Girardi Makes a Special Visit to Ailing Sleepy Hollow Detective

Yankees manager Joe Girardi may not have a lot of free time during the regular season, but he spends it where it counts.

Yesterday, the Yanks manager visited ailing Sleepy Hollow police detective Bobby Checchi. 

Checchi has been out on extended medical leave since November 30, 2009 when he had to begin intensive treatment for cancer.

Checchi's brother, Ugo, thought that the Tarrytown resident and life-long Yankees fan would get a needed boost if he received a visit by someone from the Bronx Bombers. Ugo petitioned Police Chief John Kapica to help. 

Kapica wrote letters on Checchi's behalf, and got other village residents to pull strings where they could to set up the meeting.

"He needed a pick-me-up," Kapica said. "We were thrilled that someone from the New York Yankees organization agreed to come and spend some time."

The campaign culminated with Girardi and his son, Dante, visiting Checchi and his family at Calvary Hospital in the Bronx yesterday. The two spent 45 minutes together in the hospital room decked out with Checchi's Yanks memorabilia. 

"It was great for Bobby, he was just overjoyed," Kapica said. 

The two talked baseball the whole time, discussing players and team history. A handful of Sleepy Hollow police department members were also on hand for the special occasion. But Checchi's special Yankees experience didn't end with Girardi's departure. 

"In fact, Joe was nice enough to invite Bobby to the game on Wednesday," Kapica said.

The Yankees will attempted to snap a two-game drought tomorrow against the Toronto Blue Jays at 7:05 p.m.

Members of the Sleepy Hollow Police Department will borrow a Sleepy Hollow ambulance and pick Checchi up for to tomorrow's game. They will be met by Yankees staffers and escorted to a special seating area. 

Kapica said the outpouring of support from Girardi and the Yankees has been enough to lift the spirits of one of Sleepy Hollow's finest. 

"I can't say how grateful we are," Kapica said. "A guy with a million things to do, who probably doesn't get much time to spend with his own family, took time and spent it with one of our guys."