A pre-production party was held on November 18 at the Cutting Room on West 24th Street to officially announce the filming of what could be a classic baseball movie. It is the first motion picture about the Yankees to receive the approval of the Bronx ballclub since the award winning “Pride of the Yankees’ in 1942.

The film was inspired by the award winning and best-selling children’s books penned by a veteran Yankee employee Ray Negrón. The author, whose life story would also make an interesting movie project, was first hired by George Steinbrenner.  As a teenager in the 1970’s, Ray Negrón, along with his brothers and cousins, was drawing graffiti on the exterior of Yankee Stadium. When Steinbrenner and Yankee security approached, all escaped except Negron. Steinbrenner punished the youngster not by having him incarcerated, but by giving him employment as Yankee batboy. Negrón has worked for Steinbrenner for most of the years since that incident and has followed the example of his mentor, Steinbrenner, by pursuing opportunities to do for others. The proceeds of his first book was donated to the Yankee Foundation.

The screenplay was written by Tom Ellis. He worked on the story for several months to ensure the accuracy of his words. While the words were an honest attempt to recreate the reality of the circumstances in the Bronx, both inside and outside Yankee Stadium, Ellis understood and tried to capture the magical aura of Yankee Stadium in his script.

Baseball is the sport closest to mythology. Babe Ruth can easily be pictured as the human equivalent of Paul Bunyan. The ghosts of Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Thurman Munson, and other deceased Yankee icons seem to still be lingering within Yankee Stadium. Ellis explained, “These ghosts are what the film is about. This film has a greater element in it than even we can understand.”

The presence of Babe Ruth’s granddaughter, Linda Ruth Tosetti, at the party added to the magical aura that envelops the story. Of her attendance and who she represents, Ellis claimed, “We’ve been watched over.” The motion picture’s executive producer, Alfred Zaccagnino, spoke about how these magical elements will touch the emotions of all who see the film, “[It will be] a spiritual reality check that will touch the lives of all who see it…young and old.”

The motion picture has attracted talented professionals dedicated to their craft. Veteran actor and director Robby Benson will direct the film. Benson, a popular young actor in the 1970’s and 1980’s, has become more prominent behind the camera as the years have passed. He is a teacher if the respected film school at New York University, and has directed several films in recent years. Josh Lucas will have a prominent role as Yankee captain Thurman Munson. Sports fans will likely remember Lucas’s portrayal as Texas Western basketball coach Don Haskins in “Glory Road.” Yankees icon Bernie Williams will make his acting debut in the motion picture. He will not be playing himself or even wearing pinstripes, but will be portraying a street musician. All three were at the party and are looking forward to the filming.

The proposed title of the picture is taken from the term applied to the long-time clubhouse attendant at Yankee Stadium, Pete Sheehy. There was a plaque in the dugout of the ‘old” stadium dedicated to Sheehy, and the clubhouse bore his name. Sheehy, who was an employee of the Yankees from 1927 until his death in 1985, was not only the keeper of the pinstriped uniforms, but the keeper of secrets and memories of Yankee players for nearly 60 years.

A 40 day shoot is being planned. The interior and exterior of the “old’ Yankee stadium will be making its final public appearance when the movie is shown. Other scenes will be shot in the Bronx neighborhood where the stadium is located. At the party, Ellis clearly stated, “this is a New York movie. This isn’t Hollywood; this is New York. The film is being planned to open either in late 2009 or at the beginning of the 2010 major League Baseball season.