Yanks Were Winners During George Steinbrenner Regime
PLUS: BRAVES IN COOPERSTOWN NOT ALWAYS IN TEAM'S HALL OF FAME
Pregame Pepper
Did You Know . . .
The Dodgers and Cubs will open the 2025 season in Tokyo, giving Japanese fans a reunion with Chicago pitcher Shota Imanaga and outfielder Seiya Suzuki as well as Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto and DH Shohei Ohtani . . .
Washington catcher Keibert Ruiz had such a severe case of flu that he lost 18-20 pounds . . .
Rest in Peace Ken Holtzman, who threw two-hitters en route to 174 wins, more than Sandy Koufax, Steve Stone, or any other Jewish pitcher . . .
Holtzman was the winning pitcher in Game 7 of the 1973 World Series for the Oakland A’s against the New York Mets . . .
Because of National Guard duty in 1967, Holtzman was available to the Cubs only on a limited basis but managed to go 9-0 with a 2.53 ERA over a dozen starts . . .
A two-time All-Star, he won four World Series rings but never appeared in the 1977 World Series for the Yankees when he was mysteriously bypassed by manager Billy Martin.
Leading Off
George Steinbrenner and the Yankees of the ‘90s
By Paul Semendinger
Today, I want to take on the myth that great Yankees teams of the 1990s were primarily constructed while George Steinbrenner was suspended.
That myth is false and is easily proved false with simple facts. To do this, I'll simply demonstrate how many of the championship Yankees players came after George Steinbrenner's return to baseball.
George Steinbrenner's second suspension from Major League Baseball ended in 1993. He returned to running the Yankees on March 1, 1993.
The following important Yankees from the 1996 Championship team were brought up from the minor leagues or acquired only after George Steinbrenner returned to the Yankees:
C- Joe Girardi
1B- Tino Martinez
2B- Mariano Duncan
SS- Derek Jeter
DH - Ruben Sierra
LF- Tim Raines
LF- Darryl Strawberry
DH/1B- Cecil Fielder
INF- Andy Fox
OF- Ruben Rivera
INF - Luis Sojo
C- Jorge Posada
3B- Charlie Hayes
SP- Andy Pettitte
SP- Kenny Rogers
SP- Dwight Gooden
SP- David Cone
P- Ramiro Mendoza
RP- John Wetteland
RP- Mariano Rivera
RP- Jeff Nelson
RP- Graeme Lloyd
RP- David Weathers
That, quite simply, is the bulk of the team. 23 players in all.
This idea that George Steinbrenner was someone who made irrational decisions, didn't listen to his baseball people, traded away all of the talent, and such, is patently false in regards to the Yankees Championship Teams of the 1990s.
In addition to those players, the following other players were acquired or brought up from the minor leagues during the championship era, all who played significant roles in the Yankees' four World Series wins in five years (1996, 1998, 1999, 2000);
2B- Chuck Knoblauch
3B- Scott Brosius
DH- Chili Davis
OF- Ricky Ledee
INF- Homer Bush
OF- Shane Spencer
OF- David Justice
2B- Alfonso Soriano
UT- Clay Bellinger
SP- Hideki Irabu
SP- Orlando Hernandez
SP- David Wells
SP- Roger Clemens
SP- Denny Neagle
RP- Mike Stanton
RP- Darren Holmes
RP- Jason Grimsley
It's absolutely impossible to claim that the players who made up the championship core were all acquired pre-Steinbrenner. That narrative is completely false.
Along with the "They built the championship core while Steinbrenner was suspended myth" is the one that says, "Steinbrenner traded away all the Yankees' young talent."
Look over the list above. The Core Four is there. They weren't traded away. But note something else, there are a host of other young players who played big roles and who came through the minor league system: Ramiro Mendoza, Ricky Ledee, Shane Spencer, Homer Bush. The fact is, Steinbrenner didn't trade away that young talent.
Now, sure he traded some young players. Eric Milton went for Chuck Knoblauch. Ricky Ledee went for David Justice. But, many of the times when the kids were traded, they were part of deals that made the Yankees' core even better.
Once this is pointed out, the reply that many who want to hold onto the false Steinbrenner myth give is, "Well, he wanted to trade them." Okay. But he didn't. The fact that he didn't negates the false premise that somehow he did a bad job in this period because he discussed trading players. Again, the fact is that he did not trade those key players. Period.
The fact is, a host of young Yankees came up from the minor leagues and were given chances to succeed after George Steinbrenner returned to the Yankees in 1993. The facts show this clearly.
One cannot claim that George Steinbrenner acted recklessly post-1993 when presented with this data. It's clear that he did not. That might have been true in the 1980s. It might have been true in the 1970s. But it wasn't true once he returned.
People change. People grow. It is clear that George Steinbrenner changed his thinking and his approach. And it worked!
The Yankees Championship Teams of the 1990s were built, primarily, under George Steinbrenner's watch.
What is also clear is that the fact that since George Steinbrenner died, the Yankees have never reached the World Series.
Hopefully this myth can now go away forever.
Dr. Paul Semendinger runs the Yankees site Start Spreading the News. Paul's latest book 365.2: Going the Distance is one designed to motivate all to achieve their dreams. Paul just signed a publishing contract for his very unique look at the Battle of Gettysburg. Stay Tuned! You can follow Paul on X @DrPaulRSem.
