Update: Vote in the poll located on the sidebar of the blog. The Question: Should Joe Torre’s #6 be retired in Monument Park?
On January 20th, I wrote this article on the Yankees’ retired numbers and their future. In the comments Rob Abruzzese from Bronx Baseball Daily (Check it out!) stated that he thought that the number 6 would be retired in the future for another person and not for Torre.
While what he said might happen, it got me thinking about Torre compared to Casey Stengel and Billy Martin’s time as managers. Below I have laid out all the important numbers for you to consider between these three managers.
Casey Stengel
Years |
W |
L |
% |
Pennants |
WS Titles |
12 |
1149 |
696 |
.623 |
10 |
7 |
Joe Torre
Years |
W |
L |
% |
Pennants |
WS Titles |
12 |
1173 |
767 |
.605 |
6 |
4 |
Billy Martin
Years |
W |
L |
% |
Pennants |
WS Titles |
8 |
556 |
385 |
.591 |
2 |
1 |
Looking at the information above, outside of the enormous amount of World Series’ that Casey Stengel went to as a manager of the Yankees, Joe Torre compares to him quite well. Heck, even with the World Series and the AL Pennants considered, they are still comparable.
Considering Martin’s track record as a manager, I thought it might be a good idea to took a look at his stats in 7 years with the Yankees on the field. In previously stated time, he hit .262, 30 HRs and 188 RBIs, not too impressive if I do say so myself. Rob from Bronx Baseball Daily had another good point, maybe at one point, Steinbrenner went a little crazy with retiring of the numbers. If someone gave me his managerial numbers and his professional numbers and asked if this person deserved to have his number retired, I wouldn’t think twice about saying ‘No.’
However, when you look at Stengel’s numbers and compare them with Torre’s during their pinstriped tenure there is a striking similarity. Going even a little further, Stengel in his 12 years did not make the playoffs every year, while under Torre, the Yankees did. So, for those people who have said that Torre’s number shouldn’t be retired, ask yourself this: If Torre is comparable to Stengel, then why isn’t Torre given the same respect? Is it because of his book, The Yankees Years?
Now, I am not saying this man deserves a monument, but simply to have his number retired. In many years from now, when Torre’s name and his managerial record gets put in for Hall of Fame consideration and he gets voted into the Hall of Fame, people will begin to change their mind.
So, still I have one question, why is there so much push back for 6 being retired?
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