How a '98 SI cover is relevant to today's Yankees

This story was excerpted from Bryan Hoch's Yankees Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

The May 18, 1998, edition of Sports Illustrated featured Derek Jeter, Tino Martinez and Mariano Rivera on the cover, announcing in large print: “Speed, Power, Heat: The Yankees have it all.”

On the morning that magazine containing Tom Verducci’s accompanying article landed on newsstands and in mailboxes, those Yankees had won 27 of their first 36 games, which is exactly how the 2022 Bombers performed through their first three dozen contests.

The Jeter-Tino-Mo squad, of course, went on win 114 regular-season games and sweep the Padres for the franchise’s 24th World Series championship. Time will tell how history judges this squad, but no one can argue that they are off to a sensational start.

“I think it’s a special group; I do,” manager Aaron Boone said. “There’s a long, long way to go, so we’ve got a ton to prove. I think to this point, we’ve proven that we can win games in a lot of different ways. I think it’s shown up, even on this road trip. This group knows that there’s not just one or two ways we can beat you.”

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