The rich history of the New York Yankees can be largely attributed to multiple worthy managers who have pulled the right strings from the dugout.
Whether it is the 27 world championships, 40 pennants, or revered tradition, the New York Yankees have not emerged as the greatest franchise in sports based on sheer luck.
Strategically picked talent coupled with grit, passion, poise, and determination has lifted the pinstripes to the top of the baseball world. With that said, the individuals at the helm are often undervalued. The skippers who unify the talent commonly get left out of the equation.
Their value? Immeasurable.
Numerous, distinct managerial stints (34 — including second go-rounds) have highlighted the illustrious history of the organization, producing 10084 victories as opposed to 7648 losses.
These men have been tasked with keeping a clubhouse together, fielding the best possible team on a daily basis, handling a pitching staff effectively, coping with the eager New York media, and — more recently — mastering a bullpen.
Some have excelled in the various facets of management, and some have ultimately faltered far too frequently — typically resulting in unemployment.
Only a handful could make the cut. The choices were plentiful, but we had to cut it down to a prestigious bunch.
So, without further adieu, here are Elite Sports NY’s Top 10 Yankee skippers of all-time.
Honorable Mention
Yogi Berra
If the legendary Yankee catcher had been provided with more of an opportunity to thrive, he very well could have lifted the Bronx Bombers to the same kind of glory he achieved in his playing days.
Right from the get-go, he managed the Yanks to a 99-win campaign in 1964, clinching an AL pennant in the process. However, the team was ousted by the St. Louis Cardinals in a seven-game World Series clash.
Berra opted to return to the field in 1965 with the New York Mets, putting an end to his first stint as a skipper. He was not found in a managerial role again until 1972, and did not earn one with the Yankees until 1984, when he managed them to a rather pedestrian 87-75 mark and a third place finish.
While George Steinbrenner and the Hall of Fame catcher maintained the hope that 1985 would make a turn for the better, the 60-year-old was let go following a 6-10 start to the campaign — yes, vintage George.
10. Lou Piniella
Sure, comparative to his rich managerial career, Piniella’s tenure as New York’s skipper did not last long. However, he is still more than worthy of cracking this list. In 1986 and 1987, kicking off his career in the dugout, he led the Yanks to 179 combined wins, which — at that time — resulted in second and fourth place finishes, respectively.
He was given another chance after Billy Martin was fired (again) in 1988, watching his team fall into fifth-place by season’s end.
“Sweet Lou” was known for putting on a spectacle when he disagreed with a call, giving the fans, players, and umpires their money’s worth.
Piniella was only given the chance to win 224 games with the Yankees, but eventually proceeded to claim 1835 for his career. That should count for something, especially when you consider what he could have accomplished in the Bronx had he been afforded the chance.
9. Bob Lemon
Yet another Billy Martin replacement, Bob Lemon was able to lead the Yankees on their magical 1978 run, surmounting a 14-game deficit in the standings which concluded with a pivotal win at Fenway Park in a one-game playoff.
The moment he took over, New York went 48-20 (.706) the rest of the way to shock Boston and the sport of baseball, winning the World Series in six games over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
With the short ownership patience, fittingly enough, Billy Martin was back at the helm after a 34-31 start to the following campaign.
Lemon would find his way back to the Bronx, only to manage a total of 39 regular season games between 1981 and 1982. Fortunately for him, he was in the right place at the right time in ’81, taking part in a pennant-winning effort after a lackadaisical 11-14 finish to the season.
8. Buck Showalter
Always the odd man out, or the forgotten one, Showalter earns his way to number eight on this list due to development. No one can deny the fact that he catalyzed a Yankee dynasty.
Had he been the manager from 1996-2000, the period directly after his departure, he would have been glorified as one of the greatest pinstriped skippers of all-time.
Showalter won 313 games between 1992 and 1995, anchoring winning seasons three out of the four years. Some argue that if the strike had not taken place in 1994, the Yankees — who were 70-43 (.619) through 113 games — would have won it all and broken their drought.
At any rate, he did go on to lead them to the playoffs in 1995, as the Bombers were bumped by the Seattle Mariners in five games.
His cool, calm, tactical manner in which he still goes about his business has led him on a respected path in baseball. Had he tasted glory with the Yankees, a completely different narrative would have been written.
7. Billy Martin
Yes, Billy Martin served as the Yankees’ manager five different times. Let’s just say he and ownership were often at odds.
In stating that, let’s not lose light of the fact that he was a terrific major league skipper. He did, in fact, lead New York to an AL Pennant in 1976 and a World Series in 1977.
Despite the comical back-and-forth which produced multiple short-lived stints, Martin’s record in eight years at the helm was exceptional. He led the Yankees to a 556-385 (.591) record, raising questions as to why the leash was so short.
