The NY Rangers Clinched The President's Trophy
In a dazzling display of skill and teamwork, the New York Rangers have clinched the prestigious Presidents’ Trophy, marking them as the team to beat this NHL season. Artemi Panarin, the Rangers’ star forward, was in the spotlight as he netted his 49th goal of the season, a milestone that contributed significantly to the Rangers’ 4-0 victory over the Ottawa Senators.
The Rangers’ triumph on Monday night was not just a testament to their offensive prowess but also highlighted their defensive strength, thanks to Igor Shesterkin’s impeccable performance between the pipes. Shesterkin, the Rangers’ goaltending maestro, recorded 26 saves to earn his fourth shutout of the season, showcasing why he’s considered one of the league’s elite netminders.
The scoring was opened by Jack Roslovic, followed by Adam Fox and Alexis Lafreniere, who each found the back of the net, adding depth to the Rangers’ scoring and demonstrating the team’s well-rounded attack. Chris Kreider, known for his speed and agility, contributed two assists, further cementing his role as a key playmaker for the team.
This victory not only secured the Rangers their league-best 55th win of the season but also set a new franchise record with 114 points. Such an outstanding achievement ensures that the Rangers will enjoy home ice advantage throughout the playoffs, a significant edge as they pursue the ultimate prize: the Stanley Cup. As the Rangers prepare for the playoffs, their performance against the Senators is a clear message to their rivals: they are a formidable force, united in their quest for glory. With a blend of seasoned veterans and emerging talents, the Rangers are poised to make a deep run in the postseason, aiming to bring the Stanley Cup back to New York.
MIRROR To Perform at UBS Arena on Saturday, April 13
MIRROR, a Hong Kong Cantopop group, was formed through ViuTV’s reality talent show Good Night Show – King Maker in 2018. The group consists of twelve members: Frankie Chan, Alton Wong, Lokman Yeung, Stanley Yau, Anson Kong, Jer Lau, Ian Chan, Anson Lo, Jeremy Lee, Edan Lui, Keung To, and Tiger Yau.
WHEN
On Sale – Saturday, February 24 at 10 a.m. via Ticketmaster
GLOBAL SENSATION JENNIFER LOPEZ THIS IS ME…NOW THE TOUR UBS ARENA - BELMONT PARK, NY FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2024 Tickets Available Starting on Tuesday, February 20 at 9 AM via Presales; General On-sale Begins on Friday, February 23 at 10 AM at LiveNation.com
UBS Arena at Belmont Park is made for music and built for hockey. New York’s newest premier entertainment and sports venue and home of the New York Islanders is developed in partnership with Oak View Group, the New York Islanders, and Jeff Wilpon. The state of the art arena opened in November 2021 and has welcomed numerous top artists including Harry Styles, Sebastian Maniscalco, Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa, TWICE, Eagles, John Mayer, Kendrick Lamar and Post Malone. The venue delivers an unmatched live entertainment experience for guests including clear sightlines and premier acoustics.
TRINIFLY PROMOTIONS PRESENTS MACHEL MONTANO'S FIRST PERFORMANCE IN NEW YORK FOR 2024 -- LIVE AT UBS ARENA ON APRIL 14
PROFESSIONAL WOMEN’S HOCKEY LEAGUE (PWHL) ANNOUNCES 2024 REGULAR-SEASON SCHEDULE INCLUDING GAMES AT UBS ARENA
12:30 p.m. ET – New York at Toronto – Mattamy Athletic Centre
7:00 p.m. ET – Montreal at Ottawa – The Arena at TD Place
7:00 p.m. ET – Minnesota at Boston – Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell
7:00 p.m. ET – Toronto at New York – Total Mortgage Arena
3:30 p.m. ET – Montreal at Minnesota – Xcel Energy Center
6:00 p.m. ET – Ottawa at Boston – Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell
7:00 p.m. ET – Montreal at New York – UBS Arena
8:00 p.m. ET – Toronto at Minnesota – Xcel Energy Center
1:00 p.m. ET – Ottawa at Toronto – Mattamy Athletic Centre
3:30 p.m. ET – Boston at Montreal – Verdun Auditorium
4:00 p.m. ET – New York at Minnesota – Xcel Energy Center
7:00 p.m. ET – New York at Montreal – Place Bell
7:00 p.m. ET – Boston at Toronto – Mattamy Athletic Centre
7:00 p.m. ET – Minnesota at Ottawa – The Arena at TD Place
12:30 p.m. ET – New York at Boston – Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell
8:00 p.m. ET – Toronto at Montreal – Verdun Auditorium
7:00 p.m. ET – Toronto at Ottawa – The Arena at TD Place
7:00 p.m. ET – Boston at Ottawa – The Arena at TD Place
8:00 p.m. ET – Montreal at Minnesota – Xcel Energy Center
7:00 p.m. ET – New York at Toronto – Mattamy Athletic Centre
3:30 p.m. ET – Ottawa at Montreal – Place Bell
4:00 p.m. ET – Minnesota at Boston – Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell
1:00 p.m. ET – Minnesota at New York – Total Mortgage Arena
6:00 p.m. ET – CANADIAN TIRE PWHL 3-ON-3 SHOWCASE™– Scotiabank Arena
12:00 p.m. ET – Minnesota at Toronto – Mattamy Athletic Centre
1:00 p.m. ET – New York at Ottawa – The Arena at TD Place
3:30 p.m. ET – Montreal at Boston – Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell
8:00 p.m. ET – Ottawa at Minnesota – Xcel Energy Center
8:00 p.m. ET – Toronto at Boston – Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell
7:00 p.m. ET – Montreal at Toronto – Mattamy Athletic Centre
2:00 p.m. ET – Minnesota at Ottawa – The Arena at TD Place
4:00 p.m. ET – New York at Boston – Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell
1:00 p.m. ET – Minnesota at Montreal – Place Bell
7:00 p.m. ET – Ottawa at Boston – Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell
7:00 p.m. ET – Montreal at New York – UBS Arena
7:00 p.m. ET – New York at Toronto – Mattamy Athletic Centre
2:30 p.m. ET – Ottawa at Montreal – Verdun Auditorium
4:00 p.m. ET – Boston at Minnesota – Xcel Energy Center
Time TBA – Toronto at Minnesota – Venue TBA
7:00 p.m. ET – New York at Ottawa – The Arena at TD Place
3:30 p.m. ET – Toronto at Ottawa – The Arena at TD Place
4:00 p.m. ET – Boston at Montreal – Verdun Auditorium
12:30 p.m. ET – Minnesota at New York – UBS Arena
8:00 p.m. ET – Ottawa at Minnesota – Xcel Energy Center
7:00 p.m. ET – Boston at Toronto – Mattamy Athletic Centre
7:00 p.m. ET – Montreal at New York – Total Mortgage Arena
7:00 p.m. ET – Montreal at Toronto – Mattamy Athletic Centre
3:30 p.m. ET – New York at Boston – Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell
4:00 p.m. ET – Ottawa at Montreal – Place Bell
8:00 p.m. ET – Boston at Minnesota – Xcel Energy Center
3:30 p.m. ET – New York at Minnesota – Xcel Energy Center
Time TBA – Ottawa at Boston – Venue TBA
Time TBA – Toronto at Montreal – Venue TBA
7:00 p.m. ET – Boston at Toronto – Mattamy Athletic Centre
7:00 p.m. ET – Ottawa at New York – Total Mortgage Arena
3:30 p.m. ET – Toronto at Ottawa – The Arena at TD Place
4:00 p.m. ET – Montreal at Minnesota – Xcel Energy Center
7:00 p.m. ET – Boston at New York – UBS Arena
7:00 p.m. ET – Toronto at Boston – Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell
7:00 p.m. ET – New York at Montreal – Verdun Auditorium
3:30 p.m. ET – Minnesota at Ottawa – Venue TBA
Time TBA – Toronto at Montreal – Verdun Auditorium
Time TBA – Boston at New York – Venue TBA
Time TBA – Boston at Ottawa – Venue TBA
7:00 p.m. ET – Minnesota at Montreal – Verdun Auditorium
7:00 p.m. ET – Toronto at New York – Total Mortgage Arena
Time TBA – Boston at Minnesota – Venue TBA
3:30 p.m. ET – Montreal at Ottawa – Venue TBA
Time TBA – Ottawa at New York – Venue TBA
7:30 p.m. ET – Minnesota at Toronto – Mattamy Athletic Centre
3:30 p.m. ET – Montreal at Boston – Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell
Time TBA – Minnesota at New York – Venue TBA
Time TBA – Ottawa at Toronto – Mattamy Athletic Centre
UBS Arena Unveils New Sustainability Agenda “Sustainable Brilliance & Community Resilience” In Honor of Second Anniversary, Venue Furthers Commitment to the Environment and the Community Sustainability Forum Will Be Hosted at Arena in 2024
- Build Community Resilience – Develop community resilience plan, such as energy storage solutions for emergency situations, with a target completion date by 2030.
- Activate Local Workforce – Fill 30% of jobs at the venue with local residents.
- Engage Visitors – Engage the community to promote a healthy and sustainable lifestyle through at least one program or campaign annually starting in 2024.
Protecting Our Planet: We prioritize our planet’s future through strategic investments in sustainable operations.
- Lead With Sustainable Brilliance – Maintain carbon neutrality of Scope 1 & 2 emissions while measuring and reducing Scope 3 emissions by 25% under 2022 baseline by 2030. Install 6MW (DC) of on-site renewable energy by the end of 2024.
- Divert All Waste From Landfill – Achieve zero waste by the end of 2023.
- Invest In Biodiversity – Participate in at least one conservation or restorative initiative on Long Island by 2025.
- Create An Impact Fund – Donate at least $100,000 to action-oriented organizations focused on career development, health & wellness, the arts & climate justice by 2025.
- Leverage Our Stage – Plan to host 15 impact-focused events and content by the end of 2025.
- Promote Impactful Partnerships – Activate at least $1 million sponsorship dollars from brands with sustainability solutions and community impact by 2024.
New York State Parks Seeks New Website Design Upgrade Will Engage, Inspire and Enhance Visitor Experience
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation today issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking a new agency website design and content management system highlighting the popular system of state parks and historic sites which drew 84.1 million visitors to its properties in 2023.
Vendors are being solicited to create the new website on the Drupal platform and provide a world-class, user-friendly resource to showcase the more than 250 parks, sites, golf courses, campgrounds, marinas, trails, and boat launches, as well as the many recreation and historic preservation programs and events the agency oversees.
Once launched, the new website will be a pre-eminent source of information and inspiration for planning travel, spending time in New York’s outdoors and discovering its cultural and historic treasures.
