New York Yankees: Gerrit Cole fulfills 18 year prophecy

A stock photo from 18 years ago turned out to be a prophecy for the New York Yankees and Gerrit Cole.

Prior to Game Six of the 2001 World Series between the New York Yankees and the Arizona Diamondbacks, Newsday photographer Bill Perlman did what he had always done – took photographs of people in the crowd. He took one picture in particular of a young boy wearing a Yankees jersey, holding a sign “Yankee Fan Today Tomorrow Forever.” After taking the picture, he asked the kid his name and where he was from, just as he always did.

That kid happened to be 11 year old Gerrit Cole from Santa Ana California.

Understandably, after all the photos that Perlman took, he did not think about it again after sending the image to the home office. Then, in 2008, Cole was drafted by the Yankees. That photo came back to mind, but faded again when he did not sign and headed off to UCLA. Cole would end up being drafted by the Pirates and become a top prospect. Later, he was traded to the Astros, where he rejuvenated his career and became a dominant force.

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Now, that photo is back and going viral once again. Cole, as we all know, signed the largest contract ever given to a pitcher in MLB history to head to the Bronx, inking a nine year deal worth $324 million. And with that contract, the ‘Today Tomorrow Forever’ part of the sign came true.

Obviously, with that contract, there are high expectations for Cole with the Yankees. His performance with the Astros last season, when he posted a 20-5 record with a league leading 2.50 ERA and 326 strikeouts. The AL Cy Young runner up, Cole gives the Yankees yet another top of the rotation arm, the ace they were missing in the postseason last year.

Every child growing up dreams of playing for their favorite team. In some cases, those dreams come true. In some of those cases, while the dream did come true, it became a nightmare. The end result for Cole still has a long way to go before it is determined, but this is what he had been dreaming of for years.

It makes one wonder what that 11 year old at the 2001 World Series would have thought. Gerrit Cole certainly lived up to that sign that had randomly been captured those 18 years ago.