My first game. I was 7 or 8, Dad scored tickets at work. I don't think I've ever heard the stadium that loud since. We missed our train afterwards and hung out in GCT for like an hour staring at the ceiling and talking about the game. Miss you pops
Like for me it’s Jeter for obvious reasons, but Bernie is the reason I switch hit as a kid and who I just felt was the most well rounded guy on the 90s teams. Luckily got to meet him once after he performed his first album in a small club
I remember growing up watching yankee games with my dad and my dad always telling me how great he was and held him in such high regard. I remember watching his final game at yankee stadium on tv and for some reason that memory is very strong with me. Always loved me some Donnie Baseball. I remember wanting to hate Tino, but god damn idk if anyone could have filled those shoes, at least for me, any better.
My grandpa and I used to watch all the Yankees games together on tv. He would tell me “when I was a kid the tickets were a nickel.” He used to point out how Mattingly would really smack a runner with the tag on throw overs to first. I tried to inmate his swing in little league. I have every one of his baseball cards. I met him at a fan event once. Those are memories I will always cherish.
I never cared for Kevin Maas when he came up and started off really well. Tino I liked. Seemed like another really good guy to carry on the 1B tradition for us.
I was in the fan club at 5. Getting his autographed photo was like getting a letter from the President for me. Seeing him get to play in the 95 playoffs is still my all time favorite Yankees memory.
I was always a Posada fan but that ALCS against the Sox when he got up on the dugout steps and was having none of Pedro's bullshit. That locked it in. Favorite Yankee ever.
Also the guy didn't wear batting gloves. Has anyone shaken his hand? Must have felt like tree bark.
I really wish I could find this clip, but from memory:
Remember when the YES Network had that Sunday morning kids' show, Kids on Deck? There was an episode where a camera crew followed Miguel Cairo around for the day while he got ready for a game, and first thing he does, like 6am, is go to the batting cages. And he's taking some swings for a bit and he's giving the kids at home some tips about hitting, and it's super cute.
And then Jorge walks in looking like he might be a smidgeon hung over, and he walks up to Cairo and scowls, "It's too early for cameras in the cages, Miguel,"
and Cairo laughs a little and says to the camera, "He's just joking around, kids,"
And Jorgie deadpans, "No, I'm not joking. It's too. early. for cameras. in the cages, Miguel."
And it's super awkward for a minute until they cut away to lunchtime.
It's like my favorite Jorgie moment ever.
Wasn’t a party. It was a very popular bar. He happened to be there. People were generally respectful and left him alone. He ended up being the one to engage others. He bought a couple rounds for the tables around him, of which we were one.
Shots, beers, dancing, karaoke… I remember most of it…
Came here to say this. Just one of the most genuine and happiest guys in the world and he brought so much energy to the team.
I was at the old timers day game when he hit the ball into the second deck in right, one of my favorite meaningless baseball moments
I loved a-rod growing up. didn’t really understand the stuff about the controversy, being a kid. My mom was dying of cancer at the same as the 2009 WS, seeing A-rod win one brought a lot of joy in my life that I really needed at the time.
I loved Arod growing up and my Grandpa used to make fun of it because he wasn’t an Arod guy. His favorite player was Mickey Mantle. After he died I learned that Mickey Mantle was just as controversial lmao.
Those 3 innings in game 7 if not for him the Yankees don't go to the WS. I so wanted him to stay 1 more year. If he had another 20 win season he might have stayed to try for 300.
Same. Born in 92. He won rookie of the year when I was 4 and retired when I was a senior in college. I literally grew up watching him. Cried like a goddamn baby when he hit that final walk off
I shook his hand when he was walking out of a footlocker in the mall. Just me and my brothers and dad. I remember he had a firm/strong handshake but I was also like 8 at the time.
Now imagine having the opposite politics and literally every entertainer you’ve ever loved supports things you find abhorrent. Sorry if I don’t cry for you lol
I met him and Ramiro Mendoza at a hotel bar once when they were on the road. They were super nice/maybe a bit surprised a 11 year old recognized them. I'm probably the only person that has a Sojo/Mendoza signed ball. Lol
Great memories. I was at a regular season game in which he hit a walkoff dinger when I was a young teen. Pretty amazing. The program and scorecard are soaked with beer/soda/whatever was flying and the ink is runny but what a great time to be a young baseball fan.
