New York baseball fans rejoice as Yankees, Mets make playoff runs

For the first time in more than two decades, the New York Mets and the New York Yankees are in the pennant race, hoping to represent the National and American leagues respectively later this month in the World Series.

“It’s obviously good for New York, the whole state, the city,” said Steven Parnes, a longtime Yankee fan from in East Greenbush. “It’s terrific!”

Joey Lauer, a Siena College baseball player and Yankee fan from Saratoga Springs, added, “New York has always been very good for baseball at the youth levels, high school, college, you name it. So, it’s good that we’re being represented at the highest level.”

While the Metropolitans on Sunday began their quest for four wins over the Los Angeles Dodgers on the West Coast, the Yanks started hosting two games against the Cleveland Guardians in the Bronx on Monday.

Parnes and Lauer joined dozens of Yankee fans in boarding a Yankee Trails bus in Rensselaer on Monday, hours before the first pitch of the American League Championship Series.

“Who wants to drive down to Yankee Stadium, the Bronx, to fight traffic?” said Yankee Trails marketing director. “That’s why we’re here.”

For Panes, at least one Yankee game is an annual tradition.

“It’s a nice son-father thing that we like to do,” he said. “But this is special to get a ticket to this kind of game.”

Mixed in with all the excitement are big expectations.

“Hopefully, they get the win,” said Nick Faiola, another Yankee fan from Delmar. “I’d love to see some kind of home run from Judge or something.”

But win or lose, these baseball fans were enjoying the success the Mets and Yankees have found this fall.

The Mets defeated the Dodgers 7-3 on Monday to level the series at one game each, and are off Tuesday. Game three at Citi Field is Wednesday. The Yankees beat the Guardians 5-2 to take the series opener Monday night, and are scheduled to play game two Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium.

“I mean, it’s great. Hopefully, both of them make it to the World Series,” Faiola said. “Either way, New York wins.”