Ichiro is a Yankees - Stubhub will be good .. and what happens to #51?

[yankeesfanatic]

The surge of fans visiting Yankee stadium will be a whole lot more now - talking about a shot in the arm.


As for Ichiro requesting #51 - I am not sure if I am happy with that.


But then again, the "number" has not been used or officially "retired" when Bernie walked away.


Either way, it will be good either way.

[Big_E]

According to my news feed, Ichiro will not get #51

[yankeesfanatic]

According to my news feed, Ichiro will not get #51

I am holding my breath!

[Big_E]

He will wear #31

[Tino's Girl]

Soooooo happy about the Ichiro news!

[njyankeesfan]

Suzyn Waldman reported that Ichiro chose #51 in Seattle because he played with Bernie Williams during a barnstorming tour of Japan, and they became friends. He didn't ask for #51 and wouldn't think of doing so, given Bernie's great career with the Yankees.

[Ram Man]

Suzyn Waldman reported that Ichiro chose #51 in Seattle because he played with Bernie Williams during a barnstorming tour of Japan, and they became friends. He didn't ask for #51 and wouldn't think of doing so, given Bernie's great career with the Yankees.

I've read this in several places but that doesn't explain why Ichiro wore #51 while playing with the Orix Blue Wave.

[Nome]

I've read this in several places but that doesn't explain why Ichiro wore #51 while playing with the Orix Blue Wave.

Attachment 21166

Maybe it was because he admired Lou Gehrig and the "3" + "1" in 31 = 4.

Maybe?? Could be??

Andy

[Ram Man]

Maybe it was because he admired Lou Gehrig and the "3" + "1" in 31 = 4.

I'm thinking that he chose the "3" for George Selkirk and the "1" for Snuffy Stirnweiss.

[Big_E]

He was a big Dave Winfield fan?
He wants to be the opposite of A-Rod?

[JDPNYY]

There are so few numbers available due to an over abundance of retired numbers plus the absurd notion that several numbers are off limits because good ballplayers once wore them.

Due to these factors, the Suz had little choice.

[Yankee Fan in Boston]

There are so few numbers available due to an over abundance of retired numbers plus the absurd notion that several numbers are off limits because good ballplayers once wore them.

Due to these factors, the Suz had little choice.

He should have just gone with a "!"

[StingrayJG]

He should have just gone with a "!"

...or just a big letter "I" for Ichiro

[yankees2010]

There are so few numbers available due to an over abundance of retired numbers plus the absurd notion that several numbers are off limits because good ballplayers once wore them.

Due to these factors, the Suz had little choice.

Blame Yankee fans for this. They gave 21 to Hawkins and the fans backlash was so negative the Yankees gave up on giving out 21 or 51 for the foreseeable future

[Nome]

There are so few numbers available due to an over abundance of retired numbers plus the absurd notion that several numbers are off limits because good ballplayers once wore them.

Due to these factors, the Suz had little choice.

Sure he did. He could have made a big splash and have been the first Yankee with a three digit number, perhaps even 151.

Andy

[Hitman23]

If Bernie's number is not going to be retired than he should be able to wear it. By not allowing it you might as well retire it.

Are we going to retire 21 and 51? I don't think so, and even with me being a huge fan of Williams and O'Neill we need to move on. I am sure Williams would have no problem at all if Ichiro wore his number, and we should be so lucky as to have another legend on our team. He would wear it well. 2 and 42 are the only ones getting retired in the near future.

[longtimeyankeefan]

If Bernie's number is not going to be retired than he should be able to wear it. By not allowing it you might as well retire it.

Are we going to retire 21 and 51? I don't think so, and even with me being a huge fan of Williams and O'Neill we need to move on. I am sure Williams would have no problem at all if Ichiro wore his number, and we should be so lucky as to have another legend on our team. He would wear it well. 2 and 42 are the only ones getting retired in the near future.

The Yankees have way too many retired numbers - many of which do not, IMNSHO, deserve to be retired.

Unretire the following numbers - if you want some sort of a Wall of Honor for these individuals, fine.

