MLB signed long term deal with FTX to be its “Official Cryptocurrency Brand,” included FTX emblem on all umpires’ uniforms. FTX also made deal with MLB Players, Inc.-June-July 2021

7/13/2021, “Umpires are wearing FTX patches on their shirts tonight. This is an advertisement and will remain on there for the rest of the season,” sportslogosnet twitter…11/18/2022, FTX files bankruptcy.

“Financial terms of the MLB sponsorship weren’t disclosed, though an FTX spokesman told CoinDesk it’s a five-year deal.”.."FTX.US will become MLB’s first-ever umpire uniform patch partner.”

6/23/2021, “FTX REACHES AGREEMENT WITH MLB PLAYERS INC. FOR GROUP PLAYER RIGHTS,” prnewswire via FTX.US

“Leading Cryptocurrency Exchange Partners with America’s National Pastime to Expand Brand Awareness Worldwide”

“BERKELEY, Calif., June 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — FTX Trading Limited and West Realm Shires Services Inc., owners and operators of FTX.COM and FTX.US (collectively, “FTX”), and Major League Baseball (MLB), today announced a new long-term, global partnership. FTX.US has partnered with MLB in relation to the US, and FTX.COM internationally. FTX.COM and FTX.US have, together, established FTX as the Official Cryptocurrency Exchange brand of MLB. This deal, 

the first-ever partnership between a professional sports league and a cryptocurrency exchange, was established to create increased brand awareness for FTX

and continued innovation for MLB.

In addition, FTX.US has formed an agreement with MLB Players Inc., a subsidiary of the MLB Players Association that manages all of the commercial activities for the organization. FTX will have group player rights

which allows the organization to use

highlights of players in content creation.

FTX.US will become MLB’s first-ever umpire uniform patch partner. Beginning with the MLB All-Star Game, presented by Mastercard, on July 13^th, an FTX.US logo patch will adorn

all umpire uniforms for regular season, Postseason, Spring Training and Jewel Event games.

This new agreement also provides FTX with worldwide marketing rights associated with MLB marks, logos and special events. Fans will see applicable FTX brand promotion around nationally televised MLB games, MLB.com, MLB Network, MLB.TV, social media platforms and more high impact baseball media. FTX and MLB will announce additional partnership activation details at a later date.

FTX CEO and Founder Sam Bankman-Fried commented on the news, 

“It’s an honor for FTX to be the first cryptocurrency exchange

to be associated with the history and tradition of America’s national pastime.

FTX.COM and FTX.US are excited to enter this first-of-its-kind partnership with Major League Baseball. At FTX, we strive each day to make a positive global impact, and there is no better

partner for us to achieve this goal with than with MLB and its international fan base.

We look forward to announcing further details of our long-term partnership throughout the remainder of this year.”

MLB Chief Revenue Officer, Noah Garden stated, “This is an incredibly exciting announcement for everyone in Major League Baseball

as we partner with a global leader in the early stages of their unbelievable growth.

FTX quickly cultivated itself into a worldwide leader in the ever-evolving cryptocurrency industry and continues to build on 

its already impressive reputation.

Our fans have been early adopters in using new technologies to engage with our game. 

We cannot wait to start collaborating with Sam and the entire FTX team.”

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About FTX.US

FTX.US is a US-regulated cryptocurrency exchange, built from the ground up. Our mission is for FTX.US to grow the digital currency ecosystem, offer US traders a platform that inspires their loyalty and become the market leading US cryptocurrency exchange by volume over the next two years.

To learn more about FTX.US, please visit: https://ftx.us/

About FTX.COM

FTX.COM is a cryptocurrency exchange built by traders, for traders. It offers innovative products, including industry-leading derivatives, options and volatility products, tokenized stocks, prediction markets, leveraged tokens and an OTC desk. FTX.COM strives to be an intuitive yet powerful platform for all kinds of users, and to be the most innovative exchange in the industry.  FTX.COM has grown quickly since its founding, becoming one of the most respected cryptocurrency exchanges in the world in less than 2 years.

To learn more about FTX.COM, please visit: https://ftx.com/

FTX.COM is not available to US residents or residents of other prohibited jurisdictions, as set out in its Terms of Service.

About MLB Players, Inc.

