To understand Yankee history, we need Gordon Lightfoot

A devious friend (Met fan, of course) visited a nautical history museum recently and sent these phone pics. They tell a story I've never heard, a haunted legend of the Great Lakes.. the tale of the Henry Steinbrenner. 

Sherman, set the Wayback to spring of 1953...

Note: To my knowledge, nobody called her "Hank," or "The Yankee Clipper." Steinbrenner was a Clevelander with no affiliation to the Bronx. Nor was there ever a ship to be named "Hal." 

All four Henry Steinbrenners went down, in one way or another. But the end of the line came on May 11, 1953. 

The weather started getting rough, the tiny ship was tossed. If not for the courage of the fearless crew, the Henry would be lost. 

Facing 80-mph winds, with conditions deteriorating, the crew abandoned ship and climbed into life rafts. Many didn't make it.

For decades, nobody knew the wreck's location. It was believed to be somewhere off the coast of Michigan. 

In fact, according to my friend, the wreck was found on Oct. 31, 2024, in the fifth inning of game five. He added his comment to the exhibit.

The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down, of the big lake they call "Gitche Gumee." Superior, they said, never gives up her dead, when the gales of November come early.

On that note, tomorrow, we'll start taking predictions for the annual IT IS HIGH Yankee win-total for 2025 - our 'bragging rights" contest for fan supremacy. I believe we will add a physical prize, donated by commentator Carl J. Weitz. We're working on it. 

Along with the number of Yankee wins in 2025, this year's tie-breaker predictions will be: 

The number of HRs Aaron Judge hits. 

And the final batting average of "The Martian," Jasson Dominguez. 

Get out the windsock. Check your tea leaves. And, as a wizened cook surely said, when at 7 p.m., the main hatchway gave in: "Fellas, it's been good to know ya."

Final note: I guess something needs to be said. But I don't think there are words to describe our feelings over the death of Brett Gardner's son this weekend. Hearts broken.