Yankees Old-Timers’ Day at the Bronx delivered plenty of laughs, nostalgia, and some surprisingly competitive baseball. Ron Guidry opened the action taking the mound and getting Johnny Damon to squib one down the line for an easy out. He followed by spinning curveballs to Jason Giambi, who jokingly begged for something to hit. Paul O’Neill, playing right field despite never doing so at this version of Yankee Stadium, made a smooth basket catch to help out.
Jeff Nelson worked the mound next and faced Cecil Fielder, but it was Old-Timers’ Day legend Mickey Rivers who stole the show. He made a hobbling catch in center and then led off the inning by homering off David Cone. John Flaherty followed with a solid hit, prompting Mariano Rivera to come in. He faced O’Neill, threw the cutter, and even made a play himself. O’Neill gave him grief for not throwing a straight fastball, but Rivera shrugged, saying he’s never been able to.
Bernie Williams looked like he’d been playing more guitar than baseball, botching a throw and drawing laughs. Rivera ended up covering center field, making another play and clearly enjoying every second. Luis Sojo couldn’t resist giving Mo one more chance, and Rivera delivered again. Giambi and David “Boomer” Wells struck out, then came the moment everyone waited for—Rivera hitting. His first swing shot into the gap in right-center, and Jeff Nelson looked content to let him trot it out. Mo couldn’t stop smiling. He wrapped it up by pitching one more time, throwing the familiar cutter to Sojo and finishing the day still grinning. Even for someone with multiple World Series rings, this might have been one of Rivera’s favorite days in pinstripes.