Opening Day 2018 by Ted Robedee,

A blog?? What’s a blog? Up until a couple of days ago, I’ve never read a 

blog, much less know what one is. 

So here I go for better or worse. I’ll start off with, I’m a huge baseball 

fan, hockey fan, and football fan. I must admit, with the number of 

criminals, unsavory characters, domestic violence and disrespecting the 

flag of our great nation, my football fandom is on the decline. 

Today is opening day for baseball. I’m a die-hard Yankees fan, have 

been since I saw my first game at Yankee Stadium. I’ll never forget it. It 

was a double header, remember those? Pay for 1 ticket see 2 games? I 

was sitting down the third base line. It was the second game, and some 

guy named Mickey Mantle came to the plate. When I heard Bob 

Shepherd announce his name, a chill ran through me. Mickey didn’t let 

me down, he lined a ball down the third base line, deep into the corner. 

I’m standing, cheering and I see this great ball player hobbling into 

second base. This was to be the great Mickey Mantle’s final year before 

he retired. The year was 1968.

This years Yankees squad, on paper, possesses one of the most lethal line ups 

since the 1961 Yankees. Back then, some of the names were, Mickey Mantle, 

Roger Maris (the M&M boys) Yogi Berra, Elston Howard and Bobby Richardson. 

That magical year the M&M boys hit a combined 115 home runs. How many 

home runs will Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton hit? How many will Sanchez 

and Didi hit? 

This lineup for the Yankees is solid from top to bottom. You’ve got speed, power 

and versatility. There is a veteran presence in Gardner and Sabathia, youth in 

Judge, Didi, Severino and Sanchez, a bullpen like no other in the majors. 

The biggest unknown is first year manager Aaron Boone. When I first heard of 

Boone being considered, I didn’t think much about it. I mean who would hire a guy with no experience in coaching much less managing. A color analyst who I 

thought was insightful, but managing the New York Yankees? NEVER! 

How wrong can a guy be. Nevertheless, they hired him, without consulting me, 

first. 

 My understanding was that Cashman and the Yankee hierarchy conducted the 

interviews to all the candidates. These high-ranking officials from the Yankees 

unanimously agreed that Boone was the way to go. Hal Steinbrenner gave the go-

ahead to hire Boone. 

Well folks, that’s about it for my first blog ever. I’m so excited to begin the 

baseball season, especially with this young and exciting team. GAME ON!!!!!