6 former Yankees players who thrived in the New York limelight later in their careers

David Wells clearly wanted to be a Yankee

When David Wells arrived in New York as a free agent signing on Christmas Eve 1996, it might have appeared that his career was in its twilight. At 34 years old, he was coming off one of the worst seasons of his career, posting a 5.14 ERA in 224.1 innings.

Meanwhile, the Yankees were the talk of the town. Not only had they snapped a nearly two-decade-long title drought, but the future seemed bright with a burgeoning young core led by the likes of Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte, and Mariano Rivera.

Wells' 1997 season, his first in pinstripes, was an improvement. He shaved nearly a run off of his ERA, coming in at 4.21, while reliably eating 218 innings. His lone 1997 postseason start was a one-run complete game performance, showing he could perform on the biggest stage despite the Yankees' hopes of a repeat being dashed by Cleveland in the ALDS.

Things really clicked for Boomer in 1998. He entered the history books with a too-wild-to-be-made-up perfect game on May 17, and rolled through the season pitching some of the best baseball of his career with a 3.49 ERA over 214.1 innings, leading the league in strikeout-to-walk ratio at a baffling 5.62 mark, and finishing third in the AL Cy Young voting. He'd also win his second World Series ring.

That offseason, Wells was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for Roger Clemens, leaving him devastated and depressed. His 1999 campaign north of the border was a big step back with a 4.82 ERA. 2000 was a bit better, but then in 2001, a 38-year-old Wells found himself limited to just 100.2 innings and posting a 4.47 ERA while dealing with a balky back, again making it look like his career was on life support.

Wells rejoined the Yankees as a free agent ahead of the 2002 season and immediately began thriving. Though he missed out on the end of the dynasty, Wells threw 206.1 innings and recorded a 3.75 ERA. The following year, at the age of 40, he'd still prove to be effective with a 4.14 ERA while leading the league in BB/9 at a minuscule 0.8.

He'd bounce around the league for a few more seasons, retiring after the 2007 season. Two things about Wells' career couldn't be more apparent. First, he never failed to rise to the occasion under the New York spotlight. Second, perhaps no one ever enjoyed being a Yankee as much as David Wells.