It was recently announced that the Yankees would be retiring 3 more uniform numbers for Bernie Williams, Jorge Posada and Andy Pettitte… and it’s just a matter of time before they retire Jeter’s number.
But to be honest, the Yankees aren’t trying hard enough. If they really want to honor their glorious past, they need to retire more numbers!
I have some suggestions for numbers the Yankees could be retiring, if they’d only take this whole thing seriously.
Ron Blomberg was the first-ever Designated Hitter, the first pick in the 1967 draft, lead the team in batting average in 1973 and was the greatest-ever Jewish Yankee…. Let’s retire his #12.
Rickey Henderson has the top three slots in the single-season Yankee stolen base chart, and all-time he’s second only to His Jeterness. Retire his #24!
Catfish Hunter is a Hall Of Famer who won 20 games in 1975 and finished second in Cy Young voting. Retire his #29!
Mel Stottlemyre was a career Yankee who was a five-time all-star, won 20 games three times, started three games in the 1964 World Series, is 7th on the all-time win list, 7th in K’s and tied for 2nd in Shutouts. He was the Yankees pitching coach for a decade and got 5 World Series rings that way. Retire his #30!
Allie Reynolds threw two no-hitters, was the 1952 ERA leader, was a 5-time All-Star and won six world Series. Retire his #22!
Spud Chandler won 20 games, was the 1943 AL MVP and has the lowest ERA of any Yankee righty… Retire his #21!

1940 Play Ball from the web (I don’t own this one)
Don Larsen threw a perfect game in the 1956 World Series and was the World Series MVP. Retire his #18!
Johnny Mize is a Hall Of Famer who hit three homers in the 1952 World Series and won five World Series with the Yankees! Retire his #36!
During the period from 1956 to 1962, Bill “Moose” Skowron was named to 5 All-Star teams and earned five World Series rings. He hit a grand slam in game 7 of the 1956 World Series and a three-run homer in game 7 of the 1958 World Series, and hit 165 homers in 9 seasons as a Yankee. Retire his #14!
Vic Raschi lead the AL in strikeouts in in 1951, was with six World Championship teams, a four-time all-star, won 21 games in three straight seasons and had a 120-50 record in his 8 years with the Yankees. Retire his #17!
Willie Randolph was the starting 2nd baseman for 13 straight seasons, was on the Topps Rookie All-Star team in 1976, the same year he played in the World Series against the Reds. He represented the Yankees in five all-star games, and indirectly made the Mets look bad when he was fired as their manager while flying out to the West Coast before a road trip. Retire his #30!
Dave Winfield is a Hall Of Famer who played 9 years in pinstripes (more games than with any other team), was an All-Star each of those 9 years, won five Gold Gloves and five Silver Sluggers. Retire his #31!
Fritz Peterson has the lowest all-time ERA at Yankee Stadium and the lowest WHIP of any Post-WWII Yankee starting pitcher. Retire his #19!
Dave Righetti is clearly the second-greatest closer in Yankee history, the 1981 Rookie of the Year and he no-hit the Red Sox. Hell, for most Yankee fans just the “No-hit Boston” part is enough. If you’re not going to retire #19 for Fritz Peterson, retire it for Rags!
Bob Turley was the 1958 Cy Young Award winner and World Series MVP. He won four World Series! If you’re not going to retire #19 for Peterson or Righetti, retire it for Turley!
How is it that Lefty Gomez’ number is not retired? He’s more accomplished than many who already have had the honor. He’s a Hall Of Famer, has the most wins of any Yankee left-handed pitcher, a four-time 20 game winner, pitched in five World Series while going 6-0, twice won the “Pitching Triple Crown” by leading the league in ERA, K’s and wins, has a .652 winning percentage while wearing pinstripes, started five All-Star games, and his Yankee career stats have him as 4th in wins, 4th in shutouts and 5th in strikeouts. Rip that #11 away from Brett Gardner and retire it!

1941 Play Ball from the web (I don’t own this one)
We can go on from here… Paul O’Neill (#21) was a four-time All-Star, a fan favorite and won four World Series! David Cone (#36) threw a perfect game had two seasons where he had more than 200 K’s! Lou Piniella (#14) was a key member of the 1970’s Yankees, a fan favorite and managed the Yankees twice! Joe Pepitone (#25) was a three-time All-Star, a three-time Gold Glove and once hit two homers in the same inning!
If the Yankees follow my advice, they can retire an additional 14 numbers, bringing the total (with Jeter) to 34. It would leave just 4 available numbers below 33.
Come on, Yankees! Go big or go home!
Three-digit uniform numbers in our lifetime!