Yankee Stadium’s Old-Timers’ Day stitched history to today as the Yankees honored the 2000 World Series champs and Astros players roamed the field for autographs, trading stories with a who’s who of pinstripe legends. Cooper Hummel led a small Astros contingent seeking signatures from Pettitte, Bernie Williams, Jorge Posada, and Mariano Rivera, while Dwight Gooden signed for Joe Espada. The moment underscored how the game’s lineage fuels its present and even nudges fantasy rosters toward a longer view of development.

Hummel’s enthusiasm was contagious: a baseball nerd soaking in the craft, he listened as Rivera’s cutter mindset—shared in a quick, practical chat with Colton Gordon—offered a blueprint for a rookie’s approach. Mauricio Dubón paused with Orlando Hernández and Rivera; the day framed a full-circle arc of mentorship, where yesterday’s greats illuminate today’s prospects. The scene blended nostalgia with a clear message: growth in MLB comes from listening, asking questions, and weaving history into today’s grind.

As the field cleared, the takeaway was simple: big-league life is a privilege, and moments like this sharpen craft by pairing curiosity with the wisdom of legends who once walked the same turf.