"You don't swing like your dad" - When Derek Jeter commented on young Cody Bellinger's form during slugger's Yankees clubhouse visit with dad
Once upon a time, Cody Bellinger was just a kid who got into the game of baseball through his old man. Fast forward to the present, and after several accolades in his young career, the 29-year-old will don the famous Yankee pinstripes—the same uniform that his father Clay wore when he made his debut for the Bombers in 1999.
In an interview that recently resurfaced—Bellinger, who was still with the Los Angeles Dodgers, discussed his memories growing up as a kid wandering around the Yankee clubhouse. The outfielder shared that he had a particularly memorable moment with club legend Derek Jeter.
"He (Derek Jeter) said 'man, you don't swing like your dad,'" Bellinger recalled his interaction with Jeter.
Bellinger shared that one day, former Yankee captain Jeter approached him as he was practicing his swing in a cage. This prompted a humorous comment from Jeter, who stated that Cody's swing is nothing like his dad Clay's.
Cody's father, Clay, played with the New York Yankees from 1999 to 2001. The elder Bellinger hit 12 total home runs in his brief MLB career. His son Cody, on the other hand, has 196 dingers. It's safe to say that Cody's swing has paid more dividends than his old man's.
Cody Bellinger and his father, Clay, join the Yankee bloodline legacy
In the New York Yankees' long and illustrious history, there have only been four father-son tandems ever to don the famous pinstripes.
Hall of Famer Yogi Berra and son Dale were the first father-son duo to represent the Yankees. 18-time All-Star and 13-time World Series champion Yogi was one of the team's marquee names during its heyday. Meanwhile, Dale spent 11 years in the majors as a shortstop and third baseman.
Ron and Ike Davis also shared the same uniforms, albeit during different eras. Ron spent four seasons with the Bombers and was an All-Star in 1981. Ike, meanwhile, played for seven years in the majors. He made his debut with the Mets in 2010 and called it a career with the Yankees in 2016.
Mark Leiter Sr. and Mark Leiter Jr. both starred on the mound for the Bombers. The former was a journeyman who made his MLB debut with the Yankees in 1990. On the other hand, Mark Jr. seems to be following his father's footsteps as he's now on his fourth club in six major league seasons.
Finally, Clay and his son Cody Bellinger round up the list. Clay's career was short, but he was able to win two World Series rings during the dominant era of Joe Torre's Yankees. Cody, meanwhile, has carved out a trophy-laden career for himself. He currently has an NL MVP award to his name, along with a World Series title that he won with the Dodgers.