Yankees Classics
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Yankees Classics is a program on the YES Network which features classic games featuring the New York Yankees.
Each game is hosted by Yankees radio announcer John Sterling, who discusses the game's impact on Yankee history at the beginning and end of the telecast.
When it debuted in 2002 as one of the first shows to air on YES, Yankee Classics only consisted of regular season games from the team's local broadcasts from WPIX, MSG Network and WNYW. In 2003, YES acquired rights to rebroadcast playoff games that aired nationally.
The logos of the original broadcasters were originally covered by the YES Network logo, but were then replaced by a Yankees logo. The announcers used are a combination of the Yankees radio announcers, and the local and national broadcasters used during the telecast, with the audio feed constantly changing during the game from one announcing team to another, possibly to prevent advertisements or station promos to be heard, or to include Yankee broadcasters Sterling and Michael Kay giving calls of a Yankee's home run, and of Sterling's preferred closing: "Ballgame over! Yankees win! The-e-e-e Yankees win!"
Games are frequently shown either on their anniversary or on a day when the present-day team is playing the same opponent. (For example, on October 2, or when the Yankees are scheduled to play the Boston Red Sox, the 1978 playoff game for the American League Eastern Division title, featuring the improbable home run by Bucky Dent, will be broadcast.) Other possibilities include a game in which a particular player figures prominently being aired on his birthday. (For example, on June 26, Derek Jeter's birthday, the network may broadcast Game 4 of the 2001 World Series, which Jeter won with an extra-inning home run.)
As with other rebroadcasted games, some innings are skipped due to time restrictions.
Yankees Classics has been criticized for showing recent games, including those from the current MLB season, when they have a vast library of games which haven't been seen in decades. For example, although Ron Guidry's 18 strikeout game and the 1978 playoff game are frequently aired, YES has thus far not shown any games from the 1978 ALCS or World Series, which featured memorable games. Also outside of Dave Righetti's July 4th No hit game there have been no broadcasts of any Yankees games from the 1980s.