1 - Billy Martin
9 - Roger Maris
10 - Phil Rizzuto
15 - Thurman Munson (sacrilege to a lot of people, I know)
23 - Don Mattingly
32 - Elston Howard
37 - Casey Stengel
44 - Reggie Jackson
49 - Ron Guidry

[sjanowsky]

If Bernie's number is not going to be retired than he should be able to wear it. By not allowing it you might as well retire it.

Are we going to retire 21 and 51? I don't think so, and even with me being a huge fan of Williams and O'Neill we need to move on. I am sure Williams would have no problem at all if Ichiro wore his number, and we should be so lucky as to have another legend on our team. He would wear it well. 2 and 42 are the only ones getting retired in the near future.

42 is already retired by MLB, so it doesn't even need a decision by the Yankees (not that it would have been a difficult one...)

[Hitman23]

42 is already retired by MLB, so it doesn't even need a decision by the Yankees (not that it would have been a difficult one...)

I knew someone was going to. Someone always needs to flex that muscle every now and then.

[Nome]

The Yankees have way too many retired numbers - many of which do not, IMNSHO, deserve to be retired.

Unretire the following numbers - if you want some sort of a Wall of Honor for these individuals, fine.

1 - Billy Martin
9 - Roger Maris
10 - Phil Rizzuto
15 - Thurman Munson (sacrilege to a lot of people, I know)
23 - Don Mattingly
32 - Elston Howard
37 - Casey Stengel
44 - Reggie Jackson
49 - Ron Guidry

The Yankees are a franchise with a long and successful history. I have no problems with our having such a long list of retired numbers, after all we have had many, many super stars on our team for a long while.
If we are concerned about running out of numbers, why not eschew numbers altogether and simply use names, or alternatively go to triple digit numbers.

With regards to your list of players who don't deserve to have their numbers retired, I disagree on the following;

Rizzutto. You had to see him play to know how valuable he was to the team. He was the greatest SS in Yankee history till Jeter came along. Ted Williams said that if the RS had him they would have had a dynasty with several WS championships.

Stengel. Can't leave him off the list.

the others are marginal.

In the future you will have added Torre, Jeter, Mo, ARod and Cano of the more recent Yankees.

Andy.

[yankees2010]

The Yankees have way too many retired numbers - many of which do not, IMNSHO, deserve to be retired.

Unretire the following numbers - if you want some sort of a Wall of Honor for these individuals, fine.

1 - Billy Martin
9 - Roger Maris
10 - Phil Rizzuto
15 - Thurman Munson (sacrilege to a lot of people, I know)
23 - Don Mattingly
32 - Elston Howard
37 - Casey Stengel
44 - Reggie Jackson
49 - Ron Guidry

Agree with all but 2 people. Rizzuto is in the hall of fame, and spent 50 years with the Yankees. The Jeter of his time. Stengel is also a hall of famers and his record with the Yankees was excellent

I agree with all the others, although I can understand why Munson was retired based on the circumstances. I was too young to remember much of it

[longtimeyankeefan]

In the future you will have added Torre, Jeter, Mo, ARod and Cano of the more recent Yankees.

Andy.

Torre - if I am not going to retire Stengel, I can't imagine retiring Torre's number
Jeter & Mo - absolutely
ARod - he ranks with Reggie, IMO, with regards to is he a Yankee legend or not. I vote not.
Cano - it's early, but he is likely on track for the honor, but he needs to sustain it for several more years

[Vin]

There are so few numbers available due to an over abundance of retired numbers plus the absurd notion that several numbers are off limits because good ballplayers once wore them.

Seriously tired of this.

Pretty soon they're going to be wearing 3 digits. I'd love to see that

[StingrayJG]

Seriously tired of this.

Pretty soon they're going to be wearing 3 digits. I'd love to see that

Or decimals.
someone can wear 2.2, or 5.1, or 7.3

[Ram Man]

Or decimals.
someone can wear 2.2, or 5.1, or 7.3

I want to see 3.14159 and 2.71828. Perhaps they could also use fractions. Who is going to be the next Eddie Gaedel?