MLB Players, Inc. is the business arm of the Major League Baseball Players Association. The Major League Baseball Players Association (www.MLBPLAYERS.com) is the collective bargaining representative for all professional baseball players of the thirty Major League Baseball teams and serves as the exclusive group licensing agent for commercial and licensing activities involving active Major League Baseball Players. On behalf of its members, it operates the Players Choice licensing program and the Players Choice Awards, which benefit the needy through the Major League Baseball Players Trust (www.PlayersTrust.org), a charitable foundation established and run entirely by Major League Baseball players. Follow: @MLB_Players; @Peloteros_MLB; @MLBPlayersTrust; @MLBPlayersInc and @MLBPlayersMedia.

	Matt Bourne or David Hochman, MLB Communications, (212) 931-7878, mlbpressbox.com, @MLB_PR
	Jay Morakis, M Group Strategic Communications, (646) 859-5951, ftx@mgroupsc.com
	Silvia Alvarez, Major League Baseball Players Association, (646) 285-1819, mlbplayers.com, @MLB_PLAYERS

SOURCE FTX.US

https://ftx.com

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Added: “Financial terms of the MLB sponsorship weren’t disclosed, though an FTX spokesman told CoinDesk it’s a five-year deal.”

6/23/2021, “FTX Strikes Sponsorship Deal With MLB, Umpires to Wear Crypto Exchange’s Logo,” Zack Seward, Coin Desk via Yahoo Finance

“Fresh on the heels of the unveiling of the [Miami Heat] FTX Arena in Miami, the crypto exchange is becoming the “Official Cryptocurrency Exchange brand of MLB,” FTX and Major League Baseball said in an announcement Wednesday.

The data-minded traders at FTX crunched the numbers and found sports naming rights to yield the best return on investment for their marketing spending, a source with knowledge of the matter told CoinDesk. Earlier this month, FTX reached a $210 million naming-rights deal with esports team TSM.

Under the baseball deal, FTX branding will appear on all umpire uniforms starting at the All-Star Game in Denver on July 13 and continue into the postseason.

MLB is calling FTX its “first-ever umpire uniform patch partner.”

An MLB spokesman said images of the patch are not yet available.

“FTX.COM and FTX.US are excited to enter this first-of-its-kind partnership with Major League Baseball,”

FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried said in the statement.

“We look forward to announcing further details of our long-term partnership throughout the remainder of this year.”

In a tweet, Bankman-Fried said FTX and MLB have plans on 

“collaborating on products and experiences together.” The deal

includes a provision with the MLB Players Association to “use highlights of players in content creation,” according to Wednesday’s press release.

Naming rights for the Miami Heat arena went for $135 million in a 19-year deal.

Financial terms of the MLB sponsorship weren’t disclosed,

though an FTX spokesman told CoinDesk

it’s a five-year deal.

Calls to the MLB Players Association were not returned by press time.”

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Related

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MLB Commissioner Manfred says sports betting is good for baseball, “fills in the gaps” in the game. NBA Commissioner told Manfred to stop complaining about slow pace of baseball, its pace is perfect for sports bettingApril 28, 2021

MLB Commissioner Manfred: “Outbreaks” aren’t bad! 2.8 million in NY City metro, 23% of population, have antibodies to Covid as of May 6, per CDC. All had been “infected” in the past but most never knew it. “Outbreaks” among young healthy people are good, create immunity!August 1, 2020In "2.8 million New Yorkers have antibodies"

 

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Former Yankee pitcher Jeff Nelson filling in for Suzyn Waldman on Yankee radio for Texas Rangers series, final 4 games of season

10/2/22, “Jeff Nelson @NYnellie43, I’ll be filling in for Suzyn and working with John Sterling for the Texas series on WFAN. Hope everyone listens and enjoys.” WFAN twitter…Game one of four, 3-1 Yankees over Rangers. Double header on Tues., 10/4, final game Wed. 10/5.

Above, 10/2/22, WFAN radio twitter

Above, Jeff Nelson image from his twitter page

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Jeff Nelson was a relief pitcher for the NY Yankees from 1996 through 2000 and again in 2003 where he contributed to ALCS game 7 (photos below). He began his career with Seattle Mariners from 1992-1995, returned there in 2001, 2002, and 2005. In 2004, played for Texas Rangers and in 2006 for a short time with Chicago White Sox.

Photo above, Jeff Nelson cheering after 2003 ALCS game 7, Yankees win 6-5 in 11 innings, Nelson’s fellow reliever Mariano Rivera was winning pitcher, Rivera was also ALCS MVP. Jeff Nelson has dark blue sweater/shirt. Mo pitched scoreless 9, 10th, and 11th, 48 pitches, with score tied. As game ended, Rivera ran back out and happily collapsed on the mound. Jeff Nelson, 10 pitches, was among 6 Yankee pitchers that night, Oct. 16, 2003. Entering bottom of the 8th Yankees trailed by 3 runs, Boston 5, Yankees 2.

