1996 New York Yankees season

1996 New York Yankees
1996 AL East Champions 1996 AL Champions 1996 World Series Champions
Major League affiliations
American League (since 1901)
Eastern Division (since 1969)
Location
Yankee Stadium (since 1976)
New York City (since 1903)
Other information
Owner(s)	George Steinbrenner
General manager(s)	Bob Watson
Manager(s)	Joe Torre
Local television	WPIX (Phil Rizzuto, Bobby Murcer, Rick Cerone) MSG (Jim Kaat, Dave Cohen, Al Trautwig)
Local radio	WABC (AM) (John Sterling, Michael Kay)
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The 1996 New York Yankees season was the 94th season for the Yankees. The 1996 New York Yankees were managed by Joe Torre, and played at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx.

The team finished first in the American League Eastern Division with a record of 92–70, 4 games ahead of the Baltimore Orioles and won their first division title since 1981 (the 1994 team had the best record in the American League, but the strike took it away). The team defeated the Texas Rangers in the American League Division Series, three games to one. The Yankees went on to defeat the Orioles in the American League Championship Series four games to one.

In the 1996 World Series the Yankees beat the National League champion Atlanta Braves four games to two, winning four consecutive games to overcome a two-games-to-none deficit. The Yankees earned their 23rd World Series title and their first since 1978.

Offseason

• December 4, 1995: Jalal Leach was drafted by the Montreal Expos from the New York Yankees in the 1995 minor league draft.^[1]
• December 7, 1995: Russ Davis and Sterling Hitchcock were traded by the Yankees to the Seattle Mariners for Tino Martinez, Jeff Nelson and Jim Mecir.^[2]
• December 11, 1995: Mariano Duncan was signed as a free agent by the Yankees.^[3]
• December 21, 1995: David Cone was signed as a free agent by the Yankees.^[4]
• December 28, 1995: The Yankees traded a player to be named later to the Chicago White Sox for Tim Raines. The Yankees completed the deal by sending Blaise Kozeniewski to the White Sox on February 6, 1996.^[5]
• February 20, 1996: Dwight Gooden was signed as a free agent by the Yankees.^[6]
• February 24, 1996: Tim McIntosh was signed as a free agent by the Yankees.^[7]
• March 31, 1995: Rafael Quirico was released by the Yankees.^[8]

Regular season

Notable transactions

• June 4, 1996: 1996 Major League Baseball draft
  • Nick Johnson was drafted by the Yankees in the 3rd round. Player signed June 14, 1996.^[9]
  • Scott Seabol was drafted by the Yankees in the 88th round. Player signed June 25, 1996.^[10]
• June 12, 1996: Rich Monteleone was traded by the Yankees to the California Angels for Mike Aldrete.^[11]
• June 12, 1996: Wally Whitehurst was selected off waivers by the Yankees from the Montreal Expos.^[12]
• July 4, 1996: Darryl Strawberry was purchased by the Yankees from the St. Paul Saints.^[13]
• July 31, 1996: Rubén Sierra and Matt Drews (minors) were traded by the Yankees to the Detroit Tigers for Cecil Fielder.^[14]
• July 31, 1996: Dave Weathers was traded by the Florida Marlins to the New York Yankees for Mark Hutton.^[15]
• August 22, 1996: Luis Sojo was selected off waivers by the Yankees from the Seattle Mariners.^[16]
• August 23, 1996: Bob Wickman and Gerald Williams were traded by the Yankees to the Milwaukee Brewers for Pat Listach, Graeme Lloyd and a player to be named later. The Brewers completed the trade by sending Ricky Bones to the Yankees on August 29.^[17]
• August 30, 1996: The Yankees traded a player to be named later to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Charlie Hayes. The Yankees completed the deal by sending Chris Corn to the Pirates on August 31.^[18]
• September 6, 1996: Robert Eenhoorn was selected off waivers from the Yankees by the California Angels.^[19]
• September 12, 1996: Wally Whitehurst was released by the Yankees.^[12]

Season standings

AL East	W	L	Pct.	GB	Home	Road
New York Yankees	92	70	0.568	—	49–31	43–39
Baltimore Orioles	88	74	0.543	4	43–38	45–36
Boston Red Sox	85	77	0.525	7	47–34	38–43
Toronto Blue Jays	74	88	0.457	18	35–46	39–42
Detroit Tigers	53	109	0.327	39	27–54	26–55

