New York Yankees fans rejoice, pitcher Gerrit Cole is officially spending nine years in pinstripes, and making quite the nice sum of cash while he does it. On Wednesday, the team held his introductory press conference and officially announced the signing of the RHP to his record-breaking $324 million contract.
Cole was raised in California and comes to New York from the Astros, but says growing up he was a Yankees fan. He has evidence of his fandom and showed it off at the press conference.
The now iconic photo of Cole as a kid at the 2001World Series holding up a sign that reads, "Yankee fan today, tomorrow, forever," now has much more meaning than just a nice throwback picture. The sign serves as a look into his future and in a full-circle moment, as Cole held it up once again at the press conference, saying he kept it all these years and his parents brought it to him when the news broke that he would be a Yankee.
The sign is now over 18 years old.
"I'd just like to say—I'm here, I've always been here." HE KEPT THE SIGN. @GerritCole45 pic.twitter.com/6Uf03ybYNf
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) December 18, 2019
This guy somehow called it all days ago.
If Gerrit Cole doesn't walk into the press conference next week with this sign, it'll be so disappointing 😂😂😂. pic.twitter.com/drTXhnjZf1
— ✈⚾IGNYY⚾️✈ (@ignyy_2012) December 15, 2019
As you have to expect in 2019, some people made a few, umm, alterations to the sign.
it’s true pic.twitter.com/YtJZ3LSO6l
— WORLD CHAMPS SQUID (@extremelysquid) December 18, 2019
You had to know this was coming, along with many, "Surprised the Astros didn't steal this sign" jokes.
— Alex Gorell (@alex_gorell) December 18, 2019
Everyone deserves to love something as much as New York Mets fans love Jacob deGrom.
I can’t believe Gerrit Cole brought the sign to the press conference! pic.twitter.com/rtNDICoh7N
— Richard Staff (@Staff7998) December 18, 2019
So, a young Yankees fan attended the World Series in 2001, had a photo taken of him holding up a sign that he then kept for almost two decades and somehow not only made it to the MLB, but signed with the Yankees He then brought said sign to his introductory press conference. Sure, that's impressive, but we want this kid to get a deal.
Someone see what this fan is up to now.
Oh cool Gerrit Cole held a sign at a game as a child. When are the Phillies going to sign THEIR starter. pic.twitter.com/QKaRj734ss
— Justin Klugh (@justin_klugh) December 18, 2019
Any introductory press conference for a star player is highly anticipated, but Yankee introductions have the added element of a makeover, with players shaving their facial hair when they become a member of the team.
A clean cut look is a Yankees tradition, but many wondered what Cole would look like when he actually did.
First: Sign a ridiculous contract with the Yankees
Second: Make an appointment at the barber
It was tough to see the beard go, but it had to be done.
Gerrit Cole’s beard when he picks up the razor pic.twitter.com/9wO6Hk2hHV
— Jake Repalone (@JakeRepNY) December 17, 2019
"Walk in with a beard, do it, you won't."
Gerrit Cole should just walk in with a full beard lol what are they gonna do release him? https://t.co/qRsQl5OLt2
— Jared Federowicz (@JaredFedz) December 18, 2019
I’d joke about these Gerrit Cole photoshops not shaving his beard or cutting his hair but I find it silly that an adult worth $324 million is being told to shave his beard and cut his hair
— Dan Armelli (@dano708) December 11, 2019
There's that sign again.
Wow, Gerrit Cole with a statement at his Yankees presser pic.twitter.com/Cmzk80HDyV
— B. W. Carlin (@BaileyCarlin) December 18, 2019
Are we sure this guy is an athlete and not someone on Wall Street?
Gerrit Cole sans beard has big investment banker energy pic.twitter.com/RzwQSEq93E
— Jonah Birenbaum (@birenball) December 18, 2019
