Joe Torre, New York Yankees manager, signs a baseball for Liam Dreher during a visit to Camp Zama Sunday. (Jim Schulz / S&S)
Joe Torre, New York Yankees manager, signs a baseball for Liam Dreher during a visit to Camp Zama Sunday. (Jim Schulz / S&S)
New York Yankee Gabe White, left, gives Angela Taglinao a signed baseball during a visit to Camp Zama Sunday. (Jim Schulz / S&S)
CAMP ZAMA, Japan — Hundreds of people packed the Yano Fitness Center Sunday, lured by the chance to meet a handful of New York Yankees.
The defending American League champions, in Tokyo this week for a two-game series against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays to open baseball’s regular season, sent manager Joe Torre, catchers Jorge Posada and Joe Girardi, outfielder Ruben Sierra, reliever Gabe White and an assortment of team officials on a helicopter ride from the Hardy Barracks compound in Tokyo to Camp Zama for a 90-minute autograph session.
First baseman Jason Giambi, closer Mariano Rivera and reliever Tom Gordon were scheduled to appear but failed to make the trip for undisclosed reasons.
That didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of those who turned out Saturday to get a glimpse of the major leaguers.
“I’m from New York, so I had to come see the Yankees,” said Lt. j.g. Art Keenan, a lifelong fan of the Bronx Bombers who drove his family over from neighboring Atsugi Naval Air Facility, where he works as an administration and legal officer for HSL-51.
“It was a real good event. I’m glad the Yankees were able to take time off to come see the soldiers and sailors before the games start. Seeing the players and meeting Joe Torre was really nice.”
Torre said motivation for the brief visit was simple.
“This enthusiasm brings us down here,” he said, pointing to the massive lines of people that stretched across the gymnasium. “It’s been a great experience. We appreciate that they allowed us to ride on the helicopter over here. We wanted to come and thank the servicemen for making our life a lot more pleasurable back home.”
Girardi was making his second visit to Zama. He was with the Chicago Cubs in 2000 when they split a season-opening series at the Tokyo Dome with the New York Mets, the first MLB games played outside the continental United States.
“It’s a real honor to be back,” he said. “For us to be able to do what we do in our country — the freedoms we enjoy — is a direct correlation to our military and the fine job they’re doing.
“What we’re doing doesn’t compare to what the soldiers do but if we can give back a little bit, it’s well worth it.”
Capt. Eliecer Berrios, who belongs to a U.S. Army Japan training unit at Zama, grew up in Puerto Rico but spent summers in Brooklyn, N.Y., quickly developing a passion for the Yankees.
“I went to see them in the first baseball game I ever went to,” he recalled, “and I fell in love with the Yankees. I’ve been in love with them ever since.”
Said Posada, “The troops do a lot of things that we take for granted. It’s fun to give back.”
