Yankees' Anthony Volpe and his lifelong devotion to the Knicks

CLEVELAND – Knicks Fever swept into New York two months ago when the NBA playoffs began and has increased by the day for the better part of the last two months.

It is no different in the Yankees clubhouse, which collectively has been as caught up in the Knicks run to the Finals.

But for one player in particular, that fever stems from a lifelong devotion.

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“It’s honestly pretty surreal,” shortstop Anthony Volpe told Newsday before Tuesday night’s 3-2 victory over the Guardians, a game featuring rookie Spencer Jones’ first career homer, Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s homer leading off the eighth that snapped a 2-2 tie and Fernando Cruz recording the final five outs for his first save of the season.

“Surreal” for Volpe was the Knicks finding themselves, even after Monday’s setback against the Spurs, two games from the franchise’s first championship since 1973.

The 25-year-old Volpe, who grew up a rabid fan of the Yankees and Derek Jeter, was born in Manhattan, where he spent the first 10 years of his life before his parents, Michael and Isabelle, moved the family to New Jersey.

Volpe's parents were fervent fans of the Knicks as well, something they passed on to their son, who practically glowed in the visitor’s clubhouse pregame Tuesday talking about his favorite basketball team.

“It’s funny, just because they’re like the talk of everything right now,” Volpe said. “Guys on the team ask me if I’ve been a Knicks fan and I’m like, ‘Yeah, but you don’t understand. That hasn’t been a cool thing to be my whole life.’ ”

Volpe, born in 2001, as Knicks fans of a certain age know well, saw far more bad than good in that time.

The first Knicks team he remembered following closely was the 2010-2011 squad that, led by free agent Amar’e Stoudemire, finished 42-40 and was bounced from the playoffs in the first round. The Knicks made the playoffs each of the next two seasons and then the dark times returned again – similar to much of the first decade of the new century – with them missing the playoffs seven straight seasons.

Volpe’s favorite player during that time was Carmelo Anthony, a Brooklyn native who more or less forced the Nuggets’ hand in trading him to the Knicks, which occurred as part of a three-team blockbuster in February 2011.

“Carmelo was my guy, by far. Because I love No. 7 and it was ‘Anthony No. 7’ on the back (of his jersey while a Knick), so I had like all of his jerseys,” Volpe said. “And he was like the only superstar that wanted to come to the Knicks. Everyone would talk about going to the Knicks and no one would ever go to the Knicks. I always loved Carmelo for that.”

During these playoffs, after games in which the Yankees have played on the same night as the Knicks, whose games generally have started later than first pitch, have been a variety of “oohs,” “ahhs,” and other noises emanating from rooms with televisions that are off-limits to the media, that night’s Knicks game clearly on.

They are sounds not unlike those heard at watch parties – albeit a bit smaller – across the Tri-State area, in New York City especially.

Among those consistently watching and reacting – which again was the case during Monday night’s Game 3 that had roughly 10 minutes left in it when the Yankees returned to the visiting clubhouse here after a 7-5 victory in 10 innings – has been second-year righthander Cam Schlittler. The 25-year-old, though he grew up in Walpole, Mass., instantly took a liking to the city upon getting called up from the minors last July, choosing to live in Manhattan, which he is doing this season as well. He attended a Knicks game at the Garden last November and then Game 1 of the Knicks first-round series against the Hawks, speaking afterward with Josh Hart, an earnest baseball fan.

“Really good atmosphere. Super exciting,” Schlittler said after the Knicks swept the 76ers to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals. “Playing in New York in the playoffs, I had a small taste of it [last October]. It’s good to feel that atmosphere, especially as a fan and not the one out there on the field or court…they’ve all been doing great.”

Schlittler, who could be heard muttering as he left the clubhouse Monday as the Spurs continued to stifle the Knicks’ comeback attempt, said how “great” a Knicks title would be for the city. Aaron Judge, who has been an occasional Garden presence over the years, has said the same.

Volpe, of course, echoes that, but with a lifelong attachment no one in the clubhouse can match.

“Hopefully, it happens,” said Volpe, who stressed he remained “optimistic” the Knicks will close it out despite Monday’s loss. “(You see) what it’s done for the city and how everyone feels that. It’s pretty inspiring and motivating. To be on the cusp of something that special is pretty cool.”

By Erik Boland

erik.boland@newsday.comeboland11

Erik Boland started in Newsday's sports department in 2002. He covered high school and college sports, then shifted to the Jets beat. He has covered the Yankees since 2009.