Roger Clemens thanks Yankees manager Aaron Boone for extremely kind spring gesture

The New York Yankees have stepped up their guest instructor game this spring, seemingly producing another generation-bending photograph of legends every single workout.

Perhaps no embraced veteran has been more surprising to see than Roger Clemens, though. Persona non grata across MLB for many years for being associated with the late-'90s steroid scandal (he never admitted usage, nor did he test positive), Clemens returned to Yankees camp to impart his pitching wisdom this spring.

He's even gone the extra mile, traveling to road games (otherwise known as "pulling a Nolan Arenado"). MLB veterans rarely take the bus during camp, and that theoretically would go double for 62-year-old retired heroes.

Clemens had a good reason to make the trip to Clearwater for the Yankees' showdown with the Phillies on Tuesday, though, and Aaron Boone made sure the voyage was worth the righty's while. The Rocket's son Kody plays for the Phils, and has stuck with the big-league club for the past two seasons after bouncing around somewhat.

Before Tuesday's exhibition, Boone orchestrated a bit of history with Phillies manager (and member of the Yankees family) Rob Thomson. The lineup card exchange featured father and son handing things over to the umpires for probably the first time in MLB history (unscientific, but likely), and Clemens was extremely grateful after the game wrapped.

Yankees icon Roger Clemens has been welcomed back into the family with heartwarming moments, thanks to Aaron Boone

The Yankees may want to use Clemens as a good luck charm a bit more often, as top prospects George Lombard Jr. and Spencer Jones propelled right-hander Will Warren to victory by making Zack Wheeler look like ... well, 62-year-old Roger Clemens.

Embracing Clemens follows in the footsteps of a league-wide trend to welcome back the scorned superstars of the '90s. Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire have both held coaching positions since the controversial end of their playing days. Sammy Sosa, shunned from Wrigley Field for decades, was brought back and announced as a Cubs Hall of Fame inductee this January; he's been ever-present in Mesa this spring. Hell, even players with confirmed positive steroid tests have made the Hall of Fame — looking at you, David Ortiz!

Thankfully, Boone found a way to put the cherry on top of Clemens' return to make the month extra special for the forgotten righty. Ideally, this is just the first of many happy returns (Old-Timers' Day, anyone?).