About the Off-Season: Warm Thoughts

About the Off-Season: Warm Thoughts

By Tim Kabel

December 28, 2025

***

Christmas was a couple of days ago, but this year I celebrated it twice. I celebrated it on Christmas with my stepchildren and the rest of my wife's family. My children were out of the country, so we celebrated it on the 27th. I wrote this shortly before I was going to throw my beef roast and macaroni and cheese in the oven. My plans to bake gingerbread were foiled by a dearth of molasses. I can't think of molasses without thinking of a statement one of my former neighbors once made. She was a sweet but slightly confused young lady. She once said to my daughter, “You are as slow as molasses on a Sunday.” Naturally, I asked her what it was about Sunday or molasses or the combination of the two of them that would make molasses particularly slower on Sunday than on any other day of the week. She did not offer a response. I explained to her that a better option might be to say that someone was as slow as molasses in the winter and explained to her why that would be so. I suspect that she often uses the correct version now but does not give me proper credit.

I know our readers are scattered across the landscape so we may not all have the same weather. In Connecticut, we had a big snowstorm on the 26^th which created quite a mess. I'm no longer able to go out and shovel snow, which naturally makes me feel guilty. It also makes me wish for warm weather. Wishing for warm weather makes me think about going to Yankees games. I have had many interesting experiences at Yankees games.

I once went to a Yankees game with a lady friend who wore an enormous, wide brimmed straw hat which was liberally festooned with sunflowers. I felt sorry for the person seated behind her. We were in the loge level seats and she had never been to Yankee Stadium. I believe she had never been to a Major League Baseball game. She was a psychologist and naturally, she was fascinated by the Bleacher Creatures and went to the edge of the loge seats to observe them. They, in turn, observed her. Disaster followed quickly. Heckling was something she was unfamiliar with. Being heckled for wearing an enormous straw hat festooned with sunflowers was not an unexpected outcome, at least for me. The day ended well, and I purchased her a traditional Yankees baseball cap.

I took one of my nephews to a game once and I decided to go up and get food before the game started. We were sitting along the left field line. This was in the early 90s, when the team was not very good. Bernie Williams had recently been recalled from the minors and was playing centerfield. Roberto Kelly, who was reportedly displeased at being displaced was playing in leftfield. I suggested that my nephew wait for me while I went to get the food, but he wanted to come along. When we returned, the gentleman who was seated next to us showed us the autograph he had acquired. It read “Roberto Kelly, playing left field."

I went to a ball game with a woman from work one time many years ago. She seemed to have a nice time and when the 7th inning rolled around and they had the 7th inning stretch and played “Take Me Out to the Ball Game," she was fascinated. She was quite excited by it and said to me, “That's a great idea, they should do this every day.” I told her that I would pass her suggestion along.

I went to a game with a gentleman I worked with and his girlfriend. Normally, I don't drink beer very often. I especially don't like to drink beer when I am outside in the heat. However, my friend bought me a beer and I wasn't going to waste it or be rude. I was holding my beer in front of me when I heard a slight sloshing noise and looked down. The young woman in front of me had inadvertently dunked her blonde ponytail into my beer and it was bobbing up and down as if she were trying to attract fish. So much for that beer.

Another time, I was at a game with some friends on a hot Sunday afternoon. Suddenly, I heard some strange noises, and I looked up behind me and saw one of the vendors who was carrying an enormous tray full of sodas utilizing a strap that ran across his back to support the tray. He tripped and began lurching forward, being led by the tray of sodas. A tsunami of soda hurtled directly toward me. I immediately ducked, hauling my friend down with me. The unfortunate fellow in front of me turned and stood up to see what was happening. The enormous wave of soda sailed over my head leaving me completely dry but the poor fellow in front of me was practically drowned. He was drenched in Coca-Cola. His clothes instantly clung to him, and his shoes squeaked as he wandered off in a daze to attempt to dry himself and to see if he could get some sort of compensation. I believe they gave him a soda.

I not only have strange memories from my visits to Yankee Stadium. I have many wonderful ones as well. The best games were ones I went to with my family, and particularly, my children. The last game I attended before my physical condition was compromised was a game at Camden Yards with my sons. That same year, I went to a game at Fenway Park with my younger son and my daughter. At the beginning of that season, I went to a game at Yankee Stadium with my sons. Those were all tremendous experiences. There is nothing like going to a game with your children. You can share the experience, teach them things, and engage in conversation about something different than you normally might. My older son is a pitcher and actually played Division One college ball so, he often offered insights that I found fascinating.

I can certainly watch games with my family now on television and that is very enjoyable as well. I am hoping that my mobility and health improve to the point where I can go to a game again. I definitely want to go with my children, and I would also like to take my wife. I sent her to a game once with my sister, but I would like to go to one with her myself to prevent her from turning the 7th inning stretch into a Richard Simmons tribute. Also, when she went with my sister, my sister was shocked that the prices for refreshments had changed since the 1950s. She was also surprised that Moose Skowron was no longer playing first base.

In addition to bringing my wife to a game and doing it properly, there are some other people whom I would love to bring to a game eventually. At this point, these people do not exist other than in my imagination. Those people would be my grandchildren. Naturally I would bring my kids and their spouses or partners along as well but the focal point would naturally be the grandchildren. Spoiling would be unfettered and unlimited. The child or children would be decked out in appropriate team related clothing and would leave the stadium with the full experience, a full belly, and a bag full of souvenirs. 

Speaking of that, I need to replenish my own Yankees’ wardrobe. I can no longer find my Thurman Munson shirt, so I need to get a new one. I have an Aaron Judge shirt, a Jasson Dominguez shirt, and a few others. However, I need to replace the shirt from my favorite player. I think I would also like a Ron Guidry shirt, a Don Mattingly shirt, and a tribute to my mom's favorite player, Mickey Mantle.

Thinking about returning to the stadium on a warm summer afternoon, soaking in the sounds, smells, and tastes that you encounter at a game reminds me of what an unbeatable experience it is. I've done it many times but not lately. Eventually I will and as I said, I wish to do so with my family.

Thinking of that has warmed me up on this cold, snowy day. Hopefully it did the same for you.