Sporting her “TC” baseball jersey, President Susan Fuhrman literally took a festive group of TC students, alumni, faculty, and staff out to the old ball game at Yankee Stadium Tuesday night to cap off a the 125^th anniversary celebration of “TC Day.”

The gathering represented several new "firsts". Among the 100 students attending the game between the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees were international students who were seeing baseball played for the first time. Others were visiting Yankee Stadium for the first time. And for the first time, the New York Yankees officially recognized Teachers College --- flashing a congratulatory message on the left center field video board in the middle of the third inning, which drew cheers from the TC faithful, all of whom were decked out in their “TC Week” tee shirts.

The game itself furnished more than its share of rare surprises and enduring memories, including: a perfectly executed steal of home (by Vernon Wells); an improbable five-run Yankee rally in the eighth inning, starting with a single by Yankee captain and future Hall of Famer Derek Jeter; and a perfect ninth inning by the incomparable Mariano Rivera, who had jogged in from right centerfield to the customary accompaniment of Metallica ‘s “Enter Sandman.”

While the game’s final score (Yankees 6, White Sox 4) may fade from memory years from now, all TC’ers at the game will never forget a joyful evening filled with TC spirit and pride.

Published Friday, Sep. 6, 2013