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Ex-Yanks, Sox to play at PNC Field
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BY SCOTT WALSH
STAFF WRITER
For one Saturday in August at PNC Field, it will be 1978 all over again.
Bucky Dent. Mike Torrez.
Goose Gossage. Jim Rice.
New York Yankees. Boston Red Sox.
Baseball’s longtime rivalry will turn back the clock when a team of former Yankees will face a team of ex-Red Sox in a five-inning game Aug. 16 at 1:30 p.m. at PNC Field. Gates open at noon.
Dubbed the “Legends Reunion,” the event is being co-sponsored by the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees and the Times-Tribune newspapers.
Some of the players who have committed to participating so far include Dent, Gossage, Graig Nettles and Mickey Rivers for the Yankees; Torrez, Rice, Fred Lynn and Luis Tiant for the Red Sox.
All were members of their respective teams 30 years ago when the Yankees and Red Sox met in a one-game playoff at Boston’s Fenway Park to decide the American League East Division title.
Over the years, these rivals have appeared together at baseball autograph and memorabilia shows. But Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre Yankees vice president of marketing services Jon Stephenson said it is believed this is the first time they are being brought together in this manner to play a game.
“With both teams having so many fans in this area, there are a lot of connections that make it fitting for us to have something like this,” Stephenson said. “We want to try to make it national, just like ‘The Office’ convention. They’ve started to advertise the game at Yankee Stadium.”
Stephenson said additional players will be announced as they commit to the game, although he added their availability is subject to change.
Several other activities besides the game are in the works, such as a question-and-answer session with the players.
One thing Stephenson said will not take place is a formal autograph session.
However, he said the players will be encouraged to come over to the fence by the grandstands to sign for fans.
“It will be just like trying to get an autograph at a regular baseball game,” Stephenson said.
Response to the event has been positive so far. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees season ticket holders have had first crack, and Stephenson said about 2,500 tickets have been sold.
Contact the writer: swalsh@timesshamrock.com
Bucky Dent. Mike Torrez.
Goose Gossage. Jim Rice.
New York Yankees. Boston Red Sox.
Baseball’s longtime rivalry will turn back the clock when a team of former Yankees will face a team of ex-Red Sox in a five-inning game Aug. 16 at 1:30 p.m. at PNC Field. Gates open at noon.
Dubbed the “Legends Reunion,” the event is being co-sponsored by the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees and the Times-Tribune newspapers.
Some of the players who have committed to participating so far include Dent, Gossage, Graig Nettles and Mickey Rivers for the Yankees; Torrez, Rice, Fred Lynn and Luis Tiant for the Red Sox.
All were members of their respective teams 30 years ago when the Yankees and Red Sox met in a one-game playoff at Boston’s Fenway Park to decide the American League East Division title.
Over the years, these rivals have appeared together at baseball autograph and memorabilia shows. But Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre Yankees vice president of marketing services Jon Stephenson said it is believed this is the first time they are being brought together in this manner to play a game.
“With both teams having so many fans in this area, there are a lot of connections that make it fitting for us to have something like this,” Stephenson said. “We want to try to make it national, just like ‘The Office’ convention. They’ve started to advertise the game at Yankee Stadium.”
Stephenson said additional players will be announced as they commit to the game, although he added their availability is subject to change.
Several other activities besides the game are in the works, such as a question-and-answer session with the players.
One thing Stephenson said will not take place is a formal autograph session.
However, he said the players will be encouraged to come over to the fence by the grandstands to sign for fans.
“It will be just like trying to get an autograph at a regular baseball game,” Stephenson said.
Response to the event has been positive so far. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees season ticket holders have had first crack, and Stephenson said about 2,500 tickets have been sold.
Contact the writer: swalsh@timesshamrock.com
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