The RFP and details related to submission deadlines and contact information are found on the existing website’s Procurement Opportunities page (https://parks.ny.gov/
For more information on any of the state parks, historic sites, and recreation areas, visit parks.ny.gov, download the free NY State Parks Explorer app or call 518.474.0456. Join us in celebrating our Centennial throughout 2024, and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, X (
State Parks Reminds Boaters to be Cautious of Early Spring Cold Water
OPRHP Cautions Pre-Season Boaters of Water Temperatures for Those Viewing the Eclipse | |
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) reminds boaters of the dangers of cold water if venturing out this spring for recreation or to view the rare total solar eclipse on Monday, April 8. OPRHP recommends to boaters and paddlers that, even in the first few weeks of spring, the water is still very cold, and precautions should be taken. “Even though the calendar has turned to spring, we recommend you protect yourself as the temperature fluctuates during the day, night and on our waterways,” said New York State Parks Commissioner Pro Tempore Randy Simons. “Our top priority is ensuring that New Yorkers and visitors are safe. Please wear a life jacket, insulated clothing and, for the solar eclipse, make sure to protect your eyes. Our park personnel are welcoming visitors from near and far and want it to be safe and memorable.” State Parks and Historic Sites is hosting a range of events and activities to celebrate the rare total solar eclipse. All campsites that opened early along the path of totality have been filled. However, those patrons who may head to parks or onto bodies of water to experience the eclipse need to be aware as well. “With spring beginning and the excitement of the eclipse, it can be easy to forget the unforgivable nature of the cold water,” said OPRHP Director of Marine and Recreational Services Alexi Howland. “Please make a few adjustments to your planning. We look forward to celebrating with you and having a safe and enjoyable day.” OPRHP reminds park patrons to please keep in mind the following for safe boating:
Additionally, in 2024, all operators of motorized vessels born on or after January 1, 1978, need to carry a safe boating certificate while operating motorized vessels, including personal watercraft. Starting January 1, 2025, a safety certificate will be required of all operators, regardless of age. Both in-person and online options are available for earning a certificate. To learn more, visit: https://parks.ny.gov/boating/ |
New Tool for Local Trail Advocates Will Help Expand New York’s Growing Greenway Trail Network
Parks & Trails New York (PTNY) and the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) release a new handbook to guide grassroots advocates through the steps to take the vision for a new multi-use path from concept to reality.
ALBANY, NY (Jan. 16) – PTNY and OPRHP today announced the release of the Trails Across New York: A Grassroots Guide to Developing Greenway Trails. The new resource provides detailed information to support Greenway trails development in communities around the state. The steps outlined in the guide provide a high-level overview of the various aspects of trail development from initial concept to construction, as well as how participation from a broad range of individuals, agencies, organizations, and landowners will factor in throughout the process.
Greenway trails are shared-use paths that can be used by persons of all ages for healthy, fun recreation. As long linear corridors, they also provide unique transportation opportunities. Often born from old rail lines and canal towpaths, greenway trails are popular local resources and provide essential public health infrastructure for active recreation and connection to nature. Greenway trails are also valuable tourism generators, attracting thousands of new visitors to New York State each year, especially since the opening of the increasingly popular 750-mile Empire State Trail.
Already home to over two thousand miles of greenway trails, New York State has the potential to nearly double its greenway trail network, thereby expanding opportunities for outdoor recreation and active transportation to millions of New Yorkers. These trails, however, will only come to fruition with the vision and dedication of local advocates, municipal leaders, and planners who recognize the benefits of developing a trail in their community and work devotedly to make it happen.
The trail development process can be challenging even for the most experienced community organizers. The 2021 Statewide Greenway Trails Plan identified the need to provide resources for local advocates to navigate the process for future trail development opportunities. To address this gap, Trails Across New York: A Grassroots Guide to Developing Greenway Trails aims to inspire creativity and enthusiasm among various stakeholder groups about the important role that local residents and stakeholders can play in this process.
The new guide walks advocates and trail planners through the steps needed to see a greenway trail to completion. The first section outlines the necessary steps to get a project started: from identifying the corridor to cultivating a vision that will help inspire engagement and public support, eventually leading to buy-in from state and/or local government. The second section walks through the trail planning and development process, including conducting a feasibility study for a trail, securing the corridor through purchase or easements, identifying grant funding opportunities, and finally getting the project designed, permitted and built. Finally, the guide provides guidance for maximizing the ongoing visitation and value of local trails once they are built.
The full Trails Across New York: A Grassroots Guide to Developing Greenway Trails can be found at ptny.org/greenwaytrails.
“Greenway trails have the power to transform our environment, economy, and communities. We hope that this guide makes the greenway trail development process more transparent so that local advocates have a clear path to follow. Whether it’s an abandoned railroad, canal towpath, neglected waterfront or highway shoulder, we hope for more advocates to be ready to transform these corridors into beloved community assets.” said Paul Steely White, Executive Director of Parks & Trails New York.
“Greenway Trails offer New York residents and visitors the opportunity to explore our state’s incredible scenery and diverse communities. There’s great potential to expand our greenway recreational network throughout New York with the help of community advocates and grassroots partners. I’m excited to make this guide available to help navigate the development process and make more greenway trails a reality,” said State Parks Commissioner Erik Kulleseid.
New York State Parks Celebrates Native American Heritage Month with New Staff Initiatives and Special Programming
Kim Hill, New OPRHP Interpreter of Native American History, has been Integral in Identifying and Activating Opportunities for Agency’s Our Whole History Initiative
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) is pleased to announce that environmental educator and interpreter Yehehnakwáhstha? (pronounced yeh-heh-naw-gwaw-staw) Kim Hill has joined the Bureau of Historic Sites staff as Interpreter of Native American History. Hill, Tuscarora Beaver Clan, is from the Tuscarora Nation, near Niagara Falls, New York.
Since her arrival in late 2022, Ms. Hill has worked closely with staff throughout the agency to establish a framework for incorporating Indigenous stories into historic interpretation and contemporary programming by initiating educational opportunities, providing guidance on projects, and creating a network of content experts. From reviewing and writing materials for exhibitions to hosting workshops and working with Indigenous artists to create interpretive illustrations, she is helping projects of all sizes reflect Our Whole History priorities and building the groundwork for sustainable successes.
Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Commissioner Erik Kulleseid said, “As we continue to activate the agency’s Our Whole History initiative, it is essential that we develop authentic ways to incorporate Indigenous stories into the interpretive work happening at our historic sites and parks. Kim has already been a tremendous resource and we value the passion and perspective she brings to all her projects.”
“I am excited to have the opportunity to be the representation I wish I had as a child growing up on the reservation,” Native American History interpreter Kim Hill said. “I also look forward to illuminating the vast Indigenous perspectives and ways of knowing at all our historic sites and parks.”
- Hill’s passion for interpretation, parks, and increasing the visibility of Native American communities and cultures through representation and education will support OPRHP efforts to share a more complete and inclusive history with the public through the agency’s Our Whole History initiative. Her priorities will focus on creating Indigenous educational guides, developing interpretive materials, and providing guidelines around Indigenous resources, perspectives, and consultations. Hill has already made an impact system-wide, by connecting Parks staff with local Indigenous speakers and performers in their regions. Some of her current projects include facilitating the first Indigenous Cultural Awareness Workshops across the state and Johnson Hall State Historic Site’s new visitor center exhibit.
More about Kim Hill: Hill brings a decade of experience of work and thought on the intersections of park systems, education, and Indigeneity. She is a graduate in Natural Resources Management from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, where she was a Fellow in the Indigenous Environmental Leaders for the Future program. She also completed the Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program at Northern Arizona University. During her studies, she had the opportunity to study, work, and lead with Indigenous scholars and mentors. Prior to joining OPRHP, Hill traveled throughout New York as an Environmental Educator with the Student Conservation Association. She taught at state parks and Department of Environmental Conservation campgrounds and she was later headquartered at Saratoga Spa State Park. Throughout her career, Hill has continued to learn and share her culture, history, and traditions both on and off the reservation.
More about Ganondagan State Historic Site: Spanning 569 acres, Ganondagan (ga·NON·da·gan) is the original site of a 17th century Seneca town, that existed there peacefully more than 350 years ago. The culture, art, agriculture, and government of the Seneca people influenced our modern understanding of equality, democratic government, women’s rights, ecology and natural foods. Ganondagan’s full-size, Seneca Bark Longhouse is fully furnished to reflect a typical Seneca family from the late 1600’s, complete with reproductions of 17th century Seneca objects and colonial-era trade goods. The Seneca Art & Culture Center is a 17,300-square-foot center that tells the story of Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) contributions to art, culture, and society. The grounds surrounding the center include two signed interpretive trails that educate visitors about the significance of plant life, Haudenosaunee culture, and history.
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees more than 250 parks, historic sites, recreational trails, golf courses, boat launches and more, which saw a record 79.5 million visits in 2022. For more information on any of these recreation areas, visit parks.ny.gov, download the free NY State Parks Explorer mobile app or call 518.474.0456. Joins us in celebrating our Centennial throughout 2024, and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, X, and the OPRHP Blog.
State Parks Seeks Partnerships to Renew York Hall in Nissequogue River State Park
Preservation and new programing sought for historic theater building
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (State Parks) today issued a request for proposals (RFP) seeking a potential private and/or not-for-profit partner to rehabilitate, restore and operate the historic York Hall in Nissequogue River State Park as a performance space or similar park-appropriate venue.
“There is potential for a unique artistic and cultural partnership to create vital community space at Nissequogue River State Park,” State Parks Commissioner Erik Kulleseid said. “State Parks is seeking creative ideas to bring new life to York Hall.”
The RFP seeks proposals for private capital investment and preferred end uses for York Hall to include performing arts, community theater, and related programming consistent with the Suffolk County park’s setting and the park master plan. The scope of this opportunity includes a private partner’s operation and maintenance of York Hall and management of a compatible program. Proposals must demonstrate a respondent’s relevant experience, expertise, program alignment, and the financial resources necessary to fund the design, preservation, rehabilitation, and construction, and to successfully operate the venue in collaboration with State Parks.
Proposals are due by December 20, 2023 at 3:00 p.m. The RFP will be available on the New York State Contract Reporter website. Visit https://www.nyscr.ny.gov and search for X001461.
State Parks would award a lease or license to the business or organization that would provide the greatest public benefit and financial value to the park. State Parks has authority to contract for a term up to 40 years, in consideration of a private capital investment exceeding $1 million provided it is sufficient to comply with the terms of the RFP and complete and operate the improvements.
Built between 1930 and 1932, the Colonial Revival-style theatre building was conceived to function as a mixed-use facility providing theatre, auditorium, sports, and social space for the Kings Park Psychiatric Center and those it served. The building was also used by the outlying Kings Park community throughout the course of its active life.
Nissequogue River State Park is located on the north shore of Long Island on the former campus of the Kings Park Psychiatric Center. It features variety of habitats including tidal and freshwater wetlands and hardwood forests provide habitat to a variety of shore birds, reptiles, and amphibians. The Greenbelt Trail, for walking and hiking, parallels the Nissequogue River and provides scenic views of the river and the Long Island Sound from the top of the bluffs. The park also has athletic fields, a canoe and kayak launch, fishing, bird watching, and environmental education programs.
