Paul Goldschmidt had just finished exchanging high-fives and handshakes with his teammates and coaches on the Yankee Stadium infield during a recent homestand, shifting roles from Yankees first baseman to big league dad before he even reached the dugout steps.
Within 20 minutes of the final notes of Frank Sinatra’s “Theme from New York, New York,” Goldschmidt was leading his children, Jake and Emma, through the home clubhouse. They exchanged pleasantries with Aaron Judge, sampled a bite or two from the lounge, then popped onto the outfield grass for some late-afternoon fun.
Goldschmidt may be in his first season wearing pinstripes, but as a 37-year-old who is about to play in his 2,000th regular-season game, he takes no tomorrows for granted. Days like these are valuable for Goldschmidt, who wants his kids to soak up as many memories as possible.
“I remember being a young player and seeing the veteran players that would have their kids around before or after the game,” Goldschmidt said. “Honestly, it’s crazy to think that I’m still playing and my kids are old enough to be able to enjoy it. They love it, and to be able to share it -- I know this isn’t going to last forever.”
The years feel like they have flown by for Goldschmidt, who made his Major League debut with the Diamondbacks in 2011, finding stardom two seasons into an eight-year stint in the desert.
It became a career decorated with honors: trips to the All-Star Game, Gold Gloves, Silver Sluggers, and a National League Most Valuable Player Award in 2022, when Goldschmidt was in his fourth season with the Cardinals.
We’re now a few months into the New York chapter, with Goldschmidt agreeing to a one-year, $12.5 million contract that he hopes will lead to his first opportunity to play in a World Series.
In the meantime, his new workplace offers an all-access pass for the kids -- just as it did last June, when Jake and Emma joined their mom, Amy, on the Busch Stadium infield to toss ceremonial first pitches on Goldschmidt’s bobblehead night.
“The best part is just to see the joy on their faces,” Goldschmidt said. “We are playing a game every day, so it’s a great reminder of the innocence of kids. I want those memories, too, to play catch with my son on the field -- I know I’m not going to be able to do that forever. Or for my daughter to come in and see the players, get some gum, go on the field with us.
“I’ve got pictures with the kids on probably half the big league fields as we go to visiting stadiums. There are so many great memories of us just doing something very special.”
Beneath the surface fun, the ballpark serves as a second classroom where Goldschmidt encourages them to listen and observe. Years from now, he hopes they will reflect on those hours spent in the Bronx and elsewhere with life lessons absorbed.
“When I bring my kids here, there are really two rules,” Goldschmidt said. “No. 1 is being respectful of all the players, coaches and staff, so they get to learn those kinds of personal interactions and relationships. No. 2, they have to stay out of the way, because I don’t want them to be a distraction for the other players or coaches.
“So I think they can see how hard everyone in here works, and the work that it takes – even just watching on TV, the ups and downs of baseball. You see how to be a good teammate and deal with failure. The list goes on and on.”
Goldschmidt doesn’t pretend to have it all figured out, but if there is a secret to balancing a high-profile job and his responsibilities at home, it may be this: Leave the game at the stadium.
“Even before I was a dad, I always had a rule that I wouldn’t work on baseball at home. I’d rather stay late or show up early,” Goldschmidt said. “So when I go home, I’m not watching video or looking at scouting reports. That puts up a little bit of a barrier. Luckily, I have an amazing wife who does so many things at home, knowing the kids are taken care of.”
Goldschmidt will once more slip on a big league uniform this Father's Day, buttoning a road gray jersey at Fenway Park. He still considers that opportunity “a great blessing,” and that might be the most important message he’d like to see his kids carry forward.
“I’ve tried to never take it for granted, and I don’t think I have,” Goldschmidt said. “I remember when I was a kid, it was a dream just to maybe walk on a Major League field, much less get to play on it. I think seeing them there and just remembering how special it is, it’s a good reminder.”