OH, SAY CAN YOU SUZYN!
Waldman has to keep her Opening Day anthem promise to Cole
TAMPA — Suzyn Waldman has a promise to make good on; when baseball comes back to the Bronx, we should all hold her to it. The Yankees broadcaster made an offhand promise to a young Gerrit Cole years ago and it would be the perfect way to welcome back Yankees baseball.
Thursday was supposed to be Opening Day in the Bronx before the coronavirus pandemic shut down the country and suspended baseball indefinitely. As we wait at home, responsibly social distancing to help our fellow Americans and baseball fans, it’s hard not to imagine what that day would be like.
It was going to be the first time that Cole was going to put on the official pinstripes, which he called an “iconic uniform” that he couldn’t wait to wear. The stadium would be all decked out in bunting and the grass glimmering on a cool afternoon in the Bronx. It would have been the first time that Cole was greeted by the fans, heard his name chanted by the Bleacher Creatures and really became a Bronx Bomber.
The home opener is always a big day, but after he signed a record-setting nineyear, $324 million deal with the Yankees, Cole had an idea to make it a little more special for him and Yankees fans.
Waldman had been impressed with Cole way back when the Yankees drafted him in the first round in 2008. Listening to him talk on a conference call, Waldman told Yankees executives she thought he was eloquent, smart and interesting. She was looking forward to meeting him. While it didn’t work out that time — with Cole spurning the Yankees and their reported $4 million signing bonus to play college baseball for UCLA — Waldman remembered her first impression. She got to meet Cole a few years later after he had been drafted by the Pirates and was in his first big league spring training.
She didn’t mince words when she introduced herself.
“You’re gonna make a great Yankee when you get to be a free agent,” Waldman told the young right-hander.
Cole was not shy either. He’d done his homework and shot back: “If I do, you have to sing the national anthem on Opening Day.”
Waldman, a former Broad
way actress and singer renowned for her great voice, chuckled and said “we’ll see.” While she continued to believe that Cole would make a great Yankee because of his work ethic, determination and his willingness to step into the big moment, she pretty much forgot about the promise.
Cole, however, did not forget.
The Yankees heavily recruited him in free agency, including with a rare wine and an iPad loaded with information about the organization and the local area. $324 million helped too.
Waldman smiled knowingly when Cole, his wife Amy and agent Scott Boras arrived at Yankee Stadium in December to be introduced. The 29-year-old stepped into the moment and owned it. She knew he would be a great fit for the big stage in the
Bronx.
After making the rounds doing interviews with the local television networks and writers, Cole went up to do an interview with Waldman and WFAN reporter Sweeny Murti.
“When he came in, came on with Sweeny and me, the first thing he said when I saw him was, ‘Don’t you forget you promised me.’” Waldman said with a laugh.
Waldman has sung the national anthem thousands of times, including many times before Yankees home games. But this one would be special. Not only would it be keeping a long-held promise to the Yankees’ new ace, but it turns out that Waldman has never sung the national anthem in the new Yankee Stadium.
After this long wait, it would be the perfect way to welcome back Yankees baseball.