Tickets Available for St. John’s Basketball Games at UBS Arena on Tuesday The Red Storm men’s basketball team to play three games and women’s team set to play one contest at UBS Arena in 2023-24
- Web Release
- Buy Tickets – MBB vs. Hofstra
- Buy Tickets – MBB vs. DePaul
- Buy Tickets – MBB vs. Seton Hall
- Buy Tickets – WBB vs. UConn
DEC REMINDS OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS TO SHARE THE WOODS SAFELY THIS SEASON
Be Seen, Stay Safe, and Show Respect During Fall and Winter Hunting Seasons | |
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today encouraged outdoor enthusiasts to respectfully share the woods and follow safety precautions this fall and winter. Hikers, nature photographers, leaf peepers, and mountain bikers are encouraged to follow safety measures while hunters and trappers are afield. Regular big game hunting season in the Northern Zone began Oct. 21 and closes Dec. 3. Bowhunting season for deer and bear is ongoing in the Southern Zone and ends at the beginning of the regular firearms season on Nov. 18.
Tips for hikers and hunters venturing afield this fall include:
For more tips on sharing the woods this fall, check out this recent DEC video. While hunting-related shooting incidents involving non-hunters are extremely rare, DEC encourages all outdoor adventurers to be aware of the presence of others enjoying New York’s natural resources. Hikers should be aware they may meet hunters bearing firearms or archery equipment while hiking on trails. Hunters are fellow outdoor recreationists and hunting is permitted on Forest Preserve and Conservation Easement lands. Hunters should likewise recognize they may encounter hikers and others enjoying the outdoors.
Hunting is among the most popular forms of wildlife recreation in the state, drawing an estimated 600,000 New Yorkers. Hunting is safe and economically important, helping to manage wildlife populations and promote family traditions while fostering an understanding and respect for the environment.
Hunters looking for solitude can minimize the disturbance associated with other forms of recreation by following a few tips. Before a season opens, when hunters are scouting for the perfect spot or stand location, take the time to check if the planned location is a popular one. Avoid crowding other hunters and recognize that if a hunting location is near a popular hiking spot, noise can be a factor. If a preferred hunting spot is too crowded, identify an alternative location ahead of time. When adventuring with a pet, make sure to keep them on a leash. Loose pets can cause problems with other recreators and can get into trouble with wild animals. Also, to make pets more identifiable in the woods, give them a brightly colored collar, leash or other covering. DEC maintains hiking trails and permits hunting in many areas of forest preserve lands in the Adirondack and Catskill Parks, as well as in state forests, wildlife management areas, and unique areas. Find a place by visiting our website, checking out DECinfo Locator, or downloading the HuntFishNY Wildlife App. Many trails are also accessible to people with disabilities. Chronic Wasting Disease Hunters are critical to protecting New York deer and moose from Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). CWD is an untreatable, fatal disease of the brain and nervous system disease caused by a misfolded protein called a prion that is spread in deer tissues, saliva, urine, and feces. Hunters can bring CWD prions into to New York without realizing it. To protect deer, do not bring hunter-killed deer, elk, moose, or caribou carcasses into New York from other states and do not use deer urine-based lures. DEC reminds hunters of the importance of reporting their harvest. Harvest reporting is critical to wildlife management, and hunters are required to report their harvest of deer, bear, and turkey within seven days of taking the animal. Hunters may still use the phone report system, but the online and mobile systems are fast, convenient, and easy for hunters to accurately enter information. For more information on harvest reporting: https://www.dec.ny.gov/ For more information on CWD: https://www.dec.ny.gov/ |
2023 New York City FC Mastercard City Assist Winner
New York City FC Fans,
Meet Black People Will Swim, a mission-based organization created to encourage and empower Black and Brown people to conquer their fears and learn how to swim. Established in 2019, this Queens-based organization uses the acronym F.A.C.E. encouraging their community to face their fears by making swimming Fun, building Awareness, creating Community all through Education.
As a result of their hard work, they have taught over 500 students to date and have no plans of slowing down. Many may wonder why name an organization after a race? Not only is drowning the leading cause of death for children under the age of 4, Black children are 7.6 times more likely to drown than White children according to the CDC. With their program, they aim to bring that number down to zero and eliminate drownings in the community by making swimming affordable, accessible, and inclusive.
In their program, they serve the ages of 2 to 85, where people of all ages take advantage of learning this life skill. What makes BPWS swim program unique is that they truly prioritize the student experience and understanding the pain points one may encounter that prevents them from learning this life skill. From offering low-cost classes to providing swim caps that will fit those who have long, luscious locs, braids, and curls—BPWS is all about educating and empowering the community to learn this life skill.
Thanks to the Mastercard x New York City FC partnership, with the $20,000 Black People Will Swim was able to cover pool costs, hire and certify water safety instructors, and offer swim lessons year-round. This grant increased enrollment by 100 students.
In the near future, Black People Will Swim hopes to open its own location offering swim lessons 7 days a week and making swimming readily accessible for all. To learn more about the impactful work they’re doing in the community, head over to BlackPeopleWillSwim.com and sign up for their newsletter by Making the Promise here.
1 week left ️to purchase tickets to Women’s Empowerment Night on March 16!
Happy No Fee Friday! Purchase any single game tickets today, including NYC vs. MIA, with no additional fees. Act now, offer valid April 12-19.
Stadium Update: “The Cube,” Coming 2027
New York City FC is excited to share new renderings and a short fly-through video of the main entrance for our proposed stadium project in Queens! We believe our stadium’s entrance, “The Cube,” will be the most dynamic entrance of any MLS stadium. Click here to see the new renderings and video! As the main entrance to our stadium and the first thing you’ll see as you arrive at the stadium from the south, The Cube will be integral to the matchday experience. We’re confident that it will give our fans a real sense of pride and its uniqueness will naturally draw people in. The Cube also serves as a symbol, representing two things. First, the cube represents stability and permanence; this is our home and we’re here to stay. Second, its equal dimensions will represent equality and fair play – two values that are at the heart of our club. Standing at over 7 stories high, The Cube will be an immersive experience, lined with 11,000+ square feet of LEDs. It will be an everlasting, experiential installation capable of projecting incredible video, photography, and graphic elements. To secure your spot in New York City FC’s new proposed stadium, sign up for a membership today! |
arlier today, New York City FC’s stadium project reached a significant milestone: the New York City Council voted to approve the construction of the next phase of the Willets Point development project, including our stadium! Following today’s vote, the only step left to complete the ULURP process is for Mayor Adams to review and sign off on the project, which is expected in the coming days.
This is a long-awaited moment in our club’s history. New York City FC’s new stadium will be the first-ever soccer-specific stadium in New York City, opening in 2027 in Willets Point, Queens. Click here to sign up to get the latest news about New York City’s new stadium and to find out how to become a member and gain priority to reserve your seat in the future!
New York City FC
Join us on March 16 for Women’s Empowerment Night!
New York City FC has teamed up with Women in Soccer, a free network supporting ALL women and underrepresented individuals connected to the soccer industry to bring you a special evening at Yankee Stadium.
For just $30, you can get a ticket to the match, as well as access to a pre-match panel discussion and networking event hosted by Women in Soccer. The three panels available to attend include the following:
- Club and League Leadership
- Community Impact
- Media in Soccer
TRAVEL ADVISORY – New York City FC vs. Atlanta United, April 6th
New York City FC is back in Queens this weekend!
Supporters are advised that there are planned service changes on the 7 train this Saturday when New York City FC faces Atlanta United at Citi Field.
Please see below for more details and options on how to reach the game by public transport.
Planned Service Changes
- No 7 between 74 St-Broadway, Queens and Times Sq-42 St, Manhattan
- Between Flushing-Main St and 74 St-Broadway, every 8 minutes (days/evenings)
- Between Times Sq-42 St and 34 St-Hudson Yards, every 10 minutes (days/evenings) and every 15 minutes overnight
Free shuttle buses run along two routes:
- Q107 Between 74 St-Broadway and Queens Plaza, making 7 local stops
- Q93 between Queens Plaza and Vernon Blvd-Jackson Av
- S 42 Street Shuttle will run overnight.
LIRR will accommodate subway riders traveling between Queens and Manhattan for no additional cost at Flushing, Mets-Willets Point, Woodside, Grand Central Madison, and Penn Station. Check LIRR service and schedules.
Travel Alternatives:
- For travel between Queens and Manhattan, take the E, F or R.
- For 69 St, 61 St, 52 St, 46 St, 40 St and 33 St, take free Q107 shuttle buses.
- For Queensboro Plaza, use nearby Queens Plaza E, R and Q93 or Q107 shuttle buses.
- For Court Sq, take the E.
- For Hunters Point Av and Vernon Blvd-Jackson Av, take the Q93 shuttle bus.
- For Grand Central-42 St, take the 4, 5, 6 or S.
- For 5 Av (42 St-Bryant Pk), take the F.
- For Times Sq-42 St/Port Authority, take the E, R or S.
Queens transfer stations:
- 74 St/Roosevelt Av | E, F, R Q107 and 7 to/from Flushing
- Queens Plaza | E, R Q93 and Q107 shuttle buses
- Court Sq ( Manhattan-bound only) | E and Q93
Manhattan transfer stations:
- Lexington Av/59 St 4, 5, 6, R
- 42 St-Port Authority/Times Sq/Bryant Park E, F, R, S and 7 to/from 34 St-Hudson Yards
- 34 St-Herald Sq | F, R
- Note: No N between 39 Av-Dutch Kills and 57 St-7 Av during this time.
Tickets are available here for the match which kicks off at 7:30PM ET.
New York City FC Announces Gianni Lee as the Club’s Art & Culture Consultant
NEW YORK, Jan. 26, 2024 — New York City FC today announced a partnership with fine artist and multidisciplinary creative Gianni Lee. Lee will be the Club’s Art & Culture Consultant for the 2024 MLS season.
The New York City-based artist is known for his work in fine art, fashion, and music. Renowned for his innovative approach, Lee has made a significant impact in the art world as a pioneer of futurism. Utilizing both his New York studio and the urban landscapes of Brooklyn and Manhattan, Lee addresses contemporary issues in technology, politics, society, and race through his art. His unconventional canvases range from walls to discarded furniture and street objects.
“Our aim is to elevate New York City FC beyond the pitch and be a representation of our fans and the cultural melting pot that is New York City,” said Lauren Scrima, Vice President of Marketing at New York City FC. “The best way to do so is by bringing to life the many layers of the city’s identity, and Gianni Lee is the ideal partner for this vision in the coming season. We’re thrilled to welcome him as our Art & Culture Consultant.”
The partnership between the Club and Lee’s unique work will be evident in key moments during the upcoming season. This includes art direction for New York City FC’s 2024 kit launch event and this year’s Community Cup jersey design. He will also lead the direction of merchandising design and visual identity for our City Celebration Series matches, which include Women’s Empowerment, Black Excellence, Healthy Lives, Pride, Kids Night and Noche Latina matches.