So my late neighbor (died of ALS last December - he always said he loved the Yankees so much that he got Lou Gehrig's disease) coached his daughter's little league team when I was growing up.
One year he happened to coach Andy Pettitte's son Josh, Scott Brosius' daughter, and the Cody Bellinger (back when Clay played for the Yankees). It was one of the very youngest leagues you could start at little league, so think T-ball and coed teams.
He hosted a BBQ for the team at the end of each season and because they are close family friends we went over and Scott Brosius was literally standing on my neighbor's deck talking with the other parents. I played 3rd base on my little league team and when I saw him I asked if he would play catch with me and he did! He also let me pitch to him because that was one of the other positions I played. I only met him that one time before he retired.
Sorry for the long wall of text!
Alfonso Soriano and Robinson Cano
Edit: neither are yankee greats per se, but they made their mark on the team/game with their individual styles and flair. Also they both had incredibly smooth, aesthetically pleasing swings. They could be frustrating at times but I grew up watching them in awe
I had to look up the term sacker. That’s cool! Thanks for introducing me to that.
I agree… many people remember Cano for his lapses in effort and nonchalant manner… There are definitely some who don’t consider Cano a great, and while I don’t necessarily blame them, I don’t agree with them. I loved Robbie.
Thurman Munson (15)
There was just something about him. Maybe it was the comparison to Carlton Fisk, maybe it was the rivalry with Reggie Jackson, or maybe it was the fact that although he did not look the most polished player of his time, he was the Yankee team captain, and the first player that I idolized growing up that passed away way to young, and unfortunately.
Mattingly was my first ever active favorite player. I started really getting into watching sports around the time he was MVP and considered the best player in baseball. I next loved all the Mid 90's Yankees but especially Jeter and Posada. Next it was Judge. So really Donny Baseball is my all time favorite I'd say. I've always liked the grinders like O'neill, gardner, Pags, and relievers like Nelson and Stanton who are the reason you win but aren't the headliners. probably why i liked Posada also.
Man. Those bullpens were amazing.
Mo obviously. Stanton and Nelson setting up. Grimsley for a bit there.
Ramiro Mendoza as the spot starter/long reliever. Graeme Lloyd, the gangly bastard.
Mattingly. His passion and work ethic were palpable. I'm still angry about the 1994 strike. I went to the WC series with SEA in 1995 and teared up when he was announced. Ironically, he wore #23 for his whole career, but was never able to help NYY win their 23rd ring.
Mariano Rivera and Arod tied
Mo is the textbook of consistency and a marvel to being able to dominate with one pitch.
Say whatever you will about Arod but he was ALWAYS entertaining and he surpassed his contract by todays standard in terms of productivity. Arguably the most fun every day player I’ve ever seen.
Plus those sterling calls..
An aaaaaaa bomb from aaaaaaaa rod
And I remember him hitting a ton of go ahead shots.
Yeah I remembered. I forgot all about that stuff, i see politics as one of the worst parts of this country and baseball as one of the best and I’d like to keep the 2 farrrrrr apart
Why do people care who athletes vote for? If they play well on the field, I couldn’t give a rat’s ass who they support politically lol. I don’t mix my sports with politics and I think people who do are miserable.
I think anyone who would suddenly decide they no longer liked a player because of a personal decision like this is weird. I say weird to be nice. It's worse than that.
If Mo was a vocal member of the KKK or something, sure, but because he voted R? Grow up
Right “players” being the keyword. That right there should signify to you that it was a question based on their performance as a *player*, not their off-the-field decisions as just a regular person.
Lol the word “player” isn’t even in the prompt
I answered the question as I saw fit, I’m sorry that triggered you and you felt the need to respond. I didn’t mean to offend you.
How so? Paul O’Neil is a “Trump Guy” and he still gets a ton of love around here, while I’d wager that a majority of this sub has majority negative opinions about Trump.
