Ricky Keeler’s In-Person Yankees’ Memory

For most Yankees’ fans, the memories of being at the cathedral in the Bronx are about sitting in the stands with your family and friends. For me, the story is a little bit different. While I have experienced many great Yankees’ moments in the past including Mariano Rivera’s 500^th save at Citi Field in 2009 and a World Series game in 1998, my memory came in the press box at the new stadium rather than in the stands.

Sep 7, 2013; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Ichiro Suzuki (31) jumps to catch a ball hit by Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz (34) at Yankee Stadium. (Photo Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports)

It was September 7^th, 2013. One of the games I had always wanted to experience was a Red Sox-Yankees matchup. There is nothing like witnessing one of the greatest rivalries not only in baseball, but in all of sports.

On this day, I had the unique honor of being a special part of the game. I was the Official Stats person for the FoX Saturday telecast of the game. For this game, I was up in the press box assisting the production team by telling them exactly when new players were coming into the game, whether it was from off the bench or warming up in the bullpen.

As an aspiring broadcaster, I had to pinch myself sitting in the Boston section of the press box with esteemed writers like Steve Buckley, Dan Shaughnessey, and Gordon Edes. I remember that day when New York Post writer Joel Sherman come over to the section to tell us that he felt the Yankees would make a comeback from what was a 12-3 deficit for the Bronx Bombers. They ended up making a charge, but still lost the game 13-9.

It was one of those predictable long games between Boston and New York, but it was a experience I will never forget.