May 19, 2012 — For the second year in a row Yankees Magazine (the print version) has teamed up with the Yankees Magazine TV Show.

In the First Pitch section of each issue of the print publication, Yankees fans can find out which exciting features will air on upcoming episodes of the weekly TV show.

Additionally, on my monthly segment on the Yankees Magazine TV show, I will continue to discuss my behind-the-scenes experiences, which take place as we prepare each story for the Yankees flagship publication.

On this week’s episode, the show’s host, Nancy Newman, and I will discuss my trip to McMinnville, Oregon, where I spent time with former Yankees third baseman Scott Brosius for a story that is in the May Issue of Yankees Magazine. I will also share my thoughts on this month’s cover story, in which deputy editor Ken Derry delves into the life and career of Yankees centerfielder Curtis Granderson, a star who keeps getting better.

The official weekly television show of the Yankees airs each week on Wednesday at 12 Noon on the YES Network.

–Alfred Santasiere III

May 13, 2012 – A few months ago, I wrote about an interview I conducted with former Yankees pitcher David Wells at Pete & Shorty’s Tavern in Clearwater, Florida.

The reason we met at Pete & Shorty’s is because Wells commonly went there with the late George Steinbrenner, and it is where the Boss ultimately asked Wells to come back to the Yankees in 2001.

That interview — about Wells’ time with the Yankees — is for part of a story that will be published in the August Issue of Yankees Magazine.

The other part of the story details Wells’ life today as well as his younger years. Boomer is back in San Diego, which is where he grew up. In addition to serving as a Spring Training instructor with the Yankees and as a baseball analyst with TBS, Wells is the pitching coach for his alma mater.

Wells joined Point Loma High School’s coaching staff prior to the 2012 season, and Yankees team photographer James Petrozzello and I spent three days in San Diego with the Perfect Game pitcher this week.

On our first day in Southern California, we accompanied Wells to his team’s game at the field that bears his name (it was dedicated to him a few years ago).

From the time Wells got to the park until the end of the game, the former Yankee was not only teaching pitching mechanics to his players, but he also passing on the intangibles that helped him to win 239 games in the big leagues.

An example of that came when Wells and Point Loma’s starting pitcher walked from the bullpen to the dugout before the game. Wells put his arm around the young pitcher and made a joke that lightened the mood.

“Sometimes I say the same things that [Yankees former pitching] Mel Stottlemyre used to say to me before a game,” Wells said. “But if a pitcher is nervous, you just have to do something to make him laugh. It just depends on the day.”

The next day, Wells brought us to Ocean Beach, which is the neighborhood he grew up at.

It was interesting to learn about what life was like for Wells as a kid. He was raised by his mother and lived is several different apartments in Ocean Beach when he was a kid.

We drove by several of those locations before going to the Ocean Beach Recreation Center, which Wells credits for much of the success he was able to realize as an adult.

“I was at the OB Rec Center every day,” Wells said. “I’d be at there from the time school let out until dinner time. I would go home for dinner and then go back there for a few more hours.

“I played basketball for five hours a day there,” Wells continued. “If the OB Rec Center wasn’t here, I don’t know where I would have ended up. I spent almost every day of my childhood here from when I was 6 years old until I was in high school, and it kept me safe and focused on sports.”

We also visited the field where Boomer tossed the first of his two Perfect Games. Most baseball fans are aware that Wells pitched a Perfect Game for the Yankees in 1998, but his 1982 Perfecto with Point Loma High School has not been as well documented.

“I don’t remember a lot of details from that game,” Wells said to me as he looked out at the field from a set of metal bleachers. “But I have never forgotten the celebration on that mound. Everyone was jumping for joy, and I had never experienced anything like that.”

Wells is also spearheading a project in which Point Loma’s current baseball field — which is not the same field Wells played on in high school  — will be completely revamped.

Among the renovations that Wells is either paying for or raising the funds for are brand new grass and infield dirt along with a home run fence.

