Nothing, not even a 2-0 loss Saturday morning to the “real” Yankees, could dampen this week’s experience for me.

None of the six New York Yankees camp teams scored as much as one run against the former big leaguers in what amounted to a four-inning game at an energized and excited Steinbrenner Field. It was 75 grown-up “kids” playing against their one-time idols, and nd a good number of those kids were older than their heroes.

We came close to pushing across the only run of the day. We didn’t have to face El Duque or Jeff Nelson or Tanyon Sturtze or Tom Gordon, but still the best we could do against long-forgotten Gil Patterson was muster a bases loaded, two out situation which included clean hits through the infield by both Scott and his dad. However, Scott was left stranded at third and I was  left at first. Oh well…it’s still cool to be held close to the base by Chris Chambliss, who in uniform looks like it’s still 1976.

But what wasn’t stranded was my dream. Like the book title says, it was the most wonderful week of the year. So thanks Jason and Scott, and of course, Andi, for giving the old man a special treasure that will always be a part of me.

Text and Images by Roy Berger for PeterGreenberg.com