The 24 best players in New York Yankees history

The story of Babe Ruth has been effectively documented. Maybe probably the most universally well-known baseball participant of all time, the Nice Bambino was bought to the Yankees by the Boston Crimson Sox forward of the 1920 season, in a transfer that haunted Boston for a number of generations. Within the Bronx, Ruth crushed 659 homers over 15 seasons and was simply 22 RBI wanting driving in 2,000 in pinstripes. It is somewhat loopy to suppose simply how completely different baseball historical past might have performed out had Crimson Sox proprietor Harry Frazee agreed to pay Ruth his desired wage improve relatively than promote him to his fiercest rival, however the Yankees are clearly thrilled he did. Ruth’s quantity three is at the moment retired in monument park at Yankee Stadium. 

Lou Gehrig was Ruth’s teammate for many of his tenure within the pinstripes, and collectively they gained 4 World Sequence championships in New York. Often called the Iron Horse, Gehrig was a staple at first base within the Bronx for many of twenty years, and in 17 seasons, he completed with a lifetime .340 batting common to go together with 493 homers and 1995 RBI. Gehrig was sadly compelled to retire early on the age of 36 due to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a uncommon neuromuscular illness that immediately is named ‘Lou Gehrig’s illness.’ The illness tragically took his life two years later. Gehrig was elected to the Baseball Corridor of Fame in a particular election in December of 1939, as the game’s leaders knew he didn’t have a lot time and wished to ensure he might see himself inducted.

Few baseball gamers completed their profession with a extra completed resume than longtime Yankees middle fielder Mickey Mantle. Mantle gained the American League MVP award thrice, made the all-star crew TWENTY occasions, gained the Triple Crown in 1956, earned seven World Sequence rings, and gained a Gold Glove. He led the AL in homers on 4 separate events and led the league in runs scored 5 occasions. He was inducted into the Corridor of Fame in 1974, and his quantity seven was deservedly retired by New York. 

Whereas Mantle’s resume speaks for itself, the man that he changed in middle discipline in New York was not a straightforward act to comply with. Joe DiMaggio helped the Yankees win 9 World Sequence championships and was a three-time MVP and 13-time all-star. He was a two-time batting champ, led the league in RBI twice, and completed his profession with 361 homers and 1537 RBI regardless of lacking three full seasons whereas he was serving within the army. 

Whereas the Yankees have a richer historical past than each different Main League crew, only a few followers immediately have been in a position to see guys like Joe DiMaggio or Mickey Mantle play, so for Yankees followers of a selected generation–or two–Derek Jeter was their man. New York chosen him sixth total within the ’92 draft and so they might by no means have dreamed he’d go on to have the profession he did. In over 2700 video games as a Yankee Jeter slashed .310/.377/.440 whereas being an absolute rock for them at shortstop for twenty years. He gained AL Rookie of the 12 months in ’96, was chosen to 14 all-star groups, gained 5 Gold Gloves, 5 Silver Sluggers, and most significantly, helped convey 5 World Sequence rings to the Bronx. 

Yogi Berra spent the vast majority of his profession behind the plate, which makes a few of the offensive numbers he was in a position to put up for the Yankees much more spectacular. In 18 seasons within the Bronx, Berra slashed .285/.348/.483 with 358 residence runs and 1430 RBI. He was the MVP of the American League on three separate events, made the all-star crew 13 occasions, and his ten World Sequence rings are greater than any participant in historical past. Berra later managed the Yankees in 1964 after which once more in ’84 and ’85.

Like Joe DiMaggio, left-hander Whitey Ford is one other all-time Yankees’ nice whose profession was interrupted by a short stint within the army. Lacking two seasons didn’t forestall Ford from choosing up proper the place he left off, nevertheless, as he shortly established himself as probably the greatest pitchers within the American League. Ford led the league in wins thrice, ERA twice, full video games as soon as, and innings twice. He gained the AL Cy Younger award in 1961, made the all-star crew 10 occasions, and helped the Yankees win six World Sequence titles. He was inducted into the Corridor of Fame in 1974. 

Crimson Ruffing is probably lesser identified now than a few of the different pitchers of his time, however there was a time when he was probably the greatest pitchers in baseball. The appropriate-hander started his profession in Boston earlier than shifting to the Bronx in 1930, and he went on to turn out to be one of many driving forces behind six World Sequence-winning Yankees groups. Ruffing by no means gained a Cy Younger award, however he made six all-star groups and amassed 273 wins within the Main Leagues. Had he not missed two full seasons whereas within the army, he very possible would have threatened the magical variety of 300. 

