111-Year-Old Fan Meets Derek Jeter 93 Years After Meeting Babe Ruth

A 111-year-old Yankees fan who was born the same year as the franchise itself and once met Babe Ruth had what he called the “greatest day” of his life this weekend when he got to go onto Yankee Stadium field and meet Derek Jeter.

Bernardo LaPallo said meeting Yankees manager Joe Girardi and captain Jeter on the field before Saturday’s game against the Red Sox was the “greatest day” of his life. Despite his advanced age, the 111-year-old fan still keeps up on the game and talked to Jeter about his recovery.

LaPallo, born in Brazil in 1901, has lived in New York for the last 90 years and has had quite a full life. He studied culinary arts at the Sarbonne, fought in World War II, lived in Harlem during the Harlem Renaissance, and wrote a book at age 107 called Age Less Live More. His second book, Beyond 100 — How to Live Well into Your Second Century, will be released on Aug. 17, the day LaPallo turns 112.

Bernardo LaPallo said he doesn’t feel one bit of his age.

“Being old and shaking in a wheelchair, that’s no good. That’s hell,” LaPallo said. “I’ll get up every morning and I’ll take my walk, come back, I can shave, I can bathe, I can do everything you can do.”

The 111-year-old fan has an almost encyclopedic knowledge of the team. He remembers watching games at Hilltop Park, the Yankees first home, when he was 9 or 10 years old, and went to the first Yankee Stadium when it opened in 1923.

When Babe Ruth first came to New York 93 years ago, LaPallo met him.

“I shook his hand and he said, ‘My greatest admirer, my youngest admirer,’ ” LaPallo recalled. “I remember that like yesterday.”

The 111-year-old fan said he hoped to see Yankees closer Mariano Rivera pitch, adding that he hates to think about Rivera retiring after this year. But LaPallo acknowledged that “time takes it away.”