Yankees Make Special Trip to Virginia Tech
- A Day to Remember and one that Never Will Be Forgotten -

Editors Note: While ballparksofbaseball.com normally covers the business of baseball ballparks, this article provides an insight into a baseball game of a lifetime for the students, faculty, families and community of Virginia Tech on March 18, 2008.

Blacksburg, VA. - On April 16, 2007, the Virginia Tech community suffered the worst school shooting in the history of the United States as 32 members of the Hokie family lost their lives. An outpouring of support from around the world flooded Blacksburg and Virginia Tech in the days and weeks following this tragedy. This included the support from many in sports. Throughout the sporting world, the New York Yankees are known as the Evil Empire and disliked by many because of their storied success as a great franchise. After seeing the tragedy unfolding on April 16th, Yankees owner George Steinbrenner announced that the team would visit Virginia Tech to play the Hokies in an exhibition game to honor the victims of that somber day. Not only did the Yankees commit to play in an exhibition game, but in May 2007, the Yankees donated $1 million to the Hokies Memorial Fund.

The Yankees and Hokies baseball team, led by Coach Pete Hughes, agreed to play an exhibition game on March, 18, 2008. On Tuesday, the Yankees took a break from their Grapefruit League schedule in Florida to fly to Virginia to play the Hokies. All of the big stars including Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter made the trip to Blacksburg. In interviews, many of the players said that they looked forward to the game and helping the Virginia Tech community heal. Upon arriving in Blacksburg, the Yankees first stopped at the Memorial on campus to pay their respects. Fans gathered to see stars that they would normally see on ESPN.

Tickets to the Yankees/Hokies exhibition game were limited as the Hokies ballpark, English Field normally has a seating capacity of 2,000. For the game English Field was expanded as temporary bleachers and a new terrace seating section was added increasing the capacity to 5,300. Nearly 1,000 tickets were given to special guests including families of the victims. Over 14,000 students registered for the 3,000 allotted student tickets to the game. An additional 1,000 tickets were allotted for faculty and staff members. All tickets were free. The spotlight from the media was once again on Virginia Tech, this time for a good cause as members from national outlets including ESPN were at the game. The Yankees official television network, the YES Network, covered the game providing coverage to fans around the country.

Students lined up as early as 6am at the gates of English Field to be the first in the ballpark when it opened at noon to get as close as possible to their favorite stars. For the Virginia Tech baseball team, this was a day they would never forget. None of the players would never have ever imagined being able to be on the same field as the greatest team in sports. Many of the Tech baseball players were just as excited as the fans to meet the Yankees. Nerves were abound for Tech, including starting pitcher Andrew Wells who faced one of the best lineups in baseball. During batting practice, many Virginia Tech players had baseball and sharpies in hand getting autographs from stars such as Johnny Damon.

Prior to the first pitch at 3pm, the Yankees and Virginia Tech baseball teams were introduced. The university honored the Yankees by presenting them with traditional Hokie stone, the signature facade of many buildings on campus. A moment of silence was held for the 32 victims of April 16th and 32 orange balloons were released into the air. Afterwards, the classic chant, Let's Go Hokies, broke out as the Virginia Tech baseball team took the field for the game.

From the stands one could see the nerves as starting pitcher Andrew Wells threw the first pitch to Yankees left-fielder Johnny Damon. The Yankees loaded the bases in the first inning with no outs as Alex Rodriquez stepped to plate. He popped out and the Yankees later scored one run that inning. The Hokies got nearly every player on their roster into the game. Instead of using the normal aluminum bats, for one college game, Virginia Tech used wooden bats, donated by Louisville Slugger. 

Many of the Yankees star players played for three or four innings. After playing for several innings, Alex Rodriquez sat in the Hokies dugout signing autographs for the team and chatting with them. Others such as DH Jason Giambi signed autographs for fans along the third base line. After the game nearly every Yankee player and coach signed autographs for fans that lined up outside the locker room as the team boarded their buses to the airport for their flight back to Florida. Virginia Tech senior Brett Chadwell who attended the game said, "It was a great once in a lifetime experience and I wouldn't trade it for anything." 

The final score of the day, 11-0, did not matter to the Yankees or the Hokies. This day was truly a day to remember for the Yankees and the entire Virginia Tech community.