Yankees News: Bombers Add Bernie Williams, Jorge Posada and Willie Randolph to Monument Park

Good old Monument Park is about to get a whole lot crowded, as the New York Yankees will highlight their 2015 summer by presenting honors to some of the most influential contributors to the club’s recent championship reign.

The Yankees announced today that they will retire the numbers of Bernie Williams and Jorge Posada in addition to Andy Pettitte in 2015.  Each will also get plaques in Monument Park at Yankee Stadium, along with Willie Randolph.

That means no Yankees player will ever wear Williams’ No. 51, Pettitte’s No. 46 or Posada’s No. 20 again, as they’re set to join the list of 18 current Yankees players to have their numbers retired. A list that already includes Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Lou Gehrig and Joe Torre, who had his No. 6 retired last summer.

Bernie Williams will be the first to be honored, and will see his No. 51 retired on May 24. Willie Randolph is scheduled to have his plaque unveiled during Old-Timers’ Day on June 20, and the Yankees will honor two thirds of the core four in back-to-back days with Jorge Posada and No. 20 on Aug. 22, then Pettitte and No. 46 on Aug. 23

‘Bern baby Bern’ Williams spent his entire 16-year career from 1991-2006 in a pinstripe Yankees uniform. He’s a five-time American League All-Star and a four-time World Series champion. Bernie is also the Yankees all-time postseason leader in home runs (22) and RBIs (80). A .297 lifetime hitter, he ranks third in franchise history for doubles (449), fifth in hits (2,336), sixth in games played (2,076) and runs scored (1,366) and seventh in home runs (287) and RBIs (1,257).

In my opinion, he’s just as much a part of the ‘Core Four’ as Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera, but that’s rather here nor there. Let’s just be happy that Bernie will finally have his day.

‘Little Willie’ Randolph was an incredibly talented player for the Yankees from 1976-88 and appeared in a total of 1,688 games at second base in a pinstripe uniform, more than any other player at the position in Yankees history. He was a five-time All-Star with the Yankees, and ranks third in franchise history with 251 stolen bases behind only Derek Jeter and Ricky Henderson. Randolph also spent 11 years coaching with the club, serving primarily as the third-base coach from 1994-2003, a time-span that saw the Yankees win four World Series titles.

‘Hip-hip Jorge’ Posada played his entire 17 year career with the Yankees from 1995-2011, capturing five World Series titles while ranking among baseball’s all-time leaders in postseason games played (second with 125), doubles (third with 23) and hits (fourth with 103). Career wise, Posada compiled a .273 average with 900 runs, 379 doubles, 275 homers and 1,065 RBIs in 1,829 games player. His 119 postseason games played is the most all time for any MLB catcher.

‘Dandy Andy’ Pettitte pitched 15 of his 18 season career with the Yankees, going 219-127 in Pinstripes. He is the all-time Yankees leader in strikeouts (2,020) and ranks third in wins (219), innings (2,796 1/3) and WAR (51.6). He’s a five-time World Series champ (1996, 1998-2000, 2009), posting a career 19-11 post-season record with a 3.81 ERA and a 1.305 WHIP in 44 games started. Pettitte was also a three-time All-Star, MVP of the 2001 ALCS, and arguably the greatest starting pitcher in Yankees history. He also pitched in the World Series for the Houston Astros, where he spent three seasons away from the Yankees from 2004-06.

The summer of 2015 is turning out to be quite the celebration for the Yankees of recent past. What do you think Yankees fans? Let us know in the comments below.