May 3, 2012 – The May Issue of Yankees Magazine is on-sale now, and the content that makes up this edition is a unique blend of Yankees coverage.

From the cover story, in which deputy editor Ken Derry sheds light on Curtis Granderson’s character and goals, to the feature “Paint by Numbers” in which contributing writer Bryan Hoch discusses the baseball milestones that define careers, this edition covers all the bases.

This issue includes the first alumni section of the year. For the alumni feature, Yankees team photographer James Petrozzello and I spent a mid-winter day with former Yankees third baseman Scott Brosius in McMinnville, Oregon, which I wrote about on this blog a few months ago.

My feature on Brosius provides a detailed look at all that goes into being the head baseball coach at Linfield College, which is located about 40 miles from Portland and in one of the most beautiful areas of the United States.

Additionally, David Bernstein, the Yankees director of hospitality, premium sales and service, and group ticket representative Frank Costa recently announced their retirements. David and Frank worked for the Yankees for more than 20 years, and their kindness and professionalism resonated with everyone they crossed paths with at Yankee Stadium. You’ll find more on David and Frank’s significant contributions to the organization in this month’s Bomber Bites section.

Those are just a few of the many compelling stories in the May Issue of Yankees Magazine, so if you’re going to be at Yankee Stadium, pick up a copy. If you’re not planning a trip to the ballpark in May, you can subscribe to Yankees Magazine through (800) GO-YANKS or www.yankees.com/publications.

–Alfred Santasiere III

May 3, 2012 – On April 29, a group of players from the Washington Capitals took in the game at Yankee Stadium.

The Capitals were in town for the NHL playoff series against the New York Rangers, and they came to the Stadium after a mid-morning practice at Madison Square Garden.

When the players arrived at the ballpark, I not only gave them their tickets but I also handed them copies of the April Issue of Yankees Magazine.

Before the group posed for a few photos — one of which I was fortunate enough to be in — defenseman Karl Alzner talked to me about the Yankees captain for an article that will be published in the June Issue of Yankees Magazine.

“A lot of people ask me who my favorite athlete is,” Alzner said. “And, I always tell them Derek Jeter. He has that “wow” factor, and I have always been in awe of him. I really respect what he does on the field and off the field.”

–Alfred Santasiere III

May 3, 2012 – Old-Timers’ Day has been one of my favorite experiences since I began working for the Yankees. It has allowed me meet a vast number of former players, many of whom are the fabric by which Yankees greatness was built.

Bill “Moose” Skowron, who passed away on April 27 at the age of 81, was one of those men.

The former first baseman, who finished his career with a .282 average, was at his best when it mattered most. He hit a grand slam in Game 7 of the 1956 World Series, a three-run homer in Game 7 of the 1958 Fall Classic and a solo blast in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series. The Yankees were victorious in the final game of the 1956 and 1958 seasons, and Skowron’s home run in the ultimate game of the 1960 campaign gave the Yankees the lead.

In total, Skowron hit eight home runs in 39 World Series games, establishing himself as one of the great postseason hitters of all-time.

What can’t be found in the record books is that Skowron was as down to earth as anyone in the game. Whether he was telling stories to members of the Yankees security detail, giving an hour of his time to a reporter for an interview or signing autographs and posing for photos with young fans, Skowron was always making the people around him feel important. As great as Skowron was on the field, especially in those big games, he was an even better person off the field, and I feel fortunate to have had the chance to spend time with him over the years.

My last conversation with Skowron took place in November, when I spoke to the former Yankee for a story that will be published in the June Issue of Yankees Magazine.

The story details the long series of exhibition games the Yankees played against Army’s baseball team at West Point. Skowron, who was as gracious on the phone in November as he was in all of our in-person meetings, discussed the game between the 1961 Yankees and the Black Knights of Army.

