Hunts Point News: Yankees’ Good Luck Charm Passes Away

Hunts Point News: Yankees’ Good Luck Charm Passes Away: Yankees’ Good Luck Charm Passes Away (Bill Stimers with Bert Blyleven, a Basebll Hall of Famer, in the broadcast booth at YS.    —Ph...

Yankees’ Good Luck Charm Passes Away

Yankees’ Good Luck Charm Passes Away

(Bill Stimers with Bert Blyleven, a Basebll Hall of Famer, in the broadcast booth at YS.    —Photo by Howard Goldin)

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 15- There are very few fans of sports teams who have become a part of the organization they root for. Bill Stimers, who passed away at the age of 67 on Thursday at the Hebrew Home of Riverdale, his place of residence for the past 10 months, was considered a valued member of the Yankee family by the Steinbrenners. 

Stimers, a devoted rooter for the Yankees since his early childhood, met Steinbrenner at Shea Stadium, where the Yankees played their home games during the refurbishment of Yankee Stadium, shortly after the Cleveland businessman led a group that purchased the Yankees from CBS. The story, as Stimers always told it, went like this, “I said to George, ‘Let’s hope the Yankees win today,’ and he just took a liking to me.”

Stimers was an only child, a brother died in a miscarriage, born to a middle class couple in Queens. His father worked on the Long Island Railroad and his mother was a telephone operator. The couple and their young son moved to Brentwood, Long Island, where they each remained for the rest of their lives. Even though both parents worked full-time, they were devoted to their son. To the day of his death, he told stories of his parents concern for him to a close friend. He remembered them with love and respect and was not embarrassed to say how much he still missed them.

At the age of five, Stimers attended his first baseball game in May of 1952. As his memory was astonishing, decades later he recalled seeing Mickey Mantle hit a home run and the Yankees winning the ballgame. He did not return to the Stadium for several years as his father thought he was too young for such an outing. 

He was an enthusiastic sports fan, especially of baseball, throughout his life. His ability to remember what he read, what he heard and what he witnessed made him exceptionally knowledgeable of many topics. He was one of the most well-known callers to radio station WFAN, where he was known as “Bill the Baker”

The sobriquet came from Stimers’ occupation at Entenmann’s Bakery in Bay Shore, Long Island. In his senior year in high school, Stimers worked in a co-op program at Entenmann’s. He kept the job after his graduation, and worked there until his retirement at the age of 50. 

Over the past several decades, Stimers attended many MLB All-Star Games and  World Series games. He told interesting stories of many events such as the earthquake during the World Series in San Francisco and seeing the final hit (#3,000) of Roberto Clemente. 

For whatever the reason, Steinbrenner was dedicated to the well-being of Stimers. On July 26, 1976, Stimers moved to a seat with his own nameplate in the Press Box at Steinbrenner’s behest. The Yankee owner told Stimers, “You’ll be more valuable to me in the press box than in the stands.” Stimers’ seat was next to Steinbrenner’s box in the old Stadium. The Yankee owner and members of his family often came to Stimers’ seat and engaged the dedicated fan in conversation. Steinbrenner joked with him, solicited advice on players and discussed that day’s game. He also invited Stimers to travel with the team to post-season playoff trips. 

Bill, who considered Steinbrenner his greatest friend, liked to recall that shortly after his mother died, Steinbrenner invited him to travel to the American League Division Series. When Stimers was threatened with the loss of the family home due to a second mortgage that his late mother took out, the Yankee principal owner saved the home by paying off the money owed. Those who are familiar with the relationship between the two men understand the charitable nature and compassion that was an important part of Steinbrenner.

Stimers retained his seat in the Yankee Stadium Press Box through the 2012 a. L. Division Series. He attended only nine games during the 2014 season, but had a seat in the lower stands. 

On an even more personal note, another devoted Yankee fan and extremely knowledgeable observer of baseball, my brother Jeffrey also passed away in 2014. The two had many congenial baseball conversations. Jeffrey was well-educated and had much knowledge and understanding of many diverse matters. He worked quietly, but with great capability and effort for the New York State Court System for many years. Despite being a private person and soft-spoken, he was very pleasant to spend time with because of his highly advanced sense of humor and kindness. Like Bill, the 65 year-old man passed away far too soon. He was a blessing to his family and all who knew him.

May you rest in peace Jeffrey and Bill. You are both missed.

Hunts Point News: Enough of the A-Rod Circus

Hunts Point News: Enough of the A-Rod Circus: Enough of the A-Rod Circus By Rich Mancuso BRONX, NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 7- Sooner than expected the Alex Rodriguez circus returned...

