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Oh Ricky, You're So Fine

I was pulling for the return of Lenny Harris, but Ricky Ledee will suffice. It soothed me to find out that Ledee has a good walk-off history, with four walk-off RBIs to his credit.

Ledee's most memorable walk-off moment came during the summer of 1999 to conclude a rather ho-hum Yankees sweep of the Indians, in a series that included a 21-1 romp the day before.

It was a pitchers duel that was the primary appeal the afternoon of July 25, pitting a struggling Roger Clemens against Bartolo Colon and the nearly 55,000 in the stands were rewarded with a low-scoring affair.

Derek Jeter's home run in the fourth and Manny Ramirez's RBI single in the 6th accounted for the only scoring of the game. Clemens' success was one of the other storylines that day, as were Ledee's struggles.

Colon struck out only five, but on three occasions he fanned Ledee, than a rookie leftfielder. Ledee also struggled in the field, resulting in multiple misplays, though no errors were charged.

By the 9th inning both starters were out of the game and the contest was a bullpen battle. The Indians went to a lefty, Ricardo Rincon, giving Joe Torre the option to pinch-hit Shance Spencer when Ledee's spot came around with one out.

Torre elected to stick it out with Ledee despite Rincon's success against lefthanded swingers. After a wild swing and a miss, Ledee rewarded his managers decision with a home run over the right field fence.

"I want to be in that situation all the time," Ledee told media members after the game, not referring to the trifecta of strikeouts, but rather the position of being able to end the game with a flourish. That's good to know, because he figures to get a few chances to do so here.

True Metdees know...Ricardo Rincon has allowed one walk-off hit against the Mets. Jason Hardtke was the benefactor, on June 19, 1997.

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