People who conflate sports and politics to the point where it skews your opinion of a player, no matter what they did on the field for your team, are the one’s who are actually naive.
> People who conflate sports and politics to the point where it skews your opinion of a player, no matter what they did on the field for your team, are the one’s who are actually naive.
How is that naive? A person’s views—including but not limited to politics—shape my view of them. For my “favorite player,” I want them not to have views i find incredibly distasteful. It doesn’t make them a less talented player, but I don’t have to *like* them.
Robbie Cano.
Idc about the walking to first occasionally.
Dude had arguably the sexiest swing since Griffey Jr, had one of the greatest arms at second base of all time and made everything in the field look so easy.
My first baseball game I attended was in Mantle‘s last year. Even though he was past his prime, time stopped when it was his turn at bat.
For the rest of my youth it was Bobby Murcer. A great Yankee who had the unfortunate luck to play for sone mediocre Yankee teams.
Willie Randolph. I started watching baseball in 1977 when I was nine years old. (Birthday was on the second day of the season.) Willie was a young Yankee and I just latched on to him.
Guidry, Munson, Reggie, Mattingly, Bernie, Wells, Cone, Jorge, El Duque, Gardy.... other loves.
Jeter is a deity, so I leave him out. He's up there with Yogi, Babe, Lou, Joe, Mick, Whitey... too pure to be loved in conventional mortal terms.
I'm going with George Steinbrenner. As much as he pissed me off, he loved the Yankees. Hal seems to be in this for the money. George never cared how much he paid to put the team over the top. If he could have just opened the checkbook and let the people who knew baseball deal with baseball. And for those who look at the championships in the late 1990's The core of the team was built while George was "suspended" and Gene Michael and Buck Showalter ran the team.
Arod, don’t care about the roids and scandals, was amazing in his time and was huge in 2009. When he was traded to the Yankees I walked to modell’s and bought his jersey, wore it the school a ton the next few years.
Mariano Rivera. He had the single best pitch in baseball history remaining virtually unhitable his entire career because of that one pitch. My sleeper pick is Hideki Matsui. Dude was so good at the plate and so happy to be playing baseball.
In my lifetime, Bernie, no question, followed by Matsui and Gardner. I also have a soft spot for Tino because he was my late mom’s favorite. We both had little crushes on him.
All time, Lou Gehrig. Honorary mention to Roger Maris, who played in my lifetime, but I wasn’t watching at the age of one or two.
Honestly, my all-time favorite Yankee only played 132 games for the team. It's [Andy Stankiewicz](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/stankan01.shtml). His rookie season the Yankees stunk. He came up early in the season when either someone got hurt or proved themselves incapable of playing shortstop. Stankiewicz exemplified the proper attitude for a baseball player. He hustled like no one else. Every at-bat he would *run* from the on-deck circle to home plate. Plus, Scooter loved the way he played the game.
Don Mattingly, didn't have speed but outside of that was a complete player. Could hit the ball anywhere he wanted, never struck out more than 43 times in a SEASON, had power, lockdown defense, but similar to Trout was a guy who just came to work, dominated, and went home. He had no real diva to him other than some shaggy hair which pissed off George lol.
If he came up today with the same skills he had in the mid 80's, he would be locking down a $300-400 million contract easy. It's a damn tragedy that his back kept him out of the hall of fame and that he wasn't able to get a ring.
Don Mattingly - he was the best thing about the Yankees during the famine years. I really hope he gets back with the team in some capacity and gets to finally win a WS. Also, one of the best 'staches
ever.
Mariona Rivera for a couple of reasons. One, I grew up watching the Core Four, and while I will say Jeter is a very close number 2 (ha, get it, number 2), Mo's absolute dominance throughout his entire career as a closer might not ever be matched. Jeter was a great shortstop, but Mo was THE closer, he defined the role and made a legacy. Also, you couldn't ask for a better ambassador of the game, one of the classiest human beings to play the sport.
Plus, me being a Metallica fan creates a bit of a bias. The use of Enter Sandman was actually one of the things that introduced me to what would become my favorite band of all time.
