Yankee Fans Are "Throw(ing) It Back!!"
It seems a nice tradition is developing at the new Yankee Stadium – one that, much to my chagrin as a New York baseball fan, had previously never been embraced by Big Apple baseball boosters.
Fans in the Bronx appear to have adopted the “throw it back!!” policy when it comes to visiting team home runs.
And boy have they had ample opportunity to do so! With balls flying out of the new park at a comical rate, fans have had a lot of practice at their new practice.
I really hope this is something that sticks because the stadium desperately needs some genuine baseball character.
I have to admit that I’ve only been to one Yankee game this year, but watching on TV, I’m definitely noticing that almost immediately after an opposing team homer, fans implore the dude who caught it to “throw it back!”
It seems to be working. Last night, despite the YES Network’s reluctance to show it, Yankee fans in left field threw back both Ty Wigginton’s homer in the 4th and Adam Jones’ in the 5th (I’m guessing that choosing not to show such behavior is just another stuffy Yankee policy).
The trend seemed to continue in tonight’s game. Again, YES wouldn’t show it, but based on fan reaction, I’m pretty sure the fans in right field threw back Brian Roberts jack in the 5th.
As you can probably tell, I’m all for this. Some might say that it’s stealing a tradition from the Cubs and the fans at Wrigley, but I say that the right to adopt a ‘throw it back’ policy should be afforded to fans of every team (especially when there’s a new stadium involved that’s in DESPERATE need of some atmosphere).
To that end I hope Yankee fans continue to reject visiting team home runs.
And hey, if you’ve never caught a ball at a game before and you really want to keep a visiting team homer…throw that one back. At the rate balls are leaving the Stadium, chances are pretty good a Yankee hitter will reward your good karma and drop another dinger in your lap.
Matt Estreich for The Huddle
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Comments: 3
The "throw it back" action seems to be a Chicago Cubs tradition at Wriglet Field, as you note. Can't we be creative enough in New York to copy something from another team.
It is like the Mets playing "Sweet Caroline" in the middle of the eighth inning. How Fenway Park of them.
The "roll call." Now that is a Yankee Stadium tradition. The "throw it back" is just the Yankee fans being copycats. I thought Yankee fans were more creative than this.
If the new Yankee Stadium needs this to create, "genuine baseball character," then we are doomed at the the new palace in the South Bronx.
This is New York. Keep the "throw it back" for the second city.
hey james - i agree with you...it is Chicago's tradition. But i feel that it's such a show of fan solidarity that it shouldn't be considered "stealing" if a team/stadium decides to adopt it. at least that's my hope, anyway.
to be honest, i think i just really like the idea of being able to throw something on the field of play without any legal repercussions.
I think if a tradition is a good one then use it and give credit. Thanks ChiTown, we'll take it too. "Throw backs" are Wrigley's but it's not exclusive to that ballpark or just one new stadium in NYC> I love the fan who threw back the ball at Citi Field last night on Adam Dunn's dinger. I got a kick out of it--it's fans united and I love it. On the topic of tradition, one that I don't like is the playing of "Sweet Caroline" at Citi Field. I can only think Red Sox and Fenway. How about some suggestions for a song that is more Mets and I will pass them along to the team's music man. He is my buddy....my only "in" :)