40

The original Yankee Stadium had 40 turnstiles that ticked like clocks tallying up the gate. 

   Number of pounds Babe Ruth lost to play his younger self in 1942’s “Pride of the Yankees”

Phil Rizzuto spent parts of 40 seasons as a Yankee broadcaster

 Mickey Mantle, most total RBI’s in World Series play

41

In 1904, the record number of games won by Highlanders hurler Jack Chesbro

42

Willie Keeler, most sacrifice hits one season by a Yankee, 1905

Mariano Rivera, last player to wear No. 42, retired by Major League Baseball to honor of Jackie Robinson. 

43

1994 Yankees lost 43 games in a strike-shortened season.

Alfonso Soriano, 43 stolen bases, Yankee rookie record, 2001

44

1927 Yankees, fewest franchise defeats in a full season

Reggie Jackson’s number, retired 1993.

45

Forty five different players wore the Yankee uniform in 1913 including seven catchers. 

46  

Don Mattingly’s rookie number.

Mickey Mantle and Derek Jeter played their final home game on the same date, September 25 and the final game of their careers on the same date, September 28 in the same ballpark Fenway Park, 46 years apart.

Dave Righetti set big league record in 1986 for saves, since surpassed.

Andy Pettitte Number retired    

47

Most home losses by the Yankees, 1908, 1913

48

Jack Chesbro, most complete games in a season, 1904

49

Lou Gehrig, career high most homers in a season by a Yankee first baseman, 1934, 1936

Yogi Berra threw out 49% of would-be base stealers

The 1979 Yankees had 49 different players, a franchise record

Ron Guidry’s number, retired 2003

 50

Fewest wins in a season by a Yankee team, 1912. 

The bat Babe Ruth slammed his 50th home run with in 1920 was auctioned off to raise money to help starving Armenians in Turkey. 
           Most players used in a season by a Yankee team, 1989. 
       Number of games saved by Mariano Rivera in 2001, new team record, third-highest total in AL history.

Some of the material in this article was excerpted from Frommer’s The Ultimate Yankee Book http://www.frommerbooks.com/ultimate-yankees.html

One of the most prolific and respected sports journalists and oral historians in the United States, author of the autobiographies of legends Nolan Ryan, , Tony Dorsett, and Red Holzman, Dr. Harvey

Frommer is an expert on the New York Yankees and has arguably written more books, articles and reviews on the New York Yankees than anyone. In 2010, he was honored by the City of New York to serve as historical consultant for the re-imagined old Yankee Stadium site, Heritage Field.

A professor for more than two decades now in the MALS program at Dartmouth College, Frommer was dubbed “Dartmouth’s Mr. Baseball” by their alumni magazine. He’s also the founder of www.HarveyFrommerSports.com.