Jim Harbaugh is in a New York sports state of mind this weekend.
Michigan’s football coach visited Yankee Stadium for the first time Friday, joined by his father and 6-year-old son to watch the Bronx Bombers take on the Tampa Bay Rays with first place in the AL East on the line.
After that, the three generations of Harbaugh boys are headed out to Long Island on Saturday to catch some major golf at the PGA Championship.
“I haven’t got much sleep the last couple nights thinking that we were coming to Yankee Stadium,” Harbaugh said. “I think I’m more excited than my son, Jack, and I think my dad’s even more excited than I am. This is a big thrill.”
Shaking hands and posing for photos on the field during batting practice, Jim Harbaugh wore a Yankees cap, a Michigan sweater and — of course — a crisp pair of khakis with sneakers. He called it a “bucket list” trip for the family.
“This is a huge highlight because none of us have been to Yankee Stadium. This is great,” he said. “It’s gorgeous. Just gorgeous. Unbelievable.”
What part of the entire experience was he most excited about?
“I always look forward to getting a foul ball opportunity,” Jim Harbaugh said. “I’ve got my glove. I’ve gotten 20 legitimate foul balls or home runs during a game.”
A lifelong baseball fan, Jim Harbaugh grew up rooting for the Detroit Tigers while his father, also named Jack, was an assistant coach under Bo Schembechler at Michigan in the 1970s.
Nowadays, Jim Harbaugh said he’s close friends with Oakland Athletics manager Bob Melvin and enjoyed coaching first base for the A’s in spring training.
“Actually, they’re in Detroit tonight. We would have been there, but this was an amazing opportunity,” Jim Harbaugh said. “This is pretty awesome.”
The older Jack Harbaugh got a big kick out of chatting with Yankees manager Aaron Boone, whose grandfather, Ray, was an infielder for the Cleveland Indians from 1948-53 when the 79-year-old Harbaugh grew up pulling for them in Ohio.
“Ray Boone, No. 8,” Jack Harbaugh said. “He really resembled him!”
Jim Harbaugh said he was given the baseball tickets by umpire Ted Barrett, who worked third base Friday night in the series opener between the Yankees and Rays. Jim Harbaugh said he and Barrett played multiple sports against each other as high schoolers in California.
The Wolverines coach said golfer and buddy Jason Day provided ducats to the PGA Championship.
During his own long career, Jack Harbaugh was a head coach at Western Michigan and Western Kentucky, where he won the 2002 NCAA Division I-AA championship. He wore a Baltimore Ravens sweatshirt — a nod to the NFL team son John coaches.
Jack Harbaugh said his grandson is a big Yankees and Aaron Judge fan.
“It’s a thrill watching him taking it all in,” Jim Harbaugh said.
The elder Harbaugh recalled his son trying to recruit the 6-foot-7, 282-pound Judge to play football at Stanford when Jim Harbaugh coached the Cardinal.
Of course, the All-Star slugger chose baseball instead.
“Looking back, probably a good decision,” grandpa Jack said with a smile.
