The New York Yankees are known by many names. The Bronx Bombers. The 27-time World Series champions. The Evil Empire. But with all their success, it’s rare they’re identified as the underdogs.
That said, the standard of excellence the Yankees set does leave room for another kind of feel-good story: an underdog who emerges within the team’s own ranks, a low-profile player who defies the odds to become a crucial part of a star-studded roster.
In the summer of 2005, Yankees fans were fortunate enough to be treated to a pair of such stories: the unlikely — and timely — performances of Aaron Small and Shawn Chacon.