In the 8th, the Yankees tied the score at 5-5. Aaron Boone was brought in as a pinch runner in the 8th for Ruben Sierra. In the top of the 9th, score tied 5-5, Mariano Rivera was brought in to pitch. Pinch runner Aaron Boone remained in the game, went to 3B. Rivera continued in the 10th and 11th, score still tied. In bottom of the 11th, Aaron Boone (brought in as a pinch runner in the 8th), was the first batter, hit home run off Tim Wakefield, game over, 6-5 Yankees. In photo below, Jeff Nelson is seen on right as team hoisted Rivera. (Mass Live image)

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Added: Jeff Nelson has also recently appeared on YES Network with Michael Kay and in studio with Bob Lorenz:

Above, 9/17/22, Jeff Nelson with Michael Kay

Above, 9/4/22, Jeff Nelson with Bob Lorenz

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My comment: Been waiting ten years, since Tues., Sept. 25, 2012, to hear former Yankee relief pitcher Jeff Nelson back on Yankee radio filling in for Suzyn. He was a natural, very glad he’s back. Good voice which I wish he'd use in lower registers but otherwise he checks off in everything that matters to me for someone in the Yankee radio booth. I usually immediately turn off anyone they put in the Yankee radio booth who's not John or Suzyn. Jeff Nelson is the only exception so far in 26 years of listening. I just want to hear two people talking to me as if in normal conversation. (Sterling's home run calls are the exception and are tremendous). Every guy they bring in to fill in for John or Suzyn has the same problem: They don't belong on radio. They're not natural talkers. They're a stream of affectations, chirping, continually raising and lowering their voices by a few octaves in the belief that people will think they're talented or that the game is exciting, or to sell tickets. You have to be a confident, natural talker, and almost no one is-other than John and Suzyn. The whole time they put Charley Steiner on with John, I couldn't listen, two or 3 years, whatever it was. I can listen to Steiner alone calling the Dodgers, but he was incapable of give and take in a two person radio booth. I've heard Rick Monday in the booth w. Steiner on Dodger radio, and he's the perfect partner for him because he's not a co-play by play guy, and doesn't seem to aspire to be one. Listeners can relax because Steiner can relax. Monday does a great job just adding nuggets of his own. As a bonus, Monday has a great voice for radio. So if Jeff Nelson is there, I'll listen. If anyone else is there, I won't. For example, Sweeny Murti doesn't belong on radio and I'll turn him off the fastest. Horrible voice, boring, no personality. 

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Added: Two more photos of Mo that day

Above, Oct. 16, 2003, after his 3 scoreless innings and Yankee win 6-5, Mo runs back out to the mound. MLB video, @1:26

Above, Oct. 16, 2003, ALCS game 7, @ 1:27, team mates help Rivera up from the mound, MLB video

 

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“61! With my great respect to the Judge and Maris family.” Billy Crystal-Sept. 28, 2022

9/28/22, “61! With my great respect to the Judge and Maris family." Billy Crystal….Aaron Judge hit two-run homer in the 7th.… Roger Maris, Jr. and Aaron Judge’s mother, Patty Judge celebrate:

Above, 9/28/22, Roger Maris, Jr., and Aaron Judge’s mother, Patty Judge, in Toronto. Final score, 8-3, Yankees over Blue Jays.

Above, “61,” directed by Billy Crystal, released in 2001

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Thurs., 9/2922, “ALL RISE,” NY Daily News front page

“Front page for Sept. 29, 2022: Judge ties Maris with 61st home run. Yankees slugger Aaron Judge blasts his 61st home run of the season, tying the American League single-season record in Wednesday’s 8-3 win over the Blue Jays in Toronto. (New York Daily News)”

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Added: 9/28/22, John Sterling call of Judge #61:

“NUMBER 61! HE TIES ROOOOOOGER MARIS for the American League single-season record with 61 home runs! It’s a two-run JUDGIAN blast! Here Comes the Judge!” Final 8-3, Yankees over Blue Jays. Toronto pitcher Tim Mayza did the honors

Above, 9/28/22, John Sterling calls

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20 year old Yankee fan Michael Kessler who caught Aaron Judge’s 60th home run ball opted to return it and meet Judge: “Any way I could give back to Judge, he’s given so much to the organization, just doing my part”-9/20/22

9/20/22, “Yankees had no issue getting Judge’s 60th HR ball back. Fan who caught it and his friends who were here with him got to meet Judge and talk with him for a few moments.” Erik Boland twitter...Final, 9-8, Yankees over Pirates...20 year old Yankee fan Michael Kessler: “The Yankees and New York City-native Kessler were able to quickly and easily make a deal to transfer possession of the ball to the Yankees….Kessler and his friends received signed bats and balls, and Kessler will get to meet Judge himself. “Any way I could give back to Judge, he’s given so much to the organization,” Kessler said. “Just doing my part.””

