Homer sweet homecoming for Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton
American League's Giancarlo Stanton, of the Yankees, connects for a two-run home run during the fourth inning of the MLB All-Star Game against the National League on Tuesday in Los Angeles. Credit: AP
LOS ANGELES — Giancarlo Stanton, his mind overflowing with memories of sitting in the bleachers as a kid at Dodger Stadium, smashed a fourth-inning home run during Tuesday night’s All-Star Game that looked destined for his childhood living room.
Officially, Stanton’s blast sailed 457 feet into the Chavez Ravine sunset, and at 111.7 mph, it was the hardest-hit ball of the Statcast era for a Midsummer Classic. But to Stanton, the flight of that baseball traveled much farther, cutting through decades, soaring over the same spot where he used to catch home runs himself.
You can say the All-Star Game doesn’t count. A meaningless exhibition, losing its relevance, a marketing ploy disguised as athletic competition, stuffed into the middle of an exhausting 162-game season. But there’s no way you would believe that after seeing Stanton late Tuesday night, right after being named the All-Star MVP in the AL’s 3-2 victory — only the third Yankee to earn the honor — literally unable to stop smiling.
“I can't really explain how special this is,” Stanton said. “It's hard to put into words that this is reality right now. It's really cool. I mean, I'm soaking it all in ... it’s all full circle.”
How appropriate that Stanton’s special night unspooled in the shadow of the Hollywood sign, because for the Yankees slugger, this All-Star Game was a dreamscape. It was too perfect to come true. On the plane to L.A., Stanton joked with Aaron Judge that he would go deep in his Dodger Stadium homecoming. During pregame BP, when the two staged their own Home Run Derby competition, Judge couldn’t keep pace.
“Big G had me,” Judge said. “I was hitting 'em straight up into the turtle [cage]. He was hitting line drives, just like we saw in the game.”
Or like when Stanton was a local high school star, from Notre Dane in nearby Sherman Oaks, and Dodgers scout George Genovese brought him to the stadium for an audition. As the story goes, Stanton put on a laser show, to all fields, and the Dodgers still passed. When asked Tuesday night about that pivotal moment in his career, almost getting signed by his favorite team, Stanton flashed a wide grin.
“Coulda, woulda, shoulda,” he said.
Yet, Stanton, the L.A. kid, couldn’t be in a better spot than he is right now with the Yankees. He showed up for this All-Star Game with 24 home runs, 61 RBIs and an .835 OPS at the break, for a first-place Yankees team that’s chasing history, as well as a World Series title. To think Stanton was booed soon after his 2018 arrival in the Bronx, with a $325 million target on his back that felt heavier with every strikeout.
But Stanton never once took out his frustration on the fans, either through the media or with any malice directed toward the stands, battling through the boos and the nagging injuries. If there were ever times that Stanton regretted green-lighting the Marlins to trade him to the Yankees, he’s past that now. He’s on the other side — the same dangerous slugger, but in a better place mentally than maybe he’s ever been.
“Yeah, I mean, there's decisions you don't second guess,” Stanton said. “There's decisions that you have to revamp and make adjustments. Just step up to the challenge. When things get tough, you've got two roads to go: You can go backwards, you can run away or you or stick it through.”
It’s obvious the road that Stanton chose, and look where it’s taken him. While the conversation surrounding Stanton the past two days focused on his L.A. upbringing, how he hustled to Dodger Stadium to catch at least two at-bats from visiting sluggers such as Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa or Barry Bonds, the truth is that his baseball life now is firmly rooted in the Bronx.
“He was built for New York,” Judge said. “I know he came over from Miami, and him making that jump right onto a [Yankees] team that was one game away from a World Series, that’s a lot of pressure. But he handled it the right way and continues to be a great leader for us.”
Stanton played a similar role Tuesday night, with the AL team falling behind 2-0 before he crushed the tying blast off — who else? — Dodgers ace Tony Gonsolin, who entered the break 11-0 with a 2.02 ERA. Stanton didn’t participate in Monday night’s Home Run Derby, but his rocket into the left-centerfield bleachers was as impressive as anything launched with those typically juiced balls for what amounts to a longest-drive contest.
“That thing was like he hits them, man,” said Atlanta's Brian Snitker, who managed the NL squad. “He smokes them. Big, strong kid.”
Stanton is not a kid anymore. He’ll be 33 in November, and no longer dreams of being a Dodger. But the flashbacks were vivid during this week’s homecoming. Now Stanton’s focus is making new memories, only in New York, as a Yankee.
David Lennon is an award-winning columnist, a voter for baseball's Hall of Fame and has covered six no-hitters, including two perfect games.
