The State of Retired Numbers in New York Baseball

by Thomas Conroy
The weekend of August 22nd-23rd saw the New York Yankees retire the numbers of Andy
Pettitte and Jorge Posada. Both men were stalwarts of the Yankees dynasty of the late '90s and early
'00s, winning four World Series during that time and adding a fifth in 2009. They joined their fellow
member of the Core Four Mariano Rivera, who had his number retired last year. The final member of
that group, Derek Jeter, is expected to have the same honor in the near future. There's no denying the
legacies of Jeter and Rivera. Jeter is a first-ballot Hall of Famer and one of the greatest shortstops in
baseball history. Rivera is the greatest closer ever. They have earned their place alongside such legends
as Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, and Mickey Mantle. As for Posada and Pettitte, the debate of
whether or not they have earned this distinction becomes more difficult. Both men were great players
who were huge contributors to championship teams. Both men also most likely won't make the Hall of
Fame and would never be considered elite.
Pettitte and Posada are part of a larger issue with the Yankees when it comes to honoring their
former players. There are now 21 former players and managers who have had their numbers retired by
the Bronx Bombers. They (excluding Rivera) are part of 37 individuals who have received plaques in
Monument Park. This stands in contrast to the Mets, who have only three retired numbers and 27
members of the team Hall of Fame. In theory, the beauty of Monument Park and the Mets Hall of Fame
is that it allows the teams to honor players who have significant roles with the team but are not quite on
an elite level to earn a retired number. The Mets have succeeded in this sense by only retiring the
numbers of Tom Seaver, Gil Hodges, and Casey Stengel (although I could argue against retiring
managers' numbers, especially those with short tenures). The Yankees, meanwhile, have let their system
of recognitions run completely off the rails. It is not a matter of whether or not these individuals have
played significant roles with the Yankees, it is a matter of putting certain people on the same pedestal as
some of the most legendary figures in baseball.
It becomes an easier argument to make when you break it down like this:
1. Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio, and Mantle are in a class of their own as four of the greatest ball players of
all time. Ruth might be the best ever, Gehrig and DiMaggio typically crack the Top 10 list, and Mantle
is usually argued in the Top 20.
2. Yogi Berra, Mariano Rivera, and Whitey Ford are a small step down from there, with Berra and Ford
both Hall of Famers and legendary Yankees and Rivera on his way to Cooperstown in a couple of
years. Jeter will join this section when his number is retired. I will mention Bill Dickey here just
because he shares number 8 with Berra.
3. Casey Stengel and Joe Torre are in a special category as Hall of Fame managers with long and
successful tenures with the Yankees. Joe McCarthy would probably join them had he managed in a time
period when managers had numbers.
4. Thurman Munson, Elston Howard, and Phil Rizzuto are in a trickier category because of their social
and emotional significances to the team given Munson's death, Howard's breaking of the color barrier
on the team, and Rizzuto's 40-year tenure as a broadcaster (although he's the only Hall of Famer of the
three). I could make the argument against them based solely on stats as a player, but it's not worth the
possible outcry.

5. Posada, Pettitte, Billy Martin, Roger Maris, Don Mattingly, Reggie Jackson, Ron Guidry, and Bernie
Williams are in the final category for one reason: they do not deserve to have their numbers retired by
the Yankees. There's only one Hall of Famer in the whole lot (Jackson), and he played the better part of
his career with other teams. Any one of these players hold a special place amongst Yankees fans, but to
say that Bernie deserves the same distinction as Babe Ruth makes the entire honor that much less
important.
Some Mets fans who are reading this right now might be patting themselves on the back for supporting
the team in New York that cherishes the sacred honor of retired numbers. Others might wonder if the
wall behind the Party City Deck in left field could use a few more numbers. Which individuals in the
Mets Hall of Fame might be worthy of a retired number?
1. Gary Carter: He's one of the few Hall of Fame players who had a successful tenure with the Mets,
he's one of the most beloved players in franchise history, he was a clean-cut figure on the otherwise
unruly '86 Mets, and his untimely death three years ago has only strengthened his legacy. The parallel
that I could make to someone on the Yankees is Reggie Jackson, but I've already argued against Mr.
October's worthiness. Much like Jackson, Carter's tenure was short with the Mets and his best years
came with Montreal.
2. Keith Hernandez: He was a phenomenal hitter and first baseman whose contributions to the '86 Mets
are right up there with those of Gary Carter's. He remains in good standing thanks to his time as a color
commentator for the Mets on SNY. What hinders him is his short Mets tenure (he only has two more
years than Carter), his troubled personal life, and his lack of a plaque in Cooperstown.
3. Dwight Gooden and Darryl Strawberry: If Carter and Hernandez aren't getting their numbers retired,
then neither will these two. Their careers are looked at not by what they did, but rather what they could
have done. Plus, Hernandez looks like a Boy Scout compared to these two troubled individuals.
4. Jerry Koosman: Call me crazy, but Jerry Koosman has better career stats than Ron Guidry. The
difference is that Koosman never had the career-defining season like Guidry did in 1978. Try to
understand this absurd stat: Koosman led the league in losses (20) and strikeouts per nine innings (7.6)
in 1977.
5. Mike Piazza: I would make the argument for him above the other guys on this list, but then I read his
book.
So who on the Mets should have their number retired next? Fans will continue to complain about
Carter and Hernandez forever or at least until it's time to start wondering about the worthiness of David
Wright. Right now, I would give it to Wright. His popularity and positive standing in New York could
be considered Derek Jeter on a smaller scale, and his career stats are still relatively strong. However,
his health issues are making him seem less like Jeter and more like Don Mattingly. He still has a lot to
prove before his contract runs out in 2019. This may seem more like the Yankees to retire numbers
based on popularity, but the Mets certainly have earned the right to be a little self-indulgent. Let's just
make sure it doesn't get out of control and number 2 ends up on the wall at Citi Field for Marv
Throneberry.