NEW YORK – A championship tie is something that lasts forever, and there was a lot of laughter and chatter at the 76th Old-Timers’ Day at Yankee Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
This was a celebration for the Yankees’ victorious 2009 World Series team, accompanied by familiar cheers for Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, CC Sabathia, Hideki Matsui, Jorge Posada and veteran Alex Rodriguez, who was making his first appearance for the Yankees.
It was also a reminder that the Yankees’ last world championship title had been 15 long years ago.
Depending on the day of the week, the 2024 Yankees appear championship-ready or extremely vulnerable, although they still had the best record in the AL after Saturday’s 9-2 loss to the weaker Colorado Rockies.
Rookie starter Will Warren was out after three innings, trailing 6-0 after hitting twice and allowing four runs in the third, while Alex Verdgo’s first home run since July 6 – breaking his personal record of 0-for-21 – was enough to highlight the Yankees’ performance.
But as Jeter reminded the 40,438 fans on the field, “It doesn’t matter what you do during a 162-game schedule. It all comes down to the World Series.”
“Win a championship, otherwise it’s a failure.”
How the Yankees developed that championship bond in 2009
This is an echo of the last Yankee dynasty and the era of George Steinbrenner.
Hal Steinbrenner called the Yankees’ 2022 season, which failed to make the playoffs and produced only 82 wins, a “disaster” and a “disgrace,” and GM Brian Cashman traded Juan Soto to the team to complement Aaron Judge.
After the Yankees missed the postseason in 2008 in Joe Girardi’s first year as manager, the last at the old Yankee Stadium, Cashman signed Sabathia, Mark Teixeira and AJ Burnett as high-paid free agents and traded them for Nick Swisher.
“They somehow strengthened the team even more,” Matsui said through the interpreter.
Sabathia praised the old guard for allowing the newcomers to be themselves, and Sabathia quickly became the organizer of team meals and procuring suites for NBA playoff games.
“CC worked really hard to include everyone and make sure they felt just as important as everyone else,” Girardi said.
“From day one in spring training, we became very close,” Posada said. “We spent a lot of time together, did a lot together … just a fun group and everyone contributed to a win.”
The 2009 Yankees may not have been convincing from start to finish, but the bond held even in difficult times.
A-Rod missed the first 28 games of the year due to hip surgery when the Yanks were 13-15, but then hit a home run in his first at-bat to seal the win in Baltimore.
“That’s when our season started,” said Sabathia, who had a complete game in his hands that night.
From there, the Yankees won 21 of their next 29 games, but soon lost nine of 13 and stumbled into second place on June 24, when a home run by Francisco Cervelli in Atlanta tied the series and marked another turning point.
They won 13 of their next 15 games and the 2009 Yankees never looked back.
The wise words of the 2009 Yankees to the 2024 club
If Posada could teach the current Yankees one thing from that championship team, it would be “attitude.”
“It takes a lot of courage and will,” Posada said of being a championship team. “And I believe they can do it.”
Posada said he watches a lot of Yankees games now and “I see this group a little more (together) than I used to.”
“It seems like they’re getting along pretty well on the bench this year.”
Jeter has high praise for the skills and demeanor of Judge, who succeeded him as captain of the Yankees, and says that it’s all about “preparation and approach.”
“A lot of times you get into the postseason and things speed up and they try to do things differently,” Jeter said. “You should play the same way day in and day out.”