“It was a cold day, but I enjoyed the game,” Skowron said. “We respected them. Those guys were in the service, going to school and playing baseball. We were impressed by them, and we wanted to give them our best effort.”

I will remember my last conversation with Skowron for a long time, and I’m proud that his words will be part of my upcoming story.

But Old-Timers’ Day won’t be the same, because the Yankees family has lost one of its greatest people.

–Alfred Santasiere III

May 3, 2012 – As I wrote in a blog entry a few weeks ago, my feature story on Dan Marino’s visit to Yankee Stadium is in the April Issue of Yankees Magazine.

Earlier this month, the Hall of Fame quarterback received the copies of the issue that I sent to him, and on April 27 he tweeted about the story.

I’m sure fans of Marino will be surprised to see a tweet about Yankees Magazine on No. 13’s twitter account, but the mention meant the world to me.

This recent tweet was not the only instance in which Marino referenced his day at Yankee Stadium. While he was in the Bronx on January 7, he sent out three twitter messages including one that read, “Thanks for a great experience at the new Yankee Stadium.”

The link for Marino’s twitter account is as follows:

http://twitter.com/#!/danmarino

–Alfred Santasiere III

April 18, 2012 – Don Shula won more games than any coach in NFL history. He also guided the 1972 Miami Dolphins to the NFL’s only undefeated season, compiling a 17-0 record.

Those are just a few of the two-time Super Bowl winning coach’s many accomplishments, and as a life-long fan of the Miami Dolphins, I have always held Shula in the highest regard.

As a kid, I relished the fact that the coach of my favorite team was regarded as one of the all-time greats, and I enjoyed watching his movements on the sidelines almost as much as I took pleasure in the action on the field. As I got older, I admired Shula for his core beliefs. He always did things the right way. He won within the rules, and he was as dedicated to his family as he was to winning football games — qualities that have become more rare in professional sports through the years.

On April 2, I conducted what I consider to be the interview of a lifetime. I, along with Yankees team photographer James Petrozzello, spent more than an hour with Shula at his house in Indian Creek, Florida.

I interviewed Shula in his home office, which was nearly as awe-inspiring as the man himself. Shula and I sat in two captain’s chairs in front of his oak desk. A collection of game balls are on display on mahogany shelves that stretch from the floor to the ceiling behind the desk. Shula’s two Super Bowl trophies (from 1972 and 1973) and the coach’s Hall of Fame bust are also located behind the desk.

In the early part of the interview, which will be published in the July Issue of Yankees Magazine, Shula and I discussed his 1972 Dolphins, who defeated the New York Football Giants at the old Yankee Stadium to improve their record to 13-0.

“Our players were awed by playing at Yankee Stadium,” Shula said. “I felt the same way.

“I knew it was going to be a tough day for us because the fans were so close to the field and because the field conditions were muddy,” Shula continued. “We relied heavily on the speed of Mercury Morris and Paul Warfield, so I preferred a fast track. We had to go in there and beat the Giants on a day that was anything but ideal for us. That made it all the more special. Going undefeated is something that had never been done before, and it hasn’t been done since 1972. One of the biggest thrills from that season was going into Yankee Stadium.”

I also asked Shula to discuss Joe DiMaggio and George Steinbrenner, both of whom the coach had friendships with.

“When I first got to Miami in 1970, I joined the country club that Joe was a member at,” Shula said. “My locker was right next to Joe’s, and that was pretty neat. “He was a true gentleman, and I admired him for the 56-game hitting streak and for all of his other accomplishments with the Yankees. The thing I really loved about Joe was the way he played centerfield. He wasn’t the fastest guy around, but he seemed to glide to where the ball was. He had a great arm, and he threw out a lot of guys who were trying to get extra bases.”

When I asked Shula if he would have liked to coach DiMaggio, his ear-to-ear smile spoke louder than his words.

“Yes,” Shula said emphatically. “He would have fit right into my way of doing things. He was a winner in every sense of the word.”