Record vs. opponents

1996 American League Records Sources:
Team	BAL	BOS	CAL	CWS	CLE	DET	KC	MIL	MIN	NYY	OAK	SEA	TEX	TOR
Baltimore	—	7–6	6–6	4–8	5–7	11–2	9–3	9–3	7–5	3–10	9–4	7–5	3–10–1	8–5
Boston	6–7	—	8–4	6–6	1–11	12–1	3–9	7–5	6–6	7–6	8–5	7–6	6–6	8–5
California	6–6	4–8	—	6–6	4–9	6–6	4–8	7–5	4–8	7–6	6–7	5–8	4–9	7–5
Chicago	8–4	6–6	6–6	—	5–8	10–3	7–6	6–7	6–7	6–7	5–7	5–7	8–4	7–5
Cleveland	7–5	11–1	9–4	8–5	—	12–0	7–6	7–6	10–3	3–9	6–6	8–4	4–8	7–5
Detroit	2–11	1–12	6–6	3–10	0–12	—	6–6	4–8	6–6	5–8	4–8	6–6	4–9	6–7
Kansas City	3–9	9–3	8–4	6–7	6–7	6–6	—	4–9	6–7	4–8	5–7	7–5	6–6	5–8
Milwaukee	3–9	5–7	5–7	7–6	6–7	8–4	9–4	—	9–4	6–6	7–5	4–9	6–7	5–7
Minnesota	5–7	6–6	8–4	7–6	3–10	6–6	7–6	4–9	—	5–7	6–7	6–6	7–5	8–5
New York	10–3	6–7	6–7	7–6	9–3	8–5	8–4	6–6	7–5	—	9–3	3–9	5–7	8–5
Oakland	4–9	5–8	7–6	7–5	6–6	8–4	7–5	5–7	7–6	3–9	—	8–5	7–6	4–8
Seattle	5–7	6–7	8–5	7–5	4–8	6–6	5–7	9–4	6–6	9–3	5–8	—	10–3	5–7
Texas	10–3–1	6–6	9–4	4–8	8–4	9–4	6–6	7–6	5–7	7–5	6–7	3–10	—	10–2
Toronto	5–8	5–8	5–7	5–7	5–7	7–6	8–5	7–5	5–8	5–8	8–4	7–5	2–10	—

Roster

1996 New York Yankees
Roster
Pitchers 41 Brian Boehringer 29 Ricky Bones 59 Billy Brewer 36 David Cone 39 Paul Gibson 11 Dwight Gooden 57 Steve Howe 52 Mark Hutton 28 Scott Kamieniecki 22 Jimmy Key 27 Graeme Lloyd 54 Jim Mecir 57 Ramiro Mendoza 43 Jeff Nelson 47 Dave Pavlas 46 Andy Pettitte 56 Dale Polley 42 Mariano Rivera 17 Kenny Rogers 52 David Weathers 35 John Wetteland 55 Wally Whitehurst 27 Bob Wickman		Catchers 25 Joe Girardi 13 Jim Leyritz 60 Tim McIntosh 55 Jorge Posada Infielders 12 Wade Boggs 18 Mariano Duncan 20 Robert Eenhoorn 45 Cecil Fielder 26 Andy Fox 33 Charlie Hayes 38,99 Matt Howard  2 Derek Jeter 14 Pat Kelly 24 Tino Martinez 19 Luis Sojo		Outfielders 20 Mike Aldrete 39 Dion James 21 Paul O'Neill 31 Tim Raines 28 Rubén Rivera 39 Darryl Strawberry 51 Bernie Williams 29 Gerald Williams Other batters 39 Matt Luke		Manager  6 Joe Torre Coaches 53 José Cardenal (First Base) 50 Chris Chambliss (Hitting) 40 Tony Cloninger (Bullpen) 30 Willie Randolph (Third Base) 34 Mel Stottlemyre (Pitching) 48 Don Zimmer (Bench)

Player stats

= Indicates team leader

Batting

Starters by position

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Pos	Player	G	AB	H	Avg.	HR	RBI
C	Girardi, JoeJoe Girardi	124	422	124	.294	2	45
1B	Martinez, TinoTino Martinez	155	595	174	.292	25	117
2B	Duncan, MarianoMariano Duncan	109	400	136	.340	8	56
3B	Boggs, WadeWade Boggs	132	501	156	.311	2	41
SS	Jeter, DerekDerek Jeter	157	582	183	.314	10	78
LF	Raines, TimTim Raines	59	201	57	.284	9	33
CF	Williams, BernieBernie Williams	143	551	168	.305	29	102
RF	O'Neill, PaulPaul O'Neill	150	546	165	.302	19	91
DH	Sierra, RubénRubén Sierra	96	360	93	.258	11	52

