Day 466...
I remember being in the throws of my Yankee fandom in the late ‘90s, so the name Bellinger is familiar.
In 1999 it was Clay Bellinger, a 30-year-old Yankee rookie, who at first mention back then elicited reactions of, “Clay who?” And “what position does he play?”
That Bellinger — who spent the first 10 years of professional baseball as a full-time minor leaguer — would end up helping the Yankees win the World Series in ‘99 and 2000. And to stay in the Bronx, he just about played every position besides pitcher and catcher.
About 25 years later, Bellinger’s now 29-year-old son, Cody, is rumored to be traded to the Yankees from the Chicago Cubs.
An above average outfielder with a powerful lefty bat, this Bellinger has already eclipsed his father’s short major league baseball career with two silver slugger awards, a gold glove, NL MVP honors and a World Series to his credit.
Besides filling the Soto-shaped hole left in the Yankees outfield and on their lineup card, Cody would also fill the hearts and minds of fans with nostalgia, assuming you were born around 1990 or before.
It’s a win for Cody, a win for the Yankees and a win for the fanbase.
Maybe more than just on paper, too.