FORT WORTH

Standing next to the greatest closer in the history of Major League Baseball, in a photo of one of the best baseball teams in the modern era, is a relief pitcher who shortly after this picture was taken left for Triple A.

The reason why current TCU director of athletics Mike Buddie is in the team picture of the 1998 World Series champion New York Yankees is because his teammate Darryl Strawberry told him to stick around a bit longer to be in the photograph.

“It was late August (in 1998) and (Yankees) manager Joe Torre told me that day I was going back to Triple A. I had been pitching well but a guy was coming off the disabled list,” said Buddie, who was a professional pitcher for 12 seasons, including two with the Yankees .

“My ego was bruised. I had to catch a flight at 7

See Full Page