Yankees Manager Surprises Braves' McGriff with Throwback T-Shirt

Bossi pays homage to McGriff's iconic Tom Emanski commercials before Spring Breakout game

Mar. 22, 2026 at 2:53am

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In a lighthearted moment before a Spring Breakout game between the Yankees and Braves, Yankees High-A Hudson Valley manager Aaron Bossi surprised Hall of Famer Fred McGriff, who was serving as the Braves' manager, by wearing a t-shirt featuring an image and quote from McGriff's popular baseball instructional video commercials from the 1990s.

Why it matters

The playful exchange between the two managers highlights the camaraderie and mutual respect among baseball lifers, even as competitors. McGriff's iconic commercials remain a nostalgic touchstone for many baseball fans who grew up watching them.

The details

When McGriff arrived at home plate to exchange lineup cards, Bossi unbuttoned his jersey to reveal a t-shirt with the words "Back to Back to Back" and an image of McGriff from his Tom Emanski commercials. The message was a reference to the commercials claiming the instructional videos were used by an AAU team that won three straight national championships.

  • The pregame exchange took place on Saturday, March 22, 2026 before a Spring Breakout game between the Yankees and Braves at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida.

The players

Fred McGriff

A Hall of Fame baseball player who is currently serving as the manager for the Atlanta Braves.

Aaron Bossi

The manager of the Yankees' High-A Hudson Valley affiliate, who surprised McGriff with the throwback t-shirt.

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What they’re saying

“I saw that and said, 'We've got to beat them bad now,'”

— Fred McGriff

“Man, what a down-to-earth guy Fred McGriff is. We've all had the pleasure of watching growing up on TV – just such a pure hitter and ballplayer. It's going to be really cool to go out there and shake his hand for the plate meeting.”

— Aaron Bossi, Yankees High-A Hudson Valley Manager

What’s next

The Braves went on to defeat the Yankees 8-3 in the Spring Breakout game.

The takeaway

This lighthearted exchange between the two managers showcases the mutual respect and camaraderie that exists in baseball, even among competitors. McGriff's iconic instructional video commercials remain a nostalgic part of many fans' childhoods, and this moment allowed the two skippers to bond over that shared experience.