Carl Yastrzemski turns 75 today. One of the last of baseball’s tough guys, he’ll tell you about a time when rookie hazing meant punching a guy in the gut and looting his home, the “post game spread” was an X-rated dancer out of Chelsea, and the only valid reason for sitting out a game was that you’d been shot or sent to Vietnam.
As to the scope of his awesomeness? Back in the day, the guy had his own bread and kielbasa. They don’t give that shit to just anybody.
Until Miggy Cabrera did it in 2012, Yaz was the last major league player to win the Triple Crown for batting — a distinction he held for 45 years. I’d say he’s earned his steak and whiskey chaser today.
Enjoy it, Yaz. And thanks for the memories.
