Nine Yankees I actually liked/like

I think the tenth should be Bernie Williams.

Chad -

Let me add a couple to the list -

Tino Martinez - booed by the Yankee "faithful" simply because he wasn't Don Mattingly, he was a solid player with a perfect-for-Yankee-Stadium swing.

Alex Rodriguez - if only because he's so much fun to root against, and the boos consistently showered on him by the Yankee "faithful" make me wonder how they feel about 9 more years of ARod.

Roger Clemens - just kidding.

As for Damon, I never got worked up over him leaving for the money. He played hard for the Red Sox, he played hurt, he has ALWAYS looked as if he actually enjoys playing the game, and you're right - you KNOW he regrets leaving.

Mattingly would have been a good choice; a stand-up guy on some really crappy Yankee teams.
And a truly honorable mention to Don Zimmer, as Yankee bench coach. As "genuine" a human being to ever put on the uniform (just keep him out of those doubleknits!).

Walt "No Neck" Williams was the living representative of the early 70's. The Yanks were even less challenging to the Sox then.

You forgot Bernie Williams, one of the nicer guys in the Majors. I won't forget a rehab stint he was on in Portland and graciously signed autographs for anyone who wanted to stick around after the game. He also stopped in the middle of a game to give a couple of souvenirs to a fan who was struck by his foul ball. Who does that? Truly one of the game's most respected.

Bernie Williams was all right, I guess. Didn't like how he used the Sox in free agency after the '98 season.

How could you not like Mickey Mantle? That's just idiotic.

Paul O'Neill (we've got our own version in Youkilis). Admired his over-competitiveness. The current soulless edition could use his kind of fire.

Great photo of Oscar Gamble. Looks more like a member of George Clinton's "Parliament Funk." There three Yankees that I could add. Mr. October, "The Mick" and Joe Torre.

I may catch a lot of flack for this, but I've always liked Jeter - Because of his "face of the franchise" status, he is easy to dislike, but c'mon...

The dude is a ridiculously clutch, classy, professional ballplayer - He is very diplomatic and never fuels the sox-yankees fire that can certainly grow out of control... To me, he is a class act.

I agree with the sentiments about Bernie Williams, another classy yankee and all around good guy.

I never had a problem with Damon leaving. Who wouldn't have taken the extra $13 million the Yankees offered? He was a key contributor in winning the 2004 World Series championship and for that, I am always grateful to him.

Look at the numbers: Johnny has a legitimate chance to get to 3000 hits.

Catcher Matt Nokes was a favorite Yankee of mine because it was a track meet on the basepaths when he was behind the plate.

I also liked pitcher Eric Plunk, because he was a big, goofy looking guy.

I cannot believe that no one has yet mentioned Derek Jeter. He plays and has played the game with such class - even over the years when the Pinstripers eliminated the Red Sox, and in '04 he was the only Yankee who didn't put his tail between his legs and slink away, fighting back during the pasting the Sox administered in GAME SEVEN. He has always treated the game with respect, and even those who don't like him have to admire him! We Sox fans are supposed to be knowledgeable about the game, so we HAVE to give props to Jeter. He and Torre were the ones who made "Yankee Hating" harder for me.

how can you not like yogi bera

I have to admit... I like and respect Jeter. He's always said and done the right things, he stays out of trouble off the field, and he gained my eternal respect with the class he showed in April 2005, during the Sox' ring ceremony, when the TV cameras showed him exhorting a couple of teammates to get up on the top step of the dugout and watch. The media has made him into something that many of us don't like - ie., Captain Intangibles - but at the core, he's a good guy and a hell of a player.

A 65 y/o Yankee hater here, but if you are a true baseball lover, how can not appreciate and respect Derek Jeter? The Sox might have one another 1-2 WS championships if he had been on our team. Look up class in the dictionary. You'll see a picture of Derek Jeter.

Paul O'Neill, Scott Brosius and Bernie Williams would be on my list.

Yogi's a good one. I guess I kept it to players I've seen play. Got no problem with Mantle, either.

I can tolerate Jeter a lot more now that he's declining.

