NEW YORK — There will be no Gardy Party on Old-Timer’s Day.
Retired New York Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner will not be attending Saturday’s festivities, which include a pregame ceremony honoring the team that won the 2009 World Series at Yankee Stadium. His absence was most notable among a list of attendees that included Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, CC Sabathia and others.
Why can’t Gardner make it?
“All I know is his son has a soccer game on Friday night and he plans to be there,” said Joe Bick, his longtime agent at Meister Sports Management.
Gardner lives in Holly Hill, SC
A Yankees spokesman said Gardner has not responded to messages from the team since his playing career ended after the 2021 season. The spokesman added that Gardner had indicated that once he was done playing, he would stay out of the public eye. Gardner did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Athletics.
The Yankees have announced the list of participants for Old-Timers’ Day, which will celebrate the anniversary of the 2009 World Series champion club: photo.twitter.com/ulzVtrZos8
— Bryan Hoch ⚾️ (@BryanHoch) August 13, 2024
Gardner has not been seen at Yankee Stadium since the end of the 2021 season.
In March 2022, Bick told NJ Advance Media that Gardner still wanted to play and that he wanted to end his career with the Yankees. A deal between the parties never materialized. In November 2021, Gardner declined his $2.3 million option for 2022 and the Yankees declined their $7.15 million option for him, making him a free agent.
On Opening Day of 2022, the Yankees entered a starting outfield of Aaron Judge, Joey Gallo and Aaron Hicks.
Gardner played all 14 of his major league seasons in pinstripes. The Yankees drafted him in the third round in 2005 out of the College of Charleston.
Gardner made his debut in 2008 and helped the Yankees win their last World Series in 2009, playing in 108 games that season. He finished his career with a .256 batting average with 139 home runs, 274 stolen bases and a 100 OPS+. He was an All-Star in 2015 and won a Gold Glove in 2016. In Gardner’s final season, at age 37, he batted .222 with 10 home runs, 39 RBIs and a 90 OPS+ in 140 games.
Earlier this month, The Athletics reported why star forward Aaron Judge honors Gardner before every game at Yankee Stadium, saluting the Bleacher Creatures as Gardner did when he patrolled center field.
“He may not have been the guy that hit 40 home runs every year or batted .320 or was a (multiple) All-Star,” Judge said. “But what this man meant in this locker room, the things he taught me about being a leader and trying to treat people with respect — even what I saw from him and how he treated people. I don’t want people to forget that.”
Starting pitcher Gerrit Cole described Gardner as the Yankees’ “de facto captain” when they played together during the 2020 and 2021 seasons.
For Rodriguez and Sabathia, this will be their first appearance at Old-Timer’s Day. Rodriguez retired in 2016 and Sabathia in 2019. Other debutants include AJ Burnett, Francisco Cervelli, Phil Coke, Eric Hinske, Damaso Marte and José Molina. Core Four members Jeter, Jorge Posada, Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera will also be there.
(Photo of Gardner in 2021: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
