Swisher: Ring prank proves our camaraderie
New York Yankees right fielder Nick Swisher (33) reacts after striking out looking to end the bottom of the seventh inning against the Los Angeles Angels. (April 14, 2010) Credit: Christopher Pasatieri
Nick Swisher has already begun plotting his revenge.
He doesn't know who was behind the Opening Day fake-ring prank, but the Yankees rightfielder joked Wednesday that he'd "do some undercover work" to find the culprit.
"It looked like something you got out of a 25 cent [gumball machine]," said Swisher, whose genuine World Series ring, along with Hideki Matsui's, was switched with a fake before the start of Tuesday's ring ceremony. "You know, where you put the quarter in and spin it and it pops out? And they took a piece of paper and put it over the top and somebody actually drew a picture of Yankee Stadium on it."
The charade, however, didn't last long. Mariano Rivera handed Swisher the real ring when he walked into the dugout.
Swisher said he believes the in-house practical jokes are a sign of how close these Yankees are.
"From the stories I've heard, it's a little different," he said of the team he joined last season, "and it's different for the better."
Swisher said he plans to display his ring rather than wear it. "I think that deserves that," he said. "I think there were a lot of things that went into that and not that many people get that opportunity."
