TAMPA, Fla. -- Actor Billy Crystal's major-league baseball career wasn't quite "Field of Dreams."

It was more like a short subject.

Not that he minded.

"I can always say I led off for the New York Yankees," Crystal said. "It's an amazing feeling."

Crystal, who played high school baseball in New York and is a huge Yankees fan, served as the designated hitter yesterday against the Pirates at Legends Field. In his only plate appearance, Crystal struck out against Paul Maholm.

Crystal made his big-league debut with the Yankees -- and big-league retirement -- in celebration of his 60th birthday, which is today.

"The whole thing has been amazing," Crystal said.

The fans greeted Crystal warmly as he jogged for a bit with his new teammates before the game.

The ovation grew louder when he stepped from the dugout before his at-bat. There were even more cheers as he stepped into the batter's box, hitting right-handed.

"I asked him if he'd been getting any rookie hazing," Pirates catcher Ryan Doumit said. "He didn't say anything. He looked like he was about ready to throw up from nerves."

"I tried to take it as a normal hitter, but the guy gets a standing ovation and tips his hat to the crowd before he stepped in," Maholm said, shrugging.

Maholm's first pitch was high and outside, eliciting some boos from the fans.

Crystal, who wore uniform No. 60, hit the next pitch, bouncing it three feet wide of first base, drawing a rather wild applause.

"I definitely wasn't trying to trying to blow it by him," Maholm said, "but after [the foul ball], I was not going to lollipop it in there."

The next two pitches were balls before Crystal swung at and missed the next two pitches.

"Both were [cut fastballs]," he said. "I was mad at myself for swinging."

After the last pitch, Crystal asked umpire Mark Carlson if the pitch was a strike. Told it wasn't, Crystal thanked the umpire, waved to the crowd and went into the dugout.

"He was locked in," Doumit said. "He was focused. He was extremely serious. I don't blame him. It was fun."

Maholm threw Crystal six fastballs. The last two indeed did run inside.

"That's what happens when you're trying to throw strikes," Maholm said. "It would have been pathetic to walk him. I haven't walked a batter all spring. If I had walked him, I would have definitely tried to pick him off."

Maholm said the experience was "a little nerve-racking."

"I was kind of happy when it was over," he said. "I think they did it right -- let him lead off -- and then let us get some work in. It's something I'll remember."

After Crystal's at-bat, Alex Rodriguez motioned for the strikeout ball from Maholm, who tossed it to the Yankees third baseman. Rodriguez then gave it to Crystal.

After the game, Crystal and Maholm exchanged signed baseballs.

Maholm's to Crystal read: "Billy, you looked marvelous."

Crystal countered with: "Thanks for a great moment."

The two met in the Yankees dugout.

"Thank you so much for competing like you did," Crystal told Maholm. "I was hoping you were going to come under-hand. It was a thrill, man."

The Pirates seemed to be OK with Crystal's one at-bat appearance yesterday.

"Billy's a huge baseball fan," said first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz, who played for the Yankees last season. "He does so much for the game and so much for the Yankees. If he wants to do something like this, more power to him. It's a spring training game. Let's not make more of it than what it really is. He deserves it.

"I'm not saying it's for everybody, but Billy did a lot for us when I was there. He did some inspirational films when things weren't going good for us."

Crystal also helps some Yankees with their charity work.

"Everyone wants to claim they're the biggest Yankee fan in the world," Mientkiewicz said. "But if I had to think of two people who are [the biggest Yankees fans], Billy's one of the two."

Who's the other?

"I don't know, but he's up there," Mientkiewicz said. "He lives and dies with the Yankees. He's there almost every night sitting by the dugout. He's more than a fan, that's for sure."