The Yankees’ Old-Timers’ Day returned, but the game itself did not.
Saturday marked the 74th Old-Timers Day in The Bronx, the 12th at the current Yankee Stadium and the first since 2019, but there was no exhibition to accompany the ceremony.
A Yankees spokesman cited a variety of factors that led to plenty of waving from team icons but no waving any bats. There were several icons placed on the virtual injured list — including David Cone, who is recovering from hip replacement surgery, and Bernie Williams, who said he would have a leg procedure soon.
Mariano Rivera was not around because of a scheduling conflict. Several other former Yankees would not have been allowed on the field because they are unvaccinated.
Add it all up, and the Yankees realized they were lacking several marquee names and opted against playing the game. The turnout — a couple dozen — was notably lower than it had been in past seasons.
Before the Yankees’ game against the Royals, the Old-Timers met in Monument Park and walked to the infield when John Sterling and Michael Kay announced their names. Ron Guidry threw out the ceremonial first pitch to Thurman Munson’s son, Michael.
“I’ve been disappointed,” said John ByDook, a high school basketball coach in New Jersey who came to the Stadium for the first time this year to watch Old-Timers’ Day. “Not necessarily the people they brought back, but to have no game. … I’m disappointed how they brought them out from center field, rather than bring them out from the dugout, like they used to.
“They changed everything.”
