The New York Yankees are widely regarded as the most successful franchise in American professional sports history. With 27 World Series championships, they far surpass the next closest MLB team, the St. Louis Cardinals, who have 11 titles. Their dominance extends beyond baseball, as few teams in North American sports come close—only the Montreal Canadiens, with 24 Stanley Cups, have a comparable legacy.
Other major sports franchises, such as the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers (each with 17 NBA titles) and the Green Bay Packers (13 NFL championships, including pre-Super Bowl era), still fall short of the Yankees’ historic success.
With such a rich winning tradition, the Yankees have been home to numerous legendary players. In 2022, Aaron Judge set a new American League record with 62 home runs, surpassing the mark previously held by Yankees icon Roger Maris. Judge further solidified his status by winning a second MVP award in 2024.
While Judge’s accomplishments place him in the conversation, he remains in the early stages of his career and has yet to win a championship, keeping him just outside the ranks of the franchise’s all-time greats. For now, he joins the honorable mention category alongside notable names like Don Mattingly, Alex Rodriguez, and Red Ruffing.
This list highlights the 10 greatest Yankees of all time.
10. Whitey Ford
Position: Starting Pitcher
Years with Yankees: 1950-1967
Notable Accolades: 8-time All-Star, Cy Young Award winner
Whitey Ford may not always receive the recognition he deserves, but his impact on the Yankees’ dynasty is undeniable. After an impressive rookie campaign in 1950, his career was briefly interrupted by military service, causing him to miss the next two seasons. However, upon his return, he established himself as one of the most dominant pitchers of his era.
Over the following 15 seasons, Ford led the league in wins three times, ERA twice, and shutouts twice. He played a pivotal role in securing six World Series championships for New York, including earning World Series MVP honors in 1961.
9. Bill Dickey
Position: Catcher
Years with Yankees: 1928-1943, 1946
Notable Accolades: 11-time All-Star, 8-time World Series champion
Bill Dickey’s legacy as a great player became even more apparent during my research for this piece. Not only was he an exceptional hitter—finishing his impressive career with a .313 batting average—but he was also a standout for a catcher.
Dickey consistently displayed power throughout his career, hitting between 12 and 29 home runs over nine consecutive seasons, which were notable figures for his time. However, what truly set him apart was his defensive prowess. He ended his career with a positive defensive wins above replacement (dWAR) in all 17 seasons in the major leagues.
8. Yogi Berra
Position: Catcher
Years with Yankees: 1946-1965
Notable Accolades: 3-time MVP, 15-time All-Star
The next player on this list, Yogi Berra, was actually trained by Bill Dickey. Berra eventually took over the catcher’s role from Dickey, and he not only embraced his mentor’s teachings but also exceeded them. Berra is widely considered one of the greatest catchers of all time.
Though he never led the league in any individual statistical category, his three MVP Awards are even more impressive because of that. He wasn’t the best in any one area, but he excelled in every aspect of the game.
Additionally, Berra won an extraordinary 10 World Series titles during his playing career.
7. Reggie Jackson
Position: Right Field
Years with Yankees: 1977-1981
Notable Accolades: MVP, World Series MVP, 14-time All-Star
Reggie Jackson, despite only spending five seasons in New York, has sparked much debate over his place in Yankees history. Most of his peak years were spent with the Oakland Athletics, but his impact on the Yankees was undeniable. I believe no story of the Yankees franchise is complete without mentioning Jackson.
When he joined the team in 1977, he famously said, “I didn’t come to New York to be a star, I brought my star with me.” That year, he delivered a legendary performance, hitting three home runs on three consecutive pitches in Game 6 of the 1977 World Series, earning the nickname “Mr. October.” Over his career, Jackson hit .357 with 10 home runs across five World Series appearances.
