Fansided

New York Yankees: The 10 biggest mistakes the Yankees ever made

By Ryan Morik

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 30: Jacoby Ellsbury #22 of the New York Yankees reacts in pain after hitting the ball off his foot in an MLB baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays on September 30, 2017 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. Yankees won 2-1. (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 30: Jacoby Ellsbury #22 of the New York Yankees reacts in pain after hitting the ball off his foot in an MLB baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays on September 30, 2017 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. Yankees won 2-1. (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK – OCTOBER 18: Reggie Jackson #44 of the New York Yankees celebrates and talks with the media after they defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 6 of the 1977 World Series October 18, 1977 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Yankees won the series 4 games to 2. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
NEW YORK – OCTOBER 18: Reggie Jackson #44 of the New York Yankees celebrates and talks with the media after they defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 6 of the 1977 World Series October 18, 1977 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Yankees won the series 4 games to 2. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

9. Retiring Reggie Jackson’s No. 44

Reggie Jackson had one of the most famous World Series performances in a Yankee uniform, as he hit three home runs in Game 6 of the 1977 World Series to help the Yankees clinch their 21st World Series title.

1977 wasn’t even Mr. October’s best year in pinstripes — in 1980, he slashed .300/.398/.597 and led the American League with 41 home runs, and finished second in the AL MVP race. That entire slashline, and his .995 OPS, were the second-best marks of his career.

But Jackson only spent five years in pinstripes, as opposed to his 10 in Oakland.

Jackson is a Hall of Famer, and rightfully so. But even though his best numbers are as a Yankee (.897 OPS with New York versus .851 in Oakland), he won three rings with Oakland, too. It’s questionable as to why he chose to don a Yankee cap on his Hall of Fame plaque, and why the Yankees would give him such an honor.

Where is the honor for Charlie Keller, Jason Giambi, and Alex Rodriguez, who all played more games than Jackson as a Yankee with a higher OPS? Or Graig Nettles, Mark Teixeira, Dave Winfield, Tino Martinez, and Paul O’Neill (which we’ll get to later), who all hit more home runs as Yankees than Jackson?

While it’s nice to know that one of the game’s best hitters ever played for the Yankees, retiring his number was a stretch.

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