Nick Swisher got a ticket to the George Lombard Jr. show at Yankees Old-Timers' Day

Nick Swisher spoke with Adam Weinrib and Yanks Go Yard on behalf of Angry Orchard, who "scoured the country" for the worst softball team in America and sent Nick to play with 'em just 24 hours after Old-Timers' Day at Yankee Stadium. But which game was ... more hotly contested?

Big-league bloodlines really matter to Nick Swisher, which shouldn't be surprising. After all, he was born in 1980 when his dad, Steve, was still hanging on in a big-league clubhouse, playing with the Cardinals and wrapping his MLB tenure in '82. This won't shock you, either, but when Swisher believes something is important, his enthusiasm for it radiates, often shattering the screen.

Swisher made it very clear when we spoke that he would do anything to give back to the Steinbrenner family, after they've done so much for him, and wouldn't miss an Old-Timers' Day or a mentorship opportunity for the world. And while this year's gathering allowed him to reconnect with names that "pop off the page" to him, like Ron Guidry, Bucky Dent, and Rick Cerone, arguably his clearest takeaway was the importance of Yankee bloodlines.

"I got to meet Clay Bellinger, Cody's dad," Swish told YGY. "I got to meet Ryan Weathers' father, and I realized when we added both of those guys that they were going to be great Yankees because their daddies were. And they understand what it means to be a Yankee, and I very, very much appreciate that."

Add George Lombard Jr. to the big-league bloodlines conversation. Appropriately, the calm, cool and collected youngster played just his fourth career MLB game on Old-Timers' Day, and while his dad was never a Yankee, spending time in the Dodgers' locker room during your formative years can't hurt.

Swisher has known Lombard since he was drafted, and one particular constant has resonated with him.

George Lombard Jr. stole the show at Yankees Old-Timers' Day — but so did Mariano Rivera

"One thing I really appreciate about George is he's bringing an excitement and an energy with him," Swisher crowed. "By the way, man, have you seen the way this cat is fielding ground balls? He just looks free. He looks comfortable. And his daddy is a big-leaguer. He's part of the big-league game. Having those individuals in your life to teach you the things you need to know before you get there is absolutely crucial information."

Lombard Jr.'s insurance home run helped push the Yankees on to a nailbiting 5-4 victory, with their former greats in rapt attendance; Swisher hilariously noted that the retired players try to hit with 100% intensity, but when they field ... it drops down to 4%. We can't all be Lombard Jr. all the time (though Swish did corral a shallow fly ball, which he felt was his duty as one of the young guns). He was also forced to hit against Mariano Rivera, whose cutter supposedly no longer cuts as much as his 85 MPH fastball currently does (go figure — Mo's movement always did seem inexplicable and preordained).

But, as Swisher was quick to remind us, he and his '09 teammates/fellow Yankees icons weren't the only ones watching from the sidelines. He caught up with Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger, Giancarlo Stanton and Carlos Rodón in the clubhouse, all of whom will be back soon. He believes the team will get them back in time. He believes Brian Cashman will be able to piece a bullpen together. And, if you speak to him and need a pep talk, you'll believe it, too.

And I believe it, primarily, because of Lombard Jr. and the way that cat fields ground balls.

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