I Understand, and Yet...

by jscape2000 on Feb 14, 2008 11:24 PM EST in New York Yankees News

There are only so many numbers available for the Yankees to give out. I've got that.

And I know that there's a real pecking order as we look over the retirements for this latest batch of championship Yankees: Mo and Jeter then Bernie and Jorge.

Paul O'Neill is another rung down- not a lifelong Yankee, but a main cog in the championship teams and the main connection between the Dark Days of Mattingly to the Glory Days. 9 seasons in NY, 4 rings, 5 pennants, 7 post-seasons, 4 All-Star games, 1 batting crown.

I certainly understand the argument that you shouldn't retire his number.

And yet...

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so....

who is wearing 21 now?

"It's great to be young and a Yankee"

by stillmonster on Feb 14, 2008 11:36 PM EST reply actions

Morgan Ensberg

Very strange that they would wait so long to assign that number and then hand it over to a guy who may or may not make the team.

And LaTroy Hawkins will wear #22. Just doesn't seem right.

by anaconda on Feb 15, 2008 12:56 AM EST up reply actions

That's just it

I've been sitting here trying to figure out why it bother me: if Hughes had wanted it, I would have said 'great!'

But this guy on the minor league deal is going to wear 21 after it's not been handed out for six seasons? Maybe that's the crux, maybe it's just a spring training loaner? Or maybe they've just said we'll worry about Paul O'Neill Day after we've had Bernie Williams Day and Joe Torre Day, but not before.

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on Feb 15, 2008 2:08 AM EST up reply actions

Bernie

is with Mo and Jeter on the top rung. Check the all-time Yankee list for just about any offensive category and Bernie is on the very top part of it.

Jorge is the Ringo of that group.

Paulie is borderline but I wouldn't mind retiring it. They'll probably just give him a day and not retire it, like they did with Winfield.

But as you guys say giving it to Ensberg makes no sense at all.

by matthaggs on Feb 15, 2008 8:24 AM EST reply actions

I was thinking another way

Bernie and Jorge are locks for retirement. Jeter and Mo, I think you have to consider monuments a la Mantle and DiMaggio.

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on Feb 15, 2008 10:32 AM EST up reply actions

What about #6

After the less-than-happy departure of Joe, do we see his number retired? I'm somewhat a baseball purist. I'm not a fan of the DH, and I don't think a player who isn't part of the fold should see his number retired. O'Neill was a great Yankee, but he was also a very good player in Cincy. I understand Ruth, but he personafied NY in so many ways--even beyond baseball. He also made his mark in Boston as a pitcher before there were numbers. I have no problem with that. These are the Yankees numbers I would not have retired: 1, 9, 32, 34, 37, 44, 49, I think a prerequisite to retiring a number should be either death, or making it to the Hall.

"Baseball is the background music of my life." -George Will

by Ronster22 on Feb 15, 2008 11:01 AM EST reply actions

34

is not retired

by Soriano NY 12 on Feb 15, 2008 1:31 PM EST up reply actions

Not often assigned

My bad. I believe it was Dick Howser's number. I assumed (wrongly) that they retired it after he died.

"Baseball is the background music of my life." -George Will

by Ronster22 on Feb 15, 2008 3:25 PM EST up reply actions

#34 was Mel Stottlemyre's number

during the latest dynasty.

by anaconda on Feb 15, 2008 4:48 PM EST up reply actions

Was that Mel's playing number?

Something tells me he was either #33 or in the teens when he played. He was at the tail end of his career when I started following the game--around 1971-72.

"Baseball is the background music of my life." -George Will

by Ronster22 on Feb 18, 2008 9:23 AM EST up reply actions

Man, I don't think I could agree less...

Granted, it's a little easier to understand when you preface your comments with "I'm somewhat of a baseball purist" but it's still very difficult to side with you on this one. First, from a baseball standpoint, not even a Yankee one, I'd like to bring up Edgar Martinez. He, along with Griff, a young A-Rod, and Randy Johnson, were the face of a powerful Mariners team for quite a few years. Edgar remained with the team for the duration of his career. For anyone to say that he doens't deserve to have his number retired is downright blasphemous.

If Paul O'Neill and Joe Torre don't have their numbers retired, it's a shame. The Yankees STUNK before these two played an integral part, along with a few others, of rebuilding the dynasty. O'Neill was one of the most beloved Yankees in recent memories, while Torre was the glue that kept juiced up stars with swollen egos together when it mattered most. And they won 4 championships to boot.

I'm only 20 years old, but I feel like I have a true appreciation for the effect that these guys have on the organization, as well as the fans. Many numbers have been retried all around baseball for men who weren't necessarily Hall of Famers. Part of retiring the number at one's home field is to pay homage to a man who might not get the recognition he deserves in the general baseball sphere. We're not saying O'Neill and Torre belong in the National Baseball Hall of Fame, but we are communicating to them, and for generations to come, a message that accurately represents what they meant to us, the folks who really matter.

"Baseball is the only instance where a sacrifice is truly appreciated."

by YanksFanAtSwat on Feb 15, 2008 2:10 PM EST up reply actions

Agreed

So let's retire the numbers of Bob Lemon who brought stability to the Martin era--in appreciation, of course.

Let's also retire #30 for Willie's contributions; and we so appreciate Bucky's homer, so let's hang ol' #20. And who can forget (unless you're 20) Steve Kline's contribution in the early 70s. Had he not won 12 and 16 games in successive years the CBS owned Yankees would have sucked even more.

Hang that #33. And while we're at it, hang #6--not for Joe bleepin' Torre, but for Roy White, who brought class to a faltering organization throughout the 70s.

And dammit, why not Ron Bloomberg's #12. Hell, he was the first DH. I think every American League team should hang a #12 in homage of his contribution.

I'm sort of with you, but as you can see, recognizing an athlete by retiring his number can border on the ridiculous. Keep it to guys who die, make it to the hall, or at the very least defined their position during a particular era.

"Baseball is the background music of my life." -George Will

by Ronster22 on Feb 15, 2008 4:39 PM EST reply actions