The New York Yankees retired yet another number on Saturday, August 23, when they permanently placed former manager Joe Torre‘s #6 in Memorial Park before their game with the Chicago White Sox. Torre’s jersey number makes the 18th in Yankees lore with #8 counting twice for two Hall-of-Fame catchers. Number 6 will go on the wall on August 24.
Here are the numbers that the Yankees have retired with the Yankee career totals of the players and managers who earned the honors. Most of the players stayed with the Yankees for their entire careers.
- 1 — Billy Martin, Manager: 8 years, 556-385 record, 2 A.L. pennants, one World Series title, 1985 A.L. Manager of the Year
- 3 — Babe Ruth, OF: 15 years, ..349/.484/.711, 659 HR, 1,978 RBI, 1922 MVP, 7 World Series (4 wins), 15 World Series HR
- 4 — Lou Gehrig, 1B: 17 years, .340/.447/.632, 493 HR, 19,995 RBI, 2 MVP, 7 World Series (6 wins), 10 World Series HR
- 5 — Joe DiMaggio, OF: 13 years, .325/.398/.575, 361 HR, 1,537 RBI, only 369 K, 10 World Series (9 wins), 8 World Series HR
- 6 — Joe Torre, Manager: 12 years, 1,173-767 record, 6 World Series (4 wins), 2 Manager of the Year awards, 12 straight postseason appearances
- 7 — Mickey Mantle, OF: 18 years, .298/.421/.557, 536 HR, 1.509 RBI, 153 SB, 3 MVP, 16 All-Star games, 12 World Series (7 wins), 18 World Series HR
- 8 — Yogi Berra, C: 18 years, .285/.348/.483, 358 HR, 1,430 RBI, 3 MVP, 15 All-Star games, 14 World Series (10 wins), 12 World Series HR
- Bill Dickey, C: 17 years, .313/.382/.486, 202 HR, 1,209 RBI, 11 All-Star games, 8 World Series (7 wins), 5 World Series HR
- 9 — Roger Maris, OF: 7 years, .265/.356./515, 203 HR, 547 RBI, 2 MVP, 3 All-Star games, 5 World Series (2 wins), 6 World Series HR
- 10 — Phil Rizzuto, SS: 13 years, .273/.351/.355, 38 HR, 563 RBI, 1 MVP, 5 All-Star games, 9 World Series (8 wins), 2 World series HR)
- 15 — Thurman Munson, C: 11 years, .292/.346/.410, 113 HR, 701 RBI, Rookie of the Year, 1 MVP, 7 All-Star games, 3 World Series (2 wins), 1 World Series HR
- 16 — Whitey Ford, SP: 16 years, 236-106 record, 2.75 ERA, 156 CG, 1,956 K, 1 Cy Young, 8 All-Star games, 11 World Series (6 wins), World Series MVP, 10-8 (2.71 ERA) World Series record
- 23 — Don Mattingly, 1B: 14 years, .307, .358/.471, 222 HR, 1,099 RBI, 1 MVP, 6 All-Star games, 9 Gold Gloves
- 32 — Elston Howard, C/OF: 132 years, .279/.324/.436, 161 HR, 733 RBI, 1 MVP), 9 All-Star games, 2 Gold Gloves, 9 World Series (4 wins), 5 World Series HR
- 37 — Casey Stengel, Manager: 12 years, 1.1149-696 record, 10 World Series (7 wins),
- 42 — Mariano Rivera, RP: 19 years, 82-60 record, 2.21 ERA, 652 saves, 13 All-Star games, 8-1 (0.70 ERA) postseason record, 40 postseason saves, 7 World Series (5 wins),
- 44 — Reggie Jackson, OF/DH: 5 years, .281/.371/.526, 144 HR, 461 RBI, 5 All-Star games, 3 World Series (2 wins), 8 World Series HR, 1 World Series MVP
- 49 — Ron Guidry, SP: 14 years, 170-91 record, 3.29 ERA, 1,778 K, 1 Cy Young award, 3 World Series (2 wins), 3-1 (1.69 ERA) World Series record
The Yankees will certainly retire shortstop Derek Jeter‘s #2 when he retires at the end of the 2014 season. As of August 24, 2014, Jeter has totals of 20 years, .311/.379/.441, 259 HR, 1,293 RBI, 3,439 hits (sixth all-time), Rookie of the Year, 14 All-Star games, 7 World Series (5 wins), World Series MVP, and 3 World Series HR.
Clearly the Yankees are baseball’s most storied franchise and arguably the most-storied team of all sports. With a history like this, if the trend continues, the Yankees may have to give players three-digit numbers in the future.
PHOTO CREDIT: sportslogos.com
[…] Newsday‘s Wednesday evening report says that “a source familiar with the team’s plans” broke the news Tuesday night. The plan to retire Jeter’s number parallels with that used to honor the legendary Yankee closer Mariano Rivera, who retired after the 2013 season as the all-time saves leader with 652. Rivera still had some games left to wear his #42. Jeter will become the 19th Yankee to have his number enshrined in Monument Park. […]