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New Yorkers Play Ball with Yankee Legends in Times Square

By DNAinfo Staff on July 14, 2011 10:20pm

Bucky Dent at the MasterCard Priceless New York Event in Times Square on July 14, 2011.
Bucky Dent at the MasterCard Priceless New York Event in Times Square on July 14, 2011.
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DNAinfo/Kareem Johnson

TIMES SQUARE — Baseball: $3. Mitt: $55.

Playing ball with Yankee greats: Priceless.

Times Square looked more like Legends Field Thursday when New Yorkers got a chance to play baseball with former New York Yankees Bucky Dent, Mike Torrez, and Bernie Williams as part of a  MasterCard event.

“I’ve been a Yankees fan since 1975,” said Jimmy Rodriguez, 48, of The Bronx. “It was a good experience,” he said after facing off in the batting cage with Dent.

Eager fans stepped up to the plate the to square off against Dent, a former shortstop, and Torrez, a pitcher, in a batting cage set up near the military recruiting station.

Dent is famous for his three-run homer in the AL East tiebreaker game in 1978 off Torrez, who switched to the Boston Red Sox after the Yanks won the World Series the year before.

Mark Torrez at the MasterCard Priceless New York Event in Times Square on July 14, 2011.
Mark Torrez at the MasterCard Priceless New York Event in Times Square on July 14, 2011.
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DNAinfo/Kareem Johnson

Perry, 46, who did not want to give his last name, was in the Yankee’s Clubhouse store nearby when he found out about the event. “I took a chance and came over,” he said.

Sporting a Yankees cap and jersey for the occasion, he said that his dad was at Fenway Park to witness Dent's three-run blast. And he got a chance to step up to the plate against the legendary infielder Thursday in the batting cage. “I hit a foul tip,” he said.

Former Yankees centerfielder and classical guitarist Bernie Williams was also on hand, playing a couple of musical pieces with the Myron Walden Sextet and posing for photos.

Aron Sanchez, chef of the food truck Tacombi, which was giving out free tacos, got some pointers from Williams before he took on Torrez in batting practice.

NYPD Officer Pecora, 27, who works in the Midtown North Precinct, said that he couldn't pass up the opportunity to take a few swings against Torrez.

“It’s a chance of a lifetime,” he said. “I had to take the opportunity.”

And Kelsey Jubinsky, 18, from New Jersey was ecstatic to participate.

“It was awesome," said the life-long Yankees fan. "I felt like an all-star.”