What better way to spend your Saturday than with reading another edition of Behind Bronx Pinstripes? I drilled our BP Instagram man, Brian Capozzi, let’s see how he faired with the rapid fire.
JM- Starting off with an easy one, how did you get involved with BP? What is your role in the team?
BC- Back in 2009, I had created my own blog called BronxBombersBeat.com that I just wasn’t able to maintain by myself, so it eventually fell apart. Fortunately though, I knew Bronx Pinstripes founder Scott Reinen’s brother and in the winter of 2011, Scott brought me on as a contributor. My first article was titled, “Yankees Displaying Patience With Yu Darvish“. Yeah, that was a while ago. Currently, I am managing the Bronx Pinstripes Instagram community, along with #BronxFaithful and Player of the Week articles. It’s been an incredible 3 and a half years with this team.
JM-The guys started it on the podcast, but what is your ‘Walk Up’ song coming up to the plate?
BC- My taste in music has changed so much throughout my life, but the one thing I do know, is that when I am playing any kind of sport, I need something that pumps me up. My go to song over the past few years is Foo Fighters “The Pretender”. It’s what I listen to at the start of every workout.
JM- Who is your favorite Yankee of All-Time? Your favorite NON Yankee? If there was one player in the history of baseball that you would want to see play- past or present, who is it?
BC- My favorite Yankee of All-Time will have to be Derek Jeter. I mean, the man entered the bigs for the 1st time in 1995 when I was an impressionable 12-year-old looking for a role model. Then when he became an everyday player, he was became the guy I wanted to be… a class act on and off the field. My favorite non-Yankee has to be Ken Griffey Jr. That swing… my God… that swing!!! It belongs in a museum! He patrolled centerfield with grace, and played the game the right way. Was always fun watching him at Yankee Stadium. If I could go back in time, I would love to see Mickey Mantle play. From the mammoth home runs he hit, to his speed out of the batter’s box, he must’ve been extremely entertaining to watch in the 50’s/60’s. Babe Ruth is a VERY, VERY close 2nd.
JM- You’re at the Stadium for a game, what’s your go-to drink/food order?
BC- Have I been tailgating or not? Ha, usually my go-to beer is a Goose Island IPA (since that the closest thing they have to craft beer in the stadium), and as for food, I gotta go with my childhood favorite of chicken fingers and fries.
JM- What is your most memorable moment sitting in Yankee Stadium?
BC- How much space you got? Wow, I don’t even know where to begin with this question. I am going to give you three in order. Honestly, depending on my mood each day, the list could be flipped. Derek Jeter is the theme…
1) Derek Jeter’s 3,000th hit: I was fortunate enough to be invited to the game last minute by a co-worker. He was the first Yankee to do it, and the 2nd MLB player to homer for the 3,000th hit. HISTORY, WITH AN EXCLAMATION MARK.
2) Derek Jeter’s “The Dive” game: it was the summer of 2004, I was 21 and going to a lot of Yankees games. Just so happened to pick July 1st. I remember thinking the game would be lame because it was Pedro Martinez vs. Brad Halsey. Little did I know that it would end up being one of the greatest regular season games ever. Both teams fought back and forth, players were giving up their bodies. It was electric in the stadium.
3) Derek Jeter’s “Final Yankee Stadium Game”: I bought a season ticket package JUST so I could be guaranteed a seat to watch this. The Yanks were out of it, and this night was simply all about Derek. With the Yankees leading going into the 9th, not a single person would’ve thought that Jeter would have a chance to win it in the bottom of the inning. Well he did! I gotta say, I have never seen more grown men tearing up then at that moment.
JM- If you were on the Yankees, what position would you be playing?
BC- In high school, I played a little of everything, 1B, SS, and pitcher. In college, I was converted to 3B which I fell in love with, so look out Chase Headley, Brian Capozzi is coming for your position!!!
JM- Since you’re on the Yankees now, you hit a HR- what’s Sterling’s radio call as the ball leaves the park?
BC- I’ve been thinking about this ever since I first heard, “BERN, BABY, BERN”. I have two… would love to leave it to the readers to pick…
1) “OH BRIAN, has got the pitcher CRYIN’!!”
2) “CAPOZZI… hit that one on the nosey!!!”
JM- I love, love, love the second one. I’m sending it to Sterling now- just in case you have a career change. When you aren’t watching the Yankees, what are you most likely doing?
BC- A lot of things occupy my time when I’m not watching the Yankees. Golf, traveling, and getting ready to be a dad!!
JM- With a baby on the way, you will have an influence on their baseball movie acumen, what is your Top 3 baseball movie list?
BC- I don’t know why this is such a debated question amongst baseball fans… it’s simple:
1) Sandlot
2) 61*
3) Major League
JM- You also said you’re a golfer- who is your dream foursome, and what course (anywhere in the world) are you playing on?
BC- Derek Jeter, Michael Jordan, and Tiger Woods. They are all champions, and I am sure that stories I would hear for those 4-5 hours would be absolutely incredible! My dream course to play would be The Old Course at St. Andrews. I’d get my butt kicked big time, but it’d be enjoyable as hell!
JM- Dream vacation spot, or your favorite vacation you’ve been on?
BC- That’s tough… let’s just say I want to do a full tour of Italy, and relax for a few weeks in Fiji!
JM- Since you are the master of the BP Instagram, who is your favorite “non-Yankee”/ “non-baseball” Instagram profile to follow?
BC- I’m a sucker for anything that’ll make me laugh. With a kid on the way, I have been enjoying ‘Kids are the worst’
JM- If you could break one record in baseball what would it be?
BC- Joe DiMaggio’s 56-game hitting streak. No doubt about it! Baseball is one of those sports where you can fail 70% of the time, and still be considered VERY successful. To be able to get a hit in 56 straight games shows consistency which is extremely hard in baseball. Besides dreaming about breaking this record, I really believe that this record will NEVER be broken.
JM- Hitting a walk-off HR in the 9th of the 7th game of the World Series, Scoring the winning TD in the Super Bowl, Hitting a winning three in game 7 of the NBA Finals, Scoring the winning goal in overtime of Game 7 in the Stanley Cup, Winning an Olympic Gold or Winning the Masters– which do you win?
BC- Walk-off homer!!! I still remember watching Aaron Boone’s walk-off homer in Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS. The craziness that ensued was unreal! Hitting a home run is one of the hardest feats in sports to do. To accomplish that AND win the World Series at the same time…. HECK YEAH! Sign me up!
There you have it! I’d say Brian passed the test with flying colors! Make sure you check out his work on the BP Instagram account as well as his own Twitter (@Brian_Capozzi) page for more Yankees fun.
Next volume of Behind Bronx Pinstripes will come with the Yankees historian of Bronx Pinstripes and self-proclaimed “Hawkeye”, RJ Loubier. Make sure you check it out!