Catcher Invoice Dickey spent his complete profession with the Yankees and was quietly probably the greatest gamers within the crew’s historical past. In truth, the man’s nickname was ‘The Man No person Is aware of.’ Whereas he did not garner a lot nationwide consideration, Dickey was regular and reliable behind the plate within the Bronx and helped New York to eight World Sequence titles. He was an 11-time all-star whose quantity eight –even after Yogi Berra had gotten to put on it too–was retired by the group. 

There aren’t any two methods about it. Mariano Rivera is just one of the best nearer in baseball historical past. The righty got here up as a starter in ’95 however was shortly shifted to the bullpen, the place he quickly blossomed right into a dominant late-inning pressure. Rivera led the Majors in saves thrice and completed his profession because the all-time saves chief with 652. He was elected to the all-star crew 13 occasions, gained 5 World Sequence rings, was a World Sequence MVP, an ALCS MVP, and was the Rolaids Reliever of the 12 months on 5 separate events. Rivera unprecedently obtained 100% of the vote and was elected into the Corridor of Fame on his first yr on the poll in 2019. 

Willie Randolph is without doubt one of the most revered baseball lifers, first as a participant within the massive leagues for 18 years and later as a supervisor and coach. Nearly all of the second baseman’s enjoying profession got here within the Bronx, the place he suited up for the Yankees for elements of 13 seasons. Randolph was part of New York’s 1977 World Champion crew and completed his Yankees’ tenure with a powerful. 275/.374/.357 slash line to go together with 54 residence runs. He made 5 all-star groups within the Bronx and earned one Silver Slugger, and when he was profession was over, he was a coach on Joe Torre‘s Yankees’ workers for 11 years.

There is probably not a extra polarizing participant in baseball historical past than A-Rod, who burst onto the scene as a right away star in Seattle, was one of the best participant within the sport for a very long time, had his fame tarnished by a steroid suspension, however someway rallied to be a dynamic participant once more afterward. Rodriguez was the league’s golden youngster whereas he was a Mariner and later a Ranger, however drama discovered him from the moment he arrived in New York. For starters, the presence of Jeter compelled him to shift to 3rd base, although he shortly tailored to the brand new place. In elements of 12 seasons within the Bronx, Rodriguez hit .283 with 351 of the 696 homers he completed his profession with. He was an all-star for the Yankees seven occasions, and was an enormous piece of their 2009 championship crew. A-Rod was the American League MVP three completely different occasions, two of which got here in pinstripes. His Corridor of Fame candidacy is sophisticated due to his 2014 suspension, however there isn’t any debating that at his peak Alex Rodriguez was probably the greatest gamers this sport has ever seen. 

Together with Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, and Jorge Posada, left-hander Andy Pettitte spent most of his profession because the 4th member of New York’s famed “Core 4” that helped lead their dynasty within the late ’90s and early 2000s. Save for a brief three-year stint in Houston, Pettitte spent his complete profession in pinstripes and is kind of clearly one of the embellished hurlers on this franchise’s historical past. In 447 video games as a Yankee, Pettitte earned 219 victories with a 3.94 ERA. Solely Whitey Ford and Crimson Ruffing gained extra video games and pitched extra innings for New York, and no Yankees’ pitcher struck out greater than the 2020 punchouts Pettitte racked up. He was a three-time all-star and five-time World Sequence champion, and the southpaw will at all times be beloved by this crew’s fanbase. 

Middle Fielder Bernie Williams performed for the Bombers alongside the sooner talked about Core 4. Whereas he wasn’t fairly included in that moniker, followers later began a ‘Fab 5’ motion to present him some deserved recognition. The Puerto Rico native was a tremendously productive switch-hitter for the Yankees for 16 years, ending his profession with a .297/.381/.477 slash line to go together with 287 homers and 1257 RBI. He amassed 449 doubles, 55 triples, 147 steals, and 2336 hits. Williams was an all-star 5 occasions, a World Sequence winner 4 occasions, gained a Silver Slugger, a batting title, and 4 Gold Glove awards. 

Eccentric lefty Ron Guidry–known as Louisiana Lightning–is yet one more participant on this checklist who spent his complete profession with the Yankees and racked up a plethora of awards and accolades within the course of. Guidry earned journeys to 4 all-star video games throughout his profession and helped the Yankees win two championships, and for some time, within the late 1970’s he was possible one of the best pitcher in baseball. The southpaw was by no means higher than he was in ’78 when he went 25-3 with a 1.74 ERA en path to successful the American League Cy Younger award. The next season he gained his second consecutive ERA title, however a quantity that basically jumps off the web page taking a look at his profession numbers is the 21 full video games he hurled in 1983. That’s merely incomprehensible in immediately’s sport.  