Above, 9/20/22, Judge in dugout after hitting #60, John Sterling calls

Above, 9/20/22, Erik Boland twitter

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Added: John Sterling call of Judge’s 60th home run:

9/20/22, “HE’S TIED THE BABE! It’s a JUDGIAN blast! His 60th home run of the year WOW!! All Rise! Here Comes the Judge!”

Above, 9/20/22, John Sterling Calls on Twitter

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Added: Great Newsday back page photo by Jim McIsaac: 9/21/22, “What a great job by photographer Jim McIsaac (don’t think he is on Twitter) for getting this angle. The catcher/umpire faces are what stood out to me, too.” Joe Manniello twitter

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Added: Sterling Cam!

Above, 9/20/22, WFAN radio twitter

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Added: Another “Sterling Cam” site!:

Above: Facebook, April 27, 2022

 

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AL MVP voting should be unanimous this year for Aaron Judge-Jon Heyman

9/15/22, “It’s unanimous here. And so should AL MVP voting be this year.” Jon Heyman twitter

Above, 9/15/22, Jon Heyman twitter...Baseball Reference, Aaron Judge

Added: John Sterling calls on Twitter

 

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John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman honored with their own Talking Bobblehead at Yankee Stadium, Friday, Aug. 19, 2022. WFAN’s Keith MacPherson joins John and Suzyn in the booth

Fri., 8/19/22, Yankee Stadium Radio Booth, “JOHN STERLING & SUZYN WALDMAN TALKING #BOBBLEHEADUNBOXING,” Keith MacPherson, WFAN twitter

Above, Fri., 8/19/22, Yankee Stadium Radio booth, Suzyn Waldman, John Sterling, with WFAN host Keith MacPherson presenting Suzyn and John’s brand new Talking Bobblehead. Unfortunately, Yankees lost the game to the Blue Jays, 4-0.

John Sterling has been radio play-by-play voice of the NY Yankees since 1989. Color analyst Suzyn Waldman has been with Sterling in the radio booth since 2005.

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Added: “John Sterling, Suzyn Waldman, and the Yankee Radio booth,” a blog post I wrote in Oct. 2011. Some of the links are inactive now.

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Aaron Judge hits 3 run, walk off home run in bottom of the 9th, final 6-5 Yankees over Blue Jays. “Here comes the Judge”-John Sterling

5/10/22, John Sterling: “It’s a game-winning, walk-off three-run home run by Aaron Judge! A JUDGIAN blast! And here he comes: Here Comes the Judge! Ballgame over! Yankees win! Theeeeeee Yankees win!” John Sterling calls twitter. Final, 6-5 Yankees over Blue Jays

John Sterling’s live call at link.

 

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Can’t Forget the Motor City: Snowy Comerica Park in Detroit readies for Yankees at Tigers, Tues., April 19

4/18/22, “Comerica Park right now….Should be a lovely Winter Classic between the #Yankees and #Tigers tomorrow."..@ByKristieAckert, Retweeted by Eric Boland

4/18/22, Erik Boland twitter

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Added: “Can’t forget the Motor City," @1:35 in “Dancing in the Street” lyrics, Martha and the Vandellas, released July 1964, Motown label, lyrics by Marvin Gaye, Ivory Joe Hunter, William Stevenson

Above, screen shot, You Tube

 

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Newsday back page, Sun., 4/10/22, “Power Ball, Stanton, Rizzo provide pop as 6 Yankees relievers also go deep in win over Red Sox,” final 4-2 Yankees

Sunday, April 10, 2022, Newsday back page, “Stanton, Rizzo provide pop as 6 Yankees relievers also go deep in win over Red Sox,” final 4-2 Yankees

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Majesty of Yankee Stadium Opening Day sold for bloody US war propaganda. Professional baseball players assembled on the field to great fanfare, fans settled in seats, a captive audience at peak emotion and excitement. What next? The Ukrainian National Anthem. Either play both Russian and Ukrainian anthems or neither-4/8/2022

4/8/22, In Yankee Stadium on Opening Day: “A beautiful rendition of Ukrainian National Anthem,“ “from Yankee Stadium,” Marly Rivera, ESPN

Final score in 11 innings, Yankees beat Red Sox 6-5

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Added: “Beautiful Rendition” of Russian National Anthem with both Russian and English lyrics:

“The anthem was created and adopted in late 2000, and became the second anthem used by Russia since the collapse of the Soviet Union.”

