May 1, 2024 – Current New York Yankees manager and former Yankees post-season hero Aaron Boone, along with fellow Yankees icons Don Mattingly, Andy Pettitte, CC Sabathia, Tino Martinez and Nick Swisher, will be featured in the new YES App original series The Story of My Number Presented by New York Lottery, premiering Thursday, May 9, that explores the captivating world of sports and the pivotal numbers that define the careers of star athletes.
Series host Gracie Cashman will interview Aaron Boone in the May 9 premiere episode. In addition to its launch on the YES App that day, The Story of My Number Presented by New York Lottery will also receive a special linear premiere that evening on the YES Network immediately following YES’ Astros-Yankees post-game show (appr. 8:30 p.m. ET). New episodes will premiere on the YES App on subsequent Thursdays. Click here for a series promo video.
The Story of My Number Presented by New York Lottery and other YES App programming is accessible throughout YES’ regional coverage territory (New York State, Connecticut, northeastern Pennsylvania, and north and central New Jersey) via video providers as well as direct subscription at www.watchyesnetwork.com.
The series delves into the profound significance of specific numbers in the lives of sports stars through interviews and storytelling. From record-breaking scores to milestone achievements, athletes share the stories behind the numbers synonymous with their legacies.
The Paley Center for Media, in partnership with the YES Network, will host the world premiere of the series at an event entitled The Story of My Number: An Evening With New York Yankees Legends at The Paley Museum in Manhattan at 7:30 p.m. ET on Monday, May 6.
Immediately following the world premiere screening, Aaron Boone will be joined by Yankees icons Tino Martinez and Nick Swisher, Gracie Cashman and YES’ Yankees play-by-play announcer Michael Kay for a discussion about numbers significant in their respective lives.
The Story of My Number Presented by New York Lottery goes beyond statistics, providing personal narratives that deepen the understanding of challenges, triumphs and measuring sticks of greatness. The series brings these numeric milestones to life with exclusive interviews, commentary and vivid visuals.
In the premiere episode, Boone reveals the stories behind significant numbers in his baseball career and in his life in general, including:
- His plate appearance against Boston’s Tim Wakefield in the 2003 American League Championship Series which propelled him into Yankees lore
- The famous 2019 “Savages in the Box” Yankees game
- The number of three-generation MLB families, of which the Boone family is one
- When he underwent his heart surgeries
Cashman boasts acting and singing credits and slated to host an upcoming baseball reality show called "The Tryout," in which contestants vie for a pro contract before judges who are former professional baseball players. A Connecticut native, she's sung the National Anthem at venues like MetLife Stadium, Yankee Stadium and West Point's Michie Stadium.
A 2021 Northwestern University graduate, Cashman earned a bachelor's in Theatre with a Musical Theatre Certificate and minored in Psychology. At Northwestern, she portrayed Ilona in "She Loves Me" and originated Anya in the American Musical Theatre Project's "The Cherry Orchard."
“Having been raised around the Yankees organization, I have always had a deep appreciation for the team and the players,” Cashman said. “I am so grateful for the partnership with the YES Network and our producers. Our goal was to make something that feels different from a typical interview show. We think the unique format of The Story of My Number will show the viewers a side of their favorite players that they have truly never seen before. This entire experience was really special to me, and we hope that the audience enjoys it as much as we do.”
The Story of My Number Presented by New York Lottery is executive produced by the YES Network, Eephus Entertainment and Clickon Media.
The YES Network, the most-watched regional sports network in the country in 18 of the last 21 years, owns the exclusive regional media rights of the 27-time World Champion New York Yankees and the Brooklyn Nets. YES, which has earned 146 Emmy Awards since its 2002 launch, also televises original biography, interview and magazine programs, college sports and Manchester City and AC Milan soccer. YES made the list of Forbes’ top 10 most valuable sports business brands in the world for nine straight years.
YES launched the YES App in March 2021 for authenticated users in its regional coverage territory, and it quickly became the #1 free sports app in the Apple App Store. Direct-to-consumer access to the YES Network has been available through the YES App since March 2023. In addition to providing fans with a live stream of the YES Network, the YES App features customizable push notifications, personalized content, game highlights and app-exclusive original sports and lifestyle programming. It has won two New York Emmy Awards in its first two years of eligibility. Fans can access the YES App by going to www.watchyesnetwork.com.
Eephus Entertainment is a new production company founded by Daniel Laikind, John Abbamondi, Eric Price and Jamie Hector dedicated to telling unique and compelling stories in and around the world of sports.
Daniel Laikind is a veteran TV and film producer who co-founded Stick Figure Productions and served as the CEO of Original Media. Among his many TV credits, he was the original Executive Producer of the groundbreaking digital series “73 Questions.” He was also the Executive Producer of “Ink Master,” “Swamp People,” “Comic Book Men,” ”Amish in the City” and numerous other series and films.
John Abbamondi is the founder and CEO of LongBall Capital & Insurance Services, a sports-focused investment and insurance firm. A 20-year sports & entertainment industry veteran, John was previously the CEO of the Brooklyn Nets & Barclays Center, EVP of Sales for the Madison Square Garden and Assistant General Manager of the St. Louis Cardinals. Prior to his sports career, John was a U.S. Navy flight officer, with 40 missions over Iraq. He is a graduate of MIT and the Stanford University Graduate School of Business.
Jamie Hector is a NY-based actor, first recognized for his portrayal of Marlo Stanfield on HBO’s critically acclaimed series “The Wire.” Hector has a long list of standout television credits which include playing Sean Suiter in “We Own This City,” Detective Jerry Edgar on Amazon’s series “Bosch” and Devon Finch on “Queen of the South.” Jamie is a published author, director and a founding partner at Ovrdo Media Company.
CLICKON Media, leveraging its pioneering Intelligent Virtual Studios, is dedicated to digital storytelling. Credits include "Faces of the Fleet" with America's Navy and VML, a deeply personal look into sailor's lives, "Special Olympics" exemplifying their commitment to impactful storytelling, delivering content that highlights the importance of inclusion and "Late Night I.T." for Lenovo, featuring Emmy-nominated Baratunde Thurston, combining entertainment with insightful tech discussions.