Former Yankee Favorite Flaherty Speaks At Athletic Breakfast
A.J. Martelli
Issue date: 3/24/09 Section: Maverick Sports
It was on July 1, 2004 when John Flaherty stepped up to the plate at Yankee Stadium against the Boston Red Sox in the bottom of the 13th inning. In a heated 4-4 game, Flaherty clobbered a game winning ground-rule double to score Miguel Cairo, beating the Red Sox by a margin of 5-4, and sending the Yankee fans home with smiles on their faces.
On March 13, the former Yankee hero was the guest of honor at the Mercy College softball team's breakfast fundraiser.
Just after members of the Mavericks' softball team served bacon, eggs, pancakes, and coffee to friends, family, and the student body, Flaherty shared personal stories about his life, making it to the big leagues, and what his college experience was like.
"I played baseball for George Washington University," he said. "It was advantageous for me to go into the minor leagues with degrees in speech communication and psychology."
After three years of college, Flaherty was selected in the 25th round of the 1988 amateur draft by the Red Sox. He then worked his way through the minors playing for Elmira and in the Florida State league before finally getting the call to the show in 1992. For Flaherty, getting the big promotion was a unique experience.
"I was actually hung over the day I made my Major League Baseball debut," he recalled. "My friends and I went out for 'sodas' the night before, and of course I woke up late. When I got the call from Boston, they asked me how far I was from Yankee Stadium. I was not that far away and managed to get to the ballpark just in time for the game."
Making his MLB debut for the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium was an emotional experience for Flaherty and he recollected what is was like to be playing in the Cathedral of Baseball in his first big league game.
"It was a whirlwind," he said. "It takes a while to sink in that you are a major leaguer. I didn't even really believe I was until Kirk Gibson told me I was never going back to the minors."
On March 13, the former Yankee hero was the guest of honor at the Mercy College softball team's breakfast fundraiser.
Just after members of the Mavericks' softball team served bacon, eggs, pancakes, and coffee to friends, family, and the student body, Flaherty shared personal stories about his life, making it to the big leagues, and what his college experience was like.
"I played baseball for George Washington University," he said. "It was advantageous for me to go into the minor leagues with degrees in speech communication and psychology."
After three years of college, Flaherty was selected in the 25th round of the 1988 amateur draft by the Red Sox. He then worked his way through the minors playing for Elmira and in the Florida State league before finally getting the call to the show in 1992. For Flaherty, getting the big promotion was a unique experience.
"I was actually hung over the day I made my Major League Baseball debut," he recalled. "My friends and I went out for 'sodas' the night before, and of course I woke up late. When I got the call from Boston, they asked me how far I was from Yankee Stadium. I was not that far away and managed to get to the ballpark just in time for the game."
Making his MLB debut for the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium was an emotional experience for Flaherty and he recollected what is was like to be playing in the Cathedral of Baseball in his first big league game.
"It was a whirlwind," he said. "It takes a while to sink in that you are a major leaguer. I didn't even really believe I was until Kirk Gibson told me I was never going back to the minors."
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