“I really think it’s amazing that NYCFC wants to incorporate music, fashion and art culture into their identity,” Lee said. “I believe all three pillars are important to the game of football and have always had some influence since the beginning.”
Lee’s style has drawn comparisons to Basquiat in an i-D Magazine interview. His collaborations include projects with Levi’s, Gucci and Fendi, and he has been featured in WWD, Interview Magazine, and campaigns for Kenneth Cole and Hennessy. He also creatively directed Major League Soccer’s Juneteenth Initiative, “The Seeds We Plant, The Flowers We Share.”
New York City FC Release 2024 Schedule
New York City FC fans,
The club is thrilled to announce the team’s full MLS slate for the 2024 season.
Mark your calendars and clear your schedules for some key dates below:
Feb. 24 (A) – Season kick-off at Charlotte FC
Mar. 9 (H) – Home opener vs. Portland Timbers
May 18 (H) – Hudson River Derby at Citi Field
Sept. 21 (H) – Messi comes to Yankee Stadium
It’s your last chance – secure your ticket to see Messi in NYC now.
Each Pack includes 1 seat to each of the following matches;
- Inter Miami – Sept. 21
- NYRB (Hudson River Derby) – May 18
- Philadelphia Union – Sept. 18
- Portland Timbers (Home Opener) – Mar. 9
- Leagues Cup – TBA
Don’t miss out on NYCFC vs. Inter Miami, and four other HUGE games.
Get your Marquee Match Pack today!
| New York City Football Club fans, the first look at your new planned STADIUM is finally here. Yesterday, NYCFC presented early renderings of the proposed Willets Point project. Inclusive of that project is what one day will be the best soccer-specific stadium in North America. This public-private partnership with the City of New York will not only include New York City’s first-ever soccer-specific stadium, but it will also feature:
Click here to become a member and secure your spot in NYCFC’s new planned stadium! |
MIDDLE SCHOOL PLAYER TALKS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF LEADERSHIP
Queens, NY – Big Apple Basketball President and Coach, Jason Curry, spoke with middle school basketball players during a recent practice session.
While the players were scrimmaging, Curry asked them about the key attributes that coaches might look for in players when their team is short-handed or lacking talent versus a superior team.
Sixth-grader Ampersand proceeded to share his thoughts, which included the importance of leadership
CLASSIC HIGH SCHOOL FOOTAGE OF LANCE STEPHENSON PLAYING IN BAB INVITATIONAL, ALONG W/ OTHER STARS
FORMER BAB PLAYER SHOT & KILLED AFTER CELEBRATING BIRTHDAY IN MARYLAND
NEW YORK DEPARTMENT OF STATE ANNOUNCES AVAILABILITY OF OVER $26 MILLION IN GRANT FUNDING TO FURTHER NEW YORK’S COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION, ENVIROMENTAL STEWARDSHIP & GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY EFFORTS
Smart Growth, Waterfront Revitalization, Brownfield Redevelopment & Resiliency Planning Funds Available to Spark Community Growth and Development
Local Government Efficiency Funds Available to Develop and Implement New Opportunities for Financial Savings and Operational Efficiencies
The New York Department of State today announced over $26 million in available funding through five programs – Smart Growth Community Planning and Zoning, Countywide Resiliency Planning, Brownfield Opportunity Area, Local Waterfront Revitalization and Local Government Efficiency. Applications for this funding are being solicited through the State’s Consolidated Funding Application, the single application for State resources which is designed to give project applicants expedited and streamlined access to a combined pool of grant funds and tax credits from dozens of existing programs.
“New York State offers an unparalleled suite of programs that have proven to be key to our state’s economic and social resurgence after the pandemic,” Secretary of State Robert J. Rodriguez said. “These five programs administered by the Department of State will provide critical funding to municipalities and local governments so they can continue to grow and improve, putting us on a path to a safer, greener and more business-friendly New York.”
Smart Growth Planning and Zoning Grant Program ($2 Million)
The Smart Growth Planning and Zoning Grant Program is offering $2 million for communities to develop comprehensive municipal-wide plans and zoning ordinances, as well as targeted area plans and zoning, such as downtowns, central business districts and transit-orient development districts. Communities must commit to incorporating the principles of Smart Growth into their planning and zoning. Smart Growth principles include walkable, bikeable, transit-friendly streetscapes; compact, mixed-use community design; vibrant downtowns and other municipal centers; a diversity of housing options for all incomes, ages and abilities; safe, accessible public spaces; ample parks and outdoor recreational opportunities; green buildings; and sustainable and equitable infrastructure, among others. Over the past two years of the program, DOS has awarded over $3.9 million to 58 communities in the State. More information about this funding opportunity is available here.
Smart Growth Countywide Resiliency Planning Program ($2 million)
This program provides funding to counties to develop countywide plans that address climate change resiliency, risks and vulnerabilities and identify strategies for planning and implementing projects in a socially, environmentally, fiscally and economically sustainable way. This is the second round of the program; in round one, the DOS funded resiliency plans in five Upstate counties – Albany, Genesee, Orange, Sullivan and Tompkins. More information about this funding opportunity is available here.
Brownfield Opportunity Area Program ($2 million)
The Brownfield Opportunity Area (BOA) program transforms brownfield sites—i.e., areas with real or perceived contamination—from liabilities to community assets, which in turn generate and support new businesses, jobs, housing and public amenities. The program provides grants for BOA plans which, once completed, are submitted to the New York State Secretary of State for approval or “designation.” Such designated BOA plans then entitle projects that are consistent with the plan to priority funding among certain state programs and an additional 5 percent brownfield developer tax credit. The BOA program also provides grants for phase II environmental site assessments and pre-development activities in State-designated BOAs, such as environmental, housing and economic studies, infrastructure analyses, marketing strategies, public engagement and zoning and regulatory updates, among others. There are currently 69 designated BOAs in New York State. More information about this funding opportunity is available here.
Local Waterfront Revitalization Program ($16.3 million)
The Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP) provides grants to communities to develop a community-driven plan with a vision for their waterfront, guided by several environmental policies that ensure that projects work in harmony with waterfront natural resources and ecosystems. Once an LWRP is approved by the Secretary of State and adopted by a local community, or is substantially complete, the community can apply for implementation funds for projects that support the plan. There are currently 93 fully approved LWRPs, representing 113 municipalities in New York State. More information about this funding opportunity is available here.
These four programs are administered by the DOS Office of Planning, Development and Community Infrastructure and funded through the State’s Environmental Protection Fund (EPF), which Governor Hochul increased from $300 million to $400 million in 2022. In conjunction with the DOS Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) and NY Forward (NYF), these programs form the cornerstone of the State’s economic and community revitalization efforts aimed at fostering innovative, sustainable and equitable growth and development throughout the State. Many DRI and NYF communities have a history of community engaged planning as past BOA and LWRP award recipients.
Local Government Efficiency Grant Program ($4 million)
The Local Government Efficiency (LGE) Grant program is intended to incentivize new actions between local governments that will reduce the cost of municipal operations and modernize the delivery of local services, thereby limiting growth in property taxes. Applicants must illustrate significant commitment to project completion and clearly demonstrate, through financial estimates and performance measures, the long-term benefit to New York taxpayers. Approximately $4 million is being made available for awards. Of that amount, approximately $3.6 million will be awarded for implementation projects, and approximately $400,000 will be awarded for planning projects. More information about this funding opportunity is available here.
The Local Government Efficiency Grant program is administered by the Division of Local Government Services within the Department of State. The Division provides technical assistance and competitive grants to local governments.
About the Consolidated Funding Application
The Consolidated Funding Application was created to streamline and expedite the grant application process. The CFA process marks a fundamental shift in the way State resources are allocated, ensuring less bureaucracy and greater efficiency to fulfill local economic development needs. The CFA serves as the single-entry point for access to economic development funding, ensuring applicants no longer have to slowly navigate multiple agencies and sources without any mechanism for coordination. Now, economic development projects use the CFA as a support mechanism to access multiple State funding sources through one application, making the process quicker, easier, and more productive. Learn more about the CFA here.
From Mookie's torrid start to an unlikely no-no, wild stats this week
By Sarah Langs
Here’s our weekly look at 10 mind-blowing notes from the last week in baseball (March 29-April 4).
Leadoff Mookie: Mookie Betts’ leadoff homer on Friday was the 49th of his career. That’s the fifth-most in MLB history, behind only Rickey Henderson (81), George Springer (57), Alfonso Soriano (54) and Craig Biggio (53). Betts now has 29 leadoff homers with the Dodgers, breaking a tie at 28 with Davey Lopes for the most in franchise history.
Hey Shota, what do you say: After quoting the Cubs’ iconic song in his introductory news conference, Shota Imanaga further endeared himself to fans with a stellar debut Monday. His 5 2/3-inning bid tied for the longest no-hit bid by a Cubs pitcher in his MLB debut in at least the live-ball era (1920), joining 5/16/96 Amaury Telemaco, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. He induced 20 swings and misses, tied for the third most by a pitcher in his MLB debut in the pitch-tracking era (2008), per research by MLB’s Jason Bernard.
Shota Imanaga on his stellar debut with the Cubs
Apr 1, 2024 · 1:35
Shota Imanaga on his stellar debut with the Cubs
Doing Mike Trout things: Mike Trout hit two homers on Monday, the second of which went 473 feet – the longest in MLB so far this season. It was his seventh home run of at least 470 feet under Statcast (2015). If that sounds like a lot, it’s because it is. Only Giancarlo Stanton has more such homers in that span, with 10, and nobody else has more than four.
Ronel blanked ‘em: Ronel Blanco threw the first no-hitter of 2024 on Monday, marking the 17th no-no in Astros history. That’s four more than any other team since Houston entered the league in 1962. The Astros have thrown seven no-hitters since they were last no-hit in Matt Cain’s 2012 perfect game. That’s the longest team streak of no-hitters, including playoffs, without being no-hit, per Elias. They broke a tie at six with … themselves, with six thrown between being no-hit by Jim Maloney on 4/30/69 and Carlos Zambrano on 9/14/08.
Full 9th inning of Ronel Blanco’s no-hitter
Apr 1, 2024 · 7:37
Full 9th inning of Ronel Blanco’s no-hitter
Bryce thrice: Bryce Harper notched the first three-homer game of the 2024 season on Tuesday, the second such performance of his career. It was the 25th three-plus-homer game in Phillies franchise history. It’s just the third of those to include a grand slam, joining Jayson Werth (5/16/2008) and Dick Allen (9/29/1968).
