Brett Gardner is the leader the Yankees needed | Lucas

In June of 2003, the Yankees named Derek Jeter the 15th captain in franchise history. Since Jeter’s retirement in 2014, the Bombers have yet to name a captain. However, I have been in and around the Yankees clubhouse for over a half-century, and, in my humble opinion, their unofficial captain is an outfielder hailing from the state of Alabama. Brett…

In June of 2003, the Yankees named Derek Jeter the 15th captain in franchise history. Since Jeter’s retirement in 2014, the Bombers have yet to name a captain.

However, I have been in and around the Yankees clubhouse for over a half-century, and, in my humble opinion, their unofficial captain is an outfielder hailing from the state of Alabama.

Brett Gardner is in his 11th season with the Yankees and is the only current Yankee player to have been on the team since before they crossed the street into their new ballpark in 2009. Although he still has a lot of baseball left in him, his career seems to have come full circle.

The man known to many as “Gardy” played in his first major league game on June 30, 2008, and, within one week of his debut, recorded his first walk-off hit, a 10th inning single against the Red Sox in front of a national audience on Sunday Night Baseball. At that point, he was just a rookie. On Wednesday, he hit what turned out to be a game-winning two-run triple in the eighth inning of the Yankees’ 9-6 win over another Red Sox team, though one that looks nothing like the one 10 years ago in terms of personnel.

I spoke to Gardner recently, and he cited his early clubhouse influences as not only the core four, but also the likes of Jason Giambi and Johnny Damon. Today, he is the longest-tenured active Yankee and is a trusted advisor to some young, up-and-coming stars like Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez, two young men who may eclipse the star status of many of the players who mentored Gardner.

Many people have said that Judge reminds them of Derek Jeter in terms of personality. Gardner told me that he does not necessarily have to teach his younger teammates how to act off the field or act as role models, and that they all “have a good head on their shoulders.” He told me that his mentorship refers more to answering questions about “an opposing pitcher, a situation during the game, or something that may happen off the field during a road trip,” the last of which refers more to the logistics of travel, not off-the-field antics.

Gardner mentioned that his teammates “make it easy” for him to do his job, and that it has helped the team mold during its tremendous run as of late. Entering yesterday, the Yankees have won 17 of 18 games and have jumped from 7 ½ games out of first place in the American League East, all the way to taking a one-game lead over the Red Sox.

In the past few years, general manager Brian Cashman has turned the Yankees from what some called a bit of an old-timers home, into a thriving, young ball club more than ready to contend for a title. The Yankees lost some excellent, experienced ballplayers in Mark Teixeira, Carlos Beltran, Brian McCann and Alex Rodriguez, but Gardner, the Yankees only position player in the latter half of his career, has been a guiding force for a team full of young talent.