By Rich Mancuso/ Sports Editor
The production BatBoy “A Yankee Miracle” hit the stage Friday evening at the Hostos Community College Theater. The production and performance is based on the book that was authored by Ray Negron a longtime baseball executive with the New York Yankees.
Negron, also a noted author got his job as a Yankees batboy after an encounter with late Yankees owner George Steinbrenner. He was caught spraying a Yankees logo on the Stadium wall and the rest is history. Negron, a native from the south Bronx , and Yankees fan as a kid, was hired by Steinbrenner “The Boss” instead of getting punished and doing time in jail for his mistake.
His dream job is sharing the dugout and locker room is about the Yankees of the 1970’s. Negron was a positive influence and key part of those Yankees teams that he said had a “fiery” clubhouse and won a championship.
Those teams included manager Billy Martin, Reggie Jackson, and his three home run World Series game, the “Captain” Thurman Munson who died when piloting his own plane, Roy White, and Mickey Rivers who plays himself on stage.
Negron is the writer and producer of BatBoy and various performances have been held in the tri-state area. Steve Vaccaro is the producer with actors and singers all giving time without getting paid for a charitable cause.
“We do this to tell the story but to assure that every kid in the Bronx gets that opportunity to play baseball,” Negron said.
Ray Negron narrates the real events in between scenes that also precede with videos of those years.
Three prominent and instrumental females were honored for their longtime commitment in assisting young people in the Bronx who want that opportunity to play baseball. One in particular, Jessy Rodriguez Melendez was cited for her efforts the past 11-years with the Baseball training Institute in the vicinity of Westchester Square, once known as TM Baseball Academy that she coordinates with her husband Tony Melendez.
THE BTI is also a part of Hanks Yanks. The program initiated by Yankees co-owner Hank Steinbrenner and Ray Negron enables numerous youngsters to play organized baseball in the tri-state area.
Log on: www.batboyhelps.com for more information about future dates to see the production.
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