October 4, 1995 - Game 2, Division Series, Yankees vs. Mariners @ Yankee Stadium
The Yankees had not been in the playoffs since 1981. As a seven year old, I was lucky enough to attend several games that postseason, but this was different. The Yankees had been denied by the strike in 1994, ending that shortened season with the best record in baseball. As the first wild card, the Yankees were providing Don Mattingly with a long overdue opportunity to play in the postseason.
Game 1 was the night before, but because it was Erev Yom Kippur, I didn't attend. I watched that game, a Yankee victory, with my grandmother in my parent's house. The next day, I attended Yom Kippur services, prayed for the Yankees, and then headed to The Bronx for break fast. Jared and I had two tickets in the first row in the loge (second level) and some college friends traveled with us, sitting elsewhere.
We were planning on breaking the fast with a pretzel and a beer, so we waited on line at the concession where we bumped in to my cousin Keith. I am pretty sure this was the first time Jared and Keith. So we broke the fast with Keith who was sitting in the same section, although a few rows back. Andy Benes vs. Andy Pettitte (a rookie) with the Yankees up 1-0 in the series.
The game can only be described as a classic. In the sixth inning, Donnie Baseball hit what would be the final home run of his career. With the Yankees down a run in the bottom of the 12th, Ruben Sierra hit a ball off the wall with two runners on. Jorge Posada would score the tying run, but Bernie Williams would get thrown out at the plate. I remember picking Jared up off the floor after that play. The pressure was intense.
A skinny reliever names Mariano Rivera would throw 3.1 scoreless innings giving up two hits and striking out five and in the bottom of the 15th inning, Jim Leyritz (The King) would hit a lazy fly ball to rightfield that carried over the wall for a two run home run to win the game. Mariano was the winning pitcher. Euphoria set in.
Unfortunately, euphoria didn't last long. The Yankees had announced that as soon as they clinched this series, tickets would go on sale the following morning at The Stadium. Remember, this was 1995 and there was no such thing as Ticketmaster.com. So we had the car packed for days...waiting to win a game and then go sleep out in The Bronx for ALCS tickets. The Yankees would lose Games 3 and 4 in Seattle setting up the deciding game in Seattle.
I remember watching the game in my townhouse at school with my friend Andy. We chose not to watch with a lot of people because the game was big. The biggest of our lives really to date. David Cone started and threw 147 pitches in 7.2 innings. He probably went an inning too long. The game went in to extra innings again and the Yankees went up one run in the top of the 11th off of Randy Johnson. However, Buck Showalter chose to stay with Jack McDowell in the bottom of the 11th instead of turning the game over to John Wetteland. Edgar Martinez won the game with a double...Ken Griffey Junior scored the winning run from first base and I remember Andy getting up and leaving without saying a word.
It took me a few weeks to unpack the car and I didn't watch another inning of baseball until 1996.
October 17, 1995 - The Stone Pony, Asbury Park, New Jersey
Bruce produced Joe Grushecky's album, American Babylon and was hitting the road to promote the album with Joe's band, The Houserockers. I scored tickets to two of the shows, The Stone Pony and the Electric Factory in Philadelphia. The night at The Pony would be my first time seeing Bruce in a bar setting and was only my eighth Bruce show.
I showed up around 4pm to wait on line and get a good spot inside. When I got there, I found out that I just missed Bruce by about 10 minutes! He was there for soundcheck, came outside, signed a few autographs and then took off. While I was disappointed, I was psyched to see Bruce for the first time at the legendary Stone Pony.
I don't remember the exact timing, but if I had to guess, they opened the doors around 6, the first band went on around 8 and it was FOREVER until Bruce took the stage. I was two or three people deep from the stage, hanging out with my Aunt Sandy. We couldn't move because it would be impossible to get back to our spots and it was HOT in the Pony. No air conditioning.
When Bruce finally joined Joe Grushecky on the stage, all the waiting was worth it. While they only played two Bruce songs, it was amazing seeing Bruce that close...having fun, singing back up, and ripping guitar solos. The feel of the crowd, the atmosphere, the music...it was perfect.
I knew that I needed to be in front again two nights later in Philly, but had a class so I couldn't get there that early. Luckily, I made friends with some women that didn't mind holding a spot in line for me if I promised to bring dinner. They were taking the day off and would be among the first on line. I kept up my end of the deal bringing a pizza and sharing with everyone in the front of the line. They kept their end as well, so when they opened the doors, we were among the first in. I positioned myself directly in front of where they would put Bruce's mic on the railing...no one in front of me.
Again, the power of the show was amazing. Bruce was really on fire. One of the Bruce songs played was Light of Day. In the middle of the song, Bruce queued the band to stop playing. The crowd went crazy. The band each picked up their drinks...soaking in the applause. Bruce was really hamming it up. He put down his beer...then picked it up again...the crowd all going crazy. He took a sip, tossed me the beer, and went back in to the song..."Well I got thrown out of work on the Kokomo." I caught the beer and downed the rest (I was thirsty).
A bouncer came over shortly thereafter and wanted to confiscate the bottle as the venue didn't allow bottles in the audience. When I explained that Bruce tossed it to me, he allowed me to keep it. After the show, I asked John Eddie (one of the opening bands) if he could take the bottle back and ask Bruce to sign it. He said he couldn't, but suggested I wait near the tour bus as Bruce was riding with the band.
I waited the near the tour bus. Bruce came out with Terry, carrying his own bang, but wasn't signing for anyone. I asked anyway..."Bruce, can you sign the beer bottle you tossed me?" He responded, "Sure...that I'll sign." He signed the Coors Light bottle, got on the bus, didn't sign anything else, and I had an amazing souvenir.
I have been to countless postseason games at Yankee Stadium since, including the World Series clinching games in 1996 and 1999...and the clincher in 2000 at Shea. I have seen Bruce over 140 more times since October 1995, including several at The Stone Pony, The Tradewinds, and other small venues. Looking back, I still can't believe it was the same month.
"It ain't no sin to be glad you're alive" BS
JN