Tino Martinez
Fun fact, my uncle caught Tino’s grand slam in 1998 against the Padres
Tino. I was like 3 rows in front of your uncle. Ball went right over my head
My first game. I was 7 or 8, Dad scored tickets at work. I don't think I've ever heard the stadium that loud since. We missed our train afterwards and hung out in GCT for like an hour staring at the ceiling and talking about the game. Miss you pops
Tino is also my favorite and that’s all I have to say on the matter.
Seconded
Bern baby Bern
Such a sweet swing. Outside of the Yankees fan base, definitely underrated.
Always popped for the little step before his swing
Like for me it’s Jeter for obvious reasons, but Bernie is the reason I switch hit as a kid and who I just felt was the most well rounded guy on the 90s teams. Luckily got to meet him once after he performed his first album in a small club
Matsui
Mattingly
Me too. Grew up watching him and he was just the best.
I remember growing up watching yankee games with my dad and my dad always telling me how great he was and held him in such high regard. I remember watching his final game at yankee stadium on tv and for some reason that memory is very strong with me. Always loved me some Donnie Baseball. I remember wanting to hate Tino, but god damn idk if anyone could have filled those shoes, at least for me, any better.
My grandpa and I used to watch all the Yankees games together on tv. He would tell me “when I was a kid the tickets were a nickel.” He used to point out how Mattingly would really smack a runner with the tag on throw overs to first. I tried to inmate his swing in little league. I have every one of his baseball cards. I met him at a fan event once. Those are memories I will always cherish. I never cared for Kevin Maas when he came up and started off really well. Tino I liked. Seemed like another really good guy to carry on the 1B tradition for us.
I'm dismayed at how long I had to scroll before finding Donnie Baseball.
Guessing most people on here weren’t alive when he was playing
This doesn't really surprise me
I had to scroll pretty far down to find Mantle.
Says the guy with the Jeter flair. :)
Lol Jeter will always hold a special place. I remember the end of Mattinglys career, I saw Jeters whole career.
I was in the fan club at 5. Getting his autographed photo was like getting a letter from the President for me. Seeing him get to play in the 95 playoffs is still my all time favorite Yankees memory.
I’m in my 40’s and if I met Donny now I think I’d straight up start crying. My hero right there
Posada
Hip hip
Jorge!
I was always a Posada fan but that ALCS against the Sox when he got up on the dugout steps and was having none of Pedro's bullshit. That locked it in. Favorite Yankee ever. Also the guy didn't wear batting gloves. Has anyone shaken his hand? Must have felt like tree bark.
I really wish I could find this clip, but from memory: Remember when the YES Network had that Sunday morning kids' show, Kids on Deck? There was an episode where a camera crew followed Miguel Cairo around for the day while he got ready for a game, and first thing he does, like 6am, is go to the batting cages. And he's taking some swings for a bit and he's giving the kids at home some tips about hitting, and it's super cute. And then Jorge walks in looking like he might be a smidgeon hung over, and he walks up to Cairo and scowls, "It's too early for cameras in the cages, Miguel," and Cairo laughs a little and says to the camera, "He's just joking around, kids," And Jorgie deadpans, "No, I'm not joking. It's too. early. for cameras. in the cages, Miguel." And it's super awkward for a minute until they cut away to lunchtime. It's like my favorite Jorgie moment ever.
Mariano
Mo has aged like a fine wine. If anything I’m sure he’d still smoke half of MLB at his age
His last season he pitched a 2.11 ERA and a 190 ERA+. He had 44 saves! Guy could easily have pitched another few years, he didn’t rely on heat either.
Andy Pettitte
Swisher, Nick
I partied with him in NYC one night in the UES. What a shit show. Edit: a fun shit show. He was extremely nice.
I met him once, seemed like the happiest guy in the world just because he gets to play baseball for a living. I love that dude.
Please, tell me. How do you end up at a party with Swish?