6. Derek Jeter
Position: Shortstop
Years with Yankees: 1995-2014
Notable Accolades: Rookie of the Year, 14-time All-Star, 5-time Gold Glove winner
From “Mr. October” to “Mr. November,” Derek Jeter defined postseason greatness during an era where the World Series often extended into November. No player from that time period was more dominant in the postseason than Jeter, who had a remarkable ability to be in the right place at the right time.
Jeter was also known for his clutch performances, leading the Yankees to four World Series titles in five years, and adding another a decade later. He also captained the 1998 Yankees, widely considered one of the greatest teams in baseball history, to a championship.
5. Joe DiMaggio
Position: Center Field
Years with Yankees: 1936-1942, 1946-1951
Notable Accolades: 3-time MVP, 13-time All-Star, 9-time World Series winner
Some may think it’s surprising that I have Joe DiMaggio ranked this low, but that’s only due to the incredible legends who have graced New York’s roster over the years. DiMaggio made the American League All-Star team every year he played, won the MVP three times, and was one of the most feared hitters of his time.
What truly sets DiMaggio apart from many others is his 56-game hitting streak, a record that still stands and is widely regarded as one of the most unbreakable feats in the history of sports.
4. Mariano Rivera
Position: Relief Pitcher
Years with Yankees: 1995-2013
Notable Accolades: 13-time All-Star, 5-time World Series champion
Mariano Rivera’s impact on the Yankees dynasty of the late 1990s cannot be overstated. As baseball evolved, starting pitchers began to pitch fewer complete games, which made the bullpen—especially the closer—an essential role.
No player may have ever been more dominant at his position than Rivera was at closing games. He led the league in saves three times and retired with an MLB record 652 saves.
His greatness was undeniable, so much so that even Red Sox fans acknowledged his excellence during his farewell tour in 2013. Rivera won five World Series titles, playing a key role in four of them. To this day, there’s no sight more intimidating for hitters than Rivera emerging from the bullpen to the sound of “Enter Sandman.”
2. Lou Gehrig
Position: First Base
Years with Yankees: 1923-1939
Notable Accolades: 2-time MVP, 7-time All-Star, 8-time World Series champion
Lou Gehrig often played in the shadow of Babe Ruth, but that was only due to Ruth’s unique status. Gehrig, however, was a remarkable player in his own right. He scored over 100 runs and drove in at least 100 RBIs for 13 consecutive seasons.
Gehrig led the American League in runs four times, home runs three times, RBIs five times, and on-base percentage five times. He also had eight seasons with 200 or more hits. What truly distinguished Gehrig was his record of 2,130 consecutive games played—a streak that remained unbroken for over 50 years until Cal Ripken Jr. surpassed it.
2. Mickey Mantle
Position: Center Field
Years with Yankees: 1951-1968
Notable Accolades: 3-time MVP, 16-time All-Star, Gold Glove winner, 7-time World Series winner
Mickey Mantle was one of the most dazzling stars to ever play the game, and not just because of his smile. Despite facing numerous injuries throughout his career, he was selected to the All-Star team 16 times in 17 seasons. In his 1956 MVP season, Mantle won the Triple Crown, hitting .353 with 52 home runs and 130 RBIs.
He followed that incredible year with another MVP performance, leading the league in runs five times, home runs four times, walks five times, and OPS six times. Describing him as one of the greatest players ever may still not capture the full extent of his greatness.
1. Babe Ruth
Position: Starting Pitcher, Outfielder
Years with Yankees: 1920-1934
Notable Accolades: MVP, 2-time All-Star, Most Feared Hitter Ever
Babe Ruth’s legacy predates the All-Star Game, which started in 1933, but there are countless reasons why he tops this list. At the time of his retirement, he held records for the most home runs, RBIs, walks, as well as the highest OBP and slugging percentage.
Ruth led the league in home runs an astounding 12 times. In 1920, he hit more home runs than any other team in the American League, an unprecedented feat that has never been repeated. The following year, he hit 59 home runs.
Additionally, for the first few years of his career, Ruth was an exceptional pitcher with the Boston Red Sox. Ruth is widely regarded as the greatest player to ever play the game.
