Zell's Pinstripe Blog

We all know Joe Torre left the Yankees on bad terms, but one has to think that his #6 will eventually be retired by the Yankees organization. Mr. T donned the #6 on his uniform for 12 years with the Yankees before getting let loose by them after the 2007 season.

Joe’s overall record with the club was (W-L) 1173–767. He won four World Series’, three of them in a row, and made it to six Fall Classic’s in total. He won 10 AL East titles, a Manager of The Year award, and a record-setting (W-L) 113-48 regular season record in 1998. Not only that, but he never failed to bring them to the playoffs during his tenure with the Yankees. With 2,246 wins (through the end of the 2009 season), he presently ranks 5th in all-time Major League Baseball all-time managerial wins list.

The guy is not only a beloved manager in New York, but he is widely considered a Hall of Fame manager. Some predict Torre will even be a first-ballot Baseball Hall of Famer upon his eligibility. He loved his players and the game of baseball, he handled the media very well, and shined on the biggest stage in the sports world.

Some say that he was given these championships because the Yankees “bought” their teams. As you saw from 2000-2008, money doesn’t always bring you the World Series crown. He did have a bunch of stars on his teams, but he also had a great bullpen, big game pitchers and situational hitters.

On February 3, 2009, Torre released a book about his experiences with the Yankees, called The Yankee Years, co-authored by Tom Verducci. He slammed some people within the Yankees organization, as well as some of the players, which is why some believe he hurt his chances at getting his number retired in some minds. I really doubt that this has a major impact. The book was way overblown by the media. The Yankees may wait until he retires from baseball before they retire his number. Torre deserves to be enshrined in Monument Park along side Martin, Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio, Mantle, Berra, etc.

Yes, I was one of the people disgusted with the departure of Joe Torre..but I think I make a fair argument here. Isn’t it funny how every player that has joined the Yankees since Torre left has never taken the #6? I haven’t even heard a peep about it. Everyone is well aware of the legacy he had left with the Yankees.

Originally dubbed “Clueless Joe”…look how wrong they were.

Would it be a crime if they didn’t retire his number? Yeah, it would be. It’s a no brainer. I don’t see how anyone could possibly disagree with this, but let me hear your voices. What do you guys think? Should his number be retired? If yes, when do you think it will happen? If no, let me hear your reasoning.