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Let's Not Forget Tony Fernandez & His Time In The Bronx

Sunday, December 1, 2024 3:14

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Tony Fernández was more than just a baseball player; he was an artist on the field, a magician with the glove, and a professional to his core. His career spanned nearly two decades, and while he’ll always be most closely tied to the Toronto Blue Jays, his time in pinstripes proved that greatness has no home—it travels wherever the player goes.

It’s hard not to marvel at Fernández’s early career. With the Blue Jays, he was unstoppable, setting records, winning Gold Gloves, and dazzling fans with his smooth, almost effortless style of play. His bat was no slouch, either—hitting over .300 four times and leading the league with 17 triples in 1990. When the Jays traded him to the Padres in 1991, it felt like the end of an era. But for Fernández, it was just another chapter in a story that was far from finished.

He bounced around a bit after that, playing for the Padres and Mets before a trade brought him back to Toronto in 1993. It was a homecoming, and Fernández didn’t disappoint. He was instrumental in helping the Blue Jays clinch their second World Series, driving in nine runs in the Fall Classic—a record for shortstops. But after another stint with the Blue Jays and a solid year with the Reds, it was time for something new.

In 1995, Fernández signed with the New York Yankees, and his journey took a turn into pinstripe history.

Joining the Yankees in the mid-90s meant stepping into a team on the verge of something special. Fernández, already a veteran, brought stability and leadership to the shortstop position. And while Derek Jeter was looming in the minors, the Yankees weren’t about to hand the job to a kid fresh out of AAA. Fernández was exactly what they needed—proven, reliable, and still capable of magic.

One of those magical moments came on September 3, 1995, in the Bronx. Fernández put on a show, going 4-for-5 against the Oakland A’s and hitting for the cycle.

It was the kind of performance that reminded everyone why Tony Fernández was a star. Only 10 players in Yankees history had done it before him, and his cycle felt like a moment of triumph in a season full of ups and downs.

Unfortunately, Fernández’s Yankees story is also intertwined with one of baseball’s most famous transitions. In spring training of 1996, Fernández suffered an elbow injury, sidelining him for the season. It was a tough break for a player who still had plenty to give, but it also paved the way for Derek Jeter to take the stage. While some players might have harbored bitterness, that wasn’t Fernández’s style. He handled the situation with the same grace and professionalism that defined his entire career.

When Fernández left the Yankees, he didn’t just walk away from a team—he left behind a legacy. He became the last player to wear the iconic No. 6 before Joe Torre donned it as manager and eventually had it retired. Even in a relatively short stint, Fernández had etched his name into Yankees lore.

The rest of his career saw him continue to play for several teams, always bringing his signature style and determination to the game. Age eventually caught up with him, as it does with all players, but Fernández never stopped being a gamer. He battled through life off the field as well, facing a diagnosis of polycystic kidney disease in 2017 with the same quiet resilience he showed in his playing days.

When Fernández passed away in 2020, it was a heartbreaking moment for baseball fans everywhere. He was more than just a player; he was a man who carried himself with dignity, a teammate who lifted those around him, and an athlete who left everything he had on the field.

Yes, he’ll always be a Blue Jays legend, but for a time, Tony Fernández was a Yankee. And in that time, he showed why he was one of the best to ever play the game. The Bronx got a glimpse of his brilliance, and it’s something Yankees fans won’t forget. He wasn’t just the guy who came before Derek Jeter. He was Tony Fernández—a player who made his mark wherever he went.

Source: http://bleedingyankeeblue.blogspot.com/2024/12/lets-not-forget-tony-fernandez-his-time.html

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