Craig Nettles anybody???

I could never root against Tom Gordon when he was a Yankee. Bernie Williams (doesn't Alex Rios look a little like his kid brother?). Jeter, especially after A-Rod arrived.

Graig Nettles anybody???

Joe Torre, Derek Jeter, Bernie Williams and Jorge Posada. All are true PLAYERS and good for the GAME. Anyone would want them on their team if the position was available.

How about Matsui? Always appeared to be the consumate professional, great hitter, although not a leader type (language barrier). I would have loved to see him in a Sox uniform.

Jeter? Give me a break! Roger Maris is high on my list. Also Bobby Richardson, but that's mostly because we were both born in the same town.

I assume you mean Yankees of this era, but if someone is going to mention Mickey Mantle, then the door is open, and... How can anyone but admire DiMaggio and Gehrig?

Lots of good choices here that deserve to be on Chad's list. Jeter's a stand-up guy who doesn't make excuses and gives his all, and how COULD you not include Mr. Lovable - Yogi?

Let me mention the elephant in the room - a guy named Ruth...

Still too soon?

Jorge Posada. Tough as nails, great clutch hitter (2003 anyone?) hitter and not too bad a defensive catcher/game manager either.

"I can tolerate Jeter a lot more now that he's declining."

My problem with Jeter isn't so much him as a player, but the near deification of him by a segment of Yankee fandom that thinks he invented the position of shortstop. One of Jeter's shining moments that gets replayed ad infinitum on Yankee Classics is the July 2003 game where he raced to catch a foul pop up and then went head first into the stands on the third base side while Nomar sulked.

By comparison, two years later I was at Fenway for an Orioles game. Mike Lowell was drilled in the head and fell to the ground. Images of Tony C flashed across my mind for a couple of moments before a clearly dazed Lowell took his base. In the top of the next inning, Lowell made a ridiculously difficult play going into the stands to snare a foul ball. When a Yankee fan (in Fenway for an Orioles game?) yelled out, "The Jeter play was better," a nearby Bostonian chimed back with, "Well Jeter hadn't just been hit in the head with a 90-mph fastball 10 minutes earlier."

Some of mine...going from way back to present...Mickey Mantle...Jim Bouton (for writing BALL FOUR if nothing else)...Al Downing...Sparky Lyle (because he was a Sox first, and never should have been traded)...Don Mattingly...Paul O'Neil...Bernie...Roy White...Darryl Strawberry (YES, Darryl!)...Rivera...and, yes, Jeter.

There might be a couple more, but, I can't think of them right now. Nor do I want to.

Chad, a few more - confined to guys I actually saw play:
Bernie Williams - very good player and a great guy.
Don Mattingly - a great hitter in the mid 80's and pure class. He suffered on some lousy teams, and his last year was 1995, the year before the Yankees started their late 90's dominance - how can Sox fans not feel for him?
Mo Rivera - I'll never forget his smile at Fenway on opening day of 2005 when Sox fans cheered him. Is there a more humble and soft-spoken guy among the all time greats?
Derek Jeter - Of course - his infectious love for the game, and two of the most amazing clutch-hustle plays ever: the flip relay against Oakland in the 2001 ALDS to nail Jason Giambi, and the catch diving into the stands in July 2004. Is there anyone who doesn't like him?

Nettles was one of the easiest to hate! His role in the big brawl with Fisk and Bill Lee is just one example of his chump-ness. Jeter, Torre, Bernie Williams, Randolph, Mattingly, Rivera, Murcer - these are recent players to go in the To Be Respected/Appreciated list for this Sox fan of the game. My favorite good guy Yankee of all time is Bobby Richardson.

I've always liked Jorge Posada. He looks like a ballplayer from the 60s: kinda dumpy, big dopey ears, switch hitter, no batting gloves, scrappy as hell. One of the few Yankees stars of this decade, along with Jeter and Rivera, developed by the team and not simply purchased.

I understand your feeling about Bernie Williams, but didn't he just do what Johnny Damon wishes he had done, got a great offer from the other side and then decided he really would be better off staying (although Bernie may have been turning down less money from the Sox, unlike JD). The fact that he really wanted to play his classical guitar with the Boston Symphony really made Bernie stand out from the usual ballplayer, and he always played with class.