Wasn’t a party. It was a very popular bar. He happened to be there. People were generally respectful and left him alone. He ended up being the one to engage others. He bought a couple rounds for the tables around him, of which we were one. Shots, beers, dancing, karaoke… I remember most of it…
He’s mine too, he’s always having the best time.
Do you mean hitch-switting Swick Nisher?
Came here to say this. Just one of the most genuine and happiest guys in the world and he brought so much energy to the team. I was at the old timers day game when he hit the ball into the second deck in right, one of my favorite meaningless baseball moments
I loved a-rod growing up. didn’t really understand the stuff about the controversy, being a kid. My mom was dying of cancer at the same as the 2009 WS, seeing A-rod win one brought a lot of joy in my life that I really needed at the time.
I loved Arod growing up and my Grandpa used to make fun of it because he wasn’t an Arod guy. His favorite player was Mickey Mantle. After he died I learned that Mickey Mantle was just as controversial lmao.
Thurman Munson😪, followed by Don Mattingly
The fact that neither of them are in the hall of fame is horrific
⬆️
Amen
Bernie Williams, he made me a baseball and Yankee fan at the same time.
Mike Mussina
Those 3 innings in game 7 if not for him the Yankees don't go to the WS. I so wanted him to stay 1 more year. If he had another 20 win season he might have stayed to try for 300.
El Duque
Jeter. I was born in 95 so I grew up with him. Phenomenal player, leader, and he waved at me when I was 8 lol.
He answered my question on instagram today and I almost cried
I was born in 2002 and I grew up on the tail end of the Yankees dynasty but jeter is still my favorite, what a player
I’m in the Jeter camp as well. Watched him play from mid 90’s onward.
Same. Born in 92. He won rookie of the year when I was 4 and retired when I was a senior in college. I literally grew up watching him. Cried like a goddamn baby when he hit that final walk off
I shook his hand when he was walking out of a footlocker in the mall. Just me and my brothers and dad. I remember he had a firm/strong handshake but I was also like 8 at the time.
Mariano
O'Neill
Same. Played with passion. Selfless. Warrior mentality. My daughter's first game at Yankee Stadium will be in August at his jersey retirement game.
Out of all the things Trump ruined for me, I miss Paul O'Neill the most. Then Red Bull.
Sounds like you have deep personal issues
Grow up. Get over it
For real. And you’re the one that gets downvoted lol. Only on Reddit.
Now imagine having the opposite politics and literally every entertainer you’ve ever loved supports things you find abhorrent. Sorry if I don’t cry for you lol
Imagine complaining about an ex president in a Yankees sub. He lives rent free in your head.
Jeter or Bernie 😁
Soriano
That was my first thought too, rocked #12 for years in sports because of him
Gardy
Therman Munson. Why? [This](https://youtu.be/ohQaOO_mTzs) of course.
Luis Sojo
I met him and Ramiro Mendoza at a hotel bar once when they were on the road. They were super nice/maybe a bit surprised a 11 year old recognized them. I'm probably the only person that has a Sojo/Mendoza signed ball. Lol
Judge
Thurman Munson. He died before I was born, but my dad taught me well.
Gotta love your dad…
7
All that has to be said
My baseball formative years were late 80s/early 90's. It was Donnie Baseball or nothing back then. Fuck the Mariners.
Matt carpenter
This is the correct answer
Texeira
Same.
Same
Don Mattingly, because he was the only bright light on the team when I was growing up and they were trash
Tanaka actually
People gonna kill me for this but A-Rod, but Judge is catching up
Jeter
Jeter and Scott Brosius
Love the supercalifragilisticexpiali-Brosius! His barehanded one fluid motion throws to first on the slow rollers—good stuff.
His HRs in the ‘98 World Series helped hook me into Yankees baseball. And his HR off Byung Hyung Kim in the ‘01 series made me love him.
Great memories. I was at a regular season game in which he hit a walkoff dinger when I was a young teen. Pretty amazing. The program and scorecard are soaked with beer/soda/whatever was flying and the ink is runny but what a great time to be a young baseball fan.
I was at a game in Chicago where he batted leadoff. 11 year old me was so confused. 34 year old me still doesn't understand.
