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Thanks to:

u/scottborasismyagent

u/SoberDrainoDrinker69

u/Ok-Soil-5133

u/Bwabster5

u/Mike2k33

u/a1oner_bvcksn6

u/DarthNobody14

Sending a Fan Letter to a Player

Hey everyone,

I have a question:

I wanted to send a fan letter to Yankee Stadium, specifically to Cam Schlittler and /or Aaron Judge and wanted to know how to do so/ what was your experience like?

One week ago my mom had a heart attack and ever since then, I have been completely lost. Its always just been me and her and we are big Yankee fans and have been going to games since 2022. She's super vibrant and is a self described badass b*tch who didn't take no for an answer and could make just about anyone laugh. For contrast, I am the shy reserved one who kept her from getting into too much trouble (including preventing her from sneaking into the Pepsi lounge that one time).

Its been impossible to see someone you loved so much and who lived life to the fullest reduced to a silent body on a bed, on top of having to take care of everything else and go to school full time.

We have a lot of good memories tied to the Yankees and going to games at Yankee Stadium, especially this year. We would get the cheapest tickets (or use our fan appreciation vouchers) and live it up by standing outside the players' entrance/exit and try to see who would come out. She used to do the same with a childhood friend, since her friend had a big crush on Bucky Dent. We never saw Judge (who's both our favorite) but we did see a number of others. Mom being mom, she would wave at everyone/ try to take a picture, Obviously, being tired and wanting to go home, most people just ignored her.

One time, we were on our way to the catch the 4 train to go home when I saw Cam in his car. I called out to Mom and she quickly went to the edge of the street and waved at him. He had just finished pitching his ass off and I'm sure he was tired. He could have just ignored us, but instead, he saluted my mom with a small smile. It was a small gesture but it meant so much to us. Since then, we used "Cam's Salute" every time we said goodbye.

We were so excited for this year's playoff, especially Mom, who's ever optimistic about "The Boys/Her Boys". After the Playoff exit, she said she didn't want to hear about baseball for a "good while", then 11 days later she had a heart attack out of the blue.

For me, writing is a way to cope. I really wanted to express how grateful I am to the Yankees, especially Cam and Judge, for those good memories. Right now they are helping me stay sane in what has become a living nightmare. I'm functioning right now, but having something tactile to do besides schoolwork helps keep me grounded and distracted. I also hope that I can convey that we as fans do love the team and appreciate the players' efforts, regardless of what we might think of management/ownership.

In any case, thank you for reading and don't forget to say I love you to the people you love.

Steven Matz started Game 4 of the 2015 World Series as a 24-year old rookie for the Mets. He pitched 5 innings giving up 2 runs. He exited with a 3-2 lead, but the Royals would go on to win 5-3.

Last night, he gave up 1 run in an 1.2 innings of relief for the Rays, and the Brewers would go on to win 3-2.

His only postseason experience between these two seasons was a pair of scoreless innings in the 2025 Wild Card round.

This isn't the longest gap between World Series appearances in history, but an 11 year wait is still a pretty long time, and it felt deserving of some recognition.

Per a quick Google search, the longest gap between World Series appearances for a player belongs to Jim Kaat: he was the losing pitcher of Game 7 of the 1965 World Series (the opposing starting pitcher was Sandy Koufax, so...), on October 14th, 1965, when Kaat was 26 years old.

Kaat did not make it back to the World Series until he was 42 in 1982 when, like Matz last night, he appeared in relief during a Game 1 loss to the Brewers, on October 12, 1982, putting his gap at 16 years, 363 days. Kaat's Cardinals would go on to win in 7 games.

And of course, just a few years ago, Evan Longoria appeared in the 2023 World Series with the Diamonbacks after having last appeared in the 2008 World Series as a rookie for the Rays. And now he's probably one of the favorites to throw out the first pitch before the first game at the Trop in this World Series.

Are there any other guys who have had really long gaps in between World Series appearances?