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March's Trivia:
The interlocking "NY" logo made its first appearance on the uniforms of the New York Highlanders in 1909. Who designed the symbol and why?

Answer:
The design was created in 1877 by Louis B. Tiffany for a medal to be given by the New York City Police Department to Officer John McDowell, the first NYC policeman ever to be shot in the line of duty.


Waiting for a Better October
by Harold Friend Yankee4@Bestweb.net
Additional articles on
Suite101

Simply put, Harold is a science teacher who loves baseball. Actually, he is a self described "baseball fan who became a science teacher because he couldn't hit or throw." He has been involved with the New York City Education system in various capacities since 1962 and he received his doctorate in science education from NYU in 1968. He credits Casey Stengel with being responsible for his first baseball "degree," and in 1998, Joe Torre and Don Zimmer saw to it that he received the advanced version. For that he says, "I cannot thank them enough."

It is April 16, 2003. The New York Yankees have played 13 games and won 11 of them. This is not last year's Yankees team. On Saturday, April 12, the Yankees beat Tampa Bay, 5-4. In the second inning of a scoreless game, Bubba Trammell doubled home two runs and Todd Zeile hit a two run home run to stake number five starter Jeff Weaver to a 4-0 lead. Tampa Bay eventually tied the game in the eighth inning when Bernie Williams failed to make a great catch on an Aubrey Huff double, but Hideki Matsui singled home the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning to give Antonio Osuna his first win as a Yankee.

Trammell, Zeile, Matsui, and Osuna were not Yankees last season. Neither was Juan Acevedo, who was the losing pitcher in Sunday's 2-1 loss to Tampa Bay or John Flaherty, one of the best defensive catchers in the game. All six should contribute greatly this year.

Trammell is a fine fourth outfielder and a right-handed hitter who does well against lefties. Zeile can play third base or first base and is a right-handed hitter who also does well against lefties. Both can be the designated hitter if manager Joe Torre wants to "protect" Nick Johnson from a nasty lefty. Trammell and Zeile fit into the team well because their presence removes a potential weakness in certain situations and allows Torre to rest some regulars without losing much for a game or two. Veterans such as Robin Ventura, Raul Mondesi and Bernie Willams should be less fatigued than in past Octobers. John Flaherty not only allows Jorge Posada to rest---he improves the defense greatly.


The Yankees strength is starting pitching and so far it has been outstanding. Roger Clemens, Mike Mussina, and Weaver are topflight right-handers with lefties David Wells and Andy Pettitte balancing the staff.
The 2-1 loss to Tampa Bay on the second Sunday of the season was reminiscent of many 2002 games. Too many base runners were left on base, too many scoring opportunities were wasted, and the defense was not sharp. The Yankees did not play heads up baseball. It happens. The loss was followed by a disgusting 10-9 win against Toronto in which the Yankees bullpen was horrible but the next night there was a crisp, efficient 5-0 Mike Mussina victory which not as close as the 5-0 score might indicate.

The Yankees strength is starting pitching and so far it has been outstanding. Roger Clemens, Mike Mussina, and Weaver are topflight right-handers with lefties David Wells and Andy Pettitte balancing the staff. The offense is more than adequate while the defense is good but could be better. The bullpen is another story.

Writers and fans are awaiting the return of Mariano Rivera from a groin injury but many forget that he had arm problems last season. It is not a given that he will be the Mariano of old despite having a strong spring before getting hurt. But Juan Acevedo can close, which means that Rivera can be brought along slowly and that Acevedo can close some games so Rivera can rest for October. The closer role should be a strength. The other relief pitchers may not be.

Antonio Osuna is questionable, Jason Anderson was in A ball last season before moving up to AA and then AAA, and Steve Karsay, the set up man, is also coming back from an injury. How good will Karsay be when he returns? This is not the first time that he has had arm trouble.

This brings us to Jose Contreras, a right-handed starting pitcher who is being used in relief. He is not doing well. With five starters set, Torre has little choice other than to use Contreras as he has, but one should remember what made former Yankees manager Casey Stengel the greatest manager of all time. Stengel never asked a player to do what he could not do.


The Yankees fast start has been accomplished without Rivera, Karsay, or Derek Jeter. Their return will make this Yankees team even better.
The other two members of the bullpen are Chris Hammond and Sterling Hitchcock. Hammond was out of baseball in 1999, 2000, and 2001. He returned to the Braves in 2002, won 7, lost 2, and had an earned run average of 0.95. He has struggled in his limited outings. Hitchcock is not being used---period. He went to Torre after the Yankees 10-9 win, a game in which the entire bullpen was used, except for him, and asked Torre how he could do more to help the team. What he meant was how could he do ANYTHING to help. Torre said he wasn't going to use Hitchcock anymore than he has. Enough said.

The Yankees fast start has been accomplished without Rivera, Karsay, or Derek Jeter. Their return will make this Yankees team even better. There is little doubt that they will win the Eastern Division, which means that Torre has almost six months left to get the team in shape for the game that really matter. What happens in October should be different from last year. Or the year before.



The Pinstripe Press: https://www.angelfire.com/ny5/pinstripepress
The Highlander: https://www.angelfire.com/ny5/thehighlander
Editor's Email: StlrsFan1@aol.com

Copyright © 2002-2003 Pinstripe Press. All Rights Reserved.
This online newsletter is not affiliated with the New York Yankees.
The opinions expressed solely represent the contributor's and not the Pinstripe Press.

The Highlander
Vol.4 April 2003
Questions or comments in regards to a specific article should be sent directly to that writer's email.

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Fast Facts:
Betcha' didn't know

Casey Stengel
"The Old Professor" had a 54-year professional career that led him to become one of the greatest managers that the game has ever seen. Leading the Yankees to 10 pennants and 7 World titles in a 12-year span ranks as the most amazing managerial record of all time.

Murderer's Row
In 1927, New York outscored its opponents by nearly 400 runs and hit .307 as a team. They also set major league records with 975 runs scored, 158 home runs, 908 runs batted in, and a .489 slugging average.


"I never had to cheat, I get them with what I got."
Dave Winfield

"90% of the game is half mental."
Yogi Berra

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Trivia:
Mickey Mantle
hit for the cycle only once in his career. When? Where? and against Who?

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