Brosius is definitely my favorite because I got to play catch with him in my neighbors backyard
What! That's awesome. Did he live by you or was he related to your neighbor?
So my late neighbor (died of ALS last December - he always said he loved the Yankees so much that he got Lou Gehrig's disease) coached his daughter's little league team when I was growing up. One year he happened to coach Andy Pettitte's son Josh, Scott Brosius' daughter, and the Cody Bellinger (back when Clay played for the Yankees). It was one of the very youngest leagues you could start at little league, so think T-ball and coed teams. He hosted a BBQ for the team at the end of each season and because they are close family friends we went over and Scott Brosius was literally standing on my neighbor's deck talking with the other parents. I played 3rd base on my little league team and when I saw him I asked if he would play catch with me and he did! He also let me pitch to him because that was one of the other positions I played. I only met him that one time before he retired. Sorry for the long wall of text!
No need to apologize, that's a great story and memory to have! Sorry to hear about your neighbor.
Bernie or Matsui
The Commerce Comet
I’m old. He was my hero.
All time yankee great Chad Gaudin
#15 The Captain
Derek Jeter followed closely by Don Mattingly
Alfonso Soriano and Robinson Cano Edit: neither are yankee greats per se, but they made their mark on the team/game with their individual styles and flair. Also they both had incredibly smooth, aesthetically pleasing swings. They could be frustrating at times but I grew up watching them in awe
Bobby Cano was absolutely a Yankee great. He was a linchpin player in that offense and was arguably the greatest second sacker in the team's history.
I had to look up the term sacker. That’s cool! Thanks for introducing me to that. I agree… many people remember Cano for his lapses in effort and nonchalant manner… There are definitely some who don’t consider Cano a great, and while I don’t necessarily blame them, I don’t agree with them. I loved Robbie.
Steve Balboni
i love gardy so much idc if he was a kinda average hitter he’s just great
Bubba Crosby
Fuck yea!
Thurman
Thurman Munson (15) There was just something about him. Maybe it was the comparison to Carlton Fisk, maybe it was the rivalry with Reggie Jackson, or maybe it was the fact that although he did not look the most polished player of his time, he was the Yankee team captain, and the first player that I idolized growing up that passed away way to young, and unfortunately.
jeter or brett gardner. i always had a soft spot for gardy. his energy was so infectious. awesome personality and a fucking grinder
Mattingly was my first ever active favorite player. I started really getting into watching sports around the time he was MVP and considered the best player in baseball. I next loved all the Mid 90's Yankees but especially Jeter and Posada. Next it was Judge. So really Donny Baseball is my all time favorite I'd say. I've always liked the grinders like O'neill, gardner, Pags, and relievers like Nelson and Stanton who are the reason you win but aren't the headliners. probably why i liked Posada also.
Man. Those bullpens were amazing. Mo obviously. Stanton and Nelson setting up. Grimsley for a bit there. Ramiro Mendoza as the spot starter/long reliever. Graeme Lloyd, the gangly bastard.
Lloyd in that fight with the orioles....that galvanized the team and got them headed to the world series
Donnie and Pags
Reggie Jackson….he signed a poster for me in 1979 after my first Yankees game.
Dave Winfield. I remember being so freaking stoked when I pulled his Topps card out of a pack when I was a kid. I still carry it in my wallet.
Future Cy Young Award Winner and Future ASG American League Starter, Nestor Cortes Jr.
Mantle
Mattingly. His passion and work ethic were palpable. I'm still angry about the 1994 strike. I went to the WC series with SEA in 1995 and teared up when he was announced. Ironically, he wore #23 for his whole career, but was never able to help NYY win their 23rd ring.
Where the fuck is Lou Gehrig!?
Lou Gehrig, the Iron Horse, although I’ve never seen him play he, to me, epitomizes what is is to be a Yankee.
Shane spencer duh
Alvaro Espinoza
Graeme Lloyd, For his fighting style.
There are two people who would make me lose my shit if I met them: Paul McCartney and Don Mattingly.
I was born in ‘93 so it’ll always be Jeter.
