Bob Cerv’s desire to play for the Yankees was roused by a trip to New York with his father, who drove a refrigerated food truck from Nebraska. He was only 11 or 12, but seeing Lou Gehrig hit home runs at Yankee Stadium made him want to play there as well.
Cerv grew into a burly slugger who fulfilled his dream. He made it to the Yankees. Not once. Not twice. But three times. First the Yankees signed him. Then they traded for him. Then they made a deal to get him back again.