TAMPA — There was another nostalgic scene at Steinbrenner Field on Friday. He returned to Yankees camp wearing a Yankees uniform for the first time since Joe Torre stepped down as manager after the 2007 season.
Torre arrived at the request of Aaron Boone, who called recently while the 83-year-old was at Dodgers camp in Arizona as part of his role as special assistant to the commissioner.
“I looked at the phone and saw it was him and thought it was Dial,” Torre said. “He told me on the other end of the phone to come out and put on my uniform. I said, ‘I’d be happy to go, but I don’t understand the uniform part.’ ”
But on Friday, there he was, wearing a No. 6 navy blue jersey and pinstriped pants, sitting in the dugout and standing next to a buzzer behind the batting cage.
“I couldn’t be more excited to have No. 6 there and see his presence and what he brings,” Boone said before the Yankees’ 6-2 loss to the Pirates. “Just to have our guys be around him a little bit. We’re fortunate to have a number of former Yankees on our roster who were obviously big-time guys this spring. Joe certainly knows what we’re going to do here.” That’s the heading for the list of guys that were there. Anything anyone can learn from Joe, I’m just grateful he gave us a few days here.”
Andy Pettitte, who played for Torre, and Ron Guidry and Willie Randolph, who were on his coaching staff in the Bronx, are both still in camp.
And Boone played for Torre in 2003.
“It’s nice to be back with my old coaches and trainers,” Torre said. “It’s a wonderful homecoming party.”
Torre said he plans to stay for four to five days and said his main goal is to give Boone some space.
“The last thing I want to do is interfere with Boone’s work,” Torre said. “He gave me free reign here.”
Boone is in his seventh season as Yankees manager, only half of Torre’s time as manager.
“I understand the pressure he’s under, but that’s part of it,” Torre said. “I’m rooting for him because I know it’s going to happen.”
