Bronx Bombers will tip cap to Riverdale vet

Growing up, Rob Maar would visit Yankee Stadium with his grandfather — times he always treasures.

Back then, bleacher seats were just $2, and the time

Maar spent with his grandfather laid the foundation for how much he loves the New York Yankees today.

But on June 11, the tables will turn. Maar won’t head to the south Bronx to cheer the Yankees. Instead, the Pinstripers will honor him as “Veteran of the Game.”

“It’s humbling. It’s a big honor and I’m excited about it,” Maar said. “Even the thought of standing there at home plate, it’s like hallowed ground. It’s something really exciting and that my grandparents, who passed, on I feel like they’re looking down and thinking, ‘Wow.’”

The recognition is a way to bring attention not only to all those in uniform who served, but also groups like Combat Wounded Veterans of America and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3083, where he is a member. The organizations help former service men and women receive medical, educational and monetary benefits they’re entitled to. In fact, Maar credits his time in the U.S. Navy for teaching him discipline and negotiation skills — abilities he uses as an vice president at insurance company American International Group.

There, Maar is responsible for managing relationships with the organization’s banking partners.

Maar will be joined on the field by his two sons and his mother. His siblings, nieces, nephew and friends will be in the stands at the game, cheering him on.

His Yankees jersey will proudly display the number two for retired shortstop Derek Jeter. Maar has been a fan of Jeter’s since his first year on the team in 1995. In fact, Maar is such a fan, he’s even worn his Jeter Yankees jersey to New York Rangers hockey games.

In fact, it was early in Jeters career, in 1996, the jersey earned him an appearance on Madison Square Garden’s Jumbotron.

“I was a little bit of a ham, and I pointed to the (letters) ‘N.Y.,’ and I put my finger up like No. 1, and the crowd roared,” Maar said. “Then, I jumped around … and pointed at the number two. The place just started chanting ‘Jeter.’”

Heading home on the train later, Maar was recognized as “the Jeter guy.” The next day, someone mentioned “the Jeter guy” on sports radio station WFAN.

YES Network, which broadcasts Yankees games locally, will carry the seventh-inning ceremony. After the crowd hears about his work on Operation Praying Mantis — a 1988 campaign to destroy oil platforms being used by Iran to coordinate attacks on merchant ships — the stadium sings “God Bless America.”

Maar’s younger sister, Kara Maar O’Donnell, spoke of how his military service changed his life.

“It gave him, I guess, a sense of self and how his impact is not only with his friends and his community,” she said. “He’s never far from that. It’s just such pride of being in the Navy and just how that connects with this.”

She added her brother “wouldn’t really take it so much for himself but as an acknowledgement, because it’s going to acknowledge the service” of their family to the country and veterans. Their father served in the U.S. Marines, and both their uncle and grandfather were in the U.S. Army.

Childhood friend and fellow Yankees fan Beth Clark said this day almost never happened.

Maar initially was reluctant to apply, thinking he wouldn’t be selected. But it took just three days for the Yankees to say yes and invite him to their Bronx home.

Baseball has already a huge role in Maar’s life. He played in the North Riverdale Baseball League while participating in the Riverdale Boy Scouts. He attended Church of the Mediator school as well as The David A. Stein Riverdale Kingsbridge/Academy M.S.-H.S. 141 for junior high school.

Maar served in the Navy between 1986 and 2001. The Navy awarded him the Armed Forces Expeditionary medal and the Combat Action Ribbon for his participation in Operation Praying Mantis.

Maar was an anti-submarine air controller and supervisor in the Combat Information Center onboard the guided missile frigate USS Simpson. Additionally, he received a Navy Achievement Medal and U.S. Coast Guard Special Service Ribbon.

“Everybody in my family, we’re just so proud of him,” O’Donnell said.

“I think that this is just such a great honor, and really giving thanks to everybody that serves our country.”