s like being at a big family reunion, and even though the players don’t know who you are, you still love them. Mark Herrmann gets it. Yankee fans get it. It’s really not that hard.

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Anywho, ue this as your open thread for the night. The Mets and Braves are already in action in the ESPN Sunday Night Game, so you could probably flip over and get a few laughs in. Otherwise, talk about whatever you want here, just be nice.