The ongoing regular season has been challenging for the NYY. Be it their end number of defeats or injuries to their several key players including Aaron Judge, the Yanks have many reasons to forget this season. However, a recent couple of wins have fueled the confidence of the Pinstripes. While it has improved the situation in the squad, the latest incident involving pitcher Clarke Schmidt and his father resonated with Yankees manager Aaron Boone’s belief that they “got a real kick out of” it.
Families play a significant role in every athlete’s life, and their interactions sometimes bring beautiful moments into the picture. A similar incident happened when the Yankees’ pitcher took a flight ahead of a crucial baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays. As soon as he boarded the team aircraft, he found his father in an exciting role, bringing in all the attention of the MLB world.
Yankees? Clarke Schmidt Finds His Father in Captain?s Role
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The MLB world has seen families supporting players from the stands. It has also seen fathers and mothers getting emotional. But never a father flying a plane of his son’s team as a captain. However, it all changed after Yankees’ pitcher Clarke Schmidt shared an Instagram post that read, “It?s not every day your Pops gets to be the pilot of your team plane!.”
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Clarke’s father, Dwight Schmidt, is a veteran pilot, having served at Delta Air Lines for over 20 years. He skillfully captained the Bombers’ chartered flight, transporting the team from Newark Liberty International Airport to Tampa International Airport.
Although there was a two-hour delay in takeoff due to runway congestion at Newark, the trip was mostly smooth. In the meantime, the Bombers’ players, including Gerrit Cole, Kyle Higashioka,?Aaron Judge, Wandy Peralta, and Anthony Rizzo, indulged in chit-chat about the flight details instead of their usual baseball discussions.?
According to MLB.com, Dwight Schmidt expressed,?“It’s just different when you’re able to do something in my profession to help them out in their profession. It was a magical experience. It was absolutely one of the most fun things I’ve gotten to do.”
This heartfelt moment came before the team’s encounter against the Tampa Bay Rays. And it seems he was lucky for the Yankees, who defeated the second-placed team comfortably with a score of 6-2. Gerrit Cole shined with eleven strikeouts in 7.2 innings pitched, limiting the Rays’ offense.
Yankees fans will look to have it in their subconscious mind, but the focus is currently on the beautiful father and son moment.
MLB World Joins Yankees Fans and Alumni Adoring the Beautiful Meeting
Though the Yankees were disappointed with the team’s performance of the season, when they got the opportunity to enjoy the rare bright spot, they happily joined the Yankees’ stars with their reactions.
Yankees captain was a happy man who wrote, “The man!” He was followed by MLB legend CC Sabathia, who called it “Dope!!”?
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Fans shared their love and wrote, “Coolest pilot out there, that?s awesome!”
One fan exclaimed, “Still waiting to be on a flight and hear ?this is your captain Dwight Schmidt? coming from the cockpit.” The other expressed it as, “Great pic! Love y?all!”
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It was certainly a lovely moment and fans would now hope the Yankees will have such enjoyable moments in the future too as they fight for the playoff’s survival. Will they be able to get it? What are your thoughts on this story? Let us know your sides in the comments.
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