Mike Vaccaro

Mike Vaccaro

About the Columnist

Mike Vaccaro has been the lead sports columnist for the New York Post since November 2002. In that time he has written about every important sporting event and sports figure in New York City and covered 18 Super Bowls, 12 World Series, 10 Final Fours and 10 BCS Championship Games. He has been recognized three times as New York Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association and was recognized in 2017 by the New York Press Club for his deadline work. A 1989 graduate of St. Bonaventure University, Vaccaro previously worked at newspapers in Newark, Kansas City, Middletown, N.Y., Fayetteville, Ark., and Olean, N.Y. He is the author of three books: “Emperors and Idiots,” about the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry; “1941: the Greatest Year in Sports;” and “The First Fall Classic,” about the 1912 World Series. He also makes frequent television and radio appearances. A native of West Hempstead, N.Y., Vaccaro now makes his home in Hillsdale, N.J. with his wife, Leigh, and two rambunctious terriers: a 12-pound Westy named Fiona and Desmond, a 12,000-pound (or so it seems) Airedale. He is a terrible golfer and undefeated in all games involving “Godfather” trivia.

The Archive

Why 1974 proved to be critical year for Yankees after years of playing NYC's second fiddle

It’s not surprising that there will be no testimonials for the 1974 Yankees this year. When you are a franchise that’s won 27 championships and has been in 40 World...

Giants still need to prove acing 'Hard Knocks' spotlight was legit

So maybe we shouldn’t award Giants general manager Joe Schoen a bowl of ice cream for the way he’s presented himself on "Hard Knocks."

Yankees' Aaron Boone is managing for his job in stretch run

If the Yankees open the second half with a victory against Tampa, Aaron Boone’s lifetime winning percentage will edge up a tick, from .599 to .600.

It's perfect time for Knicks fans to dream of elusive NBA title

This is the time for best-case scenarios. This is the easy time if you are a Knicks fan. This is the fun time.

Yankees have time to stew over season's most gut-wrenching loss

These next four days will feel like four weeks for the Yankees, because this game against the Orioles probably should’ve been won two different times.

Alex Rodriguez once tried to take less money but didn't get any Jalen Brunson-like praise

There was a time when Alex Rodriguez was willing to do something comparable to what Jalen Brunson did Friday afternoon.

Jalen Brunson's $113 million Knicks gift shows he'll do whatever it takes to win

Jalen Brunson wants to be here. He wants to win a title as a Knick. He wants the Canyon of Heroes. And he wants to maximize their ability to do...

The most important part of Mets' improbable vault into playoff position

What’s far more encouraging — and far more important — is the quality of the baseball the Mets have played across the last month.

Brandon Nimmo doesn’t need All-Star nod to prove his value to Mets

Brandon Nimmo is a star, even though he didn't get the All-Star nod, The Post's Mike Vaccaro writes.

Mets manager gets dose of harsh MLB reality after controversial decision

Carlos Mendoza managed his 89th game in the big leagues Monday afternoon at Pittsburgh’s PNC Park. It did not go well for the Mets.

'OMG' Mets latest team in long line to adopt a catchy, fan-favorite tune

But, of course, “OMG” isn’t just a catchy song that the Mets have adopted.

Aaron Judge's otherworldly season is beyond Ruthian

Is this what it was like to watch Babe Ruth play every day? 

How Knicks must approach replacing Isaiah Hartenstein

The Knicks need to identify The Next Isaiah Hartenstein, a player who comes with a reasonable enough price tag and enough upside.

Knicks fans deserve to dream about a title — even if it’s only June

It can be cruel, this kind of hope. But it is, in many ways, what sustains us as fans, these periods when you’re allowed to dream and hope.

Star's presence in lineup has meant everything to surging Mets

Francisco Alvarez hasn’t just been a good luck charm for the Mets. He’s been … well, a grizzly with the bat in his hands.

Knicks are using the Celtics' blueprint against them

On one level, it’s hard to shake this part of it from your mind. Think about how many times you and your best friends from college talked at the tail...

Why Knicks had to pull off Mikal Bridges trade

The Knicks are no longer about tomorrow, next year, three years from now. Everything they do now, better or worse, is for now.

There is a very different feel to this Subway Series

It’ll take about an inning, maybe two, before the next two games across the next two nights remind us that the Subway Series remains among the most enjoyable landing spots...

Panthers, Oilers one step away from rarest of playoff history

If you don’t have a dog in the hunt, the choice is easy, right?

The trip to Shea Stadium 50 years ago that started a lifelong love of baseball

Next Saturday will mark the 50th anniversary of the first baseball game I ever attended in person.