The Steiner Sports Memorabilia Blog

By Alex Cohen-Smith Archive

Before Game 6, a few of the guys in the Steiner office were in deep discussion about who was going to be the MVP of the Series. Most guys said Rivera. A few guys said A-Rod. I was sticking with Damon.

No one, not one person even mentioned Matsui. Who would have guessed? Here was a guy who hadn’t started the last 3 games and he ends up winning Series MVP. In an earlier blog I wrote about how I didn’t think Matsui would be back with the Yankees next season. I stand by that statement. But if this was his final game as a Yankee, man-oh-man did he cement his place in Yankee history. A record-tying 6 RBI in his final game, a World Series game, in Yankee Stadium? You couldn’t write a better ending to a strong career in New York.

It has been a madhouse in the Steiner offices since the Yankees won. We’ve been clamoring to get all of the Yankees to stop by the office for signings. Yesterday we were lucky enough to get enough visits from Eric Hinske, Hank Aaron (I know he’s not a Yankee, but Hammerin Hank still deserves a mention!) and the “Warrior” Paul O’Neill.

First off, Paulie looks like he can still play. I’d still hit him three-hole and stick him in right-field for at least half of the current major league ball clubs. It’s not every day you get to talk Yankees baseball with a 5-time World Series Champion (4 w/ Yankees, 1 w/ Reds) the day after the Yankees win a World Series. It was evident he happy for the boys he used to play alongside: Jeter, Pettitte, Rivera, Posada and Girardi, but I could see he definitely still had the itch to get out there and play.

At the end of this blog is an interview with Paul where we asked him a few questions submitted by our Facebook fans. My one question to Paul was going to be about his practice swings in the outfield. Every game, while the other team was getting ready to bat, you could see Paul O’Neill out in rightfield practicing his swing. I couldn’t find a video to show here, but anyone who went to a Yankee game in the late 90’s knows what I’m talking about. Thankfully one of our fans had the same question so I didn’t feel too bad asking him about it.

Today we’re expecting an onslaught on people to stop by the offices including:

• Hank Aaron
• Sparky Lyle
• Joba Chamberlain
• Damaso Marte
• Brian Bruney
• Ramiro Pena
• Dave Eiland (Yankees Pitching Coach)
• Mick Kelleher (Yankees 1^st Base Coach)
• Rob Thomson (Yankees 3^rd Base Coach)
• Mike Harkey (Yankees Bullpen Coach) 

Check out the Steiner Sports World Series Collection right here to get everything from Yankees celebration T-Shirts to signed World Series baseballs!