Which Numbers Should Be Retired?

With the news that Andy Pettitte, one of the greatest pitchers in Yankees history who ranks third in wins first in K’s, is having his #46 retired by the New York Yankees this upcoming season, which other Yankees are deserving of the highest honor that the franchise can give?

First is the absolute lock which is Derek Jeter. Jeter, the franchise leader in many categories, was long the face of the franchise, and it is simply a matter of when his #2 will be retired, not if it will be. He led the organization through some of the toughest times in the deaths of owner George Steinbrenner and longtime PA announcer Bob Sheppard.

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News has since broken that Bernie Williams and Jorge Posada will also be honored in 2015, with #51 and #20, respectively, set to be forever retired. Both are very deserving candidates, both winning four rings (remember Posada wasn’t on the team in the 1996 playoffs).

Although Bernie left on sour terms, as he did not seem ready to retire and still hasn’t announced his retirement, he is probably the third greatest center fielder in team history after Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle. It was obvious last season that Bernie would be honored in this way, as they saved “Bernie Williams Day” until 2015, instead of 2014 like other players who didn’t see their numbers retired.

Bernie was a key cog in his four title runs, hitting in the middle of the order, and providing stellar defense in center. At the time of his retirement he was the leading home run hitter in postseason play, since being passed, and currently ranks second to Jeter in most categories. Bernie also was a lifelong Yankee, as was Posada, who was a top tier offensive catcher. He was slightly overshadowed by Mike Piazza across town, and Ivan Rodriguez in the AL, but still put up impressive numbers.

I would rank Posada as the fourth greatest catcher in Yankees history, after Yogi Berra, Bill Dickey, and Thurman Munson. Dickey and Berra are both Hall of Famers, and had his career and life not been cut short due to an unfortunate tragedy, Munson would be as well. Unfortunately, I see Posada falling to the same fate as Bernie did, with the ballot overcrowded, and the inflated numbers of the steroids era making his résumé less impressive.

Now, the difficult part, with players who are on the cusp of the honor. #21 is the first number that comes to mind, as The Warrior Paul O’Neill deserves to have his number never again worn. He was a fan favorite for his hard consistent play, hitting in the middle of the Yankees order for 4 titles, and constantly smashing water coolers or practicing his swing in right field.

When the Yankees attempted to give LaTroy Hawkins in 2008 #21, fans booed the reliever until he switched to #22. I will never forget Game 4 of the 1999 World Series, and the heroic effort it took for O’Neill to even play. Although he went 0-3 in the game, playing hours after losing his father showed how much the game and the team meant to O’Neill.

Another game I will never forget was The Warrior’s last game at Yankee Stadium, Game 5 of the 2001 World Series. Seeing how touched he was by the fans showed exactly why he is a fan favorite. I could ultimately see O’Neill going the Phil Rizzuto route to jersey retirement. If you recall, Scooter became a Yankees broadcaster and had his number retired in 1985, 29 years after his last game in 1956. It has already been nearly 15 years for O’Neill, and he could see a similar fate ultimately.

Willie Randolph and Graig Nettles are probably far too removed from their playing days to see #30 and #9, respectively, retired. Lefty Gomez and Allie Reynolds both were great pitchers for the Yankees, but #11 and #22 are currently worn by two key cogs, and neither has played for over 60 years, let alone been alive for the past 20 years. It is highly doubtful they will ever receive the honor. Robinson Cano had a very good chance to have #24 retired, and be the first Dominican born player to reach this honor, but he chose to go to Seattle instead.

Did Hideki Matsui or Mike Mussina do enough to deserve the honor? Both #55 and #35 have been reissued so it is doubtful. Both were stellar Yankees who did great things in their time with the organization, but Matsui only won once and Mussina never did. In New York, championships matter.

Don Mattingly never won, but he was also a Yankee captain, the face of the franchise in the 80’s, and an MVP. While Matsui brought a lot of Japanese fans to the organization, won a World Series MVP in 2009, and was a fan favorite for 7 impressive seasons, I don’t think he did enough for retirement, although I could see a “Hideki Matsui Day” down the line, and possibly a plaque in Monument Park.

Mussina, one of the most underrated pitchers of this generation, and possibly all-time, suffered from very bad luck. The team won the World Series the year before he came, and the year after he left. This was not by any means Mussina’s fault, as he was a pitcher that could always be counted on, no matter the circumstances. He just happened to be on the team when players had inflated egos, and didn’t value winning, but instead money. Mussina had eight great consistent years as a Yankee, and ranks sixth in K’s in Yankees history, but I don’t think he did enough, and that is very unfortunate, as Hall of Fame voters seem to feel the same way.

Which current players can one day work their way to seeing their number retired? I know a lot of people may differ but if he was anyone but himself, Alex Rodriguez would have his #13 retired, and I think it should be. Unfortunately for him, he made a lot of mistakes in the game, and burned a lot of bridges in the organization. Rodriguez had probably the best season ever by a Yankees right handed hitter in 2007, and I would place him as the third greatest right handed hitter in Yankees history, right after DiMaggio and Jeter.

Although Pettitte also admitted to HGH usage, he was never a hated player in the way that A-Rod always has been, and most people forget about that. Maybe someday down the line, Rodriguez and the organization will settle their differences, and he will receive the honor. His 309 Yankee home runs place him 6th in Yankees history, and he was an instrumental part of the 2009 World Series run. While the Chicago Cubs have reissued Sammy Sosa‘s #21, the St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants have not reissued the #25, for Mark McGwire and Barry Bonds, and it is expected they never will.

While CC Sabathia and Mark Teixeira have put up impressive Yankees numbers, even having some dominating seasons, it seems that they are more connected with their contracts not working out than they are with their first few years in pinstripes. That is unfair, and maybe someday fans will appreciate them more, but I don’t see #52 or #25 taken out of circulation.

Masahiro Tanaka, Michael Pineda, and Dellin Betances all have very promising futures, but have not done nearly enough yet to even be considered. One possibility is that Joe Girardi can some day receive the honor. He was not a great player, but has won one World Series ring as the manager and three as a player, and the Yankees front office does not operate the way that The Boss did. This means that Girardi will have a great opportunity to add to his ring count. The problem here is that Girardi has never stuck to one number, but if he keeps #28, then it is possible one day he can receive the honor, though he is fighting an uphill battle.

This means that Yankee fans should take advantage of seeing #46, #51, and #20 retired in 2015, and #2 when the day comes. After these four Yankee greats have their jersey’s retired, it could be a long time until we see another player receive the honor.

While many complain that the Yankees retire too many jerseys, after Jeter, there could be a long drought. Here’s to a memorable season, where we will see three icons of the dynasty Yankees honored for their tremendous accomplishments. Congratulations to Bernie, Andy, and Jorge, and to the fans, lets enjoy it while we can.

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Yankees News: Which Numbers Should Be Retired?

By Caleb Gebrewold | Feb 18, 2015

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