Guest Article - "YAZ"

Yesterday Yaz got a statue of himself at Fenway Park. I loved Yaz as a player. He was probably the best left-fielder I have ever seen. I think Billy Rohr would agree. I remember an opening day game some years ago with the Indians in which the leadoff hitter tried to stretch a single into a double after hitting the ball to left field. Needless to say, he got thrown out by Yaz. The announcer said "welcome to Fenway park - no one can play the wall like Yaz." Then there was 1967 - need I say more. He carried the club on his back all season and almost got there. It took until last year for someone else to win the triple crown. I think that was 45 years later. I watched Yaz run around Fenway that October day in 1983. I decided on that day that I would go to his induction ceremony in Cooperstown with my 12 year old daughter. We packed our bags and drove up there on a nice July day. There were so many great players from the past like Duke Snyder, Enos Slaughter and Sandy Koufax. It was truly a fan's dream. As I have said before, we are very blessed being a sports fan in New England. Where else could you see Yaz, Teddy Ballgame, Larry Bird, Bill Russell, Marvin Hagler, Tom Brady, Bobby Orr, Terry O'Reilly, etc. It can't get much better than that!!!!! (Author - Mike Gaffney)