
‘Did that really happen?' 20 years later, the summer of Aaron Small still seems like a fairy tale
Don't miss Greg Joyce's text messages from The Bronx and beyond — he's giving Sports+ subscribers the inside buzz on the Yankees. Sign Up Now
He walked down the sidewalk, through the gate and the concourses and the aisle, unbothered, unnoticed.
Aaron Small was back in The Bronx last July, holding a ticket on the first base side, sitting inside Yankee Stadium for the first time since making the most recent of his five Old Timers' Day appearances a dozen years earlier.
Advertisement
The former journeyman pitcher still stands out, standing 6-foot-5, now two decades removed from casting an 11-week spell on his unimaginable jaunt to 10-0. The fans once enraptured by Small surrounded him for hours, failing to spot the folk hero until he left his seat.
'Not a single person recognized me except when we were leaving the Stadium, people were going, 'Look, it's John Cena,' ' Small said. 'I get that all the time. … The friends of mine that were with me, they start doing the John Cena [face wave].''

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
16 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Tomoyuki Sugano throws 6 sharp innings, Tyler O'Neill homers again to help Orioles beat Rockies 5-1
BALTIMORE (AP) — Tomoyuki Sugano pitched six innings of four-hit ball, Tyler O'Neill homered in a third straight game and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Colorado Rockies 5-1 on Sunday. Dylan Carlson drove in two runs for the Orioles, who followed Saturday night's 18-0 blowout with a more conventional victory in the deciding matchup of a three-game series between last-place clubs. Sugano (8-5) gave up one run, walked two and matched his career high with eight strikeouts. The 35-year-old righty, who signed a one-year contract with Baltimore in December, could be headed to a contender before Friday's trade deadline. Although he was impressive on Sunday, Sugano has yielded 21 homers in 20 games and had a 7.88 ERA over his previous seven starts. After languishing on the injured list from mid-May to early July, O'Neill appears to have found his stroke. Three of his six homers this season came in this series, including a two-run drive in the third inning Sunday off Austin Gomber (0-5) that made it 4-1. Colorado's lone tally came on a solo shot by Warming Bernabel, his first homer in the majors after making his big league debut on Saturday. The Rockies own a 27-78 record, same as the 2024 Chicago White Sox after 105 games. Those White Sox didn't win No. 28 until ending a 21-game skid on Aug. 6, and finished with a single-season record 121 defeats. Key moment Baltimore added a run in the eighth when Gunnar Henderson hustled from second base to home on a wild pitch that catcher Austin Nola was slow to retrieve. Key stat Half of O'Neill's 26 hits this season have gone for extra bases: six homers, six doubles and a triple. In addition, six of his 17 RBIs this season have come in the last three games. Up next Rockies: Bradley Blalock (1-2, 8.67 ERA) starts Monday in the opener of a three-game series at Cleveland. Orioles: Zach Eflin (6-5, 5.78) takes on the AL East-leading Toronto Blue Jays at Camden Yards on Monday night. ___ AP MLB:
Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Q&A: Aari McDonald talks 'prankster' Caitlin Clark, Commissioner's Cup win
Indiana Fever guard Aari McDonald has been one of the team's biggest 2025 surprises. After joining the Fever on a hardship exemption contract in early June, McDonald has shined and eventually earned a rest-of-season deal with the franchise. FTW talked with McDonald for a feature story about how she and the Fever have been such a perfect fit for each other. However, we have even more intel from McDonald about playing with Indiana and her story."Every day, I still try to process this," McDonald said about her unexpected path to joining the Fever. "I'm in disbelief every day. Like, dang, everything happens fast... I'm happy, and I'm present. I want to be where my feet are and just enjoy everything that's come my way and just be myself and just try to make an impact on and off the court with [my Fever teammates]." From playing with superstar guard Caitlin Clark to Indiana's surprise Commissioner's Cup victory over the Minnesota Lynx, let's dive in with McDonald on some takeaways we couldn't fit into our feature story. This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity. Is there something about the way that you were raised -- maybe it was coaches you had growing up -- that helped you be able to navigate the spontaneity of being a professional athlete? I've always been adaptable to any type of situation that I've been in, and I think that comes with maturity. Dating back, just, I went away for high school my last three years. I'm from Fresno, but I went to a private school from Stockton, and so, I finished my three years there... Just being away from my family, I think that helped me mature more and just be very adaptable to my situation and my environment. So, I mean, I feel like I always had that maturity growing up and just adapted to any situation. Was there a certain player that you had growing up, maybe in college, high school, maybe when you first got to the W, that really was a mentor for you? My rookie season [with the Atlanta Dream], Odyssey Sims took me under her wing, and I know that we didn't have the best season there, and I didn't have the best rookie season as well... [Odyssey] helped me keep my mental really right because it was hard, like you're coming from college