The Great Yankees of the Past and of Tomorrow
The first great Yankee was Babe Ruth, who revolutionized baseball in the ’20s with his power-hitting and bigger-than-life personality. Ruth and his teammate, Lou Gehrig, helped form “Murderer’s Row,” which dominated the American League for more than a decade.
In 1936, Joe DiMaggio joined the Yankees, and his brilliance continued to keep the team atop the baseball world. His 56-game hitting streak in 1941 is considered to be one of the greatest individual feats in baseball history.
Just as DiMaggio’s career was ending, a new player began making a name for himself with his colossal home runs. Mickey Mantle’s arrival in 1950, along with his friend, P Whitey Ford, helped to keep the dynasty going through the early 1960s.
Two current Yankees, SS Derek Jeter and P Mariano Rivera joined the team in 1995 and have been major contributors to five world championships. Jeter became the Yankees’ all-time leader in base hits in 2011, while Rivera also set major league records in 2011 by becoming baseball’s all-time leader in both saves and in games finished.
As for the future, 2B Robinson Cano has been one of baseball’s best, while C Francisco Cervelli is expected to be behind the plate for many years. P Phil Hughes, only 25, has had his ups-and-downs, but the Yankees remain confident he’ll soon develop into a star.