I would add Phil Rizzuto to the list, only knew him as a broadcaster, but he was such a good natured homer and had such respect for the Red Sox of the past, I enjoyed listening to him.

And Craig Nettles can join the list when he lets Bill Lee dislocate his shoulder while Mickey Rivers sucker punches him.

Mo Rivera is the classiest Yankee of all. He is followed by Roy White, Derek Jeter, Joe Torre, Yogi Berra, Willie Randolph, Roy White, Phil Rizzuto, Don Mattingly, Tino Martinez, Catfish Hunter, and Mickey Mantle.
Johnny Damon acts as if he's been a Yankee for years now so I care for him less and less with each passing season. But I appreciate all that he did for the Sox, to be sure.

No way on Craig Nettles. He sucker punched and slammed Bill Lee to the ground in the home plate brawl in 1976, putting Spaceman on the DL and derailing the Sox' chance of defending their AL title.

It looks like the author isnt going back any further than the 70's, but how can any baseball fan, or indeed any human being, not love Lou Gherig?

THX for the Stump Merrill photo ... WJAB (a Portland, ME radio station) is having it's 2nd annual Sox-Yanks fishing derby tomorrow (Fri.) and Stump is the returning "captain" for the NYY team ... I just attended the 80th b'day party of another ME H.S. and college hoop ref (also a Yank fan) who went to U Maine with Stump ... I asked him if he knew what Stump was up to these days (besides fishing) ... he said he's lost track of him, but went on to tell some hilarious stories ... I also seem to remember Stump umpiring a few Colby baseball games in the mid-1970s ... where did you go to H.S.?

Gotta include Jeter. If anything, playing next to A-Rod makes his class more obvious. (Also makes him a sympathetic character). When he retires, Jeter will get the loudest ovation any Yankee has ever received in Fenway.

Vincent, I hope you're kidding. If you asked me for my 2 most hated Yankees, I would most likely come up with O'Neill and Brosius. A-Rod would be on the list, but, like Jim M., I think he is too entertaining to dislike. Ah, what the heck, let's add him along with Jorge and that guy from Major League who took Vaughn deep. That is a solid 5 for me.

Derek Jeter and his little smirky face....DIE! Craig Nettles was one of the biggest aholes in baseball history. Paul O'Neill, whining crybaby. Be honest, don't you just hate em ALL when they're wearing the oh so neat pinstripes?

I desperately want to hate him--have wanted to hate him as long as he's been in the bigs, but Derek Jeter belongs on the list.

I foolishly loved Nomar Garciaparra and would have argued nonstop that he was the better shortstop. I was wrong. Jeter proved it the night he dove into the stands while Nomar swooned on the bench. There are too many Jeter plays in big moments to mention. He is a ballplayer. There is no greater compliment in my lexicon.

By the way, I'm also old enough to have watched and admired Hank Bauer. tough guy, real ballplayer. I think i remember his having run over a Red Sox pitcher (Gene Conley? Tommy Brewer?) who foolishly straddled the third base line while Bauer was heading home. Nothing was going to keep him from winning.

If you recall the 1976 brawl, according to Bill Lee, Craig Nettles held him defenselessly while Micky Rivers pummeled him. Lee might have been spacey, but he's not a liar. Lee suffered a separated shoulder in the melee, which ended any chance the Sox had to repeat as AL champs.

Elston Howard comes to mind as a favorite player even if he did break up Bill Rohr's no-hit bid in 1967. Later that year, Howard joined the Sox and helped the Impossible Dream team win the pennant. Another favorite might be Sparky Lyle, a player whom the Sox traded to the Yanks (yes, once upon a time the teams actually traded players) for Danny Cater. After the Babe Ruth and Jeff Bagwell deals, there was no more mind-numbingly stupid transaction in Red Sox history.

To Petey Bumper, poster #18:

Craig Nettles was a dirty player. Witness what he did to BIll Lee. Witness the little superballs that came out of his bat one time.

