BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Jerry Mayza and thrills have long been a pair.
Mayza and the joy of success. Mayza and the intoxicating rush of accomplishment. Mayza and the wave of self-satisfaction. Achievement rocketing into the rarefied air of sports.
Such feelings have been his constant companion.
And now his son, a Lehigh Valley native, may add to that.
Just like his son Tim, a left-handed reliever for the Yankees who now is in the World Series, Mayza’s résumé sparkles to near blinding.
“It’s very hard to explain. There have been so many ups and downs for Tim, mentally and physically. We’re just so proud of how far he’s come.”Jerry Mayza, Tim Mayza's father
The elder Mayza was a two-time captain and MVP of the former Allentown College basketball team during the mid-1980s. When Allentown College became DeSales University in 2000, he was inducted into its hall of fame in 2007.
After graduation, Mayza and thrills showed staying power. In 1989-90, he coached the DeSales women’s basketball team to a 27-2 record, the Eastern States Athletic Conference championship and a berth in the NCAA Sweet 16.
He also served as a boys basketball assistant coach at Bethlehem Liberty for four years in the early 1990s.
Now here we are, 34 years removed from those halcyon days, and one can only imagine the unequaled thrill Mayza will feel when the bullpen gate opens, a relief pitcher trots toward the mound during the World Series and the public address announcer blares:
“Coming in to pitch for the Yankees — Tim Mayza!”
That scenario involving his son was posed to Jerry Mayza during a phone conversation this week. His voice fell silent. One second …two seconds…three seconds.
Jerry, are you still there?
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I’m getting goosebumps just thinking about that.
“It’s very hard to explain. There have been so many ups and downs for Tim, mentally and physically. We’re just so proud of how far he’s come.”
Pipe dream to a plan
Four months ago, the World Series was a pipe dream for the 32-year-old Mayza.
The 6-foot-3, 215-pound lefthander, who lived in Salisbury Township till age 7, when the family moved to the Berks/Montgomery County border, was struggling with the Toronto Blue Jays.
That franchise had selected him in the 12th round of the 2013 draft out of Millersville University.
After seven solid seasons, Mayza’s ERA had ballooned to 8.03 — this after posting a sterling 1.54 ERA in 2023. The zip on his devastating slider dropped two miles per hour to 92.
The magic in Mayza’s left arm was seemingly gone.
“It's hard to say what it feels like for a father when your son has been through so much, then is in the World Series.”Jerry Mayza, Tim Mayza's father
On June 29, he was designated for assignment, and subsequently released on July 5.
Five days later, Mayza picked up the phone. The call had to be a thrill. It was the Yankees, who signed him to a minor league contract.
The Yankees had a plan for Mayza.
The organization shipped him to its spring training facility in Tampa for a week, running him through a pitching laboratory of video work, biomechanic scans, drills in the weight room and critiques and alterations to every aspect of his delivery.
Tough on Tim — and on dad
After diagnosing his maladies and providing remedies, the Yankees moved Mayza to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. In nine games for the RailRiders, he posted a sparkling 2.16 ERA with eight strikeouts.
On Aug. 16, the Yankees selected Mayza's contract, adding him to their active roster.
“I was watching on TV when he hurt his elbow. That was hard, not being there, not being able to do anything."Jerry Mayza, Tim Mayza's father
Over 15 regular season relief appearances for the Yanks, 13 have been outstanding.
In two playoff appearances, he has thrown 1 1/3 innings with two hits and no runs.
Mayza was back, but the climb was nothing new.
After blowing out his ulnar-collateral ligament in his throwing elbow in September 2019 — ironically against the Yankees — he underwent Tommy John surgery and missed the entire 2020 season.
Tough on Mayza. Tough on his dad.
“I was watching on TV when he hurt his elbow,” Mayza said. “That was hard, not being there, not being able to do anything.
“It was the COVID year in 2020, so Tim rehabbed alone at home in Lancaster. I remember going there and we built a wall that he could throw a medicine ball against to rehab to get himself back to where he needed to be.
"He was starting from scratch.”
Conversations to celebrations
And scratched his way back to the bigs.
He was born in Lehigh Valley Hospital.
He was born again after blowing out that elbow.
And born yet again when the Blue Jays showed him the door and the Yankees showed him they cared.
"If the Series goes back to Los Angeles for Games 6 or 7, we’ll be there too.”Jerry Mayza, Tim Mayza's father
“After the Yankees made the World Series, we talked to Tim and there were conversations and congratulations and celebrations,” Jerry Mayza said.
“It's hard to say what it feels like for a father when your son has been through so much, then is in the World Series.”
The Mayzas will be at Yankee Stadium next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday when the Series shifts from Los Angeles — Jerry and wife, Marlene; daughters, Bridget and Deanna; son, Zach; Tim’s wife, Darian, and their two children.
“And if the Series goes back to Los Angeles for Games 6 or 7, we’ll be there too,” Jerry Mayza said.
Goosebumps and all.
