God is a baseball fan

[The Brain]

If God really were a Yankee fan, Lou Gehrig would not have had to stop at 2,130-- forced to retire due to a then-incredibly rare and fatal illness eventually named for him.

George Herman Ruth, the man who <i>made</i> the franchise, would have never had to suffer a single day from the throat cancer which eventually killed him. And maybe he would have lived past the age of 53.

Thurman Munson would probably be gearing up to play on Old Timers' Day right about now. Mickey Mantle, at the now ripe old age of 73, would probably be coaching against Yogi on that day, and maybe trot out to center field one more time, to remind us of what once was. And Catfish Hunter would be the starting pitcher.

Maybe Billy Martin wouldn't have died in that auto accident... maybe he would have managed the Yanks a few more times (he did it on 5 seperate occasions).

Joe DiMaggio would be going on 90, and maybe still talking to us about how someday, someone will surely get to 57 in a row.

Roger Maris would be a few months shy of 70 right about now, and still amazed by how easily McGwire, Sosa, and Bonds all shattered what was, for him at least, one of the most difficult accomplishments ever. More importantly, he would have actually lived to see it done.

When Paul O'Neill, Scott Brosius, and Luis Sojo celebrated the championship over the Braves in 1999, they could have done it with their fathers (who all died that year).

Joe Torre would have celebrated his very first world title (as either player or coach) with his brother Rocco, who died in 1996. And he wouldn't have had to worry about his brother Frank's heart, either.

Maybe if God really were a Yankee fan, he would have made sure the Yanks won in 2001, if for no other reason than to help this city heal.

God doesn't play favorites.