Honestly, who knows what was going through George Steinbrenner’s head in the 1980s.
Even considering the circumstances, he is deserving of some praise, having possessed desirable managerial qualities and the ability to win — something truly valued in Yankee-land.
6. Joe Girardi
If it was not for the forthcoming prestige, Girardi could have been ranked higher based on managing capabilities. As far as extracting the maximum potential from a team, the former catcher can be viewed as one the best the organization has hired.
In today’s age of baseball, he has perfectly adapted to the new usage of a bullpen, receiving only the best the best year in and year out.
Entering his 10th year as Yankees’ manager in 2017, he sports a record of 819-639, making him the sixth-winningest manager in franchise history.
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If you take 2013, 2014, and 2016 as samples of Girardi’s ability to manage a team, he would earn a high-paying gig with any club. Despite managing non-playoff teams in those years, he turned inevitable losing clubs into shocking postseason contenders.
His 2009 World Series title solidified his legacy, christened a new ballpark, and likely kept him in his position — one he still holds to this day.
5. Ralph Houk
Houk was the manager of three tremendous Yankee teams (1961-1963). The 309 wins he collected in his first three years as a MLB skipper should earn him more than enough credit.
That success yielded two consecutive World Series titles in 1961 and 1962, and a third straight AL pennant in 1963.
He famously managed the eye-popping 1961 season, a campaign which saw Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris combine for 115 home runs — Maris setting a single-season major league record (61).
Fittingly enough, a year that arguably featured the most lethal regular season middle of the lineup attack saw the Yanks win 109 games, steamrolling through every sign of competition.
4. Joe Torre
When you put everything in perspective, Buck Showalter could be in this spot. But hypotheticals are hypotheticals, and reality is reality.
Joe Torre managed one of the best Yankee dynasties of all-time, running off countless postseason campaigns even when he was not winning championships.
From 1996-2000, he won four World Series titles in five years, breaking a drought that ranged back to 1978. When you extend the span from 1996-2003, six pennants can be counted for the pinstripes.
Under Torre, from 1996-2007, the Yankees made the playoffs every single year.
The ’90s dynasty was highlighted by a 114-win regular season in 1998, resulting in a 125-win, 50-loss (overall) World Series campaign. Finally, the period was capped was capped off with a Subway Series win — first of its kind — in 2000 over the New York Mets. A core of Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada, Andy Pettitte, and Bernie Williams was surrounded by impactful role players who led the team to glory.
Over a 12-year tenure in the Bronx, Torre went 1173-767 (.605), collecting the second-most managerial wins in franchise history.
3. Miller Huggins
Huggins had the pleasure of managing Babe Ruth when he transitioned from Boston to New York, and from the pitching mound to right field. He also had the distinct honor of managing the beautifully-constructed club of a franchise ready to run off 100 years of unmatched excellence.
Taking over in 1918, Huggins managed the Yankees’ first world championship squad in 1923 after coming up just short in 1921 and 1922.
Later in the decade, New York claimed back-to-back titles (1927 & 1928), with the ’27 “Murderers’ Row” unit recording a ridiculous 110-44 regular season.
In 12 years as a Yankee manager, he witnessed the opening of a baseball cathedral, the formation of the most deadly 1-2 punch in baseball history (Ruth & Gehrig), and the birth of limitless organizational expectations.
Overall, he went 1067-719 (.597) in regular season play, winning six AL pennants and three world championships.
2. Casey Stengel
Over 12 years with the Yankees, Stengel went 1149-696 (.623), winning 10 pennants and seven world championships. If that does not make his case, it is hard to find anything that does.
From 1949-1953, New York executed a five-peat, something you may never see in baseball again — a level of virtually unachievable dominance.
Then, after a 103-win second-place finish in 1954, the Yanks ran off five pennants in six years from 1955-1960, including two World Series titles.
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Managing the likes of Mantle, DiMaggio, Berra, Rizzuto, and Ford, Stengel had more than enough to work with. However, even with an all-star team, that level of sustainable success is simply not performed in today’s day and age.
Without that particular roster, that manager, and potentially favorable circumstances, you will never see it again.
1. Joe McCarthy
From 1931-1946, Joe McCarthy was the epitome of New York Yankees baseball. It is awfully tough to top Casey Stengel, but McCarthy was able to prolong the success of the 1920s and turn the organization into a fierce mainstay.
The Yankees were able to win six world championships (seven pennants) between 1936 and 1943, and seven total in McCarthy’s tenure.
He remains — to this date — atop the franchise’s managing hierarchy, sustaining the longest tenure (16 years), collecting the most wins (1460), and maintaining the highest winning-percentage (.627 — min. three years).
There is no true substantiation to be provided. Barring the unforeseen, this man will be forever alone at the top.