Outfielder Roy White was by no means actually a star within the massive leagues per se, however what he was was a gradual and dependable on a regular basis participant on some superb Yankees groups for 15 years. The switch-hitter performed in all 162 video games on two completely different events, and his means to take the sphere day in and time out helped him lead the league in plate appearances twice and at-bats as soon as. White retired with a .271 lifetime batting common and 160 massive league residence runs. He was an all-star twice and earned himself World Sequence rings in ’77 and ’78. 

Infielder Tony Lazzeri debuted for the Yankees almost 100 years in the past. Whereas a few of his offensive numbers do not precisely soar off the web page, you must bear in mind the period he performed in. Lazzeri by no means hit greater than 18 homers in a season however the secret is scoring runs, and on seven completely different events, he drove in over 100. Lazzeri made the all-star crew solely as soon as, however was a member of 5 completely different World Sequence championship groups. The veteran’s committee voted him into the Corridor of Fame in 1991. 

Catcher Thurman Munson performed solely 10 full seasons within the massive leagues, however he certain left an influence on the sport. New York’s mustached backstop hit .292 in simply over 5900 Main League at-bats, with 113 homers and 701 RBI. He was the American League Rookie of the 12 months in 1970, was elected to seven all-star groups, earned three Gold Glove awards, and was the 1976 AL MVP–the similar yr he was named captain of the Bronx Bombers. Munson was a member of two World Sequence championship groups. He tragically misplaced his life on the far too younger age of 32 in a small airplane crash. 

Earle Combs patrolled middle discipline at Yankee Stadium lengthy earlier than anybody studying this was born, however the speedy Kentucky native was a key part of three Yankees’ World Sequence winners. Combs lifetime .325/.397/.462 slash line actually jumps off the web page, and he led the league in triples thrice. He was by no means a lot of a house run menace, as he tallied solely 58 lengthy balls throughout 12 seasons, however on the time, energy was additionally not as massive part of the sport as it’s immediately. The veteran’s committee chosen him for the Corridor of Fame in 1970. 

When second baseman Robinson Cano was in his prime with the Yankees, there possible was no higher pure hitter within the sport. In 9 seasons within the Bronx, the sweet-swinging left-handed hitter slashed .309/.355/.504 with 204 homers and 822 RBI. He represented New York in 5 all-star video games, gained 5 Silver Sluggers in pinstripes, and was the 2011 residence run derby champion. Cano helped lead the Bombers to their most up-to-date World Sequence title again in ’09 and twice gained Gold Glove awards within the Bronx. His legacy was severely tainted by a pair of PED suspensions that got here whereas he was a member of different groups, however followers shouldn’t overlook simply how dynamic an offensive pressure Robinson Cano was early in his profession. 

Third baseman Graig Nettles performed for six completely different massive league groups, however the majority of his profession was spent in New York, the place he starred for the Yankees for 11 seasons. Within the Bronx, Nettles crushed 250 homers, racked up 202 doubles and 20 triples, and drove in 834 runs. He earned two Gold Glove awards and helped the Yankees win two World Sequence titles and attain two others, and was even the ALCS MVP in 1981. 

Whereas some gamers on this checklist starred for the Yankees almost a century in the past, that’s definitely not the case with longtime outfielder Brett Gardner who was an lively participant within the Bronx as not too long ago as final season. Gardner was by no means a star within the Bronx, however he was a scrappy, gritty participant who was a fan favourite for a very long time. He completed his profession with a .256/342./398 slash line and 139 residence runs. He amassed 251 doubles, 73 triples, and 274 stolen bases–49 of which got here in 2011 when he led the league. Gardner was a member of the Yankees 2009 championship crew and was an all-star in 2015. He earned his solely Gold Glove award the next season in ’16. 

Bob Shawkey started his profession with the Philadelphia Athletics earlier than coming to the Yankees in 1915, the place he blossomed into one of many extra dependable right-handed starters within the sport. In 415 video games with New York Shawkey earned 168 victories and pitched to a 3.12 ERA whereas successful the ERA title in 1920 and serving to the Bombers declare three World Sequence victories. 

Through the Yankees’ most up-to-date dynasty Mel Stottlemyre was probably the most well-known pitching coach in baseball as he helped information the Yankees to 4 World Sequence championships in 5 seasons as supervisor Joe Torre’s right-hand man. However lengthy earlier than that, the righty was fairly the pitcher for New York in his personal proper. In 360 massive league video games for the Yankees, Stottlemyre pitched to a 2.97 ERA in 2661.1 innings whereas incomes 164 victories and incomes a visit to 5 all-star video games. He led the league in full video games in each 1965 and 1969. Although his tenure in pinstripes ended considerably bitterly when he resigned because the crew’s pitching coach in 2005 following a disagreement with proprietor George Steinbrenner, that is somebody who will at all times be royalty within the Bronx.