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Bryce Harper’s second career three-homer game
Apr 2, 2024 · 1:18
Bryce Harper’s second career three-homer game
Action Jackson: It’s been an exciting start to his MLB career for baseball’s No. 2 overall prospect, the Brewers’ Jackson Chourio. At 20 years and 18 days old on Friday, Chourio became the youngest player in MLB history with at least one stolen base and RBI in his debut (since RBIs became official in 1920). Then he hit his first homer on Wednesday. At 20 years and 23 days old, Chourio was the youngest MLB player with a home run since Juan Soto in 2018 and the youngest Brewers player with a home run since Gary Sheffield in 1988.
Jackson Chourio’s red-hot start to his MLB career
Apr 4, 2024 · 4:04
Jackson Chourio’s red-hot start to his MLB career
Nolan keeps rollin’: After being drafted 11th overall in 2023, the Angels’ Nolan Schanuel made his big league debut on Aug. 18 last season. All he’s done since? Reached base in all 35 games of his career, entering the weekend. That’s the third-most consecutive games reaching base safely to start a career since 1900, according to Elias. He trails only 1984 Alvin Davis (47 games) and 1918 Truck Hannah (38).
Yordan power: Yordan Alvarez crushed the ball on Wednesday for the Astros, with five batted balls at 105+ mph, tied for the most by a player in a game under Statcast, with Nolan Arenado (5/12/23), Aaron Judge (9/18/22), Juan Soto (7/16/21) and Nelson Cruz (6/29/19). Two of those were homers, marking his 16th career multi-homer effort in his 489th game. That’s tied for the second-most multi-home run games in a player’s first 500 career games with Todd Helton and Bob Horner, behind only Ralph Kiner’s 17.
Yordan Alvarez’s big offensive game
Apr 3, 2024 · 1:36
Yordan Alvarez’s big offensive game
Five times nine: The Dodgers have scored at least five runs in each of their first nine games of the season for the first time since joining the NL in 1890. It’s the sixth-longest such streak to open a season since 1900, behind only the 1932 Yankees (first 13 games), 2002 Cleveland (10), 1999 Cleveland (10), 1936 Reds (10) and 1903 Pirates (10).
And still unswept: Teams enter each series trying to win it, but even just avoiding being swept is worth noting. To that end, the Orioles have now gone 93 straight series without being swept, entering the weekend. That’s the third-most consecutive series of multiple games without being swept, per Elias. They trail only the 1942-44 Cardinals (125) and 1903-05 Giants (106).
The 5 best things in baseball right now
By Will Leitch
There’s always something fascinating going on in the world of baseball — and there’s always something new. Every Friday morning throughout the season, heading into the weekend, inspired by Zach Lowe’s terrific “10 Things I Like” NBA column for ESPN, we present the Five Fascinations, five fun things going on in the baseball world. Submit your personal fascinations to will.leitch@mlb.com.
1. Is this the year Juan Soto wins an MVP Award?
Because Soto is still somehow only 25 years old, there is a sense that he is just getting started, that he somehow just got here. But you know, this is Soto’s seventh year in the big leagues — he made his debut the same year as Corbin Burnes, John Means, Kyle Tucker, and yes, Shohei Ohtani — which is already a pretty substantial big league career. Soto’s career is only five years shorter so far than, say, Kirby Puckett’s entire career — and Puckett is in the Hall of Fame. That leads one to ask: Considering how great Soto has been already, since Day 1 isn’t it about time for him to win an MVP Award?
Wild stats from the first week of the season
The other two transcendent stars to debut in 2018 — Ohtani and Ronald Acuña Jr. — already have three MVP Awards between them, but Soto’s best finish is NL MVP runner-up in 2021, and he finished a distant sixth in NL MVP voting with the Padres last year. Soto is the sort of transcendent player whose career will be judged not by whether or not he wins an MVP, but how many.
Juan Soto collects three hits in Yankees win
Mar 31, 2024 · 1:08
Juan Soto collects three hits in Yankees win
And it’s all lining up for him this year. He has four clear advantages:
A) Soto plays for one of the most famous sports teams in the world. The Yankees tend to show up on your TV a lot, though, to be fair, only two Yankees have won an MVP in the last 40 years: Aaron Judge and Alex Rodriguez (twice).
B) Soto will be seen as the savior if the Yankees recover from last season. New York has more on the line than nearly any other team in the sport, and if the club can make the playoffs — or even better, win the AL East — he’ll be seen as the primary difference maker. You’re already seeing this with the Yankees’ hot start: The highlights feature Soto doing something every night.
Juan Soto hits a go-ahead home run (1)
Mar 30, 2024 · 0:29
Juan Soto hits a go-ahead home run (1)
C) His counting numbers should explode at Yankee Stadium. Soto hit a career-high 35 homers in San Diego last year, but he should be able to best that with relative ease at left-handed-hitting-friendly Yankee Stadium. If he puts 40 or more on the board, no one will be able to claim he just takes walks anymore. (Though, he of course does that, too.)
D) Betts, Acuña and Ohtani all play in the National League. That certainly helps, particularly with Betts’ face-melting start. The primary competition for Soto may well be his own teammate in Judge.
In a few weeks, we’ll do our first MLB.com poll for our favorites to win the MVP Award. Soto will almost certainly be the early leader in the American League. It’s all setting up for him to hold that spot all year. For what it’s worth: Ted Williams didn’t win his first MVP Award until he was 27. (Though that World War II business had a little bit to do with that.)
2. Phillies fans are just getting warmed up
Of all the October memories this sport has given us over the past few years, the first thing I think of when I close my eyes is how absolutely bonkers Phillies fans have been at Citizens Bank Park. It has been a little different than perhaps what we’ve come to expect from Philadelphia fans: I wouldn’t say they’ve been friendly, exactly, but they’ve been more intensely supportive of their team rather than intensely terrifying for opposing fanbases. They just love this team.
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How loud is Citizens Bank Park?
Oct 18, 2023 · 0:20
How loud is Citizens Bank Park?
The genesis of this was actually during the pandemic, when Phillies fans — with their team playing (like everybody else) in empty ballparks — gathered outside the gates of Citizens Bank Park to make a ton of noise. “The Phandemic Krew,” as they were called, drove other teams nuts; Yankees manager Aaron Boone actually complained about them that year, becoming the first manager in baseball history to criticize fans after a game played in an empty stadium. They laid the groundwork for last year’s postseason (in which manager Rob Thomson labeled the crowd “Four Hours of Hell”), and that has continued into this year, with Citizens Bank deafening on a nightly basis.
How deafening? Well, they’re making so much noise that they’re actually missing good news. Last Sunday, after a replay review, umpire Mark Wegner made a two-part announcement in which he said, first, that baserunner Bryson Stott was indeed out at second base. The crowd reacted so loudly that everyone in the park missed the second part — the call at first was overturned and Johan Rojas was actually safe — and both teams went into the dugout. assuming it was an inning-ending double play. Wegner had to repeat himself, with less booing this time, to get the Phillies and Braves back on the field.
Phillies challenge out call at first base
Mar 31, 2024 · 1:36
Phillies challenge out call at first base
Now, that’s a hot crowd: One that is so loud that no one can even hear the loudspeakers. And it’s worth noting that the Citizens Bank Park crowd did this in March. Imagine what that place is going to be like in October (again).
3. Mike Trout would like you to know that he is just fine, thank you
I made my first trip to the ballpark on Monday night, when I headed to loanDepot park in Miami to watch the Angels play the winless Marlins. Miami leapt out to a 4-0 first-inning lead, and I found myself feeling terrible for Trout. Here he was, a future Hall of Famer and still one of the best players I’ve ever seen, patrolling center field for a depleted Angels team that just waved goodbye to one of the only players (Ohtani) really able to rival Trout over the past half-decade.
Mike Trout hits two homers vs. Marlins
Apr 1, 2024 · 0:58
Mike Trout hits two homers vs. Marlins
Trout spent the spring struggling, and even looking somewhat slow and bulky, then his team got drilled by the Orioles in the first two games of the year. And now, he was spending his Monday night in a mostly empty ballpark down 4-0 to a team that had just been swept in four games at home by the Pirates.
Is this how it was supposed to end up for Trout? Doesn’t a legend of his stature deserve better?
These thoughts vanished from my brain rather quickly when Trout actually came to the plate. In the fourth inning, he launched his second homer of the season to cut the Marlins’ lead to 4-2 — a vintage Trout moonshot that reminded you that, oh yeah, I’m watching one of the best baseball players of all time. But it really got exciting when Trout came up in the sixth inning and tied the game with one of the longest home run I’ve seen in person since Mark McGwire put a band-aid on the old Busch Stadium with his supposed 545-foot home run.
Mike Trout drills a 473-foot home run
Apr 1, 2024 · 0:40
Mike Trout drills a 473-foot home run
The Angels went on to win the game — and ended up sweeping the Marlins. They’re now in first place, having won four in a row, and Trout has a 1.015 OPS, just like he always seems to have. It was a reminder that if you get a chance to see Trout in person, no matter how his team is doing, you really must do so. We won’t see the likes of him again.
4. Pirates fans welcome home their team
As loud as those Phillies fans have been the past couple of years, I still don’t think I’ve ever heard a noise quite as loud — at any stadium — in the past decade-plus than when the Pirates hosted the 2013 NL Wild Card Game against the Reds. One of baseball’s best fanbases, famished for any sort of success, brought a hockey-style mentality to PNC Park for the club’s first postseason game in more than 20 years. The fans got so loud and rowdy that they literally made a shell-shocked Johnny Cueto drop the ball on the mound.
Cueto drops the ball
Oct 1, 2013 · 0:32
Cueto drops the ball
Yeah, that would rattle me too: That’s downright terrifying.
It won’t be that loud for the Pirates’ home opener Friday afternoon against the Orioles, but there’s plenty of reason for Bucco boosters to be excited so far. The Pirates are 5-1 after a sweep of the Marlins and taking two out of three from the Nationals. Those aren’t exactly juggernauts, but 5-1 is 5-1. You don’t have to squint hard to see the building blocks for the Pirates: Oneil Cruz at last looks healthy, Bryan Reynolds and Ke’Bryan Hayes are regulars that would be the envy of any team and that Michael A. Taylor addition looks particularly smart.
When you consider all the young players on the cusp here, you can see why analysts like The Athletic’s Eno Sarris (who picked them to make the playoffs this year) are so high on them. That strikes me as a year early for the Pirates, but no matter what, this looks like a fun, exciting young team that may once again have that building rocking in one of these upcoming Octobers. And in one of the more charming local traditions, the first pitch for their home opener comes at 4:12 in honor of Pittsburgh’s 412 area code.
Hold on tight to the ball, opposing pitchers.
5. Mookie Betts at WAR
Betts’ incredibly hot start has been breathtaking to behold, an all-time talent at his absolute best from the very beginning of the season. (At a new position, no less.) Now, obviously, the notion of putting together any player’s WAR total a week into the season is a little absurd — it’s kind of absurd to do it even halfway through the season, all told — but Betts has been so incredible that I decided to have a little fun with Fangraphs’ WAR.
