Cody and Clay Bellinger have become the fourth father-son duo to play for the Yankees.
The New York Yankees are wasting no time to rebuild after losing superstar Juan Soto to cross-city rivals Mets. Days after landing Devin Williams from Milwaukee Brewers in a trade deal, the Yankees have acquired former National League MVP Cody Bellinger from the Chicago Cubs.
The Bronx Bombers sent right-handed pitcher Cody Poteet to Chicago in exchange for Bellinger, while also taking on most of his $27.5 million salary.
What makes this trade even more interesting is the family connection. Notably, Cody Bellinger’s father, Clay Bellinger, played for the Yankees in the late 1990s and early 2000s. With Cody now joining the Bronx Bombers, the Bellingers become the fourth father-son duo to wear the iconic pinstripes.
Let’s take a look at the father-son duos who have played for the Yankees in MLB:
Yogi Berra is arguably the most famous name in Yankees history. The Hall of Fame catcher played 19 seasons in New York (1946-1963), winning 10 World Series titles, a record for any player.
His son, Dale Berra, had a much shorter, less celebrated career. He played for the Yankees in 1985-86 as an infielder but didn’t find much success. He batted .229 and .231 with a total of three home runs during his stint with the Yankees and was released in 1986.
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Ron Davis played a big role in leading the Yankees to World Series in 1981. An all-star, Davis finished 22 of the 43 games he pitched in the regular season. However, his poor pitching performance in World Series led to his trade in 1982.
Fast forward a few decades, and Ike Davis, Ron’s son, joined the Yankees in June 2016. Ike, a first baseman and outfielder, is best known for his time with the New York Mets, but he had a brief stint with the Yankees late in his career. In August 2016, Davis was released by the franchise.
Mark Leiter Sr. pitched for the Yankees in 1990, though his time with the team was short. Still, his career in the majors spanned over 10 years, and he contributed to several teams, including the Phillies and the Tigers.
His son, Mark Leiter Jr., followed in his father’s footsteps and made his debut for Yankees in 2024 after a move from the Cubs. Leiter had a 4.50 ERA in 60 appearances in regular season.
Clay Bellinger, a utility player spent parts of three seasons with the Yankees from 1999 to 2001. Though Clay’s time in New York was short, he was a solid contributor in the 2000 World Series. Clay hit 12 home runs and had a .623 OPS in 181 games with the Yankees.
His son, Cody Bellinger will now don the pinstripes. A two-time All-Star hit .266 with 18 homers and 76 RBI last season. He had two years left in his contract with Cubs before he was traded to Yankees.
Image Credit: Instagram/@cody_bellinger
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