Rookie Bronx Bombers visit 'Oz'

NEW YORK, Sept. 25 (UPI) -- Lions and tigers and bears -- oh my! -- showed up at Yankee Stadium when rookies forsook New York Yankee pinstripes for "Wizard of Oz" garb.

OK, only the Cowardly Lion, aka pitching phenom Joba Chamberlain, showed up Monday for the Yankee tradition of dressing rookies up following the last home game of the season, the New York Daily News reported Tuesday.

"It doesn't get any better than this," Chamberlain said, after telling reporters in his Bert Lahr imitation to "Put 'em up! Put 'em up!"

Pitcher Chase Wright transformed to the Good Witch of the North while fellow hurler Edwar Ramirez drew the Wicked Witch of the West. Right-handed pitcher Phil Hughes showed his heart as the Tin Man while lefty Kei Igawa was a flying monkey.

And righty Ian Kennedy, saying, "I drew the short stick, for sure," was Dorothy.

Still, Kennedy took it in the spirit of fun.

"It makes you feel like one of the guys," he said.