Unless the Yankees turn things around, this summer's All-Star Game and the surrounding festivities will be the last time the current Yankee Stadium enjoys a national stage. If Major League Baseball has its way, one of the lasting images could be David Ortiz's attempt to hit a home run where a fan said the Red Sox slugger would.
The event is inspired by Babe Ruth's alleged called shot, which may or may not have happened on Oct. 1, 1932. Either way, the Yankees are less than thrilled. They knew nothing about it until The Times contacted them for comment Thursday. On the one hand, they don't want a hitter who has destroyed their team during the past five seasons as part of a promotion at their ballpark. On the other, the promotion is for baseball, not for the Red Sox. The Yankees should have realized hosting a baseball-wide event would include things inolving a popular team like the Red Sox, especially when there is a sponsor, in this case State Farm, behind it.
According to Jack Curry's article, the Yankees have little chance of reversing the plans. "It would be surprising if Ortiz did not get to take the swing. ... While the Yankees are the hosts for the game and have been consulted on most matters, they do not make unilateral decisions." The Yankees, who have a sponsor for everything, should know better than most how much the business side of baseball drives the product on the field.
Photo of David Ortiz by AP/Mary Schwalm
