Anthony Volpe may be a big league star but he is still a big baseball fan.
While visiting Mexico this week with his fabled New York Yankees he got to meet one of his childhood heroes the great Robinson Cano.
In speaking to Volpe’s dad Michael, he told me that his son’s two heroes growing up was Derek Jeter and then Robby Cano.
Michael said that Anthony loved his style and grace and the terrific offensive player that he was and after watching the two-game series between The Diablos Rojo and the Yankees, I have to say that he still is.
In the first game, Cano had three hits in four at-bats including two RBIs and a run scored also a terrific play in the field. You can say that Cano was the most valuable player in that game and he had a hit in three at-bats in the second game. Mexico won both games. After the second game, Anthony went over to Cano, introduced himself, and had a nice conversation.
Cano called me after the game and told me about what a nice young man Volpe is.
Most people will remember that Cano was one of my go-to guys who would accompany me to schools and hospitals in New York during his heyday with the Bronx Bombers.
Robinson was actually the inspiration for my first book … The Boy of Steel.
I took Robinson to a hospital in New Jersey along with four other Yankees in 2005. We were going from room to room visiting the sick children who were mostly dealing with cancer. By the time we were done, I noticed that we lost Robinson. I backtracked my steps from room to room until I found him in this room with a little boy that looked like he had found a new best friend. I just let them talk until Robinson felt comfortable with his soul. I could tell that there was something very special and spiritual about this particular visit.
When I got home that night I knew that I had a beautiful children’s book. I actually ran the idea by Mr. Steinbrenner and he told me to run with it. Cano actually had the little boy visit him at Yankee Stadium. The whole situation between Cano and the little boy was one of my favorite moments in fifty years with the Yankees.
The book actually became a NY Times bestseller and won the Hispanic International Book of the Year. With the blessing of the Boss and Cano, we donated all proceeds to pediatric cancer and education.
Yes, Cano had a substance abuse issue that I don’t have to address. I will only say that Robinson Cano helped many kids causes while he played in the Bronx. He understood how blessed he was and was never too big to extend his hand to help others.
It was nice to hear from Michael Volpe that his son was so thrilled to meet his hero and they actually exchanged shirts.
Cano did tell me that he would love to get one more chance to get to the big leagues. After watching these two games I can see him helping some team as a utility player but I have only been in the game for over fifty years… what do I know.
