Top 250 Moments: Part 10, 25-1

by James Vletstra

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The Greatest Yankees Moments of All-Time!

The New York Yankees are rich in history. They celebrate their great history every year with Old Timers Day and other celebrations. Of course, the Yankees are also constantly adding to their history. In looking back over their long and successful history, there are countless moments that would be considered great.

I have ranked my top 250 Yankees moments.

Not all of these were accomplished by the Yankees, but they were at least involved. I will be releasing (in groups of 25) what I feel are the Top 250 Moments in Yankees history.

I hope you enjoy reliving each of these memories as much as I did putting them together. Feel free to share yours in the comments.

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THE TOP 250 MOMENTS IN YANKEES HISTORY: Part 10, 25-1

25. October 15, 1962 Yankees Win 20th World Series

With 2 on and 2 out in the bottom of Game 7 of the World Series Willie McCovey hit a rocket that Bobby Richardson leaped to preserve the 1-0 victory. Ralph Terry was named WS MVP

24. August 2, 1979 Munson Fatal Crash

Yankees catcher and Captain Thurman Munson was killed in a plane accident. His number 15 was immediately retired and his locker was left empty until the Stadium was closed nearly 30 years later

23. June 13, 2003 Clemens Dual Milestones

The Yankees defeated the St Louis Cardinals 5-1. Roger Clemens collected win number 300 and strikeout number 4,000 in his career

22. October 14, 1976 Chambliss Walk-Off

In the decisive Game 5 of the ALCS against the Royals, Chris Chambliss came up to bat in the bottom of the 9th, score tied at 6. He hit a home run but he only made it to second when the fans stormed the field. He returned to the field some time later to attempt to step on home plate to realize that the fans had stolen it

21. October 1, 1961 Maris Breaks Record

In game number 163 of a 1-0 win over the Red Sox, Roger Maris surpassed Babe Ruth’s hallowed record with his 61st home run

20. June 8, 1969 Celebrating Centerfield Greatness

Mickey Mantle and Joe DiMaggio were centerstage as they each received a plaque. Mantle also had his number 7 retired

19. October 4, 2022 Judge Breaks Mark

Aaron Judge hit home run number 62 in Arlington against the Rangers. The American League record had stood for over 60 years . Gerrit Cole also broke the Yankees single season strikeout record

18. April 15, 1997 Robinson Number Retired

Jackie Robinson had his number 42 retired by MLB

17. June 13, 1948 Number 3 Retired

In Babe Ruth’s last Yankees Stadium appearance, his number 3 is retired. The Babe would pass away a couple of months later

16. October 15, 1923 First World Series Win

In the inaugural season of Yankees Stadium, the team won its first ever World Series. The beat the Giants in 6 games after scoring 5 runs in the 8th inning to take a 6-4 lead. The Yankees had asked commissioner Landis if Lou Gehrig could play as he was a late season addition. The commissioner agreed so long as the Giants also agreed. Manager John McGraw did not

15. June 1, 1925 April 39, 1939 Iron Man Streak

For almost 14 straight years, Lou Gehrig never missed a game. He played in 2,130 straight games. He instructed Manager Joe McCarthy to not write his name in the lineup and he personally presented the lineup card to the umpires. Soon after his career was officially over.

14. May 17, 1998 Wells Perfect

In the past 140 years, there’s only been 21 perfect games. David Wells delivered one against the Minnesota Twins

13. July 14, 1934 Ruth Hits 700

Babe Ruth hit his 700th career home run against the Tigers. It’d be 39 years before Hank Aaron would join him in the club. It’s been 50 years since Aaron joined and there’s only been two more to join them

12. September 20, 2022 2 Rare Feats

There was history made against the Pirates as Aaron Judge became only the third American League player to hit his 60th home run. When the Yankees came to bat in the bottom of the 9th, they were losing 8-4. Giancarlo Stanton sent the fans home happy as he hit the 32nd Ultimate Grand Slam in MLB history

11. October 1, 1932 Ruth Called Shot

Is it legend or is it myth? We may never know, but it appears that Babe Ruth pointed to the outfield stands just prior to launching a 500 foot homer in that direction.

10. October 2, 1978 Dent tames Green Monster

The 1978 season came down to a final tie breaker for the division between the Yankees and Red Sox in Fenway. With the Yankees down 2-0 late in the game, Bucky Dent hit a 3 run homer over the monster wall

9. October 30, 2001 Bush Throws Strike

The game started with President George Bush delivering a perfect strike 6 weeks after the attack on NYC. The Yankees went on to win 2-1 behind another strong outing by Roger Clemens

8. July 18, 1999 Berra Returns to Stadium

That may be burying the lead a touch, but Don Larsen threw the ceremonial first pitch to Yogi Berra, who had been estranged from his Yankees family for 15 years. David Cone pitched a perfect game, needing exactly 88 pitches to do so

7. June 3, 1932 Two More Rare Feats

A natural cycle has only occurred 15 times. A batter has hit 4 home runs in a game only 18 times. Yankees teammates Tony Lazzeri and Lou Gehrig accomplished these feats , respectively, in a 20-13 drubbing of the Athletics. They each had 6 RBIs. Gehrig had 16 total bases and Lazzeri added 11

6. October 16, 2003 Boone

In 2003 the rivalry between the Red Sox and Yankees was at its peak. The ALCS pitted them against each other. In Game 7, Boston held a 5-2 lead in the 8th. The Yankees scratched and clawed their way back as Mariano Rivera pitched three shutout innings. Aaron Boone stepped up to the plate in the bottom of the 11th and drove a home run to advance them to the Series for the 39th time

5. May 15-July 16, 1941 The Streak

Joe DiMaggio has a 56 game hitting streak that lasted over two months. Most streaks barely last half as long

4. April 18, 1923 Opening The House That Ruth Built

After years of being the Giants tenant at the Polo Grounds, the Yankees finally had their own Stadium. The Yankees won with a 4-1 decision over the Red Sox. Of course Babe Ruth hit a 3 run homer to christen it

3. October 8, 1956 Larsen Perfect

In Game 5 of the 1956 World Series, Don Larsen threw a perfect game against the Brooklyn Dodgers

2. January 5, 1920. Red Sox Sell Ruth

In a transaction that would change the course of each franchise’s history, the Yankees purchased the rights to Babe Ruth from the Sox. The championships would soon follow

1. July 4, 1939 Luckiest Man

Lou Gehrig was in the process of learning his fate due to his ALS diagnosis. Many of his teammates from the 1927 Murderers Row team and many other dignitaries were on hand. It was unofficially the first Old Timer’s Day. All there to celebrate Lou. He stepped up to the microphone and delivered the most awe inspiring speech about how lucky he was