Enough of the A-Rod Circus

Enough of the A-Rod Circus

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 7- Sooner than expected the Alex Rodriguez circus returned to town. The A-Rod drama was not expected until February in Tampa Florida when the New York Yankees assemble for spring training, but we should not be shocked that he admitted the truth, under oath to a DEA investigator about using PED’s.

It is typical Alex Rodriguez territory to be in this position. And it has spread to the New York airwaves as two popular talk show hosts got involved in who was credible when asking A-Rod ro tell the truth last November. Rodriguez on one show said he never took PED’s and we didn’t believe the fraud then.

That is why it came as no shock Wednesday when a Miami Herald report said that A-Rod told the truth. After all this has always been the Alex Rodriguez saga of not telling the truth. And if he did not have the appropriate millions to have proper representation he may have had to tell the truth.

Should we forgive Alex Rodriguez? Some will say yes because his year-long suspension from Major League Baseball was served. The Yankees await the A-Rod arrival and continued circus in February and the drama will continue. It does not have to continue if the Yankees decide to eat up a remaining three-years and $61 million that remains on a contract that should have never been granted.

That was then. The Yankees upper brass, those who were dragged into the A-Rod legal battle and the circus, will have a way with dealing with this latest report. They wish it would all go away, however their fraud of a player is around for the duration. All they can do is hope that Rodriguez is healthy and will offer some type of offense to a lineup that could not score runs this past season.

They hope their fraud will be able to handle a plan at third or first base, or play a regular role in the lineup as the designated hitter, and to that there is no certainty. The Yankees are not getting younger with a damaged A-Rod in their everyday lineup but they may have no other choice to put him on the field as much as possible.

Getting back to the Alex Rodriguez image of being damaged is another issue. The Yankees as an organization have to play two sides with the damage control and continue dealing with the circus. Opposing players, at least those who did not experiment with Ped’s, will go with the flow and not make A-Rod a public issue.

Then there are the fans, many who will continue to boo when A-Rod takes the field again. Rodriguez to them will be a hero if he becomes a legitimate hitter again without the use of a steroid support system. Rodriguez may never be the same hitter he was without that support system and also take into account he has had limited playing time the past two years.

So where do we go from here? The gut feeling is, and a general consensus: Enough is enough of this A-Rod circus. Yes he served the penalty and was off the field as his Yankees teammates failed to make the postseason a second straight year. The steroid era, according to what has been determined, is over in the game of baseball. But as long as Alex Rodriguez is around the discussion may never end.

Because Alex Rodriguez, who many consider to be a fraud, is around the game again. Each time he resurfaces the talk about steroids and Ped’s will not go away. Even if the master of deception admitted his guilt to the authorities, he will never be considered that legitimate and talented ballplayer that had a quest to be the first to hit 800 career home runs.

Alex Rodriguez never played the game on an even level playing field. The circus is back in town and now that we are aware of his admission there is more reason not to grant him a chance for respect.

Comment Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com  Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso  www.newyorksportsexaminer.com

Hunts Point News: Comic Con

Hunts Point News: Comic Con: Bronxites get their Geek on at Comic Con  (Photos by Robert Press & Seitu Oronde) By Robert Press BRONX, NEW YORK, OCTOB...

Comic Con

Bronxites get their Geek on at Comic Con 

(Photos by Robert Press & Seitu Oronde)

By Robert Press

BRONX, NEW YORK, OCTOBER 16- As you can see by some of the photos there were many different attractions for the attendees.

The amount of people who attended surpassed last year, but in speaking to many people the impression was that Comic Con 2013 was a little bigger, and a little better. Since Comic Con is a mixture of comic and real action stories there will always be the many comic book sellers, as was seen at this year's event. There were celebrities in attendance, and of course the fees for autographs or photos that come with them. There seemed to be plenty of free autographs and merchandise that was also available at many of the booths. The big publishers with several spots had their artists signing free samples of various comics. Many of those in single spots were part-time artists and publishers who printed much less copies, and only had a few different items on display.

I met a Bronx based small part-time artist/publisher who said he has a full time job to support his family. His company was called Section Eight Comics which immediately drew my attention. We spoke for about a half hour as to how the name came about, and where he was located in the Bronx. I then remembered that I had seen him at Comic Con 2013, and he still had some of his work from then. I wished him well and moved on to the next booth.

I met the lovely Amanda Rivera who was poised at one booth. Amanda said that she is from the Wakefield section of the Bronx. When I told her that I was from the Bronx News she replied that she reads the paper, and can not wait to see herself in the paper. Enough said so I'll end it here so there will be room for more photos of Comic Con 2014.

Hunts Point News: Group Home is House of Horrors?

Hunts Point News: Group Home is House of Horrors?: Group Home is House of Horrors?  Staff Removed from Group Home After Claims of Abuse (Still smiling despite a recent black eye, Zora...