I saw my 1st game at Yankee stadium in 1961. It was the last game of the season. (Maris hit # 61) The following year 1962 I got to attend 4-5 games including one of the WS games against the Giants. My other favorite team. Little did I know at that time that 1962 would be the last Title for many years to come. In 1963 the Yankees dispite Mantle missing over 90 games & Maris missing over 70 games still won 104 games. Only to be swept by the Dodgers in 4. In 1964 we were invited back to the dance winning 99 games. Having full seasons of the M & M boys & a young kid name Pepitone. But we came up short losing to the Cardinals in 7. In 1965 the down slide began. Maris missed over 100 games, Howard over 50 games & Mantle over 40 games & combined they had a 241 batting average & won only 77 games. In 1966 it got even worse, Howard, Mantle & Ford were on there last legs & Maris had his 2nd straight embarrassing season as the team only one 70 games. In 1967 (72 wins) Maris traded to the Cardinals, Howard & Ford were 38 & Mantle was 35. Another painful season to watch. I'll end this trip down memory lane with 1968. I must have gone to a dozen or so games that year because as painful as it was to watch, I needed to see one last season for the great Mickey Mantle. That year he finished hitting 237. A shell of what he once was. But I'll tell ya, even when he struck out I was still in awe. He was an amazing player to watch. So....No more M & M boys, No more Ford & no more Howard. And a very long road before we'd be champions again. Could this be happening again?............God I hope not.
Pettitte and Mariano are on their way out.... Jeter isn't far from it... Tex is a shell of his former self... A-Rod (if he ever plays again) is off the juice (presumably) and won't be any good.... Cano is a lazy bum who the Yankees should have traded, and will probably have him sign elsewhere now... Ichiro, while not a Yankee legend, is still a legend, but isn't what he once was... Posada, Bernie, and O'Neill are gone... Gardner is no Bernie... Rick, I hate to say it... but I think they are on that path...
