PORT ST. LUCIE – The 1992 Yankees were a mess.

They had produced the majors’ second-worst record from 1989-91. They overpaid to bribe Danny Tartabull to come to New York, overreacting to the Mets’ lavish purchase of Bobby Bonilla. They had no established ace, a falling star in Don Mattingly and their greatest intrigue concerned whether they could keep Steve Howe clean and off the ineligible list.

Their general manager, Gene “Stick” Michael, believed the Yankees required a seen-it-all veteran manager, and he initially pursued Hal Lanier and Doug Rader. Instead – perhaps provoked by suspended owner George Steinbrenner – Michael pivoted to an untested 35-year-old born the same year as the Yankees’ Opening Day starter, Scott Sanderson, and closer Steve Farr.

“I had a moment with Stick,” Showalter recalled. “I knew I wasn’t his first choice. He didn’t know what he had at 35. About a week into spring training, after a workout, he came into my office and goes, ‘Hey boy, you can do this. I’m good with it. You won’t see me as much. You are good with it.’ And he left. I knew what he was saying.”