We here at Bronx Pinstripes are rather fond of Seinfeld, if you couldn’t tell by the references peppered throughout our articles. So you could imagine our glee back in the day when worlds collided and Yankee players made cameos on the show. Despite being a big Mets fan, Jerry Seinfeld had no problem putting Yankees on his show about nothing. With Bernie Williams Day coming up at the Stadium, let’s take a look back at the time he, along with other players, made appearances. They’re real and they’re spectacular!
Danny Tartabull – 1994
Danny was actually in two episodes, The Chaperone and The Pledge Drive. In the first appearance, George gives him some pointers on how to “improve” his swing and after seeing how sweaty he is in the jersey gets the idea to have the team wear cotton uniforms. We all know how well that went.
In his second appearance, while getting driven by George to a PBS pledge drive, they get cut off and flicked off, George thinks. George then drives an hour out of his way to give the driver a piece of his mind causing Danny to miss the fundraiser. While in the car, we learn just how fancy Danny is as he eats his doughnut with a knife and fork.
Buck Showalter – 1994
Buck was in The Chaperone along with Danny. When George comes up with the cotton uniforms idea, he takes it to the Yankee skipper who says “I think you may have something there George.”
Paul O’Neill – 1995
Paulie is paid a visit from Kramer in The Wink when Kramer accidentally sells a birthday card signed for The Boss by the whole staff. The kid in the hospital who has it will give it back in return for 2 Paulie homers. This appearance is my personal favorite solely because of the interaction between Kramer and Paulie, who is genuinely confused. Kramer tells him he promised the kid he would hit him two homers and Paul is not happy. It’s gold!
O’Neill: That, that’s ridiculous. I’m not a home run hitter.
Kramer: Well, Babe Ruth did it.
O’Neill: He did not.
Kramer: Oh, do you say that Babe Ruth is a liar?
O’Neill: I’m not calling him a liar but he wasn’t stupid enough to promise two.
Kramer: Well, maybe I did overextend myself.
O’Neill: How the heck did you get in here anyway?
Bernie Williams and Derek Jeter – 1996
Bernie and Derek got a hitting lesson from George in The Abstinence. George’s girlfriend gets Mono which means no sex. Without sex constantly on his mind, things become clearer allowing him to realize his full intellectual potential. As a result, he tries to pass on some of that wisdom to Derek and Bernie showing them how to hit a home run. “Guys, hitting is not about muscle. It’s simple physics. Calculate the velocity, v, in relation to the trajectory, t, in which g, gravity, of course remains a constant. It’s not complicated.” Jeter then reminds George that they just won the World Series.
The Boss – 1996
The Boss appeared in The Invitation but ultimately wound up on the cutting room floor when the episode ran long. Elaine barged into George’s office to tell him she isn’t going to his wedding because she didn’t have a date. Cue The Boss. He enters upon hearing Elaine’s dilemma and offers to take her to the party. In classic Boss fashion he tells her to “lose a little weight, get into shape and when they throw the bridal bouquet you’ll maybe get it.”
These appearances made an already great show even greater. Seinfeld was in its prime when the Yankees started to take off in the 90’s and they went together like Elaine and little kicks.