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Player	G	AB	H	Avg.	HR	RBI
Leyritz, JimJim Leyritz	88	265	70	.264	7	40
Strawberry, DarrylDarryl Strawberry	63	202	53	.262	11	36
Fielder, CecilCecil Fielder	53	200	52	.260	13	37
Fox, AndyAndy Fox	113	189	37	.196	3	13
Rivera, RubénRubén Rivera	46	88	25	.284	2	16
Aldrete, MikeMike Aldrete	32	68	17	.250	3	12
Hayes, CharlieCharlie Hayes	20	67	19	.284	2	13
Williams, GeraldGerald Williams	99	233	63	.270	5	30
Howard, MattMatt Howard	35	54	11	.204	1	9
Sojo, LuisLuis Sojo	18	40	11	.275	0	5
Kelly, PatPat Kelly	13	21	3	.143	0	2
Eenhoorn, RobertRobert Eenhoorn	12	14	1	.071	0	2
Posada, JorgeJorge Posada	8	14	1	.071	0	0
James, DionDion James	6	12	2	.167	0	0
McIntosh, TimTim McIntosh	3	3	0	.000	0	0
Luke, MattMatt Luke	1	0	0	---	0	0

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player	G	IP	W	L	ERA	SO
Pettitte, AndyAndy Pettitte	35	221	21	8	3.87	162
Key, JimmyJimmy Key	30	169.1	12	11	4.68	116
Rogers, KennyKenny Rogers	30	179	12	8	4.68	92
Gooden, DwightDwight Gooden	29	170.2	11	7	5.01	126
Cone, DavidDavid Cone	11	72	7	2	2.88	71
Mendoza, RamiroRamiro Mendoza	12	53	4	5	6.79	34
Whitehurst, WallyWally Whitehurst	2	8	1	1	6.75	1

Other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player	G	IP	W	L	ERA	SO
Boehringer, BrianBrian Boehringer	15	46.1	2	4	5.44	37
Hutton, MarkMark Hutton	12	30.1	0	2	5.04	25
Weathers, DavidDavid Weathers	11	17.1	0	2	9.35	13
Kamieniecki, ScottScott Kamieniecki	7	22.2	1	2	11.12	15
Bones, RickyRicky Bones	4	7	0	0	14.14	4

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player	G	W	L	SV	ERA	SO
Wetteland, JohnJohn Wetteland	62	2	3	43	2.83	69
Nelson, JeffJeff Nelson	73	4	4	2	4.36	91
Rivera, MarianoMariano Rivera	61	8	3	5	2.09	130
Wickman, BobBob Wickman	58	4	1	0	4.67	61
Polley, DaleDale Polley	32	1	3	0	7.89	14
Mecir, JimJim Mecir	26	1	1	0	5.13	38
Pavlas, DaveDave Pavlas	16	0	0	1	2.35	18
Howe, SteveSteve Howe	25	0	1	1	6.35	5
Brewer, BillyBilly Brewer	4	1	0	0	9.53	8
Lloyd, GraemeGraeme Lloyd	13	0	2	0	17.47	6
Gibson, PaulPaul Gibson	4	0	0	0	6.23	3
Aldrete, MikeMike Aldrete	1	0	0	0	0.00	0

ALDS

Game 1, October 1

Yankee Stadium, The Bronx, New York

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Texas	0	0	0	5	0	1	0	0	0	6	8	0
New York	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	2	10	0
WP: John Burkett (1–0)   LP: David Cone (0–1) Home runs: Tex: Juan González (1), Dean Palmer (1) NYY: None

Game 2, October 2

Yankee Stadium, The Bronx, New York

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	R	H	E
Texas	0	1	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	8	1
New York	0	1	0	1	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	1	5	8	0
WP: Brian Boehringer (1–0)   LP: Mike Stanton (0–1) Home runs: Tex: Juan González (2, 3) NYY: Cecil Fielder (1)

Game 3, October 4

The Ballpark in Arlington, Arlington, Texas

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
New York	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	3	7	1
Texas	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	2	6	1
WP: Jeff Nelson (1–0)   LP: Darren Oliver (0–1)   Sv: John Wetteland (1) Home runs: NYY: Bernie Williams (1) Tex: Juan González (4)

Game 4, October 5

The Ballpark in Arlington, Arlington, Texas

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
New York	0	0	0	3	1	0	1	0	1	6	12	1
Texas	0	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	9	0
WP: David Weathers (1–0)   LP: Roger Pavlik (0–1)   Sv: John Wetteland (2) Home runs: NYY: Bernie Williams (2, 3) Tex: Juan González (5)

Postseason

ALCS

Game	Score	Date
1	Baltimore 4, New York 5	October 9
2	Baltimore 5, New York 3	October 10
3	New York 5, Baltimore 2	October 11
4	New York 8, Baltimore 4	October 12
5	New York 6, Baltimore 4	October 13

Jeffrey Maier

On October 9, 1996, the Yankees trailed the Orioles 4–3 in the bottom of the eighth inning when shortstop Derek Jeter hit a deep fly ball to right field. Right fielder Tony Tarasco moved near the fence and appeared "to draw a bead on the ball"^[20] when then-12 year old fan Jeffrey Maier reached over the fence separating the stands and the field of play 9 feet below and deflected the ball into the stands. While baseball fans are permitted to catch (and keep) balls hit into the stands, if "a spectator reaches out of the stands, or goes on the playing field, and touches a live ball"^[21] spectator interference is to be called.

