New York Yankees Top Ten: From Mo to Mr. October
By Tab Bamford
The sounds that rang out from the right-field bleachers from the 1960s through 1990s transformed Yankees Stadium into a place with a Latino feel. The reason was Ali Ramírez, a Puerto Rican migrant who from his bleacher seat played his cowbell to a salsa beat each home game. His music rallied Yankees fans in the bleachers to begin chanting and clapping in unison. The salsa rhythm made that corner of the Stadium feel more like home to Puerto Ricans and other Latinos who attended games in the South Bronx.
Yankees fans continued the musical tradition after Ramírez died in 1996. A couple seasons later, another musical tradition emerged that would give Yankee fans another kind of comfort. From 1999 until he retired in 2013, the opening chords of Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” meant closer Mariano Rivera was entering the game. That was sweet music to the fans of the Bronx Bombers. They took great comfort in knowing Rivera was in once gain in to finish the game and claim a save. In fact, no one in Major League Baseball history completed the closer duties more or with greater effectiveness than the Panama native.
So which other Yankees performed strong enough to join Mariano Rivera on the franchise Latino Top 10? Did anyone else have as big an impact on the Yankees franchise? In order to figure out the Top 10 ranking we kept it simple by using WAR (as calculated by Baseball-Reference.com) as our metric of choice. And while this is one measure of the impact of these players, you might have your own opinion as to who deserves to higher (or lower) on the Yankees Top 10.
Let us know of what you think of the rankings. Surprised someone is higher or lower than expected? Is there another Latino whose impact on the Yankees deserved to be on the list?
New York Yankees Top Ten
1. Mariano Rivera
19 years with the Yankees, 56.3 WAR, five-time World Series champion, 1999 World Series MVP
Panama
Where do we begin with Mariano? Is it Metallica and the door opening or the fact that he is the all-time leader in games finished (952) and saves (652) in MLB history. Consider that he appeared in 96 postseason games, saving 42 of them. Rivera started 10 games in 1995 and then moved to the bullpen where he took over as the Yankees’ closer in 1997 and didn’t look over his shoulder again for almost 20 years. He never had blow-you-away stuff, but Rivera got it done almost every night. Arguably the greatest closer in the history of the game, Mariano is on the Hall of Fame ballot for the first time next year.
2. Álex Rodríguez
12 years with the Yankees, 54.2 WAR, two-time AL MVP, seven-time All-Star
US / Dominican Republic
This is the third team list for A-Rod (Rangers, Mariners), but he actually played more games for the Yankees than either of those other teams. He got to New York in 2004 and had to wait until 2009 to win a World Series title. A-Rod piled up incredible numbers with the Yankees, driving in at least 100 in his first seven seasons in New York and leading the league in homers twice (2005, 2007). In 1,509 games with the Yankees, A-Rod slashed .283/.378/.523 with 351 home runs, 1,096 RBI and 1,012 runs scored.
3. Bernie Williams
16 years with the Yankees, 49.6 WAR, five-time All-Star, four-time World Series champion, four Gold Glove Awards, one batting title
Puerto Rico
Like another product of Puerto Rico late on our list, Williams was a key member of the Yankees’ dynasty of the 1990s and early 2000s. He won the AL batting crown with a .339 average in 1998, but that wasn’t the highest average he would have in a season (he batted .342 in 1999). Williams slashed .297/.381/.477 in 2,076 regular season games with 287 home runs and 1,257 runs driven in. Williams also had an .850 OPS with 22 homers and 80 RBI in 121 career playoff games – all with the Yankees. He was the 1996 ALCS MVP.
4. Robinson Canó
Nine years with the Yankees, 45.5 WAR, five-time All-Star, two Gold Glove Awards
Dominican Republic
Canó made his debut as at 22 and would finish the runner-up for AL Rookie of the year in 2005. He drove in more than 100 runs in three seasons with the Yankees before leaving for the Mariners; he also appears on our Mariners top ten. Canó appeared in 1,374 games with the Yankees, hitting 204 home runs and driving in 822 runs while scoring 799 times.
5. Jorge Posada
17 years with the Yankees, 42.8 WAR, five-time All-Star, four-time World Series champion, five Silver Sluggers
Puerto Rico
Originally a 24th round draft pick, Posada was part of the young group that arrived in the Bronx in the mid-1990s and became a dynasty. He would appear in 1,829 games – all for the Yankees – and hit 275 home runs with 1,065 runs driven in. His best season came in 2003 when he set career-highs with 30 home runs and 101 RBI. Posada appeared in 125 playoff games for the Yankees, slashing .248/.358/.387 with 11 home runs and 42 driven in.
6. Orlando Hernández
Six years with the Yankees, 19.1 WAR, three-time World Series champion
Cuba
“El Duque” arrived in New York as a 32-year-old in 1998 and helped the Yankees win three World Series championships. After missing the 2003 season he returned to post an 8-2 record in 2004, but left to win another World Series with the White Sox in 2005. He threw 876.1 innings for the Yankees, winning 61 of 101 decisions. His split-finger fastball became the stuff of legend.
7. Reggie Jackson
Five years with the Yankees, 17.2 WAR, five-time All-Star, 1977 World Series MVP
US
“Mr. October” also appeared on the top ten for the Oakland A’s, but he really captured the national audience’s attention while hitting bombs in the Bronx. Reggie would finish as the runner-up for the 1980 AL MVP Award after hitting a league-leading 41 homer runs and driving in 111. In the legendary 1977 World Series, Jackson hit five home runs and drove in eight runs in six games against the Dodgers. The following year the Yankees repeated as champs against the Dodgers, and Jackson once again drove in eight runs in six games.
8. Didi Gregorious
Four years with the Yankees, 12.2 WAR
Netherland Antilles
Sir Didi continues to show that he is a kay part of the Yankees hopes for future pennants. Showing improvement in the field and at the plate in each of his four seasons, Gregorious has batted .274 over his four seasons. He established career highs in 2017 with 25 home runs and 87 RBI and .478 slugging.
9. Randy Velarde
10 years with the Yankees, 11.8 WAR
US/Mexico
Before Marwin González and Kike Hernández perfected the super-utility role, there was Randy Velarde showing his versatility, appearing in 10+ games at multiple positions over the course of several seasons in the 1990s. His 121 games in 1992 were most in his 10 seasons with Yankees/ His .301 batting average in 1993 was his highest as a Yankee during a season in which he appeared over 80 games.
10. Ramiro Mendoza
Eight years with the Yankees, 11.4 WAR, two-time World Series champion
Panama
A second Panamanian on our list, Mendoza also worked predominantly out of the bullpen. He appeared in 278 games for the Yankees, only 57 of which were as a starter. He threw more than 100 innings in four seasons, setting a career high with 133.2 in 1997.
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