Titles. Pro stars. Memorable moments. Albany has a rich sports history, so I took to Facebook, and asked you: what is the most iconic moment in Albany sports history?
Sports fans in the Capital Region have been lucky enough to see a few championships over the years. Do you remember these ten stories of teams winning titles?
The Albany-Colonie Yankees existed from 1985 to 1994, but within that decade, a number of players would go on to have incredible careers in Major League Baseball.
One of the few pro athletes ever to play multiple sports, Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders spent part of 1989 playing minor league ball in the Capital Region.
The New York Yankees have brought home one of their own. A once popular prospect around the diamond at Heritage Park, former Albany-Colonie Yankee, Hensley 'Bam Bam' Muelens is heading back to a life in pinstripes. Muelens spent parts of the 1988 and 1989 seasons playing for the former Bronx Bombers AA affiliate, whom once resided near Albany Airport.
As Yankees legendary shortstop Derek Jeter tells it, in the spring of 1992 Williams stood up for, a then 19-year-old, Jeter against an older veteran infielder that was hazing the newcomer. Jeter said that Williams 'saved' him. That moment cemented a life-long friendship. On Monday, it was Jeter that made the announcement of Gerald Williams passing on Twitter.
Instead of a gift card of cash, here are ten perfect gift options for the Albany/Capital Region sports fan in your life, available for purchase on eBay.
Let's take a trip back in time, and remember New York Yankees' hurler Ron Guidry's memorable night in the Capital Region, pitching for the Albany-Colonie Yankees.
The Capital Region has a rich history when it comes to the sport of baseball. Minor league baseball has been weaved in the fabric of this area for decades. From the Albany Senators, to the Albany-Colonie A's, to the A-C Yankees, then Diamond Dogs and now the Tri City ValleyCats, this community has witnessed greatness in many stages on local diamonds.
It is a long time coming for Yankee fans. Finally "The Captain" Derek Jeter will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown today. For me, Derek Jeter will always be the best Yankee that ever played the game. I was fortunate six years ago to meet Derek Jeter and ask him a couple of questions. I even made "The Captain" laugh.
Mariano Rivera is one of the faces of New York sports, which makes it weird to think that he spent some time playing in the Albany area before getting his break in the Major Leagues. However, he did just that as a member of the Albany-Colonie Yankees in the number 32 moment of our countdown.