Billy Crystal will be a Yankee for a day
The New York Yankees will sign actor and comedian Billy Crystal to a one-day contract.
With the approval of MLB commissioner Bud Selig, the Yankees announced that Crystal will sign the contract and work out with the team at Legends Field on Wednesday, before playing in Thursday’s Grapefruit League game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Crystal is a lifelong Yankees fan and directed the movie 61* – a film about Roger Maris’ pursuit of the single-season home run record in 1961.
“I’ve been waiting 50 years for this call,” said Crystal, who turns 60 on Friday.
“I’m overwhelmed by the generosity of the Yankees and Commissioner Selig.
“I know this will be tougher than the Broadway Softball League, but I’m looking forward to helping the younger players – by the way, which is all of them.”
It is unclear what role Crystal will have with the team in Thursday’s game.
“It’s kind of exciting,” first-year Yankees manager Joe Girardi said.
“Billy Crystal has done a lot for this organisation.
“He’s always been a big part of it. It’s ownership’s and our way of rewarding him and saying, ‘Thanks for everything that you’ve done’.”
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