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Yankees also to retire Nos. of Jorge Posada and Bernie Williams

By Lou Musto

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Just one day after it was revealed that Andy Pettitte would have his No. 46 retired by the New York Yankees in August, it was announced by the team that they would also be retiring the numbers of former stars Jorge Posada (20) and Bernie Williams (51).

Posada and Williams were both integral players in the Yankees dynasty that dominated Major League Baseball from the mid 90s to the late 2000s. The former was a member of the “Core Four” with Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera and Andy Pettitte, while Williams was one of the team’s best players until his final season in 2006.

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Posada was a staple behind the plate for the Yankees for 17 seasons (being the exclusive starter for 14). Though not the greatest defensive catcher in baseball, he was one of the best offensively in franchise history. He hit 275 home runs and drove in 1,065 runs while being a career .275 hitter His best year came in 2003, when he finished third in AL MVP voting following a 30 home run season during which he got on base more than 40 percent of the time.

Perhaps Posada’s greatest moment came during Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS against the Boston Red Sox. A two-run double in the bottom of the 8th inning knocked Pedro Martinez out of the game and set up one of the most unforgettable home runs in postseason history—Aaron Boone’s walkoff home run in the bottom of the 9th off Tim Wakefield to send the Yankees to their sixth World Series in eight seasons.

In 16 seasons, Williams hit .297 with 287 home runs and 1,257 runs batted in. He was named the ALCS MVP in 1996, won a batting title in 1998 and was a four-time Gold Glove Award winner in center field.

Williams earned his pinstripes and became a postseason legend in his most iconic moment as Yankee in Game 1 of the 1996 ALCS against the Baltimore Orioles. Jeter’s controversial home run in the bottom of the 8th tied the game up at 4 and eventually forced the game into extra innings.

Bernie, Hall of Fame manager Joe Torre’s favorite player, stepped up to the plate against reliever Randy Myers in the bottom of the 11th. In dramatic fashion, he drove one deep to left and delivered the Yankees to their first World Series appearance since 1981.

Both men are unforgettable members of the Yankees, and now, they will be immortalized among some of the greatest to ever play the game in Monument Park. It’s an honor many dream of achieving—though there are those who believe too many have been received the honor—and was earned by both men through their performance on the field and their leadership in the clubhouse.

Next: Remembering the Career of Andy Pettitte

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