Freddy No Longer Sez

Anybody who has been to Yankee Stadium any time during the last 22 years knows Freddy Schuman.  Maybe you don't know him by name, or even if you saw him, but you're a fucking liar if you say you've never heard that distinct sound of cheap spoon banging against even cheaper pan.  Missing no more than a handful of the 81 home games a year (think two to five missed games a year.  maybe less) On my estimation, Freddy has been a stadium mainstay for almost 1,700 games.
Something that i find particularly interesting in Freddy's saga is the fact that he is the closest thing we Yankee fans have to a mascot.  That's right, the mascot of a $200 million organization is a one eyed, one toothed, raspy voiced old man.

Freddy Schuman

May 23, 1925 - October 17, 2010

Freddy's pan and spoon is currently en route to Cooperstown for enshrinement in the Baseball Hall of Fame.  This is the tradition that the Bombers espouse.  We have more fans in Cooperstown than the Pirates have players.  

Former Mayor Giuliani once said "He's an embodiment of the die-hard Yankee fan. If Freddy isn't there with his pan, it doesn't feel right. It feels like there's something missing."

Something's missing, alright.

I was one of the lucky thousands who got to bang Freddy's pan.  It was the first pan i banged, and I will never forget it.
Here's to you, Freddy.  Let's hope the team brings it home for you.