A remarkably executed mural of Reggie Jackson now stands proudly outside of Yankee Stadium, between Billy’s and Stan’s sports bars on River Avenue just in time for…a disappointing offseason.
Of course, prior to the New York Yankees 3-games-to-1 playoff defeat to an unnamed pair of colored socks from New England on Tuesday, October 9, there was a great deal of hype surrounding the Bronx Bombers and their legendary post season run.
Naturally, Dr. Cary Goodman, director of the 161st Street BID wanted to capitalize on the excitement at the time.
“We were thinking what better way to go into October than a mural of Mister October himself,” Goodman said. He went on to explain that they really replaced a weathered mural of Reggie Jackson from some years ago, as he wanted to assure that Jackson had not been snubbed from the mural series of Yankee greats that surrounds 1 E. 161st Street.
In order to whip up the new shrine to number 44, Goodman gave a call to his own trusty right-hander, mural artist Andre Trenier, whom did the original tribute to Mr. October.
Needless to say, Trenier is no rookie when it comes to Yankee art.
The Kingsbridge native also illustrated Roberto Clemente, Thurman Munson and Aaron Judge and now Reggie Jackson twice in addition to many other legends to wear the sacred pinstripes.
“It usually takes me about six hours to do one of these, sometimes more,” Trenier said before the Yankees belted the Oakland A’s 7-2 in the Wild Card game on Wednesday, October 3.
“I love doing these murals, I grew up loving the Yankees and we all know they’re going to win tonight,” Trenier added.
During that game, Trenier was pulling for Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez to have himself a great night on the field. Since Sanchez and Trenier designed a limited edition Yankees hat together during spring training a few seasons ago, it’s no secret why Trenier was rooting on the stand-out catcher.
While Trenier was working on the mural throughout the night, the real Reggie Jackson was on the other side of the façade, throwing out the first pitch in what would be the Yankees only home win of the 2018 post season. Ironically, when the Yankees defeated Boston late in September during the regular season to clinch home-field advantage for the wild card game, Goodman managed to coordinate a ‘pop up’ parade on 48 hours notice for the Bronx Bombers playoff homecoming from Lou Gehrig to Babe Ruth Plazas.
Goodman is now working with the Yankees on arranging a much more elaborate and thoroughly planned parade for Opening Day, which is only 197 days away.
Not that this reporter is counting.
