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Revision as of 04:29, 21 April 2008
New York Yankees 1972
In 1972, Nissan made a deal with the New York Yankees baseball team to give a Datsun 1200 as the bullpen car. It was white with black pinstripes, like the Yankees uniforms. Bullpen cars were used to bring a pitcher to the mound from the bullpen, the practice area where pitchers warmed up during the game.
There was also a contest where fans could win this pinstriped Yankee Datsun 1200.
The 1200 was eventually taken out of service when rats chewed through the engine cables.
One memorable moment: While "Pomp and Circumstance" played, star closer and practical joker Sparky Lyle emerged from the Yankee 1200 and threw his jacket down. Soon he was doing the local "Datsun Saves" commercial. Even after they switched the bullpen car to a Toyota, Lyle kept doing the Datsun commercials. The announcer could never keep it straight ("Here comes Spah-ky in the Datsun.....I mean, Toyota") .
Andy The sight of Lyle in his Datsun was the first time I'd ever even heard of that car. I went out and bought one the minute my Volkswagen punked out. Couldn't find a pinstriped version, though.