The Yankees’ five-time World Series champion “Core Four” — Mariano Rivera, Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada and Andy Pettitte — were all on hand for a celebration Monday night at Cipriani Wall Street, where 600 zealots paid up to $4,000 for VIP packages to meet their heroes.
Most fans agreed that Bernie Williams should be admitted to the fabled club, thus changing the name to the “Core Five,” but when Steiner Sports founder Brandon Steiner brought Rivera onstage, the pitcher known as The Sandman chimed in, “Not the sleepy Bernie, but the wide-awake Bernie who got so many big hits on four championship teams!” Williams was well-known in the Bombers clubhouse for taking a snooze up to 45 minutes before opening pitch.
Champions from the 1977-78 World Series team were also in attendance, including Reggie Jackson, Lou Piniella, Goose Gossage, Mike Torrez, Sparky Lyle, Willie Randolph, Bucky Dent and Roy White.