Exploring New York Yankees Captains of Past and Present
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NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 22: Derek Jeter #2 of the New York Yankees smiles prior to a game against the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium on September 22, 2014 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
The New York Yankees, with 27 World Series titles and 40 American League pennants, is the most successful team in MLB history. The glory is rich, and the aura is vast, which continues to drive the energy around, making it a tough job for everyone running the organization. Thus, everyone who has contributed to its success, including the Captains, deserves a special mention.
It has been over a century since the Yankees were founded, and multiple personalities took over the captainship. Whether it is Clark Griffith who took the reins the first time, or Derek Jeter, who captained in the modern period, many names are part of this list. However, given the challenges, not everyone had a smooth ride. Many did find success, but many have failed. What are the names that fall into each category?
How Many Captains New York Yankees Have Named So Far?
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The New York Yankees have always been a team where captainship has been treated as prestige and a huge responsibility. Only the deserving ones have got this opportunity to captain the team. This is why they have named only 16 captains in their entire history, the latest being Aaron Judge, who succeeded Jeter in this honor. But who are the other 14 on this list?
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The list of Yankees captains includes Clark Griffith, Kid Elberfeld, Willie Keeler, Hal Chase, Frank Chance, Roger Peckinpaugh, Babe Ruth, Everett Scott, Lou Gehrig, Thurman Munson, Graig Nettles, Willie Randolph, Ron Guidry, Don Mattingly. Some famous names out there. But were they all the best, too?
The Best: Names Who Shined Over the Rest in the Mentorship
The Yankees’ captainship history had many star players who took the baton of captainship. Here are the top three who are still remembered for their great work. The first is the legendary Lou Gehrig. He played for the Yankees all his life and still holds a great place in the team’s history. Well, true so. Notably, the Pinstripes played for five years under and won three World Series titles. But the success could have been different had not an injury stopped his MLB run.
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Thurman Munson is next. Interestingly, Munson called himself not fit for the job. He said, “But if I’m supposed to lead by example, then I’ll be a terrible captain.” However, that was not the case. Notably, the Yankees played for four years under him and won two championships. Although his tenure was short, his impact was irreplaceable and left a mark on many, including Derek Jeter, who comes next on the list.
Jeter had the longest tenure as a Yankees Captain from 2003 to 14. Although the team won only one championship, his influence on the team was huge. His becoming “The Captain” is a perfect example. Although it has been a decade since he last wore the leadership band, he continues to draw inspiration. However, many failed to do their work and are out of the top reckoning.
The Worst: Players Who Could Not Stand the Test of Captainship
Captaining a team with a lot of history, success, and passion behind was a challenging task. Hence, even the great players failed to do well on the job. It includes the great Babe Ruth. He captained the New York Yankees for five days because he threw dirt on an umpire before being ejected from the game for comforting a heckler. He lost the captaincy and is part of the group that failed the test of captainship, including Hal Chase and Roger Peckinpaugh.
Notably, Chase was one of the great baseball players of his generation. But as captain, he was not. He captained the side for three years but lost the respect because of a gambling scandal. He was also accused of gambling in every game, which also pushed him to the bottom. The next is Peckinpaugh. He did lead the team on many occasions but did not have much credit, which puts him with success. But where does the 16th captain rank on this list?
A New Beginning: Can Aaron Judge Become the Next Derek Jeter
The New York Yankees announced Aaron Judge as their next captain, years after Derek Jeter’s last game. But can he fulfill the expectations by becoming the next Jeter? The world has become dynamic and demands a strong personality in the job. The New York Yankees knew this and chose Judge for the captainship. It seems they made the right choice.
Though the first year of 2022 MVP as a captain was not the best, he has become a binding force on the team. In the words of young Anthony Volpe, Judge is a perfect captain. Notably, the Judge’s interaction with him was the reason behind this. He said, “I wasn’t surprised, but it just shows that he’s who everyone says he is. He’s someone who I have looked up to before, but he is the perfect captain to have.”
New York Yankees’ Latest Captain Aaron Judge on if He Actually Became a Judge: “I’m Big on Second Chances”
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Written by:
Edited by:
Deepanshi Bajaj