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The Yankees still have a consistent connection to the 2009 World Series team – Solondais

The Yankees still have a consistent connection to the 2009 World Series team – Solondais

Fifteen years later, the Yankees are back in the World Series, and the only man still in uniform from the last team that made it here is doing most of the work in secret.

Mike Harkey remained bullpen coach through two managers, three pitching coaches, hundreds of relievers and a two-year hiatus to become the Diamondbacks' pitching coach.

He is a storyteller, a joker, a part-time psychologist and one of the greatest sources of experience and wisdom in the organization.

Mike Harkey (r.) is the last uniformed member of the 2009 Yankees team. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post

He has a personality as big as his 6ft 3in frame, which Aaron Boone describes as “happily grumpy” shortly after describing how he became one of the manager's best friends.

And Harkey is the Yankees' best player during the most important time of the year.

“He’s the one,” Luke Weaver said before Game 1 of the World Series on Friday at Dodger Stadium.

“He was one of the most influential people for me in my personal journey this year and his transition into the arena.”

There's a reason the 57-year-old Harkey has the staying power he's had since 2008, when Joe Girardi brought his former minor league roommate and Cubs batterymate onto his roster.

The Yankees have consistently produced one of the game's best bullpens over the years, and while this year's group has had its share of ups and downs, Harkey has been there to ensure they get into October in one piece.

“I’m very proud of the work I do,” Harkey said. “I’m very proud of the relationships I’ve been able to build with some of these guys. I hope I can make the impact needed to win games. That's really a big part of my experience. I’m lucky to have had this experience.”


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That experience included being on the franchise's last World Series championship team in 2009.

Last week, as the Yankees were on the verge of closing out the ALCS against the Guardians, Harkey said everything felt “familiar” again.

“You have fought for your life these last few days, and you are fighting for the men who brought you here,” Harkey said.

The 2009 Yankees bullpen was coached by future Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera and supported by players such as David Robertson, Phil Hughes and, in October, Joba Chamberlain and lefty Damaso Marte.

This year, Harkey led a group led by big man-turned-schemer Weaver Clay Holmes, veteran Tommy Kahnle and resurgent left-hander Tim Hill.

“From my perspective and my reassurance, he's really just about getting the ship out there and getting it there, not about making things bigger than they need to be,” Weaver said. “I calmly inform you that you are in the game. Submit your discovery report immediately before entering and explain the situation. But (also) day after day. “He’s straightforward, he’s authentic, he’s honest, and if you don’t have a good game, he’s there the next day to talk about it and explain what he thinks.”

Mike Harkey (R.) is one of the most popular names on the Yankees. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post

Harkey is trying to get the bullpen to talk a lot about Rivera, not just because he's that good, but because he has to put in the physical and mental effort to do so every day.

“To me, he is such a strong and amazing sounding board and friend,” Boone said. “He has a lot of experience in the game now, both as a player and as a coach. He's obviously great at what he does and his role. I feel very fortunate to have him on our team and to have been a rock for me over the years.”

When pitching coach Matt Blake was hired to replace Larry Rothschild after the 2019 season, one of his first actions was to ensure Harkey would return.

“I think it helps when someone with that type of experience has played, been here, faced the buzzer and obviously been part of a team that won here (the World Series),” Blake said. “The trust in his consistency is therefore enormous for the players.”

Harkey, the No. 4 overall pick in 1987 (three spots behind Ken Griffey Jr.), whose eight-year career was blighted by injuries, has a distinctive style in the bullpen, keeping things light until the phone rings.

But over the years it has proven that it works, like this season, even if it doesn't always seem that way.

“It’s the noise that comes with being a New York Yankee,” Harkey said. “We were never as bad as everyone thought. We always knew it wasn't us. We knew we needed a chance to show we could achieve big things when we needed to achieve big things. “Now we have the opportunity to do that and we hope to be able to do that for a few more weeks.”

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