Nancy Smith – A Yankee Fan, Indeed

Nice feature today in the Times on a great Yankee fan. Some highlights:

Since 1965, when Ms. Smith first became a season-ticket holder at Yankee Stadium, she has attended nearly 3,000 games. Over the years, she has more than fulfilled her vows as a dedicated fan, sticking with the home team for better or worse, through sunshine and rain delays, game-winning rallies and blown saves.

Ms. Smith has chosen to make each visit to the ballpark with the same two companions: a scorebook and a pencil.

“At any time in my life, it would have been difficult to get someone to come to all of these games with me, which is why I bought just one ticket,” she explained. “So I take along my scorebook, it keeps me in the game.”

When George Steinbrenner, the principal owner of the Yankees, was told of Ms. Smith’s steadfast presence, he was thrilled. “I was touched to learn that she considers the Yankees as her family,” Steinbrenner said. “We’re proud to have people like Nancy filling our seats and cheering the Yankees for so long – she’s a breed apart.”

Steinbrenner then decided to reward such devotion by giving Ms. Smith his own box seat for Thursday night’s game against the Detroit Tigers.

Minutes before the game, the Yankee manager, Joe Torre, wearing a full grin, leaped off the bench to greet Ms. Smith. “I’m getting a kick out of this,” Torre said to her. “You’ve been to more games than I have.”

Ms. Smith, treated to dinner by the Yankees at their Stadium Club before the game and given a scorebook delivered straight from the Yankees dugout, got another surprise in the bottom of the second inning. Alex Rodriguez, the Yankee third baseman, who was swinging a bat in the on-deck circle, suddenly wheeled around toward the owner’s box. “Are you Nancy?” Rodriguez asked.

Ms. Smith, slightly startled, nodded yes. “Thanks for coming out again,” Rodriguez said.

By the bottom of the sixth inning, Ms. Smith, glasses on, head down, was hard at work on her scorebook. Deep in thought, she did not hear Derek Jeter shout, “Hey, Ms. Smith!” So the Yankee captain gave it another try. “Hey, Ms. Smith!” he cried out again.

This time, Ms. Smith looked up, her eyebrows pointing north.

“Nice to see you,” Jeter said.

What a great story.

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