Andy Pettitte Signs for Steiner Sports
by Lee Pitofsky – The morning of June 7, 2011, the 6th day of my summer internship here at Steiner Sports, I was instructed to arrive at the office at 8:00AM. After waiting patiently for an hour or so, the 6 foot 5 inch former New York Yankee great came through the door to the signing room. I immediately stood up out of my chair in excitement. My first thought was why is this guy who is still so fit retired? Andy looks like he could be pitching for the Yankees right now. As Andy approached, I looked at him as he turned to me putting out his hand saying “Hey bud how ya doin?” We shook hands and I let it sink in. I just shook hands with one of the greatest Yankee pitches of all time, the all-time leader in post-season wins. It was an amazing experience to be in the very presence of such an unforgettable New York Yankee. During his signing, I was like a sponge as I easily absorbed everything I heard him say. Of course, I was very interested. Andy was asked if he ever misses the game of baseball. To my surprise he replied, “not at all actually.” He even went on to say how he doesn’t even watch the game anymore. He told us how it was just the other day that he watched a game for the first time this season. Andy then began to explain how he has never been happier and how there isn’t anything in this world that he enjoys more than being with his family.” This, however, was not surprising.
After spending time in the signing room watching Andy Pettitte sign multiple items, it was then time to get ready to head to New York City to the Major League Baseball Fan Cave, located at the corner of 4th and Broadway in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village. I could not be more excited to be going to this place that I know very much about. The Fan Cave consists of 32 14-foot windows and has regular visits from Major League Baseball players. After meeting the two winners who get to be in the Fan Cave every day, and get to watch each and every game in the 2011 season, I then took multiple pictures of all the different decorations including the “Cave Monster,” which is all the TV’s where the two winners get to watch all the games.
After walking around the Fan Cave for a little while it was time for Brandon Steiner, founder of Steiner Sports, to interview a few people who have very unique memorabilia in their collections. As the interviews with Brandon were finishing up, I noticed the face of current New York Yankee reliever David Robertson approaching the entrance to the Fan Cave. Robertson, along with his wife Erin, came in and I introduced myself to both of them. Robertson and I began to discuss the Yankees vs Red Sox series which begins tonight. We talked about how the Yankees can’t lose yet another series to the Red Sox. He seemed to be confident that the Yankees will come out on top. We then talked about the recent MLB Draft which began yesterday, June 6th. This year’s first overall pick, Gerrit Cole out of UCLA ,was previously drafted by the Yankees 28th overall in 2008. We discussed how unfortunate it was for the Yankees that he didn’t sign and chose to go to college instead, considering the fact that his value rose from 28th three years ago to the best player in the entire draft in 2011. He could have been a Yankee. Robertson then told me how he’s disappointed that the Yankees don’t even get a first round pick this year because of the Rafael Soriano signing. Instead, the Yankees’ first round pick went to Tampa Bay as compensation for the signing of Soriano as a Type A free agent. Having such a lengthy conversation with a professional baseball player on the Yankees who you watch nearly every day is indescribable.
After Robertson left the Fan Cave, everyone there then had some late afternoon pizza before our group got our stuff together and heading back to the New Rochelle offices. It was an amazing day, and the whole car ride from Manhattan to New Rochelle I thought about how lucky was to have been part of such a memorable experience.
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