What a Great Day to be a Yankee Fan! In New York (and Alabama and Wisconsin)

By Austin Santiago

It was big day in the South Bronx as the New York Yankees officially kicked off their 2019 season, with a game against the Baltimore Orioles.

Although Yankee Stadium is the place to be for opening day, the start of a new Yankee season is being celebrated with almost equal enthusiasm all over New York City. At Grand Central station, fans on their way to today’s game were offered the unique opportunity to ride a 1917 IRT Lo-V train.

Unidentified fan. Credit: Austin Santiago

The train was retired in the 1960’s, but for opening day, Yankee fans could travel to the game riding in a piece of history.

Yankees opening day isn’t only for New Yorkers. Just ask the Hollis family, who came all the way from Alabama to see the Bronx Bombers. “It’s our first time here,” said Jason Hollis. “In New York you gotta go to Yankee Stadium.”

And the reach of the Yankees not only goes to the Midwest as well as the South. Lifelong Yankees fan Sandy Winnard, sitting in front of the stadium, told this reporter she flew in from Wisconsin to see her beloved baseball team. Though she grew up in Wisconsin, a chance meeting with Mickey Mantle in 1957 made her forever loyal to the pinstripes. “I still have a ball,” she said. “It says, ‘my best wishes Sandy- Mickey Mantle.’”

Thursday’s festivities marked Winnard’s first time at opening day, though for many New Yorkers opening day is a tradition as customary as Christmas and a birthday party.

“This is my fifth or sixth opening day,” said Joe Petry, while waiting for the vintage train to arrive.

Credit: Austin Santiago

“The only thing better is game seven of the World Series.”

Sandy Winnard, Yankees fan. Credit: Austin Santiago

While the feeling of opening day is exciting in its own right, many Yankee fans already have their eyes set on October. One of those with forward vision is Jim Biggers, who was attending his seventh Yankee Opening Day.

“The way they have played this spring, I’m expecting them to go all the way through to the end,” Biggers said.

This high expectation proved to be one thing every fan in attendance had in common, no matter where they came from.

“We are winning the pennant,” said Winnard. “I’m the good luck charm from Wisconsin.”

With a team of heavy hitters, and a passionate fan base behind them, the attitude in the South Bronx was “World Series or bust.”

Yankee baseball season is officially upon us. As Biggers put it: “It’s the start of our season, the season we love.”

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