Phil Coke’s season was bookended by calls from New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman. The first came in mid-April after Coke, bumped out of Atlanta Braves minor league spring training, joined the Lancaster Barnstormers of the independent Atlantic League.
Cashman wanted Coke to work out for the Yankees, the team that drafted him in 2002.
“I need a couple days,” Coke said.
“Why?” Cashman asked.
“Because I’m starting tomorrow.”
“Where?”
Lancaster, Pa., was the answer. Cashman purchased Coke’s contract after the game. Coke hopped into his truck and drove to Scranton, Pa.