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When new Yankees starting pitcher Gerrit Cole was 11-years-old he attended Game 6 of the 2001 World Series and held up a sign that he had made which read “Yankee Fan Today Tomorrow Forever.”
Incredibly, there is even photographic proof that Cole did this in 2001. Even more amazingly, Cole still has the sign, which he brought to his introductory press conference in New York on Wednesday.
Gerrit Cole kept the sign 😭 pic.twitter.com/WduQ4bDtY1
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) December 18, 2019
Cole said it has been a dream of his to play for the Yankees since he was a kid.
My favorite part of the Gerrit Cole press conference was when he said signing with the Yankees was his dream even though the Yankees drafted him in the first round and he didn’t sign with them. Just a guy with a lifelong dream since November.
— Jared Carrabis (@Jared_Carrabis) December 18, 2019
Numerous fans on social media, however, put forth and supported a conspiracy theory that because the sign’s lettering isn’t blue, that the Yankees fabricated a sign just for the story it would create.
The Y and K (upper left is slanted down compared to straight across) are different. Either way, it doesn't matter. Great signing, seems like a great guy.
— Peter Botte (@PeterBotte) December 18, 2019
Turns out that it was, in fact, the very same sign Cole brought to the World Series in 2001.
“I put it in my closet and then when I signed [my parents] came over for dinner,” Cole told YES Network. “Him and my mom came over for dinner to celebrate and he brought the sign with him. And I had it and I knew I just had to bring it to New York.”
Introducing the newest New York Yankees ace, Gerrit Cole 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/ZSeVuUgJO0
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) December 18, 2019
More importantly, however, is the fact that in all of his excitement Cole didn’t take into account the fact that holding up a sign in photos would inevitably be transformed by legions of people on social media. Right, Mr. Trump?
https://twitter.com/NombreEsAva/status/1207337950876512256
Can’t believe Gerrit Cole kept the sign! pic.twitter.com/bGBoebS1FH
— Jack Webber (@jackwebs21) December 18, 2019
The highlight of Gerrit Coles presser was when he flipped the sign over to reveal: pic.twitter.com/itSoFddobR
— King⭑ 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐞⭑♠️ (@FrankiesTooLoud) December 18, 2019
I can’t believe Gerrit Cole kept that sign all these years pic.twitter.com/pGdneCjEV7
— Seton Hall Student (@sacketology) December 18, 2019
Why did Gerrit Cole bring this sign to the Yankees press conference? pic.twitter.com/JxQFiutvz3
— Drew (@_DrewWheeler) December 18, 2019
Love Gerrit Cole's sign🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/CTerWyJ69a
— extend KB cowards (@Hoodie_Rizzo) December 18, 2019
I can’t believe Gerrit Cole brought the sign to the press conference! pic.twitter.com/rtNDICoh7N
— Richard Staff (@RichardStaff) December 18, 2019
https://twitter.com/22jaredc/status/1207344708894236677
https://twitter.com/icyauston/status/1207350661605679105
Gerrit Cole holding up his sign to the world pic.twitter.com/6u5AYFkDls
— Kev (@OnePursuitTakes) December 18, 2019
https://twitter.com/SotoSZN/status/1207340475667091456
https://twitter.com/_dbrown_23/status/1207347051450777600
I can’t believe Gerrit Cole brought this sign to his press conference pic.twitter.com/tt8kvkUbfl
— The Gate 4 Podcast (@thegate4podcast) December 18, 2019
https://twitter.com/zach__cronin/status/1207361246560997377
https://twitter.com/MusingsOfDerek/status/1207363518342844417
Never change, internet. Never change.