When Derek Jeter announced that 2014 would be his final season as a professional ballplayer, it marked what would be the official end of an era in New York Yankees history. Jeter is not only one of the Top Ten greatest Yankees of all time (rank him anywhere in that Top Ten that you wish and let the debate about his legacy begin), he is also the longest serving team captain the Bronx Bombers have ever had.
Who will be the next one to be called captain of the pinstriped legion, the on-field and clubhouse leader, an honor reserved for few, an honor that eluded even some of the best like Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle, or Whitey Ford?
Only fourteen players have been called Yankee captain, starting with pitcher Clark Griffith and then shortstop Kid Elberfeld when the team was still called the New York Highlanders in the early 1900s. First baseman Hal Chase became the first captain under the team's new name the New York Yankees. He was followed by first baseman Frank Chance and then shortstop Roger Peckinpaugh. The legendary Babe Ruth was captain in 1922, but was stripped of the title after "confronting" a heckling fan in the stands.
The Bambino was quite a character, wasn't he? He was one of the greats of all time, but quite different from the controlled personage of today's captain. The only time Derek Jeter leaped into the crowd was to make that spectacular catch that will forever be a part of his career highlights reel.
Here's the list of Yankee captains:
Clark Griffith 1903-1905
'''Kid Elberfeld 1906-1909'''
Hal Chase 1910-1912
Frank Chance 1913
Roger Peckinpaugh 1914-1921
Babe Ruth 1922
Everett Scott 1922-1925
Lou Gehrig 1935-1939
Thurman Munson 1976-1979
Graig Nettles 1982-1984
Willie Randolph 1986-1988
Ron Guidry 1986-1988
Don Mattingly 1991-1995
Derek Jeter 2003-2014
Who will be the next one to be called captain of the pinstriped legion, the on-field and clubhouse leader, an honor reserved for few, an honor that eluded even some of the best like Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle, or Whitey Ford?
Only fourteen players have been called Yankee captain, starting with pitcher Clark Griffith and then shortstop Kid Elberfeld when the team was still called the New York Highlanders in the early 1900s. First baseman Hal Chase became the first captain under the team's new name the New York Yankees. He was followed by first baseman Frank Chance and then shortstop Roger Peckinpaugh. The legendary Babe Ruth was captain in 1922, but was stripped of the title after "confronting" a heckling fan in the stands.
The Bambino was quite a character, wasn't he? He was one of the greats of all time, but quite different from the controlled personage of today's captain. The only time Derek Jeter leaped into the crowd was to make that spectacular catch that will forever be a part of his career highlights reel.
Here's the list of Yankee captains:
Clark Griffith 1903-1905
'''Kid Elberfeld 1906-1909'''
Hal Chase 1910-1912
Frank Chance 1913
Roger Peckinpaugh 1914-1921
Babe Ruth 1922
Everett Scott 1922-1925
Lou Gehrig 1935-1939
Thurman Munson 1976-1979
Graig Nettles 1982-1984
Willie Randolph 1986-1988
Ron Guidry 1986-1988
Don Mattingly 1991-1995
Derek Jeter 2003-2014