The moments age but can never fade. Every approaching Subway Series brings its past closer to view, a reminder of the outsized meaning attached to every interborough battle.
It is the rare regular-season showdown guaranteed to pack the house, the rare meeting to elevate moments that can live long after the players leave the field.
“As much as you try and tell yourself it’s just another game, you’re not naïve,” said Andy Phillips, a former infielder who appeared on both sides of the Subway Series.