A look at MLB.com’s current Hitter Power Rankings
Apr 4, 2024 · 0:33
A look at MLB.com’s current Hitter Power Rankings
A mere nine games into the season, Betts has notched a whopping 1.4 fWAR, which is obviously the best figure in baseball. Second place is Bobby Witt Jr. at a distant 0.7.
How high of a figure is Betts’ mark after only nine games?
Well, here is an incomplete list of players who accounted for 1.4 fWAR all of last season: Kyle Schwarber, Ryan O’Hearn, Christopher Morel, Nick Martinez and Spencer Torkelson. Betts has put up his 1.4 WAR in just 42 plate appearances; Schwarber put up his 1.4 WAR last season in 720 plate appearances. (Schwarber finished 19th in NL MVP voting last year, by the way.)
Fun Series of the Weekend: Astros-Rangers
The Astros might have been still licking their wounds from that opening series sweep at the hands of the Yankees, but there’s nothing quite like a completely out-of-nowhere no-hitter from a guy making his eighth career start to put such unpleasantness comfortably in the rearview mirror. Now, Houston gets to concentrate on catching up with the intrastate rival Rangers, who are already 2 1/2 games up just a week into the season — all while staring upward, mouths collectively agape, at those shiny new World Series championship pennants. Sunday is a particularly big day for the Astros: At night, Ronel Blanco will be on national TV trying to get his Johnny Vander Meer on, and five hours before that, Justin Verlander will be making his first rehab start for the Sugar Land Space Cowboys, Houston’s Triple-A affiliate, on Sunday (watch free here). Verlander has always had a little bit of Space Cowboy vibe, all told.
The 1st Hitter Power Rankings of 2024
MLB.com
The Hitter Power Rankings are back for 2024.
Last week, we debuted our Starting Pitcher Power Rankings by ranking the top 10 Opening Day starters. Now it’s time for the hitters.
We tasked a panel of MLB.com experts to rank the top 10 hitters in baseball, based on a combination of track record, talent, performance to start the season … and maybe a little “It” factor.
Thirty-five different hitters received votes in our first edition of these rankings, but the voters agreed on one thing: A certain Dodgers superstar is No. 1.
But which one? And who else made the list? Here are the first Hitter Power Rankings of 2024. (All stats are through Tuesday unless otherwise noted.)
1. Mookie Betts, Dodgers
Betts was the unanimous No. 1 choice. And it’s not hard to see why. The Dodgers star not only plays at an MVP level year in and year out, he’s the hottest hitter in baseball at the start of the season. Betts is leading the Majors with five home runs, 15 hits, 11 RBIs, 14 runs scored and a 1.167 slugging percentage, and he’s leading the National League with a .500 batting average and .605 on-base percentage.
2. Juan Soto, Yankees
If anyone is almost as hot as Betts, it’s Soto, who’s off to a flying start to his Yankees tenure. Soto led New York to a season-opening sweep of the Astros in Houston — throwing out the tying run at the plate in the ninth inning on Opening Day, hitting his first Yankees home run on Saturday and ripping a go-ahead hit off Josh Hader in the ninth inning on Sunday. He was named the first AL Player of the Week of the 2024 season.
3. Bobby Witt Jr., Royals
The Royals’ electric power-speed star is coming off a 30-homer, 49-steal season and looking for more in 2024. Witt has his first two home runs and first stolen base of the season, and the 23-year-old shortstop is also batting .400 with an AL-leading .950 slugging percentage and a 1.428 OPS.
Bobby Witt Jr. crushes his first home run of 2024
Mar 31, 2024 · 0:26
Bobby Witt Jr. crushes his first home run of 2024
4. Freddie Freeman, Dodgers
The next member of the Dodgers’ Big Three also makes the Top 5 of our power rankings. Freeman’s production is like clockwork. He hit .325 with 21 homers, 100 RBIs and a .918 OPS in his first year with the Dodgers in 2022. He hit .331 with 29 homers, 102 RBIs and a .976 OPS in his second year with the Dodgers in 2023. And he’s hitting .414 with a 1.114 OPS through his first eight games of 2024.
Freddie Freeman’s two-run homer (1)
Mar 28, 2024 · 0:25
Freddie Freeman’s two-run homer (1)
5. Ronald Acuña Jr., Braves
The reigning National League MVP rounds out the Top 5. Acuña’s 41-homer, 73-steal season in 2023 was downright historic. The Braves superstar is still looking for his first home run of 2024, but that will come soon, and Acuña is batting .316 in the season’s early goings.
Ronald Acuña Jr. is the No. 1 Player Right Now
Feb 21, 2024 · 0:30
Ronald Acuña Jr. is the No. 1 Player Right Now
6. Fernando Tatis Jr., Padres
Tatis is looking like an MVP contender again. The 25-year-old finished with 25 home runs and 29 stolen bases and won a Gold Glove in right field in 2023 after missing all of the previous season, and he’s one of the hottest hitters in the league right now. Tatis is batting .323 with three home runs, a stolen base and a 1.009 OPS through eight games for the Padres.
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7. Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers
And here’s the last — but not least — member of the Big Three in Los Angeles. Betts, Freeman and Ohtani are the most formidable trio in baseball in 2024. The Dodgers are the only team with multiple hitters in the top 10 of the inaugural 2024 power rankings, and they have three.
Shohei Ohtani records his first hit as a Dodger
Mar 20, 2024 · 0:24
Shohei Ohtani records his first hit as a Dodger
8. Gunnar Henderson, Orioles
Henderson emerged alongside Adley Rutschman as one of the young leaders of the Orioles on their way to 101 wins and the AL East crown in 2023. The 22-year-old hit 28 home runs, had 82 RBIs and ran away with the AL Rookie of the Year Award. Henderson has a .937 OPS through his first five games of 2024 and hit his first homer of the season on Saturday.
Gunnar Henderson’s solo home run (1)
Mar 30, 2024 · 0:28
Gunnar Henderson’s solo home run (1)
9. Corey Seager, Rangers
Seager is the rock of the Rangers’ lineup and is fresh off leading Texas to its first World Series championship in 2023. After batting .327 with 33 home runs and 96 RBIs, finishing as the AL MVP runner-up and taking home World Series MVP honors, Seager is batting .364 through his first five games of 2024 and just hit his first home run of the season on Wednesday.
10. Mike Trout, Angels
Trout is back. The three-time MVP and 11-time All-Star looks like the Trout of old at the start of the 2024 season. He has three home runs in six games through Wednesday, tied for the AL lead, including a monster 473-foot blast on Monday that’s the longest of the young season.
Mike Trout drills a 473-foot home run
Apr 1, 2024 · 0:40
Mike Trout drills a 473-foot home run
Others receiving votes: Christian Yelich (Brewers), Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (D-backs), Aaron Judge (Yankees), Ozzie Albies (Braves), Yordan Alvarez (Astros), Bryce Harper (Phillies), Randy Arozarena (Rays), Yainer Diaz (Astros), Christopher Morel (Cubs), Luis Robert Jr. (White Sox), Michael Conforto (Giants), Anthony Volpe (Yankees), Jose Altuve (Astros), Francisco Alvarez (Mets), Ke’Bryan Hayes (Pirates), Michael Harris II (Braves), Spencer Steer (Reds), Will Smith (Dodgers), Yandy Díaz (Rays), Jake Burger (Marlins), Kyle Tucker (Astros), Luis Arraez (Marlins), Matt Olson (Braves), Christian Walker (D-backs), Tyler O’Neill (Red Sox)
Voters: Chris Begley, Jason Catania, Theo DeRosa, Daniel Feldman, Travis Miller, Brian Murphy, Sweeny Murti, Efrain Ruiz, Shanthi Sepe-Chepuru, Ismail Soyugenc, David Venn, Tom Vourtsis, Andy Werle
Yankees Magazine: The Comforts of Home Pitchers beware -- the Yankees have a new superstar, and he might be in the perfect spot, in more ways than one
Jon Schwartz
Seeing Juan Soto with a wide and bright smile is not particularly rare, as the slugger is known for his upbeat personality. But during spring training in Tampa, Florida, Soto’s new teammates also got a close-up look at the work ethic and determination that have already made him one of the best hitters in the sport at just 25 years old. (Photo Credit: New York Yankees)
Seeing Juan Soto with a wide and bright smile is not particularly rare, as the slugger is known for his upbeat personality. But during spring training in Tampa, Florida, Soto’s new teammates also got a close-up look at the work ethic and determination that have already made him one of the best hitters in the sport at just 25 years old. (Photo Credit: New York Yankees)
It was the first full day of a new baseball year, and Aaron Boone’s brain was straddling two eras. Asked to suggest a comparison for the sensational slugger who would make his home in the top third of the 2024 Yankees’ lineup, the manager, who played in the Majors from 1997 to 2009, offered up an all-time great: Barry Bonds.
Your thoughts on Bonds may vary in 2024, and we’re not about to litigate that argument. But in the batter’s box, he was the archetype of intelligence, ability and intimidation. Bonds was an impossible at-bat, unwilling to chase bad pitches. He had unmatched power, retiring with the single-season and career home run records. He existed to make opposing pitchers and managers uncomfortable.
So, when a present-day skipper compares one of his guys to Bonds — indeed, does so without so much as a beat to think — it’s no small compliment.
There’s just one question when it comes to Aaron Boone and the 2024 Yankees: Who was the manager speaking about? “I mean,” says Anthony Rizzo, “we have two of those guys.”
The Yankees once again this year will deploy Aaron Judge, who owns the AL single-season home run record; who would inspire boos as he regularly trotted to first after yet another walk in his record-setting season; who even heard some derision when he doubled, so desperate were the New York faithful to witness history. Although right-handed and free from any whiff of scandal, Judge definitely hits some familiar notes there.
“Barry Bonds would get pitched around all weekend long, and the one pitch that would show up in the strike zone, he’d hit it into McCovey Cove,” Boone said on the day that position players officially reported to spring training. “I think that’s probably the comp you’re talking about.”
Except, Boone wasn’t talking about Judge. He was referring to the newest offensive wizard in pinstripes — Juan Soto.
Like Bonds (and Judge), the 25-year-old Soto is a menace in the box (some might even say a savage). He knows the strike zone as well as anyone in the game, having walked at least 130 times in three seasons (Bonds did it eight times in 22 years; among other active players, only Joey Votto has done it more than once). Soto’s career on-base percentage entering 2024 is .421, the best mark among active hitters (Judge stands fourth at .396). And Soto, while not likely to crack 60 homers, still has elite pop; add slugging to his OBP, and you get a .946 career mark, third among active players. Judge’s OPS is second, at .982.
“You’re talking about, arguably, the two best hitters in the sport,” Boone said. As Spring Training rolled on and the regular season neared, the manager looked like the luckiest guy in the world, able to write Soto and Judge back to back on his lineup card. And as he spends this coming year getting to watch the interplay between Yankees stars — one old, one new — the manager, his players and baseball fans all over the planet will learn how Soto, and the balance between comfort and discomfort, could tell the tale of the 2024 New York Yankees.
