Before the entrance of the Mastercard batter’s eye deck, a stream of Fordham maroon flowed along the perimeter of the area. Alumni and their families decked in Ram gear chatted and laughed with the people in front and behind them as they waited to enter “Fordham Night” on the 200 level of Yankee Stadium.
On Sept. 11, the Fordham University Alumni Association (FUAA) hosted “Fordham Night” at Yankee Stadium which brought together baseball and the Fordham alumni community.
All those who attended the game this year watched the New York Yankees take on the Kansas City Royals in the last game of their three game series.
As the game fell on 9/11, the Yankees and the Royals took time from the game to commemorate all the lives lost and those affected by the tragedy. Along with the tribute events, Yankees players had the choice to wear either NYPD or FDNY caps to commemorate the role of first responders.
This year marked the sixth time that the Fordham Alumni Association hosted this event for the Fordham alumni community. For Michael Griffin, the associate vice president of Alumni Relations, the purpose of “Fordham Night” is to encourage the alumni community to experience New York City as they might have when they were students.
“One of our priorities in engaging alumni is making sure that we are providing ways for our alumni base to enjoy New York’s arts, cultural, and entertainment offerings through the lens of Fordham whenever possible,” Griffin said. “So it’s not just a discounted ticket — because when we add in the Fordham aspect, it’s more of a one of a kind experience.”
The Yankees themselves are to thank for the annual event: “Several years ago the New York Yankees approached us with this concept and we thought it was a great opportunity to bring two beloved Bronx institutions together,” Griffin said.
“Fordham Night” consisted of discounted tickets to the game and a ticketed pre-game reception that, for the first time this year, was moved into the stadium overlooking centerfield. Along with entry to the Yankees game every year, there is a co-branded Fordham and Yankees item. The limited give-away this year was a Fordham-Yankees quarter zip pullover.
“It is not so much my fellow classmates that I see so much, but the Fordham community, you know, like a sort of bond of strangers. That we all went to Fordham, that is the camaraderie I like.” Phil Horton, FCLC ’97
The Fordham lens, as Griffin described it, was highlighted by the diversity of alumni experiences present at “Fordham Night” this year.
Phil Horton, Fordham College at Lincoln Center ’97, a New York native and Yankees fan, shared how “Fordham Night” brought together the Fordham alumni community.
“It is not so much my fellow classmates that I see so much, but the Fordham community, you know, like a sort of bond of strangers. That we all went to Fordham, that is the camaraderie I like,” Horton said.
The crowd consisted of Fordham alumni from over a range of years. One of those alumni was Mary Guardiani, Undergraduate School of Education ’62, who attended Fordham when the Manhattan campus was in the Vincent Office Building at 302 Broadway. Mary said FUAA events are always welcoming.
“People are friendly and always there to help,” Guardiani said.
“In general it is so hard as an art student at Fordham to get that network that the business students have built into the school, so I like to try to give back that way.” Claire Dillon, FCRH ’19
For alumni like Cecilia Brady, Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) ’88, who is not necessarily a Yankees fan, “Fordham Night” was a chance to bond with other alumni.
Brady said what she took away from Fordham Night was the “Connections to other Fordham alum and just kind of growing your connections in New York City and meeting new people.”
This network within the greater Alumni base is not exclusive to events like “Fordham Night.” Claire Dillon, FCRH ’19, who went to the game with a group of friends from her graduating class, said that she participates in the Fordham Mentorship Program. This program connects current Fordham students with alumni in the students field of interest. As a former new media and digital design major, Dillon shared that she likes to guide students currently in the program.
“In general it is so hard as an art student at Fordham to get that network that the business students have built into the school, so I like to try to give back that way,” Dillon said.
Harry Ortof, Gabelli Graduate School of Business ’22, who is one of many Rams in his family, implored the importance of the alumni role in the Fordham community.
“It is important that Fordham alumni understand that it is a community after you graduate,” Ortof said.
The cherry on top of “Fordham Night” was that the Yankees beat the Royals in extra innings. Yankees center fielder, Jazz Chisholm Jr., closed out the game in the 11th inning by hitting a walk-off single bringing home third baseman, Jon Berti, from third to win the game. The home team won 4-3, putting them in a 2-1 standing and winning their series against the Royals.
Griffin said that since the inception of “Fordham Night” each year has been is more successful than the last.
