Can the magic of the Yankees ever be duplicated?

Question

I mean, the complete package that made an impression on many of us growing up in Old New York.

The dynasties of the 40's and 50's. Mel Allen saying..."How about that" of Mickey's tape measure homers.

The legends, the myths, the ambience...made for glorious days in what (former) mayor John Lindsay called "fun City".

You won't find me going to any live ballgames again, rather, look for all those wonderful collectibles on ebay.

If you feel the magic was lost, then would you agree that free agency created prima donnas rather than exciting teams.

EXCELLENT ANSWERS! It will be difficult to pick a ten pointer from these great responses.

Chipmaker, you are a fine wordsmith, but I have to disagree...free agency only brings out the individual aspects of the game, not the team spirit. That, my friend, is lost forever.

Answer 1

I don't see how it ever can be. In this day of free agents and over the top salaries I don't even watch anymore. It's not just the Yankees(who always were my team) it's the entire pro sport business.I love the game of baseball,but it's ruined.Money and the lack of rules(drugs,steroids,etc) have destroyed it.It's a shame America's game has lost its honesty and integrity.

Answer 2

Good riddance.

Dynasties are only fun for the fans of the dynastic team.

Worse, we then get endless paeans to the dynasty, AND -- sickeningly unbelieveable but true -- almost as many tributes to the years the team did NOT win. The result, we get huge, heaping globs of treacle about How Great They Were plus whining drivel about How Much It Hurt To Lose That One (see: Costas, 1960 World Series).

I have no affection for "competitive balance" (translation: watered-down teams, mediocrity, everyone cleaving to the mean) and if a truly great team goes on a multi-season tear, fine, but to hope for a return to the overwhelming imbalance that the Yankees enjoyed? No thanks.

Free agency has made baseball BETTER. Better for the players, better for the owners (though they'd hate to admit it), better for more fans. Curt Flood once pointed out that a well-paid slave is still a slave. We should all aim higher than that.

Answer 3

It's not free agency, it is all of society.

Professional sports is a full time job for Parent and Child starting at age 3 or so. It is almost impossible for someone to play sports for fun these days and ever get to a pro level.

The need to win via use of steroids and 365 day a year training has made many players less like regular guys with talent and more like the results of scientific experiments.

I don't think we can blame any group, it's everyone at fault and not just pro sports.

Answer 4

I don't think so- that kind of thing is all about the time and place, not just regarding the baseball itself, but the world in which they played. Things were just simpler back then.

I've heard people say that the '69 Mets were the last of the "old time" teams, before superstar laden teams began to be glamourized by TV and whatnot.

Answer 5

Every generation has it's own brand of magic and, for you, it clearly was the Yankees of the 40's and 50's. Will it ever be duplicated? I think you answered the question, at least for yourself: In your eyes - No.

However, there are many other baseball fans, especially young ones, who have their own piece of magical history on the horizon. :-)

Answer 6

no the yankees just got roger clemens who is a good pitcher but he is old and the yankess arent pickingnew fresh athletes just the same old people

Answer 7

yes, the magic of the RED SOX of today is growing exponentially, cursing the bloody Yankees, and is destined for GREATNESS for the next millenium!!!!!!