Yankees bringing back a game on Old-Timers' Day, but it'll be softball, source says
The Yankees’ CC Sabathia looks on from the dugout during Old-Timers' Day at Yankee Stadium in 2024. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
For the first time since 2019, the Yankees are planning to bring back an Old-Timers’ Day game. But with a major twist.
The Yankees are planning to have their former stars play softball instead of baseball on Old-Timers’ Day, according to a source.
The Yankees have not confirmed the softball game plan or announced a lineup of attendees at their 77th annual Old-Timers’ Day, which will be held before a game against Houston on Aug. 9.
The Yankees did not hold Old-Timers’ Day in 2020 or 2021 because of COVID-19. The event was held from 2022-24, but without an Old-Timers game. The last two seasons included a Q&A, which did not seem to capture the attention of the fans like seeing the retired stars play in a just-for-fun game used to.
Former Yankees captain Derek Jeter, at last season’s Old-Timers’ Day at Yankee Stadium, denied he was the reason the game had not been revived (the implication was that Jeter wouldn’t attend at all if he were asked to play).
“They’re not going to see me hit again,” Jeter said. “No, I would be afraid I would hurt myself. But that’s not saying the reason there’s no game is because I’m not playing. I don’t make those decisions when it comes to whether there’s a game or not. So why are you asking me?”
It is not known if Jeter’s reluctance to let anyone see him play baseball again would extend to softball.
New Hall of Famer CC Sabathia said last year that he would be willing to play in an Old-Timers’ Day game and even floated the thought that it could be softball rather than baseball.
The Mets last week announced they would hold what they are calling an “Alumni Classic” baseball game featuring more than 40 former players and managers on Sept. 13 before a game against the Rangers at Citi Field. The Mets released rosters for the three-inning game, which will feature teams “comprised of Amazin’ legends from the last decade of Shea Stadium and the first decade from Citi Field.”
Anthony Rieber covers baseball, as well as the NFL, NBA and NHL. He has worked at Newsday since Aug. 31, 1998, and has been in his current position since July 5, 2004.
More Yankees headlines
