Remember that Yankee magic? Remember the glory days of the mid-to-late nineties when mystique and aura made daily appearances at Yankee Stadium? Last Saturday, as the organization recognized the team that started a dynasty, they ushered in a pair of baby bombers who they hope can help restore the Yankees to greatness.
And boy, they didn’t disappoint. A little of that Yankee magic that’s been absent the last few years showed up again.
You could actually feel the changing of the guard and the turning of the page. Alex Rodriguez, the elder statesman, was gone. Gary Sanchez was already here, and it was rumored Tyler Austin would take A-Rod’s place on the roster. On Saturday morning, there were reports that Aaron Judge was seen walking into the Yankee Stadium clubhouse, but it wasn’t confirmed until media members were allowed inside.
The Yankees had kept his arrival under wraps, so when the rumors started flying that Judge was in the Bronx, you could feel the fanbase’s excitement growing. We could actually see the big-man, the savior, the six-foot-eight slugger make his MLB debut.
This was a typical Yankees move. To have a player that’s the poster-boy for the team’s future success in the house as the old dynasty was honored was perfect. To have Judge, and Austin, see guys like Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera Andy Pettitte and Jorge Posada introduced to a packed house was important.
The Yankees have been grooming Judge since he was drafted, sending him to their annual “Captain’s Camp” – a workshop designed to mold young Yankees into leaders on and off the field. He needed to see the ’96 celebration. There’s that saying – in order to know your future, you must understand your past. It just felt like the torch was passed on Saturday.
That Yankee-magic came in to play when Austin came to bat. After working the count even, he smacked the ball the other way, taking advantage of the short porch for a home run. Up came Judge. The big man sent one of the longest home runs ever hit at Yankee Stadium into Monument Park. Are you kidding me? The Yankee Stadium crowd was alive and well. The youth movement was officially underway. The Core Four and the other ’96 champions watched from suites high above the field.
The Yankees could not have scripted the day any better.