1996 World Series

Game 1

October 20, 1996 at Yankee Stadium in The Bronx, New York

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Atlanta	0	2	6	0	1	3	0	0	0	12	13	0
New York	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	4	1
WP: John Smoltz (1–0)   LP: Andy Pettitte (0–1) Home runs: ATL: Andruw Jones 2 (2), Fred McGriff (1) NYY: None

Game 2

October 21, 1996 at Yankee Stadium in The Bronx, New York

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Atlanta	1	0	1	0	1	1	0	0	0	4	10	0
New York	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	7	1
WP: Greg Maddux (1–0)   LP: Jimmy Key (0–1)

Game 3

October 22, 1996 at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
New York	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	3	0	5	8	1
Atlanta	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	2	6	1
WP: David Cone (1–0)   LP: Tom Glavine (0–1)   Sv: John Wetteland (1) Home runs: NYY: Bernie Williams (1) ATL: None

Game 4

October 23, 1996 at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	R	H	E
New York	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	3	0	2	8	12	0
Atlanta	0	4	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	6	9	2
WP: Graeme Lloyd (1–0)   LP: Steve Avery (0–1)   Sv: John Wetteland (2) Home runs: NYY: Jim Leyritz (1) ATL: Fred McGriff (2)

Game 5

October 24, 1996 at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
New York	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	4	1
Atlanta	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	1
WP: Andy Pettitte (1–1)   LP: John Smoltz (1–1)   Sv: John Wetteland (3)

Game 6

October 26, 1996 at Yankee Stadium in The Bronx, New York

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Atlanta	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	2	8	0
New York	0	0	3	0	0	0	0	0	x	3	8	1
WP: Jimmy Key (1–1)   LP: Greg Maddux (1–1)   Sv: John Wetteland (4)

Awards and honors

• Cecil Fielder, Babe Ruth Award
• Derek Jeter, SS, American League Rookie of the Year
• Bernie Williams, ALCS Most Valuable Player
• John Wetteland, World Series Most Valuable Player

All-Stars

All-Star Game

• Wade Boggs, Third Base, Starter
• Andy Pettitte, Pitcher, Reserve
• John Wetteland, Relief Pitcher, Reserve

Farm system

Level	Team	League	Manager
AAA	Columbus Clippers	International League	Stump Merrill
AA	Norwich Navigators	Eastern League	Jim Essian
A	Tampa Yankees	Florida State League	Trey Hillman
A	Greensboro Bats	South Atlantic League	Rick Patterson and Jimmy Johnson
A-Short Season	Oneonta Yankees	New York–Penn League	Gary Tuck
Rookie	GCL Yankees	Gulf Coast League	Ken Dominguez

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Columbus, GCL Yankees^[22]

References

1. "Jalal Leach Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved April 22, 2013.
2. "Tino Martinez Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 6, 2013.
3. Mariano Duncan at Baseball Reference
4. David Cone at Baseball Reference
5. Tim Raines at Baseball Reference
6. Dwight Gooden at Baseball Reference
7. Tim McIntosh at Baseball Reference
8. Rafael Quirico at Baseball Reference
9. Nick Johnson at Baseball Reference
10. Scott Seabol at Baseball Reference
11. Mike Aldrete at Baseball Reference
12. Wally Whitehurst at Baseball Reference
13. Darryl Strawberry at Baseball Reference
14. Cecil Fielder at Baseball Reference
15. "1989 San Francisco Giants Statistics and Team Info". The Baseball Cube. Retrieved April 22, 2013.
16. Luis Sojo at Baseball Reference
17. Pat Listach at Baseball Reference
18. Charlie Hayes at Baseball Reference
19. Robert Eenhoorn at Baseball Reference
20. Baseball
21. The Official Site of Major League Baseball: Official info: Official Rules
22. Johnson, Lloyd, and Wolff, Miles, ed., The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball, 2nd and 3rd editions. Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America, 1997 and 2007

External links

• 1996 New York Yankees
• 1996 World Series
• 1996 New York Yankees at Baseball Almanac