NEW YORK — A low-cost trade before the season turned into a major catalyst in the New York Yankees’ 2009 World Series win. He delivered strong production from the lower half of the lineup, hitting 29 home runs with an .869 OPS while playing 150 games. His presence made the Yankees’ lineup exceptionally deep, where even the No. 8 hitter posed a serious threat—something frequently noted during broadcasts that year.
The outfielder became one of the most beloved figures at Yankee Stadium, and earned an All-Star selection the following year. Now the The 42-year-old former Yankees star is stepping into an entirely different arena.
From the Bleacher Creatures to the broadcast booth
Nick Swisher spent four seasons in pinstripes from 2009 to 2012. The Yankees acquired him in a trade from the Chicago White Sox before the 2009 season, sending utility man Wilson Betemit and three minor league pitchers to Chicago. General manager Brian Cashman saw the underlying numbers behind Swisher’s down year with the White Sox, where he hit .219 with 24 home runs, and made the value bet.
That gamble paid off in a big way. Swisher stabilized the Yankees’ lineup in April 2009 when Alex Rodriguez was sidelined and Mark Teixeira struggled early. He posted a 1.144 OPS that month, helping keep the club afloat until the rest of the order found its groove.
By season’s end, Swisher finished with 29 home runs, 82 RBI and a .371 on-base percentage while hitting mostly in the bottom third of the order. The Yankees went on to win 103 games and the World Series. Swisher’s “Swisher Salute” to the Bleacher Creatures during roll call became one of the most recognizable traditions in Yankee Stadium during that era.
A switch-hitting outfielder with a keen eye at the plate, he averaged over 20 home runs and 80 RBI per season during his Yankees tenure. He earned his lone All-Star nod in 2010.
A former Yankees teammate made the connection
On Wednesday, All The Smoke Productions released “ATS Dugout,” the company’s first baseball-focused podcast. The show is the debut offering under a new vertical called ATS Baseball, which will produce more than 20 episodes throughout the season.
Former NBA player Matt Barnes will co-host alongside a rotating panel that includes Swisher and former MLB All-Star Chris Young. The show has already recorded episodes with guests including Eric Davis, Kenny Lofton and Gary Sheffield.
The catalyst behind the project was Hall of Fame pitcher CC Sabathia. The former Yankees ace, who now serves as an MLB ambassador through the Commissioner’s Ambassador Program, was the first baseball guest on the flagship All The Smoke show. According to Front Office Sports, Sabathia recommended both Swisher and Young as co-hosts for the new baseball venture.
Sabathia and Swisher were Yankees teammates from 2009 through 2012. Their bond has remained strong since both retired. Sabathia will also be in the booth next week for Netflix’s production of Yankees vs. Giants, joining Matt Vasgersian and Hunter Pence on the broadcast.
“I knew Swish when he played for the A’s, and I was with the Warriors,” Barnes told Front Office Sports. “That’s when I got a chance to meet him and just [had] great energy every time. I always remembered that. So when we started throwing names around, we met with MLB, and then CC was really high on C.Y.”
Swisher’s media career continues to grow
This is not Swisher’s first foray into media. After retiring from a 12-year playing career, the former Yankees outfielder joined Fox Sports as a studio analyst in 2017. He is no longer with the network but made an appearance on FS1’s First Things First as recently as last summer. He also hosted his own podcast, The Nick Swisher Show, which featured conversations with athletes and coaches about staying positive and winning off the field.
Young, who also earned an All-Star selection in 2010 with the Arizona Diamondbacks, has been an MLB Network analyst since 2021. He was an early participant in MLBN’s Clubhouse Edition alternate broadcasts, where he appeared alongside former Yankees pitcher Sabathia on several occasions.
The expansion into baseball grew from audience demand. According to Front Office Sports, episodes of All The Smoke featuring former MLB players, including one with Sheffield, generated engagement well above the baseline for the basketball-focused flagship show. That response made the case for a dedicated baseball vertical.
Still a fan favorite in the Bronx
Swisher left the Yankees after the 2012 season, signing with the Cleveland Indians. He played parts of three seasons in Cleveland and one in Atlanta before his playing days ended. But his connection to the Yankees has never faded.
In recent years, Swisher has made routine appearances at Yankees spring training, hanging around for a few days and soaking in the atmosphere. His permanent grin and infectious energy are traits Yankees fans still remember fondly. He was the kind of player who thrived under the intense New York spotlight and never shied away from it.
Now, with ATS Dugout launching at the start of the 2026 MLB season, the former Yankees fan favorite gets to channel that same energy into a new platform. For Yankees fans who grew up watching him in right field, the voice will be familiar even if the setting is not.
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