We’ll never forget you, Harvey

On
April 17, the New York Yankees paid tribute to longtime executive Harvey C.
Winston with a private reception at Yankee Stadium.

Harvey,
who passed away in January, began his tenure with the Yankees as a mailroom
messenger in 1987. In 1995, he was promoted to director of office
administration, a position he held until becoming the organization’s director
of premium services in 2008.

Harvey was my close friend and a tremendous asset to the Yankees organization. As you’ll see below, we dedicated the 2010 New York Yankees Official Yearbook to Harvey. In that dedication page, Yankees VP Brian Smith says that here is no title that could truly describe all of Harvey’s contributions. I couldn’t agree with that statement more.

As
part of the evening in which the Yankees celebrated Harvey’s life, chief operating officer Lonn Trost, manager Joe Girardi, senior
vice president/chief financial officer Robert Brown, senior vice
president/chief security officer Sonny Hight and director of media relations
Jason Zillo delivered speeches about their late colleague in front of a group
that included Harvey’s family, friends and coworkers.

“Harvey
will always be in out hearts, and he will always be a presence at Yankee
Stadium,” Girardi said. “He will never be forgotten.”

The
Yankees also unveiled a plaque of Winston, which will be displayed at Yankee
Stadium.

The
team dedicated its April 18 game against Texas to Winston and in a pregame
ceremony, Girardi presented Winston’s mother, Mattie, with his 2009 World
Series ring.

The
Yankees turned in a performance that Winston would have been proud of,
defeating the Texas Rangers, 5-2. As the Yankees celebrated the victory, an
image of Winston was displayed on the center-field scoreboard with a message:
“This one’s for you, Harvey.”

–Alfred Santasiere III