AP Photo Courtesy NY Post

Billy Crystal is finally getting his wish. No. His distinguished career isn’t making a comeback. However, if anyone knows the popular and likeable never too serious soon to be 60 year-old New York actor, the man who signatured the phrase, “You Look Mahhhvvellous” has always been an avid Yankee fan.

Well, on the day before he turns 60, Crystal will get to fulfill one of his childhood wishes by donning Yankee Pinstripes. Yes! That’s correct. The actor will get his chance to take the field when the team takes on the Pirates Thursday down in Tampa.

Of course, the newest member of the Yankees wil be put through a tenuous workout later today by new skipper Joe Girardi.

“Billy Crystal’s done a lot for this organization. It’s ownership and our way of rewarding him, saying thanks for everything you’ve done,” the first-year Yankee manager remarked to reporters including an outraged NY Post writer Kevin Kernan who couldn’t stomach the idea in a column entitled, “Comic Disbelief.”

Here, Kernan takes the Yankee organization to task for daring to actually be different during Spring Training no less and not as business like:

“The Yankees and Bud Selig have joined hands here to make a mockery of the game. Doesn’t Selig have more important things to do? Yes, baseball is entertainment, but the Yankees don’t need to be fulfilling Crystal’s baseball fantasy or granting his birthday wish. Let Crystal play in an Old-Timer’s game if he needs to put on the uniform.”

Don’t ya think Mr. Kernan is taking this thing a tad too personally? We’re talking about one Spring Training game! Isn’t exhibition supposed to be fun? I also always thought baseball should be as well and sometimes, when you watch the Yanks, it isn’t because of the ridiculous mantra. Win it all or it’s a failure.

Kinda takes the fun out of it, huh?

Kernan goes on to say:

It seems like Crystal has been hanging around the YankeesNew York Yankees that long, trying to get close to the players. Now he is a player. He will wear the same uniform as Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig, Jeter and Rodriguez.

Isn’t this why they created Fantasy Camp?

Big deal. It’s meaningless and will be fun. Maybe Kernan’s still mad at picking the Knicks to win the NBA championship back in 1992-93.

He just seems to have something shoved up his butt. Would anyone care to take any guesses?

Kernan concludes by providing some of Crystal’s baseball background:

Billy was captain of his Long Beach (N.Y.) High School team and batted .348 his senior season. They say he’s one of the best baseball players in Hollywood today, which isn’t saying much. The fans will probably give Crystal a standing ovation.

“I’m looking forward to helping the younger players, which by the way, is all of them,” Crystal added. “Oops, I have to go, Scott Boras is on the phone.”

The joke’s on the Yankees.

Why is that exactly? Because a well known actor who happens to love the Yanks is getting a birthday wish a day early. Has Kernan ever had a lifelong dream that didn’t include writing depressing stories filled with jealousy? Man. Everyone has something they always wanted to do.

And besides. Crystal will actually lighten the mood in the dugout. What is really so bad about this?

In my book, only two words sum it up.

Just Mahhhvvellous.