Flowers, Food, And Four Female Generations Of Yankee Love

When thinking about my greatest moment in sports my mind immediately goes to baseball because of all the amazing experiences involving baseball I have had – like my mom and grandma bringing me to the 2009 World Series Parade at only 11 months old, and hearing about how they pushed me in my stroller up Broadway to the City Plaza. Or getting my first Yankee Jersey. Or the countless amount of Sundays in the kitchen with my mom and grandma making our family recipes for Sunday night dinners, while taking breaks to watch the game going on. – But my greatest moment in sports is always the second weekend in May, right after mothers day.

Every Mother’s day typical gifts like jewelry, or chocolates, or gift cards aren’t what my mom and grandma wanted. Instead all they wanted for mother’s day were tickets to a Yankee game. Baseball has always been very important to my family; being from the Bronx. And my connection to baseball is all thanks to my mom and grandma. In recent years I have also started to go with them to the Yankee Game after mother’s day. These games are always so special to me because I get to celebrate the two most impactful women in my life, in a place that holds so much family importance. But where did this importance of Baseball come from?

I decided to interview my mom and grandma to learn more about the importance of Baseball in our family, the new tradition of going to a Yankee Game after Mother’s day, and how the importance of baseball has passed through generations in my family. \

Interview with my mom:

Q: How long have you and Mummy (my grandma) been going to a Yankee game after mother’s day? Who’s Idea was it?

A: We have been going to Yankee games for Mother’s day for the last 10-15 years. It was Mummy’s idea because she can never think of anything she wants for a gift, and one year she said “Lets just go to a Yankee game” so we did, and have just continued to do so.

Q: Has mummy had a big role in your connection to baseball? Did she bring you to a lot of games as kids? Or talk to you about baseball?

A: Yes, growing up we always went to games at least once a year. We also would always just have the games on at home. Now as an adult it is usually just me and Mummy going to baseball games now that family has moved away.

Q: What is your favorite baseball memory you have with Mummy?

A: When me and Mummy saw Derek Jeter’s one and only grand slam on Mummy’s birthday in 2005 at Yankee stadium, when they played against the Cubs.

Q: Has there been any other women in our family older than you and mummy that also had a love for baseball? How did their connection impact you?

A: My grandmother Gigi Grams always went to games as a kid, and she was alive during the greatest era of baseball - Seeing players like Mickey Mantle, Lou Gehrig, and Joe DiMaggio - Even though I never got to go to a game with her my grandmother always had the Yankee game on, and would always share her amazing memories involving baseball with me as a kid.

Hearing about my great grandmother’s connections to certain players really reminded me of mine, my moms, and even my grandmother's connection to certain players. After talking to my mom I learned more about my great grandmother's favorite player which was Lou Gehrig, one because he was a good player but also because he was a good person. My great grandmother’s favorite player wasn’t a stereotypical favorite of most girls during her time like Joe Dimagiggio, who was more known for his looks. This made me think about how all of us have similar favorite players. My mom’s favorite player was Andy Pettitte during the time of Derek Jeter. My grandmother’s favorite player was Don Mattingly during the time of Mickey Mantle, and even myself during a time where Aaron Judge is beloved by most (especially girls) . My personal favorite is Oswaldo Cabrera because he's a good player who isn’t talked about enough. All of our favorite players really reflect the genuine connection we all have to the sport of baseball itself, not just the fan favorites of our time.

Q: Are you happy that I started going with you and mummy to the Yankee game after mother’s day? Is this a tradition you hope continues for generations to come?

A: Yes I am happy that you wanted to come and have found a new love and appreciation for baseball through me and Mummy, and I really hope this is a tradition that continues for many years.

Interview with my grandma:

Q: Mom told me that Gigi Grams (my great-grandmother) had a special connection to baseball. Did your love for baseball come from her? If yes, what impacts did she have on you and your connection to baseball?

A: Yes, my mom had a huge love for the Yankees and it was always on at our house. Even when my mom was growing up the Yankees were always on because of her brothers. So when I was growing up no matter if I was at my house, my grandmother's house, or my uncle's house the Yankees were on.

Q: Was it important for you that your kids also had a love for baseball as they grew up?

A: It was important that my kids had a love for baseball but specifically the Yankees as they grew up because of mine and my mom’s love for baseball.

This answer really felt special to me because even as I grew up I felt the importance of all sports but specifically baseball in my family, which I am learning came directly from my great grandmother. I just like my mom was put into softball at a young age, and all my male cousins were put into baseball, and at every game the whole family would be there supporting..Baseball was not just a part of our childhoods it was a part of my family as a whole.

Q: What is your favorite baseball memory you have had with Gigi Grams and/or with mom?

A: When I was 17 the Yankees hadn’t won a world series since before I was born. so when they won the world series in 1977 and me and my mom watched Reggie Jackson hit 3 home runs that game and win the World series it was a very special moment for me and my mom. My favorite memory with your mom other than when Derek Jeter hit a grand slam on my birthday, is when she was little and we were sitting in amazing seats in the front row on the visitors side of Yankee stadium and we harassed a player on the other team throughout the entire game.

Q: if Gigi Grams didn’t have as big of a love for baseball as she did, do you think our family would have had as big of a connection to baseball as we do?

A: I think without Gigi Gram's our connection to baseball in our family wouldn't be as strong, but growing up in the Bronx we still would have had a love for the Yankees.

Q: Are you happy that I started coming with you and mom to the Yankee game after Mother’s Day? Do you hope that this tradition continues?

A: Yes, It is great that I get to make these new fun memories with you, and it is something I look forward to every year.

After interviewing my mom and grandma and learning more about my great-grandmother's connection to baseball. My love and appreciation for the game we go to after Mother’s Day has grown. Knowing that my great-grandma started this love for baseball and the Yankees in my family, passing this love down all the way to me is so special to me. This is why the Yankee game after Mother’s Day is the greatest sports moment for me. The love, connection, and experiences the Yankees have brought to the women in my family is important and definitely something I will continue in my family.