60-year-old Billy Crystal to don Yankees pinstripes

[underpants]

He also playedbaseballat Marshall University where he met his wife.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080311/ap_on_sp_ba_ne/bba_yankees_crystal;_ylt=AhSW.JgK8MUzdtTaufUDUDQLMxIF

TAMPA, Fla. - Billy Crystal will get to "look mahvelous" in pinstripes. The actor will sign a one-day, minor league contract with the New York Yankees and play in Thursday's exhibition game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Crystal, an avid Yankees fan, will work out with the team on Wednesday and will wear uniform No. 60 for the game — to be played one day before his 60th birthday. The Yankees said Monday they have the approval of baseball commissioner Bud Selig.

"I've been waiting 50 years for this call," Crystal said in a statement released by the team. "I'm overwhelmed by the generosity of the Yankees and commissioner Selig. I know this'll be tougher than the Broadway Softball League, but I'm looking forward to helping the younger players, which by the way is all of them. Oops, I have to go, Scott Boras is on the phone."

Crystal, according to the Yankees hit .348 and was captain during his senior year at Long Beach High School in New York. He directed and produced "61 ," a move about Roger Maris, Mickey Mantle and the 1961 Yankees.

"The Yankees are excited to welcome the newest member of our team known for his humor and wit as well as his undying love for the Yankees," chief operating officer Lonn Trost said.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi, after Monday night's 4-0 win over Cincinnati, said he hasn't determined what position Crystal will play.

"That remains to be seen," Girardi said. "Obviously, it's kind of exciting. Billy Crystal has done a lot for this organization. He's always been a big part of it. Our way of rewarding him, saying thanks for everything that you've done."

Country singer Garth Brooks has played in spring training games, helping raise money for his Touch 'em All Foundation. He was 1-for-22 (.045) in 1999 with the San Diego Padres, 0-for-17 the following year with the New York Mets and 1-for-8 (.125) in 2004 with the Kansas City Royals.

[bif]

1. How cool is that?

While I'm an avid Yankee hater, I think that's a nice gesture of the team.

[Boudica the Lyoness]

2. Next he'll be playing for the Clippers

Marvin Gaye tried to play for the Detriot Tigers long ago. He wasn't very good though.

[rockymountaindem]

3. Somehow I doubt Crystal is gonna be belting 'em over the outfield wall, either

Although, as a Red Sox fan, I strongly encourage the Yankees to offer Crystal a big, fat, seven year contract and put him in center field every game.

[Oeditpus Rex]

4. About the only reason I can think of to dislike Billy Crystal

is he's a Jankees fan.

But I give him a pass because (a.) he's been a fan since the mid '50s, when men were men and baseball was baseball and ESPN was 20 years in the future, and (2.) because he really is like his character in "City Slickers," who took about four nanoseconds to answer the question, "Who played third base for the 1960 Pittsburgh Pirates?" (Don Hoak.)

I'd truly love to sit down and talk baseball with him sometime. Him and Bob Costas.

[KatyaR]

7. Oh, me, too!

I love hearing Crystal and Costas talk baseball--it makes me miss the old days of the game.

I think this is so great for Billy--don't you know he'll be flying high for weeks. What an awesome thing to get to do.

[Oeditpus Rex]

9. He's played in a few celebrity softball games at Dodger Stadium

At one, years ago — he told this in the extras on the "61*" DVD — he was playing short and made a nice play on a wicked ground ball. Someone with the Dodgers noticed and asked him afterward how old he was. He said 32 or whatever and the guy was like, "Oh."

On the DVD he said something like, "I got the feeling that if I'd said 22, he would've signed me to a minor-league contract."

Off-topic: Thomas Jane had never picked up a baseball until he was signed to play Mickey Mantle in "61*," so Crystal hooked him up with former Dodger/Cardinal/Red Sock (that looks weird in the singular) Reggie Smith for hitting instruction. It apparently worked, since Jane had Mantle's swing cold.

[driver8]

5. Will Roger Clemens pump him full of steroids, first?

I hate the Yankees...

[KamaAina]

6. Cool! He can play in preseason and on Old Timers' Day in the same year!

:P

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

8. as he long as he doesn't go back to the singing on the Oscars, I'm cool

btw, I'm an MU alum

[underpants]

10. Root for the team and gain knowledge tooooo

On of the all time funniest fight songs

:rofl: