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The Yankees have retired 22 numbers in their history. Here’s a list of the numbers that have been retired by the Yankees, and the players who wore them.
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Yankees Numbers Retired
The Yankees have retired 22 numbers in their history, most in MLB. The first number retired by the Yankees was Lou Gehrig’s #4 in 1939. The most recent number retired by the Yankees was Mariano Rivera’s #42 in 2013. The Yankees have also retired 2 numbers in honor of managers: Casey Stengel’s #37 in 1970 and Billy Martin’s #1 in 1986.
Numbers 1-5
The Yankees have retired 22 numbers, more than any other team in baseball. The first number to be retired by the Yankees was Lou Gehrig’s #4 in 1939. The most recent number to be retired was Mariano Rivera’s #42 in 2013.
1. Babe Ruth – Retired July 4, 1948
2. Lou Gehrig – Retired June 13, 1939
3. Bill Dickey – Retired July 18, 1972
4. Joe DiMaggio – Retired May 14, 1952
5. Yogi Berra – Retired February 10, 1972
Numbers 6-10
7 – Mickey Mantle
MantleplayingingoutfieldforYankees
8 – Yogi Berra
BerraplayingcatcherforYankees
10 – Phil Rizzuto
RizzutowithYankees
Numbers 11-15
11-15: These numbers were all retired for Bernie Williams. Williams is a five-time All-Star who helped the Yankees win four World Series titles. He was a mainstay in the Yankees’ outfield for many years and is considered one of the best center fielders in team history.
Williams’ number 12 was retired in 2015, just a few months after he announced his retirement from baseball. The Yankees also retired his number 51 in 2017, when he was inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame.
Numbers 16-20
16- Whitey Ford- P, 1961-1974
gp- 1096, w- 236, l- 106, era- 2.75, gs- 393, sv- 44, ip- 3821.1, so/9ip 6.4, hr/9ip 0.8
17- Billy Martinez- 2B/INF/OF, 1950-1961
gp- 1416, w-.262/.333/.737, hr 164, rbi 754
18- Don Mattingly 1B , 1982=1995
gp – 1579 , w-.307/.358/.471 , hr 222 , rbi 1024
19 -Elston Howard – C /OF 1960 -1969
GP 1240g BA.279/328/.47 HR 167 RBI 702
20 – Jorge Posada C /DH 1995 -2011
GP 1709 BA .273/374//514 HR 275 RBI 1065
Numbers 21-25
21- Paul O’Neill
22- Jorge Posada
23-Don Mattingly
24- Bernie Williams
25- Lou Gehrig
Why These Numbers Are Retired
Yankees fans are some of the most diehard fans in baseball. They live and breathe Yankees baseball. So, it’s no surprise that the Yankees have retired some of the most iconic numbers in baseball history. Let’s take a look at the numbers that have been retired by the Yankees.
Number 1- Don Mattingly
Don Mattingly played first base for the New York Yankees for 14 seasons, helping the team to six World Series titles. He was a nine-time All-Star and won the American League MVP award in 1985. His number, 23, was retired by the Yankees in 1997.
Number 2- Derek Jeter
Derek Jeter was the captain of the New York Yankees from 2003 until his retirement in 2014. He is regarded as one of the greatest baseball players of all time and was a central figure of the Yankees’ late-1990s dynasty that won three consecutive World Series championships. Jeter is a 14-time All-Star, five-time Gold Glove Award winner, four-time Silver Slugger Award winner, and the 2000 American League (AL) Most Valuable Player (MVP). He has also been a part of five World Series championship teams.
The Yankees retired Jeter’s number 2 in 2017, and he was the first player in franchise history to have his number retired while he was still an active player. Jeter is just the second player in baseball history to have his number retired by two different teams, after Mike Piazza (who had his number 31 retired by both the New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers).
Number 3- Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth played for the Yankees from 1920-1934. He was an American League All-Star for those 14 seasons. He was the AL home run leader 10 times, and he still holds the record for most RBIs in a season (191). In 1927, Ruth hit 60 home runs, which was a single-season record until 1961. Ruth’s career batting average with the Yankees was .349. He retired with 714 career home runs.
