On Friday, this not-nearly-humble-enough blog highlighted the plight of pit bull Coffee, often seen donning Mets garb in front of Citi Field, allegedly under the control of a shock collar. While the Star-Ledger’s Brian Costa notes Coffee is brought to Yankee Stadium for similar fund-raising activities (“‘she’s a Yankees fan,’ said her owner, 42-year-old Charlie Fernandez of Queens”), he also focuses on another gloomy public display prior to the Bombers’ falling under the spell of the Mets’ R.A. Dickey and a trio of relievers.
Jim Leyritz sat in front of Stan’s Sports World, just across the street from where the Yankees celebrated their ‘96 championship, but in every other sense, much further removed from his glory days. He faces charges of vehicular manslaughter and driving under the influence of alcohol in Florida. And whatever money he earned during his baseball career is apparently long gone.
A photo with Leyritz cost $10. An autographed 8×10 photo of his World Series home run was priced at $30.
“I’m just out here trying to make some money to support my family,” Leyritz said. On the brick wall behind him was a large painting of a Brahma beer bottle.
Leyritz was not the only former Yankee signing autographs outside Stan’s. Seated to his left were former players Fritz Peterson, Mickey Rivers and Joe Pepitone. But none drew as much curiosity from fans as Leyritz.
“Who is that, Leyritz?” a passerby asked his friend. “It is Leyritz.”
The man gave Leyritz a warm embrace, patting him on the back and shaking his hand. And for a moment, Leyritz glowed. Then, as he walked away, the man said to his friend, “He must be desperate for money.”
Not only did Costa miss the boat on the Coffee story, but he blew a golden opportunity to quiz Leyritz about the Newark Bears’ chances in the Can-Am League this season.