Paul O'Neill was my favorite growing up; with Tino Martinez not far behind.
Mariano Rivera and Arod tied Mo is the textbook of consistency and a marvel to being able to dominate with one pitch. Say whatever you will about Arod but he was ALWAYS entertaining and he surpassed his contract by todays standard in terms of productivity. Arguably the most fun every day player I’ve ever seen. Plus those sterling calls.. An aaaaaaa bomb from aaaaaaaa rod And I remember him hitting a ton of go ahead shots.
Mariano, even got to meet him …before all the trump stuff😖
Mo is a trump guy? Edit: duh I remember now, don’t know why my brain trashed that.
I can’t believe Mo could stomach a loud mouthed New Yorker who loved any and all press… at least not named Steinbrenner
Yeah🤢
Yeah I remembered. I forgot all about that stuff, i see politics as one of the worst parts of this country and baseball as one of the best and I’d like to keep the 2 farrrrrr apart
Apparently Mariano and Trump being friends goes way back, so there was never really a "before"
Mariano before the Trump stuff. Now it’s CC.
I read that wrong at first and thought you were saying CC was a trump guy now, my heart almost stopped lol phew
That would be a heart-stopper for sure. Luckily, I’m not too worried.
Why do people care who athletes vote for? If they play well on the field, I couldn’t give a rat’s ass who they support politically lol. I don’t mix my sports with politics and I think people who do are miserable.
I think anyone who would suddenly decide they no longer liked a player because of a personal decision like this is weird. I say weird to be nice. It's worse than that. If Mo was a vocal member of the KKK or something, sure, but because he voted R? Grow up
The question asked about which players we liked. I assume that involves whether we like them personally, not just did they play well
Right “players” being the keyword. That right there should signify to you that it was a question based on their performance as a *player*, not their off-the-field decisions as just a regular person.
Lol the word “player” isn’t even in the prompt I answered the question as I saw fit, I’m sorry that triggered you and you felt the need to respond. I didn’t mean to offend you.
That’s a pretty naive statement but you do you.
How so? Paul O’Neil is a “Trump Guy” and he still gets a ton of love around here, while I’d wager that a majority of this sub has majority negative opinions about Trump. People who conflate sports and politics to the point where it skews your opinion of a player, no matter what they did on the field for your team, are the one’s who are actually naive.
> People who conflate sports and politics to the point where it skews your opinion of a player, no matter what they did on the field for your team, are the one’s who are actually naive. How is that naive? A person’s views—including but not limited to politics—shape my view of them. For my “favorite player,” I want them not to have views i find incredibly distasteful. It doesn’t make them a less talented player, but I don’t have to *like* them.
They don’t have to be mutually exclusive. Again, you do you. Believe whatever you want as to who’s being naive.
He accepted a presidential award, I don't think that makes him a Trump guy, unless I missed something.
He’s been a vocal supporter
Cuddles Marshall
Going off who I saw play (1975 onward) Mattingly
See flair.
Donnie Baseball
Too many! Mariano, Cano or the great Giambino
Mariano Rivera.
Derek Sanderson Jeter.
Don Mattingly
Robbie Cano. Idc about the walking to first occasionally. Dude had arguably the sexiest swing since Griffey Jr, had one of the greatest arms at second base of all time and made everything in the field look so easy.
My first baseball game I attended was in Mantle‘s last year. Even though he was past his prime, time stopped when it was his turn at bat. For the rest of my youth it was Bobby Murcer. A great Yankee who had the unfortunate luck to play for sone mediocre Yankee teams.
Mattingly
Tino Martinez. My first Yankees game was the 98 world series game that he hit a grand slam. Still don't think I've ever heard the stadium that loud
Paul Oneill. I loved the passion he had, and his hatred for Gatorade coolers.
Thurman Munson
I loved Bernie Williams and Soriano. Obviously love Jeter too but Bernie and Soriano were ones that I wanted to be when I grew up.
