The New York Yankees dropped the first game of the season in heart-breaking fashion. The Toronto Blue Jays ended up winning 3-2 on Thursday, in the first game of the 2021 campaign. Players were surely disappointed, but in the end, there was something comforting about the game: fans were allowed.
Baseball is not the same without fans. The cheering after a great play, the loud crowd screaming after a home run, and the explosions after a crucial strikeout. Players always say that is fuel for them.
Of course, in the middle of a pandemic, it may not be safe for the Yankees to open the stadium in its full capacity. But yesterday, 10,850 people enjoyed a live baseball game in New York for the first time in a while.
As a reminder, last year baseball was played with no fans in the stands, at least the regular season.
The Yankees know that both cheers and boos come with the fans
However, sometimes boos come with the cheers. Yankees’ star Aaron Judge heard some after he struck out in the ninth inning. But when all is said and done, he understand the emotional part of the game for fans.
“It’s part of it; those fans want to watch winners,†Judge said to MLB.com. “They let us know when we don’t do our job, and we didn’t do our job today. It was quite a few opportunities, especially me at the plate with guys in scoring position. I could have given us a lead or done something. We just didn’t execute.â€
Gerrit Cole’s parents, his wife, Amy, and their young son, Caden, were among those in attendance. And the pitcher was thrilled.
“Just to feel the energy of the people in the park was welcome,†Cole said. “My family being here after not being able to see much last year means a lot. It was quite cold early, but it shaped up to be a pretty pleasant day for the most part — outside of the loss.â€