Number 4- Lou Gehrig
Lou Gehrig played his entire 17-season career with the New York Yankees, which spanned from 1923 to 1939. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest baseball players of all time. Gehrig was a six-time World Series champion, a seven-time All-Star, and he won two American League MVP awards. He is also one of only four players in MLB history to have won three MVP awards in a single season.
Gehrig’s career came to an abrupt end in 1939 when he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a degenerative disease that affects the nervous system. The disease forced Gehrig to retire from baseball at the age of 36, and he died two years later. In memory of Gehrig’s contributions to the Yankees organization, his uniform number 4 was retired by the team in 1939.
Number 5- Joe DiMaggio
DiMaggio played his entire 13-year career for the Yankees and was nicknamed “The Yankee Clipper”. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest baseball players of all time.
A three-time MVP and 13-time All-Star, he won nine World Series titles with the Yankees. He is also perhaps best remembered for his 56-game hitting streak, a record that still stands today.
Following his retirement from baseball in 1951, DiMaggio was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1955. His number 5 was retired by the Yankees in 1952, and he died in 1999 at the age of 84.
Where to Find These Numbers
The Yankees have retired a total of 22 numbers, the most of any team in baseball. This includes numbers 1-10 as well as 15, 16, 19, 20, 23, 32, 42, and 44. You can find these numbers at Yankee Stadium, on the facade of the second deck in right field.
Monument Park
The Yankees honor their greatest players by retiring their uniform numbers and displaying them in Monument Park at Yankee Stadium.
The first number to be retired by the Yankees was Lou Gehrig’s #4 in 1939, just days after his retirement from baseball due to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, now commonly referred to as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease.”
Here is the complete list of Yankees players whose numbers have been retired, in order of when their number was first retired:
-Lou Gehrig (4): 1939
-Babe Ruth (3): 1948
-Joe DiMaggio (5): 1952
-Mickey Mantle (7): 1969
-Bill Dickey (8): 1972
-Whitey Ford (16): 1974
-Yogi Berra (8): 1972
-Roger Maris (9): 1984
-Elston Howard (32): 1984
Yankee Stadium
The Yankee Stadium may be one of the most iconic baseball stadiums in America, but it’s also home to some of the most legendary numbers in the sport. From Babe Ruth to MICHAEL JORDAN, many of the greatest players in baseball history have had their numbers retired by the Yankees. If you’re a Yankee fan, you know all about these legends and their contributions to the team. But what if you’re new to the Yankees or simply want to learn more about these great players? Here’s a rundown of the Yankees numbers that have been retired, along with some information on each player.
Babe Ruth – 3
The Babe needs no introduction. He is arguably the greatest player in baseball history and is responsible for putting the Yankees on the map. He played for the Yankees from 1920-1934 and his number was retired by the team in 1947.
Mickey Mantle – 7
Mantle was one of the greatest sluggers of all time and is widely considered to be one of the best players in Yankees history. He played for the team from 1951-1968 and his number was retired by the Yankees in 1969.
Joe DiMaggio – 5
DiMaggio is another legend of the Yankees dynasty teams of the 1940s and 1950s. He is best known for his 56-game hitting streak, which is still an MLB record today. He played for the Yankees from 1936-1951 and his number was retired by the team in 1952.
Lou Gehrig – 4
Gehrig is one of the most tragic figures in baseball history. He was forced to retire from the game due to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which now bears his name. He played forthe Yankees from 1923-1939 and his number was retired bythe team in 1939. despite his short career, he is considered one ofthe greatest players in Yankee history .
Yogi Berra – 8
Berra is a Yankee legend and one ofthe most iconic catchers in baseball history. He played forthe Yankees from 1946-1963 and 1964 and his numberwas retired bythe team in 1972 . He also has his own museum at Yankee Stadium .
Whitey Ford – 16
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Bill Dickey – 8
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Other Locations
The following is a list of all other locations where you can find retired Yankees numbers:
-Bronx, New York
-New York Yankees Museum
-Cooperstown, New York
-National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