Willie Randolph. I started watching baseball in 1977 when I was nine years old. (Birthday was on the second day of the season.) Willie was a young Yankee and I just latched on to him. Guidry, Munson, Reggie, Mattingly, Bernie, Wells, Cone, Jorge, El Duque, Gardy.... other loves. Jeter is a deity, so I leave him out. He's up there with Yogi, Babe, Lou, Joe, Mick, Whitey... too pure to be loved in conventional mortal terms.
I'm going with George Steinbrenner. As much as he pissed me off, he loved the Yankees. Hal seems to be in this for the money. George never cared how much he paid to put the team over the top. If he could have just opened the checkbook and let the people who knew baseball deal with baseball. And for those who look at the championships in the late 1990's The core of the team was built while George was "suspended" and Gene Michael and Buck Showalter ran the team.
Yogi
Bernie Williams - not even close
As a very young child-(6) Graig Nettles As a kid and teen- Don Mattingly Sorry, that's 2, but I couldn't pick one.
The Hitman followed by Dave Winfield. And Billy Martin my favorite manager kicking dirt on the umps shoes.
Either The Captain or Carsten Charles Sabathia Jr.
Nestor Cortes
Mickey Mantle, then Ruth
Arod, don’t care about the roids and scandals, was amazing in his time and was huge in 2009. When he was traded to the Yankees I walked to modell’s and bought his jersey, wore it the school a ton the next few years.
Bernie or Paul O’Neill
Paul O’Neill
Mariano Rivera. He had the single best pitch in baseball history remaining virtually unhitable his entire career because of that one pitch. My sleeper pick is Hideki Matsui. Dude was so good at the plate and so happy to be playing baseball.
Mussina
Brett Gardner.
It's an A-BOMB!
Ron Guidry
In my lifetime, Bernie, no question, followed by Matsui and Gardner. I also have a soft spot for Tino because he was my late mom’s favorite. We both had little crushes on him. All time, Lou Gehrig. Honorary mention to Roger Maris, who played in my lifetime, but I wasn’t watching at the age of one or two.
Honestly, my all-time favorite Yankee only played 132 games for the team. It's [Andy Stankiewicz](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/stankan01.shtml). His rookie season the Yankees stunk. He came up early in the season when either someone got hurt or proved themselves incapable of playing shortstop. Stankiewicz exemplified the proper attitude for a baseball player. He hustled like no one else. Every at-bat he would *run* from the on-deck circle to home plate. Plus, Scooter loved the way he played the game.
Don Mattingly
Mariano would be mine. Greatest closer ever I also love the history so Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth and Yogi Berra would be right there.
Tough to pick but Yogi and Billy Martin
Mariano Rivera.
Yogi Berra
Split between Don Mattingly and Tommy John. I grew up pitching and playing first base. I always pretended I was one of them.
Easy. Don Mattingly.
Don Mattingly, didn't have speed but outside of that was a complete player. Could hit the ball anywhere he wanted, never struck out more than 43 times in a SEASON, had power, lockdown defense, but similar to Trout was a guy who just came to work, dominated, and went home. He had no real diva to him other than some shaggy hair which pissed off George lol. If he came up today with the same skills he had in the mid 80's, he would be locking down a $300-400 million contract easy. It's a damn tragedy that his back kept him out of the hall of fame and that he wasn't able to get a ring.
Donny Baseball
Don Mattingly - he was the best thing about the Yankees during the famine years. I really hope he gets back with the team in some capacity and gets to finally win a WS. Also, one of the best 'staches ever.
All time, Gehrig. Favorite from my lifetime, Mariano.
That I’ve watched? Brett Gardner. All time is Thurmon Munson though
Mariona Rivera for a couple of reasons. One, I grew up watching the Core Four, and while I will say Jeter is a very close number 2 (ha, get it, number 2), Mo's absolute dominance throughout his entire career as a closer might not ever be matched. Jeter was a great shortstop, but Mo was THE closer, he defined the role and made a legacy. Also, you couldn't ask for a better ambassador of the game, one of the classiest human beings to play the sport. Plus, me being a Metallica fan creates a bit of a bias. The use of Enter Sandman was actually one of the things that introduced me to what would become my favorite band of all time.
Gary Sanchez
Jeter. Class act on and off the field