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Yankees to retire Andy Pettitte’s jersey number in 2015

By Ryan Ratty

Sep 27, 2013; Houston, TX, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Andy Pettitte (46) tips his hat to the Houston Astros fans during the fifth inning at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Campbell-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 27, 2013; Houston, TX, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Andy Pettitte (46) tips his hat to the Houston Astros fans during the fifth inning at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Campbell-USA TODAY Sports /
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The New York Yankees are set to retire pitcher Andy Pettitte’s number during this upcoming season, honoring his time spent with the team. 

Although the New York Yankees haven’t down anything special over the offseason and there isn’t a lot to be about in 2015 if you’re a Yankees fan, one good thing to look forward to is the Yankees’ plan of retiring Andy Pettitte’s number.

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Perhaps the most respected franchise in all of sports, the Yankees have retired many numbers in their history and Pettitte’s is just the next to join that tremendous honor.

According to CBSSports.com, the Yankees plan on retiring Pettite’s number on August 23rd, which will be known as Andy Pettitte Day. Not only will Pettite’s number be retired, but he will also have a plaque put up in his honor in Monument Park. For Yankees fans or simply baseball fans in general, it’s good to see yet another baseball player be honored in such a tremendous honor.

By having his No. 46 retired, Pettitte will join the ranks of many elite Yankees who had their numbers retired. Pettitte will be the 18th player to have his number retired. The main ones in that group are Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, Yogi Berra, and Joe DiMaggio.

With Pettitte’s number being retired, the Yankees now have two of their Core Four members honored in Monument Park. For the people who don’t know what the Core Four was, it was four Yankees who were all homegrown players that started playing around 1996. Besides Pettitte, the other members were Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, and Jorge Posada.

The left-handed pitcher had arguably one of the most illustrious careers out of any Yankees pitcher ever. Pettitte was a five-time World Series champion, a three-time All Star, and the MVP of the 2001 ALCS. Even though it’s not official yet with the Yankees, Andy’s son, Josh, tweeted the announcement.

Now for the Yankees, however, it’s all glitz and glamour that Pettitte’s number is going to be retired. However, the Yankees now have to start making their plan to become the team they were in the 90’s. If the Yankees can find another pitcher even close to the player Pettitte was, they will be in good shape. Regardless, retiring Pettitte’s number just goes to show even further how special this Yankees organization is and how thankful they are toward their players.

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