Derek Jeter has made it clear that he will not participate in any future Old-Timers’ Day games, stating that he fears he might injure himself if he were to play. Despite this, he has pushed back against claims that his decision to not participate is the reason the Yankees have stopped holding the game.
Jeter emphasized that he does not make decisions regarding the event and suggested that any questions about the discontinuation should be directed to Hal Steinbrenner, the Yankees’ owner.
The Yankees halted the Old-Timers’ Day game in 2020 due to the pandemic, and in the years following, they have replaced it with a Q&A session. Jeter’s return to the event after leaving his role with the Marlins did not include participation in the game, reinforcing his stance that he will not be involved in such activities in the future.
CC Sabathia, a former Yankees pitcher, expressed disappointment over the absence of the game. Sabathia, who made an appearance honoring the 2009 World Series team, indicated that he would have participated if given the chance.
He joked about still being able to pitch while playing catch with his teenage son and suggested that it would be enjoyable to see former teammates participate in a modified game, perhaps even a softball version.
Jorge Posada, another Core 4 teammate of Jeter and Sabathia, agreed with Jeter’s perspective and expressed skepticism about the practicality of the game. At 54, Posada admitted that he struggles with physical activities and feels that participating in a game would be too challenging. He supported the idea of enjoying the event without the added pressure of trying to play competitively.
David Cone and Mariano Rivera, both former Yankees players, were more open to the idea of reinstating the Old-Timers’ Day game in the future. Cone reminisced about the fun of previous games and indicated that he would welcome another opportunity. Despite acknowledging the challenges in organizing such an event and ensuring the health of participants, Cone remained hopeful that a game might be possible at some point.