Shula then shared his favorite memory of Steinbrenner.

“I invited George to have dinner with me on the opening night of Shula’s Steak House in New York City,” the coach said. “He took me up on the offer, and we had a great time together. I will always remember that evening, because he couldn’t have been nicer. As an owner, George upheld the highest standards of baseball.”

The last question of the interview was one that I had always wanted to ask Shula. I asked the man who was a role model to me to speak to the importance playing within the rules, being a dedicated parent and doing things the right way — the core beliefs that I had long admired him for.

“I was taught that if you were willing to put a lot into something, you would get a lot in return,” Shula said. “When I got the opportunity to be a head coach at the age of 33, I had to gain the respect of the players I was coaching, so working hard and setting the right example was essential to making that happen.”

“Coaching is a very demanding profession,” Shula continued. “You work morning, noon and night, and you’re up half the night thinking about what happened the day before. But you have to remember how important family is. It’s important for your family to be on your side, and you have to be aware of all of the sacrifices they have to make when you’re an NFL coach. Being aware of that makes you’re family more united. I lot of good things have happened in my life, but my family is at the top of the list.”

A few seconds after the interview ended, Shula extended his hand and gave me a compliment I will never forget — and one that is rarely given to an interviewer by the subject of the interview.

“Great job,” the coach said.

As Shula walked to the other side of the desk to pose for a portrait that Petrozzello would be taking, the coach asked to see my World Series ring. I was honored that he was interested in seeing my ring up close, but I was even more anxious for the chance to hold his 1972 Super Bowl ring.

Shula wrestled the ’72 ring off his finger and handed it to me so that I could pose for the photo below, in which I am wearing his Super Bowl ring and my World Series ring.

Just as I won’t ever forget the lessons I learned from watching Shula do things the right way all those years, the memories of my time with the coach will also be permanently etched into my brain.

–Alfred Santasiere III

April 18, 2012 – The 2012 New York Yankees Official Yearbook is on sale now.

The cover of this commemorative publication features 22 artifacts from the New York Yankees Museum (located at Yankee Stadium).

Brian Richards, who is the curator of the New York Yankees Museum, was invaluable in allowing us access to every one of the rare artifacts that he is charge of.

Team photographer James Petrozzello arranged the artifacts and took what I believe is the most elegant photo ever displayed on the cover of a New York Yankees Yearbook.

And, senior editor Nathan Maciborski came up with the idea for this concept, which led to the compelling cover.

The artifacts in the beautifully lit photo stand out from afar, but it’s the significance of each piece of memorabilia that makes the cover as special as it is.

There are two jerseys in the photo. Babe Ruth wore one of the jerseys in 1932, Derek Jeter wore the other one during the game in which he collected his 3,000th career hit.

The cap that Mickey Mantle wore during the 1961 season is also in the photo, as is a signed baseball from Don Larsen’s Perfect Game in the 1956 World Series. The mitt that Yogi Berra caught Larsen’s Perfect Game is not on our cover, but Berra’s glove from the 1952 and 1953 seasons is.

Additionally, a ticket stub from Game 6 of the 2009 World Series and one from the first game at the current Yankee Stadium grace the yearbook cover along with the bat Ruth used to hit the first home run at the old Yankee Stadium, a bat used by Lou Gehrig in 1923 and the bat Mantle used to hit his record setting 16th career World Series home run.

Finally, this ultimate display of Yankees greatness through the years would not be complete without an artifact from the life and career of the late George Steinbrenner.

Well, we’ve included eight pieces that represent the Boss. The wooden name plate from Steinbrenner’s office at the old Yankee Stadium along with each of his seven World Series rings are in the middle of the photo.

In addition to this one-of-a-kind cover, the many stories within the Yearbook make it a valuable keepsake. From a feature about Jorge Posada’s legendary career to an inside look at Michael Pineda to a section dedication to the history of the Yankees pinstripes, the 2012 New York Yankees Official Yearbook is as comprehensive as any baseball publication you will find.

