Baby Bombers Read online

  Thanks to my in-laws, Ray and Eileen, for welcoming me into your amazing family. There’s a saying that you never get a second chance to make a first impression, but my second impression was probably worse, huffing off the subway before a 2009 game and spotting them waving at me from a bench outside Yankee Stadium’s press gate. “They must be big Yankees fans,” I thought, oblivious to the fact that they were my then-girlfriend’s parents. Penny is so lucky to have you as her Puddin’ and Pops, and I have treasured our dinners with Joan and Ick, breaking down the latest news from the Bronx. It is a blessing to have added Brian, Griffin, and Raymond as brothers, Joanna as a sister, and to be an official part of the Clymer crew and the Schwab mob. When it comes to cheering for their beloved Yankees, the Long Island Schwabs are as legit as they come. Thanks for your feedback and friendship.

  The team at MLB.com has been incredible throughout this project, beginning with Dinn Mann and Matthew Leach, who swiftly gave their blessing to having one of their beat reporters add another challenge to his plate. 2017 marked my eleventh season covering the Yankees, and working at MLB.com has been a dream. No one covers this game better or more thoroughly from coast-to-coast on a minute-by-minute basis. I would like to especially thank David Adler, Kristen Altmeyer, Jordan Bastian, Jason Beck, Rhett Bollinger, Mark Bowman, Ian Browne, Anthony Castrovince, Bill Chastain, Gregor Chisholm, Jamal Collier, Anthony DiComo, Mark Feinsand, Joe Frisaro, Brittany Ghiroli, Richard Justice, Jane Lee, Brian McTaggart, Matt Martell, Scott Merkin, Carrie Muskat, Marty Noble, Arturo Pardavila, Mike Petriello, Grace Raynor, Mike Siano, Nick Suss, T.R. Sullivan, and Todd Zolecki for their contributions to this project and their friendship. Thanks also to Paul Bodi for entrusting a twenty-four-year-old rookie to report on the most decorated franchise in sports, and to the team at MLB Network for making me look relatively good on camera.

  From spring training through the end of the season, reporters spend countless hours in taxi cabs, on planes, in the press box (and, of course, at Shaun Clancy’s Foley’s NY). That time is infinitely more enjoyable when you are surrounded by funny and talented people. I have been fortunate to share the beat with some of the brightest in the industry, many of whom we are blessed to call friends to this day. Special thanks to Peter Abraham, Dom Amore, Marty Appel, Dan Barbarisi, Jerry Beach, Bruce Beck, Erik Boland, Peter Botte, Pete Caldera, Marc Carig, Jack Curry, Ken Davidoff, John Harper, Chad Jennings, Michael Kay, Tyler Kepner, George King, Bob Klapisch, Brendan Kuty, David Lennon, Mike Lupica, Anthony McCarron, Nathan Maciborski, Bill Madden, Meredith Marakovits, Andrew Marchand, Dan Martin, Wallace Matthews, Mike Mazzeo, Randy Miller, Sweeny Murti, Anthony Rieber, Marly Rivera, Al Santasiere, Jon Schwartz, Joel Sherman, Ben Shpigel, Scott Stanford, John Sterling, Tara Sullivan, Mike Vaccaro, Tom Verducci, Suzyn Waldman, David Waldstein, Billy Witz and countless other members of the New York media contingent for the many laughs and being part of our lives. Your coverage, some of which has been referenced in this text, has been top-notch and immensely valuable.

  The New York Yankees have great people both on the field and behind the scenes who made this an enjoyable project to work on. In particular, I would like to thank Jason Zillo and his media relations department for their assistance. My wife spent four seasons in the department, earning a World Series ring in 2009, so we can both speak to the intense atmosphere and tireless work that goes on at the Stadium 365 days a year. Marlon Abreu, Kaitlyn Brennan, Ariele Goldman Hecht, Dolores Hernandez, Kenny Leandry, Michael Margolis, Lauren Moran, Rob Morse, Yoshiki Sato, and Alexandra Trochanowski have all been accommodating and helpful.

  Many others with connections to the organization have been gracious and generous with their time over the years, including but not limited to: Troy Afenir, Jean Afterman, Tyler Austin, Brian Barber, Dellin Betances, Greg Bird, Aaron Boone, Robinson Cano, Brian Cashman, Starlin Castro, Joba Chamberlain, Alan Cockrell, David Cone, Lou Cucuzza Jr., Rob Cucuzza, Johnny Damon, Gary Denbo, Billy Eppler, Joe Espada, John Flaherty, Clint Frazier, Todd Frazier, Brett Gardner, Kevin Gausman, Dan Giese, Joe Girardi, Chad Green, Didi Gregorius, Eric Handler, Chase Headley, Jim Hendry, Aaron Hicks, Matt Holliday, Reggie Jackson, Derek Jeter, Aaron Judge, Randy Levine, Jim Leyritz, Kevin Long, Bob Lorenz, Bryan Mitchell, Jordan Montgomery, Tim Naehring, Jeff Nelson, Paul O’Neill, Damon Oppenheimer, Al Pedrique, Tony Pena, Andy Pettitte, Jorge Posada, Darrell Rasner, Kevin Reese, Rob Refsnyder, Mariano Rivera, David Robertson, Alex Rodriguez, Austin Romine, Larry Rothschild, Donny Rowland, James Rowson, CC Sabathia, Gary Sanchez, Luis Severino, Ken Singleton, Hal Steinbrenner, Nick Swisher, Masahiro Tanaka, Rob Thomson, Ronald Torreyes, Debbie Tymon, Tyler Wade, Adam Warren, Chase Whitley, and Bernie Williams. I have great gratitude for your availability and candidness in helping trace of the rise of the “Baby Bombers,” and for making it a story worth telling.

  Extra special thanks to Mark Teixeira, who was a pleasure to cover during his eight seasons in pinstripes. After hitting 409 homers in the big leagues, I personally feel that Mark should be credited with another after he agreed to write the foreword to this book, responding with an enthusiastic, “Yes!”

  I would like to express great appreciation to the staff at Diversion Books in New York, especially Keith Wallman, who gambled that my writing would be able to make the leap from dot-com to the printed page. Keith gathered a selection of terrific photos that added color to the text, nudged back our deadlines while the team battled deep into October, and made many suggestions that improved the final product.

  Finally, my thanks to the vast universe of Yankees fans, whose voracious appetite for information challenges us to dig deeper every day. The energy and passion that you consistently bring to the Bronx has created memories that will last a lifetime.

  Bryan Hoch

  January 2018

  About the Author

  BRYAN HOCH has written about New York baseball for the past two decades, including covering the New York Yankees as a beat reporter for MLB.com since 2007. A regular contributor to MLB Network, Hoch’s work has also been featured in Yankees Magazine, New York Mets Inside Pitch, and on FOXSports.com. He is based in New York City and lives with his wife, Connie, and daughter, Penny.

  Follow Bryan on Twitter @bryanhoch and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bryanhochmlb.

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