Ex-Yankee Torres Isn't Invited to Old-Timers' Game

The New York Yankees aren't talking about Rusty Torres, but one thing is certain:

The former Yankee an 8-year-old girl in Plainview while working for the isn't invited to Sunday's Old-Timers' Day game in the Bronx.

Torres, 63, played parts of two seasons in the Bronx in the 1970s. After his playing days ended, his one and only appearance in an Old-Timers' Day game was in the 2003 edition at Yankee Stadium.

It is not clear why Torres never returned to the Old-Timers' line-up.

Repeated phone and email requests for comment on their former player were not answered this week by the Yankees' public relations department.

However, the team did issue a complete list of players returning to be honored at the 66th annual Old-Timers' Day game, scheduled for Sunday. Torres is not on the list.

Yankee greats, including Hall of Famers Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford, Rich “Goose” Gossage, Reggie Jackson and Ricky Henderson will be joined by about four dozen other former Yankees in pre-game ceremonies. Like Torres, not all of the players are household names.

The Yankees have scores of living former players. Not all are invited back each year, a review of the last 10 years of Old-Timers' Day rosters reveals.

However, Torres was perhaps the most visible former Yankee in eastern Nassau County. Torres appeared at numerous baseball clinics and other youth events, often appearing in his vintage Yankees hat and jersey. During the 10 years he worked for the town he coached thousands of Long Island children, town officials and police said.

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Torres, of North Massapequa, remains free on $25,000 bail, according to the Nassau County District Attorney's office. He is charged with two felony counts of first degree sexual abuse.

The so-called "felony complaint" describes of Torres exposing himself to the child and having her touch him inappropriately. (See attached PDF file; Warning: graphic content.)

The District Attorney's office has said it would have no further statements on the case until developments warrant.

According to court papers, in late April and early May while he was working as a youth baseball coach for the Town of Oyster Bay.

His case remains in the preliminary stages. There have been two scheduled "conference" appearances for Torres during June, where lawyers on both sides privately discuss the status of the case. The legal maneuvering could go on for some time. As of this week, no trial date has been set.

Torres' next court appearance, another conference, is scheduled for July 16, according to county court records.

Torres was suspended without pay on May 1 by the town. Oyster Bay expressed and said the town was cooperating with investigators. The baseball clinics Torres was scheduled to conduct through the spring were cancelled.

Torres' lawyer has declined to discuss the case on several occasions.

Torres, interviewed through the windows of his North Massapequa home shortly after being freed on bail, said he couldn't discuss his case.