Do We Face a Yankee Curse of Number 13?

Not long ago, Yank fans celebrated the Curse of the Bambino, the hammer of God that terrorized Redsock teams, courtesy of Babe Ruth. That ended in 2004.

That year, Alex Rodriguez joined the Yankees and relinquished Number 3 -- the Ruthian homage he'd worn throughout his career -- to take #13, the universally feared digit of dread.

There were 13 guests at the Last Supper, Judas being the 13th. There are 13 steps to a gallows. Modern buildings skip the 13th floor. Formula One racing does not allow a number 13 car. Traditionally, 13 is the year when girls first menstruate and boys get to watch Seth Rogen movies.

A-l-e-x R-o-d-r-i-g-u-e-z.

Count the letters.

Let's consider the pain and suffering that #13 has brought upon its owners.


Exhibit A: Jim Leyritz. Before 2003, his post-season heroics overshadowed fear of 13. If anything, he was the luckiest player in baseball.

That changed in 2007, when his car crashed into another vehicle, killing a woman. Leyritz blood alcohol content that day: .13.

On Feb. 13, Leyritz was sent to jail due to apparent drinking. Jim Leyritz wore 13.


Exhibit B. Lee Mazzilli. Before 2003, the Yankee first base coach and Joe Torre disciple seemed destined to become a great MLB manager. He scored the job at Baltimore, a rising team, then... poof. Lee Mazzilli wore 13.


Exhibit C. The masses. Reliever Antonio Osuna came to the Yankees with a sterling record. He left with nothing. He wore 13. So did Mike Blowers, Michael Coleman, Curt Blefary, Mike Figga, Torey Lovullo, Cliff Mapes, Lee Stine, Walt "No Neck" Williams... or should it have been "No Luck?"

Their whereabouts since 2003? Unknown.


Main Exhibit: A-Rod. The greatest player of his era, no one ever seemed more immune to a curse.

He has played 13 full seasons in the majors. After opting out of his Yankee contract, he signed a lifetime deal with them on Dec. 13, 2007.

Two weeks ago, Feb. 13, A-Rod's moment in the sun - he was supposed to be dedicating a field in his honor at Miami - was shattered by steroid accusations. He and 103 other MLB players (that's 1-3, with a zero in the middle) tested positive. A-Rod now says he he did steroids between '01-03. (One and three.)


These days, his Ruthian legacy dangles from a test score on a clipboard.


With A-Rod, the Yankees remain mired at 26 World Championships (2 x 13). Have we tampered with a force more powerful than realized?


We at IT IS HIGH hereby call upon the Yankees to assign Alex Rodriguez a new number. He must no longer don the Jason Jersey.


Number 13 should be taken to the site of old Yankee Stadium, or better yet, one of those churches in the Da Vinci Code, where it must be burned and buried beneath stones heavier than C.C. Sabathia.

The Redsocks didn't defeat the Curse of the Bambino.

We handed them the cure... and now wear the new curse on our backs.

A-l-e-x R-o-d-r-i-g-u-e-z.

Count the letters.