Great night for baseball inside the Jetport

FROM KEITH GROLLER

There were lots of smiling faces inside the Sheraton Jeport on Friday where the Lehigh Valley Yankees Fan Club hosted their favorite team's 27th world championship trophy for several hours.

It wasn't exactly fun at the 'ol ballpark, but it was the next best thing.

With the IronPigs out of town, and both the Phillies and Yankees playing late games on the west coast, baseball fans may have needed a fix for their passion early on Friday night and they found it at the Jetport where lots of memorabilia and camaraderie was on display, in addition to the trophy.

Chuck Frantz, president of the local club, said that the line began forming outside the ballroom at 3:45 on Friday, 75 minutes before the event was set to begin.

A steady stream of fans kept filing through for more than three hours.

For those who weren't there last Nov. 4 when the Yankees beat the Phillies 7-3 in Game 6 of the 105th World Series, this offered them a chance to relive the joy of the moment all over again. For Yankees fans, the nine-year drought between titles felt like 90.

And having the troiphy here was like having the holy grail come to them.

I am sure there are many baseball fans, especially Phillies and Mets fans, who wouldn't have been caught dead at the Jetport on Friday night.

The Yankees are one of those polarizing thngs in life that you either love or hate.

But whether you love or hate the team, you should at least respect what the Yankee Fan Club does.

No, they just don't cheer on their team, even though they do run several bus trips per year to Yankee Stadium and minor-league affiliates.

They have many events that raise money for worthwhile causes, including a volunteer team that goes up to the Miracle League. every weekend right through the spring, summer and fall.

Maybe you think they are funded by the Yankees and have all of their money handed to them. But they are not affiliated with the Yankees and get nothing from the team, except some respect.

They are a separate organization that just happens to be bonded by a love for a baseball team.

Alfred Santasiere III, the Yankees director of publication, sees a well-organized, dedicated and passionate group with the Lehigh Valley fan club and that's why he made the arrangements to have the trophy come here on Friday night.

"These are great people," he said. "I'll always come back here when invited."

By the way, the newest Yankees' produced book -- called simply "Twenty-Seven" is available for purchase.

Santasiere had them at the Jetport on Friday night.

He told me it was put together in two weeks after the Series and the victory parade, and is very proud of it. It is the perfect keepsake for Yankees fans.

It is available by calling 1-800-GOYANKS or by going to www.yankees.com

FROM KEITH GROLLER