BRONX, NY – Hank’s Yanks was a youth baseball team which was founded by Herman Hernandez and Ray Negron. It was sponsored by the late Hank Steinbrenner and with his blessing, the team took off.
It was composed by a bunch of youngsters who came from all types of economical backgrounds. Whether it was poor, middle or rich, they were all equals once they wore the pinstripes. The players were the talk among the leagues as they drew a celebrity fanbase. Names like Richard Gere, Luis Guzman, Alex Rodriguez, Darryl Strawberry and Doc Gooden appeared at their games.
The players also attracted pro scouts which led to them getting drafted, or playing for a college. Two players made it to the major leagues in William Jerez (Anaheim Angels/SF Giants) and Joe Palumbo (Texas Rangers) while two others held bullpen catcher positions in Nate Irving (Cincinnati Reds) and B.J. Lopez (Miami Marlins).
Another player made it to The Show on Labor Day. Outfielder George Valera got called up by the Cleveland Guardians this past Monday and made his way into the lineup as their D.H. He drew a walk and scored a run in his first at bat. A couple of days later, he pinch-hit and singled.
Hank’s Yanks became so popular that other teams with different age groups were formed. Valera was twelve when his coach, the late Sandy Kyrkostas discovered him. Sandy would constantly tell me that George was going to the big leagues. I would respond by saying, “Let’s see what happens when he kisses his first girl.”
I would sometimes pick up George and his father on the streets of the Bronx, and during the whole ride to Long Island’s Baseball Heaven, complex George would not shut up. He would tell me about his game plan of making it to the majors. This midget of a child would yap away as he verbally dreamed on.
One time George was on the mound at the Diamond Nation complex in New Jersey. A batter on the opposing team named Anthony Volpe connected for a home run off of him. George cried like a baby and vowed to get better. His unbelievable work ethic has paid off, as he and Volpe can always cherish the fact that they have a batting average in the major leagues.
Not all the Hank’s Yanks went on to achieve their dreams. Players like Matt Duran, who was a high draft pick, have entered the work world while Ricky Negron, who was drafted twice, went on to become a Suffolk County Police Officer, along with Nick Tedesco, a Division I student-athlete who’s now a State Trooper.
On the other side of the ledger, another player is behind bars serving time for weapons possession, while another one is awaiting murder charges. In a baseball version of The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, Hank’s Yanks has done more good for the players that were a part of the team, and overshadows the few bad ones.