where you're like the main player, and you just had a great senior year, and then, you come to the pros, and you're barely playing. You're not really on a good team. [We] just had so many coaching changes. [Odyssey] made it easy for me, and she made it fun, so I really do appreciate her for that. What was the key to the Fever getting the Commissioner's Cup win over the Minnesota Lynx? I think the key was our defense. When you look back, we held them to a season low I want to say, and then, we made things tough for [Napheesa Collier]. Coming in, Phee is number one on everyone's scouting report, [but] she wasn't efficient that game. So, I mean, that gives credit to our intentionality to the scouting details. We knew that coming in, Minnesota, they're a great team. [They're] disciplined. They run their sets with pace and a purpose, so I mean... we have to make it hard. Are we going to stop them every time? No, but we've got to make it and contain them. And, I think we did that, and on the other end, our defense dictated our offense. We did go through some lulls, but I think still we executed and got what we wanted. What do you think the secret is to building team chemistry? For one, just being selfless. I think that factors into the team chemistry. You just got to give more of yourself, and no egos... none of that. So, I feel like that's what we have [in Indiana]. There's no egos. Everyone wants to win. We're all competitive, and we all have one goal in the end. So, I mean, I think that's why we're clicking right now. Have you enjoyed playing for Fever coach Stephanie White? I have. Coach White, I haven't known her for that long. I played against her last year, but just coming in... she told me to be myself... being a coach and giving me that confidence that I've been needing and lacking throughout my career, I mean, that meant a lot to me, and so, that's why I'm able to go out there and just be myself and be more poised for the team. How is it playing with Caitlin Clark? It's been good. She's funny. I didn't know what to expect, me and her, or just being around her on her team. But, she's a great basketball player [and an] even better human being. I got to know her and just see how... on the court, it's all business, but off the court... she's funny, a little prankster. [She's] always cracking jokes. So, I mean, that's been good to see. Was there something about your journey to joining the Fever that was a little surreal? I think, for me, that moment when I was like, "Oh, this is surreal," when I checked in against D.C. for the first game, and just hearing like the fans are up. When I subbed in, I was like, "This is for me?" I got the chills, and then I was like, alright, let me snap out of it. Like, I've got to start playing. The environment, the fan experience, it's something that I've never experienced before. They are die hards, and they go hard for their team and their players. This article originally appeared on For The Win: Aari McDonald talks Caitlin Clark, Fever's Commissioner's Cup win
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
DeWanna Bonner gets 100% real on Fever ‘journey'
The post DeWanna Bonner gets 100% real on Fever 'journey' appeared first on ClutchPoints. It hasn't been that long since DeWonna Bonner left the Indiana Fever for the Phoenix Mercury. Next Wednesday, Bonner will make her return to Indiana as the Mercury takes on the Fever. On Saturday, Bonner expressed her feelings about returning to Indiana after she left, according to ESPN. When asked about what she would do differently, Bonner said that she has no regrets about her decision. 'I wouldn't do anything differently, I think my journey is my journey, and I'm going to accept that,' she said. 'It carried me to where I am now in Phoenix, and it happened that way for a reason.' Bonner is a 14-year WNBA veteran. She first entered the league in 2009 with the Mercury and remained with them until 2019. Since then, she has gone on to play for the Connecticut Sun before joining the Fever in February. At the time, the Fever were considered title contenders. Bonner joined alongside Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston, Tiffany Mitchell, and Kelsey Mitchell. However, Bonner left because they did not feel adjusted to the system. Additionally, she refuted claims that her upset at being taken off the bench was the basis for her departure. 'That wasn't ever the issue. That's never been me,' Bonner said. 'I have no problems coming off the bench. I have never been that player. I don't feel like I have that reputation.' Bonner is a six-time WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year. Additionally, she is a six-time All-Star and a two-time WNBA champion. DeWanna Bonner and her play with the Mercury Upon returning to the Mercury, DeWanna Bonner found her place on a contending team. As of now, the Mercury are 15-9 in the Western Conference. They are trailing six games behind the first-place Minnesota Lynx. Meanwhile, Bonner is averaging 9.4 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. All in all, Bonner's addition has been a positive development. She has made considerable contributions coming off the bench and has put up some notable performances. On July 14, she scored a season high 22 points and grabbed 11 rebounds against the Golden State Valkyries. In her first four games, she averaged 14.5 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. Related: Brittney Griner's return highlights emotional rollercoaster in Mercury's loss to Dream Related: Dream news: Brittney Griner speaks up on Phoenix homecoming before Mercury clash