NEW YORK — From the pinstripes to playing “New York, New York” when the team wins, the Yankees are all about tradition, but the team recently righted a wrong that would have broken that tradition six decades ago and allowed a woman to live her dream.
When Gwen Goldman was 10 years old she applied to become a bat girl for the Yankees but was denied the opportunity when her request was shot down by then-general manager Roy Hamey.
Hamey wrote Goldman on June 23, 1961, “While we agree with you that girls are certainly as capable as boys and no doubt would be an attractive addition on the playing field, I am sure you can understand that it is a game dominated by men. [A] young lady such as yourself would feel out of place in a dugout,” ESPN reported.
Goldman had been inspired to help the Yankees when her father took her to her first game when she was 8 years old, she told The Washington Post.
Her dad’s bosses had box seats on the first base line. She took her glove just in case a ball rocketed to her. She told her dad that day, “I want to do that (be a batboy). I can do that. I know how to pick up the bat and throw the ball,” she told the Post.
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Fast forward 60 years.
Goldman’s daughter Abby sent the organization an email about her mother’s dream.
It was forwarded by current GM Brian Cashman, who decided it was time to rewrite Goldman’s history.
Sixty years to the day after his predecessor wrote Goldman telling her no, Cashman wrote the now 70-year-old woman to tell her yes, explaining, “... it is not too late to reward and recognize the ambition you showed in writing that letter to us as a 10-year-old girl,” ESPN reported.
60 years later, in a new letter to Gwen from the current Yankees GM, Brian Cashman invites her to Yankee Stadium to fulfill her dream. pic.twitter.com/FHZK3SIfe5
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) June 25, 2021
When the Yankees took on the Los Angeles Angels Monday, Goldman was there living her dream.
“Some dreams take longer than they should to be realized, but a goal attained should not dim with the passage of time.”#HOPEWeek pic.twitter.com/Ashp6ONmxs
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) June 29, 2021
She threw out the first pitch as part of the Yankees’ 2021 HOPE Week that highlights inspirational people, People magazine reported.
Tonight’s 12th Edition of #HOPEWeek kicked off with honoree Gwen Goldman throwing out the first pitch. pic.twitter.com/lmoPe3lpA5
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) June 28, 2021
This time Goldman had her own pinstripe uniform and even a locker.
At 10 years old, Gwen Goldman wrote a letter to the Yankees asking to be a bat girl.
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) June 28, 2021
Tonight, as a part of the first day of #HOPEWeek, we welcome her to Yankee Stadium to live out her dream 60 years later. pic.twitter.com/ixiFtkkADi
Sadly, Goldman couldn’t notch a win in her belt. The Yankees lost to the Angels Monday 5-3.
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