Okay seriously, no B.S.

Currently there are 16 retired numbers. Time to step up, take off the homer glasses and be honest. Which of these 16 numbers would you NOT have put in monument park. I'll make it a little easier & give the obvious ones that do belong out there.

#3 Babe Ruth, #4 Lou Gehrig, #5 Joe DiMaggio, #7 Mickey Mantle, #8 Bill Dickey & Yogi Berra, #16 Whitey Ford, #32 Elston Howard, #37 Casey Stengel, #42 Jackie Robinson.

So that leaves 7 that MIGHT be in question..#1 Billy Martin, #9 Roger Maris, #10 Phil Rizzuto, #15 Thurmon Munson, #23 Don Mattingly, #44 Reggie Jackson & #49 Ron Guidry.

Remember, no homer glasses, be honest.

 

I'm glad you said it first because I have to agree. And Reggie we all already agree shouldn't be there.

 

all 7 I would say do not belong as PLAYERS only....you could add Martin and Rizzuto for manager and announcer. Munson is a hard one as he was one of the greats during his time and due to his death we never would know what he would have finished with. Mattingly to a point as well but as ALL TIME GREAT...sorry I would say no

 

I would have said yes also on Rizzuto due to his long relationship with the Yankees as a player & announcer. All the others (sorry to say) I would have said no.

 

I would remove Billy Martin & Reggie Jackson

 

Maris only had 3 good years with the Yankees out of 7. Granted he had that one magical year but I hardly think that warrants him entry beside guys named Ruth Gehrig, Dimaggio & Mantle.
Mattingly Yes he was well liked but 5 good years, again not enough. Similar thoughts on Munson. And as good as Guidry was the Yankees had other pitchers that did more that are not out there.

 

...hate to admit it but I agree about Donnie....he had a great glove, one of the quickest bats I ever saw and was the consummate Yankee...but his back did him in.

 

I saw Martin during the '56 season and the smidge of '57 prior to the brawl that got him traded. Hustling dude, wanted to win, was proud to be a Yankee. Played hustling World Series before "Mr. October" ever showed. Check his shoestring catch off of Jackie Robinson in the '53 World Series. Hell of a manager , pugnacious yes, but the man wanted to win, that '78 Yankee Team was his and Lemon finished up. Maris was a fine defensive right fielder in addition to the offense he provided, made a hell of a catch in the '62 Series just before Richardson caught that liner out of position. Mattingly best Yankee 1st baseman not named Gherig. Rizutto was about finished when I first became a fan but the old timers say he was really good.
Thurman belongs there as well, the man hustled even in meaningless games before his Yankee Teams got good, he was right there with Elston & Yogi. Guidry was glue in '78, kept his team in the hunt. Reggie well sugar, sniveled over a contract in '81, more worried about that than his team. Nettles kicked his butt, pretty cool.

 

^^^yeah, Guidry's '78 season was one of the best ever by a pitcher;



W-L 25-3 ERA 1.74 CG 16 SHO 9 IP 273.2 SO 248 ERA+ 208 WHIP 0.946



^^^ that's just plain sick.

 

So Michael aside from singing there praises are you saying they ALL belong?

And Ron are you saying Guidry belongs just for one incredible season. I mean I know he had other good seasons but is it enough to put him out there with Ford? And if so why not Ruffing & Gomez?

 

^^^doesn't sound like he's too crazy about Reggie.

 

I missed that part, DAMN! its a bitch getting older. Anyway about Guidry. One of my favorite players BUT.......if he's out there then Ruffing who after going 39-96 for the Red Sox spent the next 15 years going 234-129 for the Yankees while having 4 - 20 win seasons. And Lefty Gomez went 189-102 in 13 yrs as a Yankee with also 4 - 20 win win seasons.

 

Ok... the way I look at it, monument park can be for 2 different reasons... Greatness & affect with fans.... Munson was before my time, but he captured the heart of a generation as did Donnie... yeah, there were better than Guidry, but again he captured the heart of a generation... Maris I can get with what you are saying...

 

Belong hell yes, Martin, Maris, Munson, Mattingly, Guidry, for certain. In the case of those who played before my time I heard Rizuto ranked with the best. Didn't Mo get out there as well, could of sworn I saw his 42 out there. I had the privilege of meeting and talking (briefly) to Billy Martin at a Tinker Field Yankees Twins Spring Training game in '88. Pretty Cool, I had just finished reading #1. I thought Reggie was a hot dog, yeah he could drop the bombs but I never thought of him as a team player. That '78 Yankee team was my overall favorite, lots of characters like Louie P. Thurman, Nettles, Rivers, and White to name a few.

 

I know I asked for thoughts on this subject & I don't mean to shoot them down BUT........Martin was a hustler & a Winner. Hell so was Randolph & he was IMO a better player then Martin. Maris like I said had 3 good yrs as a Yankee. Munson & Mattingly well liked & respected but again IMO didn't have enough good years to warrant the company of the greats out there. And Guidry had one of the best seasons I've ever seen & a couple of others but if he's out there then why not Ruffing & Gomez who had equally or better Yankee careers.

 

Reading the history books your point is well taken, unfortunately we don't make the rules. And we are talking about Monument Park not the Hall. Yep I liked Willie Randolph as well, that '78 team was my favorite of all time Yankee wise. My submissions are based on the era I've seen and no less of persons like Yogi and Joe D. commented on Billy.

 

Michael you seem to be older then most of us here and I wish I also had the opportunity to see Ruth & Gehrig play (I couldn't resist) so let me ask you, pick out your best all time Yankee lineup including a LHP & RHP & a relief pitcher. You could use a DH. Oh & who would manage such a team. So that would be 12 players & a manager.

 

...I don't think that's enough...I mean Bobby Richardson's 3 best WS are pretty sick too...Reggie was essentially a DH...just sayin'.