A Weekend With The Bleacher Creatures. By Mike Lindsley

There are certain things you have to do at Yankee Stadium. Monument Park. Peak through the rightfield crack from the Subway. Watch batting practice. Stay for the 7th inning stretch. Take the tour of the House that Ruth Built. Add a game with the Bleacher Creatures to the list. I finally did it. August 2 and 3 against the Angels. "Bald Vinny" is the ring leader. The Creatures stand up and follow his lead in the top of the first inning. Then he proceeds with a fast clap and then….. "Melky…Melky…Melky…" Melky Cabrera, the Yankee centerfielder, salutes the pinstripe loyalists in Section 39 and 41. The Bleacher Creatures go around and around the diamond until every Yankee salutes them. It really is cool. Old Timers' Day on August 2 was even cooler. All the Yankee greats received a nice hand and a roll call just like the current Yankees. Willie Randolph, fresh after being fired by the crosstown Mets, was even there, and the Bleacher Creatures yelled loudly in Willie's favor. They also yelled: "**** the Mets….****the Mets…" Ah…New York. Goose Gossage, Reggie Jackson, Whitey Ford and Yogi Berra were the final four names called. The Bleacher Creatures couldn't stop cheering as if it were 1978 or 1956. The ones who attend the games out there have an appreciation for Yankee history and it is great to see. The best moment of the weekend came when Bobby Abreu couldn't get to a fly ball down the line that landed fair during the Saturday game. It looked like Abreu didn't really try hard for the ball as it bounced into the stands for a ground rule double. Unacceptable for the Bleacher Creatures. On Old Timers' Day, their chant was fitting after Abreu's blunder: "Paul O'Neil….Paul O'Neil…Paul O'Neil…" BRUTAL. After the game, "Bald Vinny" heads across the street and sells his t-shirts. The signs say $10 a piece or 3 for $25. He makes a killing on "Bleacher Creature" t-shirts and anything anti-Boston Red Sox. For some of Vinny's t-shirts visit www.baldvinny.com. Be sure to buy a bleacher ticket at Yankee Stadium. It will be a great experience and well worth your time.