You can order your copy by calling (800) GO-YANKS or through www.yankees.com/publications. The Yearbook will also be on sale at Yankee Stadium throughout the 2012 season, and the on-line version is also available through www.yankees.com/publications.

–Alfred Santasiere III

April 18, 2012 – The April issue of Yankees Magazine is on sale now, and simply put, it’s one of the best editions we’ve ever produced.

Jorge Posada, who etched his name into Yankees lore during his 17-year career, is on the cover of our April Issue. Yankees team photographer James Petrozzello took the cover image on the day of Posada’s retirement press conference.

We chose Yankee Stadium’s Great Hall as the location for the Posada photo shoot because the background features banners of fellow Yankees legends.  In my opinion, the symbolism that the Great Hall provides along with the headline “Among the Greats,” is a fitting tribute to a guy who was the heart and soul of the Yankees for nearly two decades.

Yankees Magazine contributor Bob Klapisch, who is also a long-time columnist for the Bergen Record, wrote the cover story. Klapisch’s feature is brilliant, and for any Yankees fan, it’s truly a must-read.

In the fourth paragraph of the story, Klapisch wrote, “He [Posada] had a one-of-a-kind temperament that was defined by pure, unabashed emotion, which only reinforced his integrity.”

From the vantage point of someone who has known Posada for almost 10 years, I can say that Klapisch’s description of the catcher was spot on, as is the rest of the story.

There is a feature story about another all-time great catcher in the April Issue, as well. Petrozzello and senior editor Nathan Maciborski spent a morning with Yogi Berra at the Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center in New Jersey, and they certainly made the most of their time there. I was fortunate enough have joined them on the mid-winter day and to spend some time with Berra.

Maciborski’s first-person account of the day provides unique insight on one of the most charming and gracious people in American pop-culture.  In the story, Maciborski chronicles his conversation with Berra, which includes the catcher’s take on the museum that bares his name as well as on Joe DiMaggio, Bill Dickey and the many changes the game has seen in the last 50 years.

The story could not have been written better, and the portrait that Petrozzello took of Berra wearing his 10 World Series rings inimitable.

This issue also includes my feature story on Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino’s visit to Yankee Stadium in January. As I wrote on this blog after Marino’s trip to the Bronx, spending an afternoon with my childhood hero was an unimaginable thrill. Marino’s kindness and easy-going demeanor made the experience even better, and I am proud to have my name on the first-person feature you will see in the April Issue of Yankees Magazine.

There are several other interesting stories in the April Issue of Yankees Magazine, and because the season has just begun, this is the perfect time to subscribe to the Yankees flagship publication. You can order a print or digital subscription to Yankees Magazine through www.yankees.com/publications. Print subscriptions are also available through (800) GO-YANKS, and single copies of Yankees Magazine are available at Yankee Stadium.

Enjoy this magnificent issue!

–Alfred Santasiere III

April 18, 2012 – Opening Day at Yankee Stadium is always a memorable afternoon because of the pomp and circumstance that goes beyond the in-game action.

The Yankees 2012 home opener followed suit in a long-standing tradition.

The moment that I will remember long after I’ve forgotten the outcome of the game took place when Jorge Posada threw the ceremonial first pitch.

What made the moment even more special was that the entire Yankees starting lineup stood behind Posada while Posada’s young son also watched from a few feet away.

Posada, who played in more than 1,800 games with the Yankees during his 17-year career, threw the pitch to his father.

Following the pitch, Posada, who played in five All-Star Games and was an essential part of five World Series championships, hugged each of the players along with his family members.

The opportunity for Posada to share the moment with his immediate family and his former teammates was well-deserved and appropriate for a guy who left it all on the field while playing for the same team his entire career.

Enjoy the photos below. These images and several others from Opening Day will grace the pages of the May Issue of Yankees Magazine.

–Alfred Santasiere III