“The plan,” the column begins, “is for this to be something of a soundtrack for the next 15 or so years of Anthony Volpe’s life …”

This was from the New York Post of March 31, 2023. The author was your humble narrator, who was one of 46,172 witnesses to the early hours of Anthony Volpe’s career. It was a moment of hope, an hour of triumph (the Yankees blanked the Giants that Opening Day, 5-0, behind Gerrit Cole’s first step toward a Cy Young Award) and a day of promise for Volpe, who drew a walk, stole a base and fielded a clean shortstop, handling all three of his chances flawlessly.

“It was probably the most fun day of my entire life,” Volpe said at game’s end, the smile that had been fastened to his face from the moment he hopped out of the dugout three hours before still in full bloom, not soon to be extinguished. “I had goose bumps the whole day.”

The crowd – and the full ballast of Yankee Nation – had been behind him from that first leap onto the field. During pre-game introductions they’d bestowed him the second-loudest ovation of the day, behind only Aaron Judge, playing his first game after his epic 62-homer masterpiece season. As his parents sat beaming in Section 214, the Bleacher Creatures roared his name during the Roll Call.