Aaron Boone and the Yankees looked to the 2004 Red Sox for inspiration as they tried to overcome a 3-0 series deficit in the 2022 ALCS against the Astros.
Ultimately, New York couldn’t find it. Houston beat the Yankees 6-5 in Game 4 thanks to a game-winning Alex Bregman single to earn the sweep and a World Series matchup against the Phillies.
And one of the 2004 Red Sox used that defeat as an opportunity to take a shot at the Yankees.
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Pedro Martinez, one of the dual aces on Boston’s staff in 2004, appeared on the TBS postgame show following the Astros’ win. He poked fun at the Yankees and their fans by repeatedly asking one question.
“I have one question for all of New York: New York, who’s your daddy now?” Martinez said. “I just want to know. I want an answer and I want it quick. New York, who’s your daddy? Should I say the Astros? It’s not Big Papi (David Ortiz) anymore. It’s not me. Who’s your daddy? I want answers, New York.”
😂😂😂 I have one question… #Astros #LevelUp pic.twitter.com/6rH7FM1ZuI
— Don Dougan (@don_dougan) October 24, 2022
Martinez’s comments stem from an interview he gave on Sept. 24 of the 2004 season. He gave up five runs in a loss to the Yankees and during his postgame interview, he issued the following quip.
What can I say? Just tip my hat and call the Yankees my daddies.
“Who’s your daddy?” quickly became a rallying cry among Yankees fans. They consistently taunted Martinez with those words and used them in place of their usual “Let’s go Yankees” chant when he was on the hill at Yankee Stadium.
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Of course, the chant didn’t end up working for the Yankees faithful in 2004. Martinez and the Red Sox pulled off the miraculous ALCS comeback from 3-0 down against New York and went on to win their first World Series title in 86 years.
Nonetheless, the “Who’s your daddy?” chant continued to be used by Yankees fans for the duration of Martinez’s Hall of Fame career. As such, the former pitcher decided to get a measure of revenge after Houston’s sweep.
It was an especially prescient troll job from Martinez considering that the chant reared its head during the 2022 postseason. It came up in response to Josh Naylor’s “Rocking the Baby” celebration after the Cleveland slugger hit a home run off Gerrit Cole in Game 4 of the ALDS.
Naylor referred to Cole as his son, as he does when hitting homers off any pitchers. Yankees fans countered with the “Who’s your daddy?” rally cry as they defeated the Guardians in Game 5 of the series.
Perhaps that chant stirred up memories for Martinez and made him extra eager to clap back at the Yankees faithful.
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