According to Buster Olney, speaking on the Mike and Mike morning radio program, Joe Torre will be among the baseball luminaries on hand to help unveil George M. Steinbrenner III’s monument during this evening’s ceremony at Yankee Stadium.
The appearance will mark the first time Torre has returned to Yankee Stadium since his acrimonious parting with the team after the 2007 season. It also suggests the beginning of a permanent thaw that should culminate in series of future honors for Torre, including a retired number and plaque in monument park.
There are no issues with Joe Torre and the Yankees. In terms of what Joe did and what we all did together, no one is ever going to change that. No one wants to change that. We’re all really proud of what we all did together.” – Brian Cashman speaking to reporters on Friday, from the LoHud Yankees Blog
As Brian Cashman stated over the weekend, nothing can change what Torre and the Yankees accomplished together, so it’s nice to see a reconciliation of sorts on a day meant to honor the Boss. After all, if the Boss stood for anything, it was the importance of keeping the family together. Whether you view Torre as a prodigal son or an aggrieved party, his return to Yankee Stadium has been long overdue.
[…] there had already been some thawing in the relationship when the Yankees invited Torre to attend last year’s George M. Steinbrenner memorial, yesterday’s announcement amounts to a full armistice. Since his departure following the 2007 […]