****
Memorial Day Weekend is kind of a big deal around New York City, with locals shipping off to long-forsaken beaches, while tourists take over the avenues and entertainment districts. In 2023, with the worst of the pandemic seemingly in the past, some traditions fully returned to pre-2020 levels, among them Fleet Week.
Conveniently coinciding with the week’s nautical focus, the Padres — hailing from the city that houses nearly 20% of U.S. Navy personnel — visited Yankee Stadium for the weekend, and fans packed the house, selling out all three games. One of the main draws that weekend was Soto, who opened the scoring in the first game with a fifth-inning two-run bomb for San Diego.
Juan Soto is named the AL Player of the Week
Apr 1, 2024 · 0:30
Juan Soto is named the AL Player of the Week
“Usually in Yankee Stadium, when you play the Red Sox or you play the Mets, you’re going to have the opposing team’s fans that stand out,” says Omar Minaya, a senior advisor to Yankees general manager Brian Cashman. “It was the Padres, and the opposing fans stood out.”
But Minaya, born in the Dominican Republic, wasn’t implying that it was just guests from California rooting on their Friars. Rather, he saw an entirely different connection, a bond that should strengthen over the course of the next six-plus months. And he wasn’t the only one who noticed it.
“I sensed that, too, coaching third,” says Yankees coach Luis Rojas. The son of Felipe Alou — making him a member of Dominican baseball’s first family — Rojas had no question as to why the Padres were getting so much love. “When he was coming off the field to the dugout, you could hear the chants. They were chanting his name — people with Dominican flags out in the stands.
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“I think the people from New York, they were really happy to see Juan Soto playing in Yankee Stadium.”
According to data from the 2020 U.S. Census, there are nearly 2.4 million people of Dominican descent in the United States; of that number, about 702,000 call New York City home, nearly 335,000 of them in the Bronx.
Any player wants to feel comfy and cozy in his team’s ballpark, and unless Major League Baseball adds a team in Santo Domingo, Juan Soto will never feel closer to home than at Yankee Stadium. And if Dominican baseball fans came out in force to celebrate Soto visiting New York as a Padre, just imagine the reception he’ll get in Yankees pinstripes. Soto says that he expects a vibe reminiscent of the spring when he repped his home country in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
“I think the energy that Dominicans bring all over the place is just amazing,” Soto says. “We always love each other. We feel like family every time we go out.”
The newest Yankees slugger won’t have to go far to find great sancocho or mangú. Even as a visitor, Soto marveled at the Dominican food the Yankee Stadium clubhouse chefs would cook up. Now he’s going to get it on the regular, just as his baseball idol, Robinson Canó, did during his nine years in the Bronx. (And if it sounds crazy to think of a modern-day superstar talking about the 41-year-old Canó as a hero from his youth, then you’re probably still coming to terms with just how young Soto — born four days after the Yankees completed a World Series sweep of the Padres for their 125th victory of the 1998 season — really is.)
Juan Soto is already regarded as one of the best Dominican hitters of all time, adding his name to a list that includes Albert Pujols. After starring for his native country’s team in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, the three-time All-Star was looking forward to the reception he’ll receive from Dominican fans in the Bronx this season. (Photo Credit: New York Yankees)
Juan Soto is already regarded as one of the best Dominican hitters of all time, adding his name to a list that includes Albert Pujols. After starring for his native country’s team in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, the three-time All-Star was looking forward to the reception he’ll receive from Dominican fans in the Bronx this season. (Photo Credit: New York Yankees)
Canó and Manny Ramírez are the first names Soto offers when thinking about the legends from his home country. Albert Pujols, too. But Jasson Domínguez, one of just three other Dominican players on the Yankees’ roster during this year’s Spring Training, stops short of historic hero-worship when considering his new teammate.
“Those guys,” the 21-year-old Domínguez says, “they already did what they did in the past. But I think Soto, he has a really, really special future coming up.”
Minaya, in turn, defers to the popular adjective for Soto, one so ubiquitous that the outfielder wore it on his shirt at his first spring press conference. “He is what we would call a generational hitter,” Minaya says. How so? Well, the executive and former general manager says that Pujols is the best Dominican hitter ever. As for Soto, six years into a career? “He’s in the conversation.”
****
During Spring Training in Tampa, Fla., Soto lockered a few stalls down from DJ LeMahieu, the player known around the Bronx as “The Machine.” But to Soto, that nickname belongs to Pujols, who did everything on the field with programmatic precision. He mashed. He walked. He barely struck out. The goal — for any player, but certainly for Soto — is to replicate that as best as possible.
It’s part of why nearly every Yankee in Tampa, asked to describe what most impressed them about Soto, immediately turned to his routine, the intense and intentional repetition and the consistent drive toward excellence. Nothing with Soto is an accident; it’s all a product of building muscle memory and a mental scrapbook of everything he has seen, the better to prepare him for anything that comes his way.
“This is arguably the best hitter in the game,” says new Yankees hitting coach James Rowson. “A complete hitter. He can do things that are phenomenal with the bat. But his approach to hitting and his approach in the cage and the precision with which he does his work is really amazing. You watch him, every swing he takes has a purpose. He doesn’t take a swing without a purpose.”
John Sterling’s call of Juan Soto’s go-ahead home run
Mar 30, 2024 · 0:29
John Sterling’s call of Juan Soto’s go-ahead home run
But it’s not just about when he swings. Over the course of six big league seasons, what has made Soto a superstar is probably even more tied up in when he doesn’t swing.
“What you don’t swing at is oftentimes what makes you,” Boone says. “You’ve got to be able to lay off pitches and in some way, shape or form, control the strike zone on that level. Because the guys up here are simply too good at exposing weaknesses.”
Considering that Soto has walked in 19% of his career plate appearances, you might think that his batter’s eye came naturally. But he admits to being a free swinger before he reached pro ball. That’s not terribly uncommon among Dominican players. There’s an old notion, however retrograde and probably offensive, that “You can’t walk off the island.” Rojas, the Yankees’ third-base coach, says it’s part of how baseball is taught there, where skills that can attract attention are honed to a much greater degree than things such as knowledge of the strike zone. “You’re taught to hit the ball hard,” Rojas says. “Run fast. Have a very strong arm. We teach those things in the Dominican Republic. So, we create a lot of players that are going to crush it in a tryout.
“To have the swing decision skill, that’s different. There’s very few programs down there where you play a bunch of games or tournaments. When I say very little, I’m probably overselling it. So, there’s not a lot of competition.”
And despite the long list of great Dominican players who emerged in the majors with sensational strike zone discipline, Soto acknowledges that as recently as a bit more than a decade ago, it was still how he was being taught.
“When we were kids,” Soto says, “they would say, ‘They pay you to hit, not to take walks.’ And that was the mindset when we came into the league. We have to swing the bat. We have to make contact. We have to put the ball in play and see what happens. That was the mentality all the way until we made it to the pros. And then when I started to play professionally, they were telling me that I have a good hand-eye coordination, but that I’ve got to take a couple of pitches. Pitches out of the strike zone, I was getting myself out, instead of seeing it and letting it get to me and taking a good chance on a good pitch.
“I’m still learning about the strike zone and everything. I’ve been putting in the work to keep grinding, keep getting better at that.”
That work helps make Soto comfortable in the batter’s box. As for pitchers … well, they’re not having such a good time.
****
Spring Training is long, probably too long for most players. The schedule is built for pitchers and catchers who need to stretch out their arms, build game plans, learn each other’s tendencies and those of all the hitters in the league. Among all the stresses Yankees batterymates had to deal with this past spring, there was at least one ray of sunshine: They wouldn’t have to face Soto and Judge in real games.
Two of the best hitters in baseball, back to back. As Anthony Volpe says, “It’s video game cheat code stuff.” Most pitchers only have so many weapons. Soto and Judge will require all of them. Oh, and one will do it from the left side, the other from the right.
“It’s about as taxing as,” Gerrit Cole says, pausing in thought, “I can’t really think of anything more taxing than that.”
Juan Soto can wreak havoc in the batter’s box in myriad ways. He is disciplined, smart and powerful, traits he shares with Aaron Judge. As teammates expected to hit back-to-back in the batting order, Soto and Judge will be a two-headed monster for opposing pitchers, and their presence will most certainly have a positive effect on the rest of the lineup, as well. (Photo Credit: New York Yankees)
Juan Soto can wreak havoc in the batter’s box in myriad ways. He is disciplined, smart and powerful, traits he shares with Aaron Judge. As teammates expected to hit back-to-back in the batting order, Soto and Judge will be a two-headed monster for opposing pitchers, and their presence will most certainly have a positive effect on the rest of the lineup, as well. (Photo Credit: New York Yankees)
Imagine trying to work through a Soto at-bat. You know that he’s going to crush any mistake. You know that he won’t give an inch, that he’ll never chase. You know that he’s not going to mess up his swing by aiming toward the short right-field porch at Yankee Stadium, that he’s happy to pound a ball into the cavernous gap in left-center.
Faced with such a situation, a walk isn’t a terrible outcome, right? Better to issue a free pass than to irresponsibly miss in a slug zone. Except … now you get Aaron Judge. With a guy on base.
“It’s an AB that you have circled throughout the lineup,” says Yankees pitcher Clarke Schmidt, relieved to be discussing someone else’s problem. “But it’s also one of those things where, he’s such a good hitter that you can’t exhaust yourself too much trying to get him out. Sometimes you’ve got to tip your cap and just take your losses, whether that’s a single or whatever it may be, and go on to the next guy. But unfortunately for other pitchers, the next guy’s Aaron Judge.”
And Judge? He’s not going to back down either. So now you’re looking at Rizzo, at Gleyber Torres, at Giancarlo Stanton, Alex Verdugo, Austin Wells, Volpe. … There’s not an easy out on the list, and certainly not with runners on base. And especially not on the heels of one high-pressure at-bat after another. Talk about uncomfortable.
“Stress adds up,” Stanton says. “We have a lineup full of stressful at-bats, and it’s only a matter of time before you’ve got to make some mistakes.”
When Bonds was demolishing baseballs in San Francisco, Jeff Kent had the privilege of hitting next in the order. A five-time All-Star who maxed out at 46.5% in Hall of Fame voting, Kent clearly was an excellent player, but never better than when he was hitting behind an all-time great. Pitchers, who scratched and clawed their way through the greatest offensive threat the game has ever seen, had to have lost a bit of their edge by the time the next at-bat started (and this was before pitch timers).
Replace Kent with Judge. The possibilities are enough to make Yankees fans — and players — ecstatic. Perhaps even to dream a bit about the future.
Because the uncomfortable fact is that Soto is in town on an expiring contract, ready to enter free agency and see what the league will throw his way. The numbers should be astronomical, representative of a stratospheric career arc. Soto has already learned that baseball is a business. Getting traded to San Diego from Washington, where he won a World Series, broke his heart. This time around, it was a lot simpler: The Padres told him that the team had to move in a different direction and, as he remembers it, he never even heard about a potential match with any team but the Yankees. One day he was a Padre, the next day he was a Yankee. For at least one year.