Cleaning Up
Braves In Cooperstown Are Not Necessarily In Team’s Hall of Fame
By Dan Schlossberg
Baseball Hall of Famers who played for the Atlanta Braves are not necessarily members of the team’s Hall of Fame.
Say what?
Of the 35 people elected to the team’s Hall of Fame since its founding in 1999, 15 are also in Cooperstown, though broadcaster Don Sutton got there as a pitcher for the Dodgers.
Four significant members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame made major contributions to the Braves but didn’t last long enough to qualify for the team’s Hall. That requires at least three years with the Braves’ organization.
So Red Schoendienst, the second baseman whose arrival from St. Louis helped turn the 1957 Milwaukee Braves into World Champions, is not in the Braves Hall of Fame.
Neither are first baseman Orlando Cepeda or knuckleballing relief pitcher Hoyt Wilhelm, both of whom were key reasons the 1969 Braves became champions of the National League West (don’t ask why the team languished in the wrong division for 25 seasons).
Bruce Sutter, who never started a game, made it to Cooperstown mainly for his work with the Cubs and Cardinals, though he was one of the first major free-agent signings by the Braves. He just didn’t last that long in his contract, though his deferred-money contract far outlasted the pitcher’s tenure.
It’s also likely that Gary Sheffield will join this unique group — once the Eras Committee gets to vote on his Cooperstown candidacy.
Another contender for the Hall of Fame, Andruw Jones, is already in the Braves Hall but not the one in Cooperstown. That should change within the next year or two, as he slowly approaches the 75 per cent minimum he needs for election.
Like Jones, innovative owner Ted Turner — who saved the Atlanta franchise — is in the team’s Hall of Fame but not the one in Central New York. Not yet anyway.
Same goes for Lew Burdette, MVP of the only World Series won by the Milwaukee Braves and long-time sidekick of Warren Spahn. Only the team enshrined him, though his No. 33 (now worn by Greg Minter) should be retired alongside the No. 54, now worn by Max Fried, of legendary pitching coach Leo Mazzone. If ever the big Hall of Fame decided to consider enshrining coaches, he could be first choice (he and Terry Pendleton are the only coaches in the Braves Hall of Fame).
Then there’s Milo Hamilton, Voice of the Braves from 1966-1975 and winner of the Ford C. Frick Award given annually for excellence in broadcasting. He’s in Cooperstown, as he should be, but not in the team’s Hall of Fame — even though fellow broadcasters Skip Caray, Pete Van Wieren, Ernie Johnson, Sr. and even Joe Simpson are included.
Also on the outside looking in is Donald Davidson, whose tenure with the Braves started in Boston and lasted through the Milwaukee years and into Atlanta. Vertically challenged, Davidson began as a batboy for the Boston Braves and worked his way up — literally — to publicist and traveling secretary despite a penchant for pranks and cursing that made him a true character of the game.
Bob Hope should be in the Braves Hall of Fame too. Not the comedian but the guy with 1,001 ways to bring fans out even when the team is terrible. During the early years of the Ted Turner ownership, Hope convinced the maverick owner there was always hope — at least in such zany ideas as ostrich races and wet T-shirt nights.
Curious about the 15 Braves Hall of Famers residing in Cooperstown?
They are Hank Aaron, Bobby Cox, Hugh Duffy, Tom Glavine, Chipper Jones, Greg Maddux, Rabbit Maranville, Eddie Mathews, Kid Nichols, Phil Niekro, John Schuerholz, John Smoltz, Don Sutton, Warren Spahn, and Joe Torre.
The Braves have not yet announced their Class of 2024.
Former AP sportswriter Dan Schlossberg of Fair Lawn, NJ covers baseball for forbes.com, Memories & Dreams, USA TODAY Sports Weekly, Sports Collectors Digest, Here’s The Pitch, and many other outlets. The author of 41 books, including a new Hank Aaron biography, can be reached via ballauthor@gmail.com.
Timeless Trivia: More from Braves Hall of Fame
Del Crandall, the first catcher elected to the Braves Hall of Fame, is also a member of the Orange County Hall of Fame and is featured in the Milwaukee Braves Wall of Fame at Miller Park, home of the Milwaukee Brewers . . .
Crandall was manager of the Brewers in 1975, Hank Aaron’s first season there . . .
Crandall was one of three Braves Hall of Famers who wore No. 1, along with Rabbit Maranville and Tommy Holmes . . .
The first four players inducted into the Braves Hall of Fame, listed as the Class of 1999, were already members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown: Hank Aaron, Eddie Mathews, Phil Niekro, and Warren Spahn.
Members of the Braves Hall of Famers whose numbers were also retired by the team: Hank Aaron (44), Bobby Cox (6), Tom Glavine (47), Andruw Jones (25), Dale Murphy (3), Chipper Jones (10), Greg Maddux (31), Eddie Mathews (41), John Smoltz (29), and Warren Spahn (21).
Know Your Editors
HERE’S THE PITCH is published daily except Sundays and holidays. Benjamin Chase [gopherben@gmail.com] handles Monday and Tuesday editions, Elizabeth Muratore [nymfan97@gmail.com] does Wednesday and Thursday, and Dan Schlossberg [ballauthor@gmail.com] edits the weekend editions on Friday and Saturday. Readers are encouraged to contribute comments, articles, and letters to the editor. HTP reserves the right to edit for brevity, clarity, and good taste.