TAMPA – The Yankees opened their doors to a humbled Jim Leyritz yesterday and provided the former player who is facing DUI manslaughter charges in Fort Lauderdale a chance to see familiar faces. There were some members of the organization who weren’t happy to have a person involved in such a serious matter in the clubhouse.
According to GM Brian Cashman, Leyritz bumped into Joe Girardi Saturday and asked his former teammate if it was OK to stop by Legends Field while he was in the Tampa Bay area to take care of financial matters.
Without Girardi’s consent, Leyritz wouldn’t have been allowed in the clubhouse, since he wasn’t issued a media credential and no longer works for MLB radio, a gig he had last year. Those who were annoyed at Leyritz surfacing weren’t mad at Girardi. Instead, they believed Leyritz never should have put Girardi in that position.
“He ran into Girardi and he asked if he could come by and say hello,” Cashman said of the 44-year-old 1996 World Series hero and two-time Yankee. “He came by to say hello to former teammates. Other than that, I have no comment.”
Leyritz was in the clubhouse for one hour and 40 minutes prior to a 7-6 victory over the Indians and spent time in the players’ lounge, where it’s believed he chatted with Andy Pettitte, who greeted Leyritz with a hug in the hallway outside the clubhouse. Leyritz served as Pettitte’s personal catcher in 1996. Leyritz also exchanged hugs with Shelley Duncan.
After brushing by reporters on the way into the clubhouse, Leyritz dodged reporters on the way out with a cell phone planted in his ear. Leyritz didn’t respond to several attempts by The Post to reach him.
Leyritz is free on a $11,000 bond after a Dec. 28 collision in which 30-year-old Fredia Ann Veitch was killed. Veitch left behind two children and a husband when Leyritz’s vehicle ran a red light and collided with her car. Leyritz, who refused a breathalyzer test, took a blood test hours later and his alcohol level was .14, which is almost double the Florida limit of .08. If convicted of the felony charge Leyritz could face up to 15 years in prison.
“We talked a little bit, I asked how he was holding up,” Jason Giambi said of Leyritz, whose former Yankees teammates are Mariano Rivera, Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada and Pettitte. Leyritz played with Girardi in 1996 and 1999.
“He wanted to say hello to old friends while he was in the area,” an emotional Girardi said. “He is going through a very difficult situation and it’s tough. I talked to him for a few minutes. I think he is going through a hard time. I don’t think it’s a situation anyone would want to be in.”
Deeply religious, Girardi believes nobody is perfect, nor should they be abandoned.
“Obviously, all of us have done things that we regret,” Girardi said. “Some are considered worse than others and obviously this is a very sad story. But I don’t believe you turn your back on people. He is a friend to a lot of people. My heart goes out to him. He has three kids and who knows what is going to happen? And my heart goes out to the lady.”