Yankees To Retire Three Numbers

The New York Yankees. One of baseballs oldest professional franchises. This club has won 27 world championships, more than any other team in any professional sport. Twenty Five guys have played for this baseball team are now enschrined in the Baseball Hall of fame (with two more to come in Mariano Rivera and Derek Jeter). To go along with that, the Yankees have retired seventeen numbers for nineteen individuals, the most in Major League Baseball. Those numbers are 1 (Billy Martin), 3 (Babe Ruth), 4 (Lou Gehrig), 5 (Joe DiMaggio), 6 (Joe Torre), 7 (Mickey Mantle), 8 (Bill Dickey and Yogi Berra), 9 (Roger Marris), 10 (Phil Rizzuto), 15 (Thurman Munson), 16 (Whitey Ford), 23 (Don Mattingley), 32 (Elston Howard), 37 (Casey Stengel), 42 (Jackie Robinson league wide and Mariano Rivera), 44 (Reggie Jackson) and 49 (Ron Guidry). During the 2015 season, you can add three brand new numbers to that list.

The Yankees announced on Monday that they will retire the uniform numbers of Bernie Williams (51), Jorge Posada (20) and Andy Pettitte (46) in pregame ceremonies at Yankee Stadium this season. In addition, Willie Randolph, a member of the Yankees' 1977 and 1978 world championship teams, will be honored with a plaque in Monument Park. Williams ceremony will take place Sunday, May 24th, before the game against the Texas Rangers. Posada will have his number retired Saturday, August 22nd before an afternoon game against the Cleveland Indians. Pettite will have his number retired the next day, Sunday August 23rd also against the Cleveland Indians. Finally, Willie Randolph will have his statue in Monument park revealed during Old Timers' Day festivities before a Saturday night game against the Detroit Tigers.

Bernie Williams will be the first to get his number retired. Williams played his entire 16-year career with the Yankees, spanning from 1991 to 2006. During his time in the Bronx, Bernie hit .297 in 2,076 games played in pinstripes. He finished with 2,336 hits, which sits 5th most in team history, to go along with 287 home runs and 1,257 RBI's. He is the club leader with 22 postseason home runs and 80 postseason RBIs. By the time his playing career ended, Bernie sits 2nd all-time in doubles, 4th all-time in walks, 5th all-time in hits, 5th all-time in extra-base hits, 6th all-time in home runs, and 6th all-time in RBIs in Yankees history (as of 2008). Bernie went on to win four Gold Gloves in the outfield from 1997-2000. Bernie played in five all star games (1997–2001), he manged to pull in four World Series Rings(1996, 1998–2000), winning the MVP of the ALCS in 1996. He collected a Silver Slugger Award in 2002 and finally an AL batting champion in 1998. One of the big things that Bernie did was come up in the clutch in the playoffs. He would pick up a big hit every now and again come October. He wasn't the flashiest outfielder of all time but damn he was good.

Jorge Posada will also see his number retired this season. Posada played his entire 17-year career with the Yankees, spanning from 1995 to 2011. During his time in the Bronx, Posada hit .273 lifetime in 1,829 games. Jorge finished with 275 home runs and 1,065 RBI's during the regular season. He is second all time with 125 postseason games. During that time, Jorge won 4 World Series (1998–2000, 2009), he played in the midsummer classic five time (2000–2003, 2007) and collected five Silver Slugger Awards (2000–2003, 2007). Jorge may not have the outstanding power numbers, but he was a solid hitter. Besides an offensive upside, what made Jorge so good was how he was able to handle the Yankees pitching staff. He knew how to work the strike zone and knew how to get a feel for every one of his pitchers. It was a art form watching him behind the plate.

Last but not least will be Andy Pettite to get his number retired. Pettitte finished his career with a 256-153 record and 3.85 ERA. Pettite spent a total of 15 years in pinstripes. In the Bronx, Pettitte went 219- 127 with a 3.94 ERA. During that time he managed to strike out 2,020 hitters. For his career, Pettitte had a 256–153 win-loss record with a 3.85 ERA and 2,448 strikeouts in 3,316 innings. Pettitte never had a losing season in the major leagues. Among Yankees pitchers, Pettitte is king of the hill with his 2,020 strikeouts are the most in team history. He is tied for first in games started with 438, and he sits third in wins (219). Pettitte and Mariano Rivera have combined for a record 81 (11 in the playoffs) win-save combinations, the most in history. Heading into the playoffs, Pettitte was just as dominate. Pettitte was 19–10 with a 3.83 ERA and 173 strikeouts in the postseason (1995–2003, 2005, 2007, 2009–2010), with the most postseason wins in MLB history. He also holds the all-time postseason record for most starts (42) and innings pitched in the postseason (263). Of course people still talk about him with steroids, but what made him different from some of the other guys who were accused of steroids was how he handled it. His quick apology and continued success on the field allowed Yankees fans and the team's management to forgive him.

Without a doubt these three guys are very deserving of having their numbers retired!