VIDEO: Yankees re-enact iconic 'Sandlot' scene

Any respectable baseball fan born within the last quarter-century surely remembers that pivotal scene from "The Sandlot" (1993) where Scotty Smalls, the blissfully ignorant newcomer to the film's ragtag band of ballplayers, discovers in the most excruciating fashion the legacy of Babe Ruth.

In case you've been living under a rock for the last three decades, here's the gist of it: Eager to win the respect of his new gang, Smalls unexpectedly offers to provide a new baseball after the crew's lone ball is crushed to smithereens by Benny "The Jet" Rodriguez. Smalls, however, foolishly swipes his stepdad's prized souvenir - a ball signed by Ruth himself - to keep the game alive, unaware of the item's immense value.

The autographed ball is, of course, sent into hostile territory beyond the fence at the local sandlot, but Smalls only realizes the extent of the pickle he's in once his peers educate him about Ruth's legendary status.

A few current members of the New York Yankees took the liberty of recreating that edifying scene Tuesday at spring training, with left fielder Brett Gardner delivering a compelling performance as Scotty Smalls.

(Courtesy: MLB.com)

Brian McCann, however, also deserves recognition for his stunningly accurate portrayal of Ham Porter, the gang's outspoken catcher.