David Cone Pimping Yankees Tickets By Phone
May 14, 2009 – 10:45 am by Jimmy Shapiro
Many of us over the years have received a pre-recorded message from an athlete or politician trying to entice us to buy tickets or entice us to vote for them. Some people get excited by it, not me. Any type of solicitation at my home either via phone or a ring at my doorbell is a pain in the ass. Not even Girl Scouts go door-to-door anymore and I can never say no to their cookies. They’re smart enough to know to wait outside the supermarket to sell those scrumptious cookies. Thin Mints, mmmmmmmm.
Anyway, we’ve read many stories on the plethora of empty seats at the new Yankees Stadium. It’s mostly due to the struggling economy, but even if the economy was strong I think the Yankees would still have problems filling the premium seats. Selling some seats at $2,500 for a baseball game is absurdity. That’s a monthly mortgage for a $500,000 house. And most people will buy a minimum of two tickets to a game. The Yankees have since reduced prices, but the seats are still mostly empty. Serves those greedy pigs right.
Getting back to my original point, still not sold on my writing segueing techniques, David Cone is calling Yankee fans in an effort to get them to buy tickets. Not a recorded voicemail, but a LIVE DAVID CONE. If David Cone called me, I would have to ask him about the urban legend of two women catching him masturbating in the bullpen. The Yankees are going to tremendous lengths to get these tickets sold and are even throwing a charity component into the sale of some of the premium seats. When sales suck, throw charity into the mix. It’s noble, but backhanded.
David Cone recently joined WFAN to discuss his ticket sales skills and the Yankees.
On calling people and trying to sell tickets:
“I’ve made several calls live. Sometimes it goes well, sometimes people don’t believe it’s me calling…I’m hoping people recognize my voice after a while. What I’m trying to do is to get them to come to the stadium and give them a tour and then try to explain to them about my foundation and how the suite level can be a great vehicle for raising money for charity…I was a heck of a lot better pitcher than salesperson.”
Is anybody else doing this or are you the only lucky one?
“I’m the only that approached them and actually came up with this idea. I have to take the heat too. A suite at Yankees Stadium with players involved is a great auction item. That’s my whole angle.”
How much of the conversation when you talk to people on the phone is them venting about the Yankees?
“The conversation always goes right to baseball. I enjoy that and I knew that probably would be the case when I called. I’m not the guy quoting ticket prices or trying to negotiate deals over the phone.”
On Phil Hughes:
“They had such high hopes for him because he worked so hard and then his first start was so good and then the next two starts havebeen kind of iffy…I like Phil Hughes, I would not give up on him but if you can get Chien-Ming Wang going…I wouldn’t mind seeing Phil Hughes in the bullpen, I think he would be an outstanding reliever. I’m not saying they should give up on him as a starter, but I think he still has great value…He’s awful young to give up on and I think we learned that lesson last year with Melky Cabrera…I think it’s a little soon to be giving up on guys because those are the guys that can come back and burn you and Phil Hughes certainly fits that category…I don’t know about trade bait at this point in his career.” (Editor’s note: The Yankees could have had Johan Santana if they were willing to trade Hughes. They have to be kicking themselves.)
On whether pitch tipping is prevalent in baseball:
“Not really. I heard a couple whispers in the minor leagues…I don’t think it’s really that big of a deal. It’s very rare if it does happen at all. I’d be very surprised if that really happened with A-Rod.”
Listen to David Cone on WFAN in New York with Boomer and Carton
Tags: Alex Rodriguez, David Cone, David Cone selling Yankees tickets, New York Yankees, WFAN
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