Yankees fans, though, don’t seem to enjoy the idea of dating. They want to give Soto a ring, and they want him to bring them a bunch more. The Dominican superstar is a generational talent who will hit the free-agent market at 26 years old, something almost unheard of in this era. “To be at the age he is and to already have the resume that he has is pretty remarkable,” Boone says. And if the fans can’t be around the conference room table during any negotiations, they’ll spend the year doing the only thing they can. They’ll work to make a newcomer comfortable enough to make all opponents nauseous.
“It’s going to be fun,” Soto predicts. “That’s the only thing I’m thinking about is how fun it’s going to be hitting back to back there.
“It’s going to feel like home.”
Jon Schwartz is the deputy editor of Yankees Magazine. This story appears in the April 2024 edition. Get more articles like this delivered to your doorstep by purchasing a subscription to Yankees Magazine at
BYLINE: By Ryan A. Berenz
BYLINE: By Ryan A. Berenz
—
1. Pitcher Masanori Murakami, the first Japanese player to play on Major League Baseball club, debuted in 1964 with what team?
2. The Cresta Run is a natural toboggan track located in what Swiss mountain resort town? (Hint: It hosted Winter Olympics in 1928 and 1948.)
3. George “Punch” Imlach won four Stanley Cups (1962-64, ’67) as head coach of what NHL team?
4. In 2021, Formula 1 held its first race on the Jeddah Corniche Circuit located in what country?
5. Who was the first three-time winner of golf’s Masters tournament?
6. Warren Beatty starred as Joe Pendleton, backup quarterback for the Los Angeles Rams, in what 1978 film?
7. In 2014, thieves stole nine World Series rings, two MVP plaques and other memorabilia worth over $1 million from a Little Falls, New Jersey, museum dedicated to what Baseball Hall of Famer?
15 Negro Leagues locations you need to see
The Negro Leagues are responsible for some of the greatest moments, players and stories in baseball history. Birthed during a meeting at a Kansas City YMCA in 1920, the Negro National League and others that followed gave the country’s greatest African-American players like Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, and Buck Leonard a place to show off their skills.
While much of the Major Leagues’ biggest moments have been recorded and kept, archived and collected, little remains from the Negro Leagues. Sure, there are the stories: Paige sitting the outfield down to strike out the side or tales of how far Gibson was able to smash the baseball. But so much of it is gone — teams barnstormed throughout the country and statistics and mementos were hard to track down.
Fortunately, not all of it is gone, with small pockets of history often available if you’re willing to drive by and look out the window. So, next time you’re on a road trip, set your maps for one of these 15 locations.
Hamtramck Stadium – Hamtramck, Mich.
There was a time when people thought this stadium was already gone. But as researcher Gary Gillette discovered, many had confused Hamtramck Stadium — built in 1930 and home to the Detroit Stars — with nearby Keyworth Stadium.
Obscured by vines and weeds, the grandstand rotted in what’s now called Veterans Park. Few remembered the legends like Hall of Fame outfielder Turkey Stearnes who played here. But the field has been rehabilitated, with Detroit rock n’ roll legend and baseball fan Jack White organizing pickup games to raise funds.
Rickwood Field – Birmingham, Ala.
The oldest baseball stadium in the country was once the home stadium for the Birmingham Black Barons, where players like Paige, Willie Mays, Mule Suttles and Dan Bankhead — the first African-American pitcher to make the Major Leagues — patrolled the field.
While many of the existing Negro League stadiums now are nothing more than a grass field with a grandstand or wall left remaining, Rickwood Field hosts games every year as a kind of “living museum.” In 2024, the Cardinals and Giants will play on the hallowed grounds.
League Park – Cleveland, Ohio
Home to the short-lived Cleveland Buckeyes for eight years in Cleveland’s historic Hough district, including the Buckeyes’ Negro World Series title in 1945, there was a time when League Park was about to go the way of many other Negro Leagues stadiums.
But the space has been rejuvenated and is once again home to local baseball games. The field was converted to artificial turf and the old ticket office became the home of the Heritage Baseball Museum.
The museum is open Thursday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Hinchliffe Stadium – Paterson, N.J.
One of Hinchliffe Stadium’s refurbished gates. (Courtesy Friends of Hinchliffe Stadium)
One of Hinchliffe Stadium’s refurbished gates. (Courtesy Friends of Hinchliffe Stadium)
Built in 1932, Hinchliffe Stadium soon became the full-time home for the New York Black Yankees. The New York Cubans also played their home games there for two seasons.
Some of the Leagues’ best players passed through the stadium’s gates, including Monte Irvin and Cool Papa Bell, but the true star of the city was Larry Doby, who grew up in Paterson playing baseball and football long before he reached the Major Leagues.
Hinchliffe Stadium reopened in 2023. (Dan Cichalski)
Hinchliffe Stadium reopened in 2023. (Dan Cichalski)
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After decades of neglect, Hinchliffe Stadium was renovated and became the home field for the New Jersey Jackals of the Frontier League, an MLB Partner League, in 2023.
Downs Field – Austin, Texas
Photo by Chris Landers / MLB.com
Photo by Chris Landers / MLB.com
One of the most beautiful fields still in existence, and currently used by the Huston-Tillotson Rams college baseball team, is Downs Field. The Austin ballpark played host to some of the best players in Negro Leagues history. The Texas Black Senators, a Minor Negro Leagues team, played here as a member of the Texas Colored League. Hall of Fame shortstop Willie Wells began his career with Texas, before moving on to his best-known years with the St. Louis Stars. Players like Paige, Mays, Smokey Joe Williams and Buck O’Neil also came through the city for games on the field, and their impact is noted by a series of tiled murals by local artists to commemorate the space.
Photo by Chris Landers / MLB.com
Photo by Chris Landers / MLB.com
Red Cap Stadium – Jacksonville, Fla.
Now known as J.P. Small Memorial Stadium — but called Durkee Field (and briefly Red Cap Stadium) in its heyday — this ballpark housed the short-lived Jacksonville Red Caps in 1938 and from 1941-42. (They would continue playing as Minor League team after World War II.)
Renovated in the early 2000s, the field is still in use and has a small Negro Leagues exhibit inside with a statue of Buck O’Neil outside the gates.
Stadium Lofts – Indianapolis, Ind.
While most of the Negro Leagues stadiums have been torn down and replaced, this one is a little different. Instead of tearing down Bush Stadium, this apartment complex was built to honor the stadium. Now your home could be in the same place where Hank Aaron, Oscar Charleston and String Bean Williams took the field while playing for the Clowns and ABCs.
The structure of the stadium has been kept in place, giving an absolutely cathedral-like entrance to your home. Even better: Look out your window and there’s still a baseball field as your backyard. You can almost picture the Clowns winning the 1950 championship on this field if you think hard enough.
Judy Johnson’s house – Marshallton, Del.
Wikimedia Commons
Wikimedia Commons
Judy Johnson was arguably the greatest third baseman in the history of the Negro Leagues, with Arthur Ashe calling him, “the standard by which other third basemen were measured.”
You can see the place he called his home with his wife Anita from 1934 until shortly before his death in 1989. After seeing the house, drive over to see the statue of Johnson that resides outside Frawley Stadium — home of the High-A Blue Rocks — in nearby Wilmington.
Cool Papa Bell Marker – Starkville, Miss.
Cool Papa Bell may be one of the fastest people to ever walk — er, run — on the face of the planet. It was said that he was so fast, he could turn out the light and be in bed before the room got dark.
But even the greatest players have to come from somewhere, and so his hometown of Starkville has a marker honoring his skills. You can find this one by the McKee Park ballfield, located off Lynn Lane.
Because Bell’s best period of play was with the St. Louis Stars, there is also a star with his name on it in the St. Louis Walk of Fame, along with a large tombstone designed by his daughter in a nearby cemetery.
History of African-American baseball marker – Philadelphia
At the intersection of Belmont & Parkside Avenues stands a marker in honor of the African-American ballplayers and clubs who hailed from Philadelphia.
That includes the Philadelphia Giants, which formed in 1902 and won five of six championships from 1904-09; the Hilldale Club, which featured Judy Johnson, Oscar Charleston and Biz Mackey among others; and the Philadelphia Stars, which featured Mackey and Jud Wilson and were the final Negro Leagues team that Paige pitched for in 1950. The marker also stands near the Parkside Ballpark that the Stars called their home.
Hank Aaron’s childhood home – Mobile, Ala.
Originally built by Hank’s father, Herbert, in 1942 in the Toulminville area of Mobile, the family home was moved to the site of Hank Aaron Stadium in 2008 — where the Mobile BayBears played. There, the house was converted into a museum honoring Hank Aaron’s legendary career. Stuffed full of memorabilia, it includes materials from his short one-season stint with the Indianapolis Clowns in 1952.
When the BayBears left Mobile to become the Rocket City Trash Pandas in Madison, Ala., following the 2019 season, the city — which owns the house — relocated it back to the Toulminville neighborhood, though it remains closed to tours.
Buck O’Neil Education and Research Center – Kansas City
It may be named after Buck O’Neil now, but the building — and its original awning — was the Paseo YMCA. It was here in 1920 that Andrew “Rube” Foster and a handful of other Midwestern team owners met and formed the Negro National League. From there, the Negro Leagues blossomed with separate leagues beginning in the eastern and southern United States.
In 2023, the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum announced plans to build a new facility adjacent to the historic site.
Ponce de Leon Park – Atlanta
Sadly, the original stadium for the Atlanta Black Crackers is long gone, but don’t despair. While the field no longer exists, having been paved over long ago, you can still pay homage to the team that played at Ponce de Leon Park from 1919-38. That’s because the Magnolia trees that were part of the grounds in center field are still standing inside a parking lot.
Jackie Robinson’s birthplace – Cairo, Ga.
Keep your eyes peeled while driving through the town of Cairo. Because there, on Hadley Ferry Road, north of Meridian Road, you’ll find the place where the great Jackie Robinson was born. Only the chimney remains after the house burned down in 1996, but a marker was erected to commemorate the site in 2001.
Homestead Grays plaque – Homestead, Pa.
They are arguably the greatest team — regardless of race — to ever walk the face of the planet. Led by players like Josh Gibson, Jud “Boojum” Wilson, Smokey Joe Williams and others, they were a near unstoppable force.
Though the field they played upon is long gone, a marker remains at the corner of Amity and East 5th Streets in Homestead, and you can just imagine the dingers that Gibson would have hit flying over your head.
Sports Quiz Answer
Answers
1. The San Francisco Giants.
2. St. Moritz.
3. The Toronto Maple Leafs.
4. Saudi Arabia.
5. Jimmy Demaret (1940, ’47, ’50).
6. “Heaven Can Wait.”
7. Yogi Berra.