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Added: Metallica in Moscow in 1991 play “Enter Sandman:”

“Live at Monsters of Rock, Tushino Air Field, Moscow”

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Metallica's “Enter Sandman” was of course Mariano Rivera’s entrance music. Following is collection of highlights:

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“Enter Sandman” was even played for Rivera when he was at the White House for an award.

 

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Suzyn Waldman and John Sterling Talking Bobble Head Night at Yankee Stadium, Friday, August 19, 2022

Suzyn Waldman and John Sterling Bobble Head night coming to Yankee Stadium on Friday, August 19, 2022! via Eric Boland twitter, 3/25/22…WFAN announcement says they’re “talking” bobble heads.

John and Suzyn broadcast every Yankee game on radio, WFAN AM&FM in NY metro. August 19 will be Blue Jays at Yankees

 

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Steve Somers will be leaving WFAN amicably sometime this fall, owner Audacy announces-Newsday, Neil Best

“Among other things, Somers is known for his friendship with regular caller and Mets fan Jerry Seinfeld. “Jerry from Queens” returned to the show in April after a long absence.”

10/22/21, “Steve Somers leaving WFAN ‘sooner rather than later’,” Newsday, Neil Best

“Steve Somers, WFAN’s longest-serving daily host, will be leaving the station “more sooner rather than later,” he said on the air early Thursday morning [10/21].

After he made several allusions to his imminent departure early in the three-hour show, callers asked him for more details in the final half-hour or so, and Somers described the decision as a “mutual thing.”

“I’m at peace with it,” he said. “I’m not being fired.”

Somers, 74, said he was offered a return to his old overnight shift but declined it.

Shortly before 2 a.m., he told a caller, “What I’ve done before, I don’t want to do again, working five hours overnight. They made it clear that they wanted to keep me around, but the bottom line is the time period. I would need to recharge the batteries and so forth and so on.

“One thing I don’t want to do is have a farewell tour. [Mike] Francesa had that, and Joe Benigno had that, and I don’t want to go through all of the gladhanding, the hugging and the kisses and all that stuff. That would embarrass me, number one, and number two, I would rather share the information with those people who gave me the support and gave me, really, a life and gave me a career as far as that goes and that’s the audience late at night.”

WFAN did not set a date for Somers’ last show. Chris Oliviero, a senior vice president for Audacy, WFAN’s parent company, issued a statement that said, “Yes, sadly it is true. Steve will be wrapping up his full-time run at WFAN sometime this fall. He is without a doubt one of the most important building blocks in the history of WFAN.

“Steve and ‘the FAN’ became stars together. The voice, the wit, the humor, the catchphrases, all iconic. Now we have to convince him to give us all, especially the listeners, a chance to celebrate him, because he is worthy of the accolades.”

In a subsequent phone interview with Newsday, Oliviero reiterated his priority to arrange a proper sendoff, saying, “We do really want to do something big for him. That’s my job to coax him to do something. I’m going to make that my personal challenge.”

Somers said he might return for occasional appearances as a fill-in and reiterated he will leave on good terms after speaking to WFAN executives Oliviero and Spike Eskin.

“You want to give people a chance who are young and who are talented, and this station is doing that,” he said.

In an interview with Newsday in March, Somers called himself “the last one standing” from the original roster of hosts and indicated he might not be at it much longer.

“Maybe I’m the next one not standing, who knows?” he said.

He added then, “I understand where the direction of the station has gone, and I don’t have any ego problems at all, certainly not at this stage . . . I think so many of the young people at WFAN, both on the air and on the other side of the microphone, are very bright and very, very talented.

“You want to keep up with the times, and again, I totally understand where I’m at at this stage of my life and this stage of my career.”

Among other things, Somers is known for his friendship with regular caller and Mets fan Jerry Seinfeld. “Jerry from Queens” returned to the show in April after a long absence.

Somers had been upset with Seinfeld for several years over what Seinfeld characterized as a misunderstanding, telling Newsday, “Ridiculous. I love Mr. Somers.””

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Yankee Aaron Judge hits two home runs vs Toronto Blue Jays-Newsday back page, Fri. 10/1/21

Above, Friday, Oct. 1, 2021, “All rise and shine, Judge’s two tape measure blasts boost Yankees’ playoff hopes,” Newsday back page. Final, Yankees 6, Toronto Blue Jays 2

 

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