No real Red Sox fan could like that guy.

guess I missed the memo that today is "sox fan yankee appreciation day" - glad I clicked on this link. Chad, your stuff has become more and more inane by the day. And being from New Hampshire Id normally do anythng to defend you, but this is just a waste of print.

any list like this that doesnt include Javier Vasquez (NOT Johnny Damon, but the guy who served him up two meatballs rigt down the middle in game 7) is a joke. We are Sox fans here fellas. My favorite yankees are the ones who they overpay and dont perform - think Vasquez, Kevin Brown, Jose Contreras.

As I just heard Erik Kuselias say, the yanks are toast, lets party like its 1993 and break out those Nirvana and Dr. Dre tapes.

Jeter. He got my vote as he dove into the stands for the foul ball as Nomar watched from the bench with his beach soccer injury.

Gotta agree on Jeter. Despise the team, but he's all right. He plays the game the way it should be played.

I'm also pulling for A-Rod to eventually reach the all-time home run mark, and will celebrate his No. 756 equally with whatever that second number is. But that's not really a Yankees thing, now is it? And I don't mind if A-Rod doesn't hit any more of those homers against Boston, either.

Nettles only counts if you spell his first name right. It's Graig, with a G.

Thurman Munson?

Petey Bumper, I hope you are a troll. Nettles deserves to rot in the pits of hell for messing up Spaceman Bill Lee's shoulder like that.

Can Kyle Farnsworth get honorable mention? He always seem to help the Sox just as much as the Yanks.

All the Yankees suck...past and present

I may be just another old guy but how about the Babe himself and Lou Gherig and Phil Rizzuto? While we're at it we shoud mention Mel Allen, as partisan as can be but still a great announcer.

One can respect Jeter without liking him. I think that's the appropriate stance for a Red Sox fan.

Bernie Williams was class and suffered with some pretty poor Yankees teams before the Torre years. Mattingly, Berra and how can you dislike the DiMaggio who played for the Yankees?

How about:

"Sweet" Lou Pinella. Gotta go with him for his temper alone.

Don't forget Horace Clarke. He was a shoo-in for the hall of fame if he played on Yankee championship teams.

Craig Nettles?? You have to be kidding. Bill Lee. Big fight in 1976. I'll pass on that guy.

Kevin Brown I could find a way to love though what with his eating up payroll and starting Game 7.

On a side note: I know it's not as momentous as 2004 but this would be only the second time in my life where the Sox got to throw the haymaker that put the Yankees on the canvas for good. Tonight is must watch TV.

OK,
Was there a classier player than Willie Randolph?
Also, being from Manchester NH, can we add Steve (Bye Bye) Balboni to the list?

I think we have to accept that the Yanqui from my birth (1951) to 1967 were
not the rivals as we think of them today: we all 'hated' the Damn Yanquis, but also respected the Mantles, Fords, Howards, Berras etc...and Casey managing them.

The Torre Yanqui also command some respect, not as much, but some of the players did play the game the right way. You can 'like' a few of them, but most are tainted by the stripes.

Guys like No-Neck Williams (WSox) or Eric Plunk (As) I prefer to associate with more neutral teams...

Nettles? Cheap shot artist, and a jerk. No thanks.

Piniella? Hated him as a Yankee, love him as a manager elsewhere.

Matsui and Posada? I respect them a ton, but despise them for their roles in '03.

Wish I'd thought of Bouton. It's amazing how well "Ball Four" holds up.

I can't believe how many Jeters there are. Respect him? Sure. But I still want to whack him in the face with a frying pan. He's the most fortunate player in baseball history.

Doktor, I'm from Morse in Bath.

Number 37: If "Tonight is must watch TV," I guess I should warn you that the game starts at 1:05 this afternoon.

I agree with the respecting Jeter folks. The man is a great ball player, a fine short stop, a fine roll model for children and apparently a great judge of character. I know I couldn't stand that close to rodriguez on a daily basis and show the restraint Jeter has shown.

The brawl in which Nettles injured Lee pre-dates my Nation membership. That obviously disqualifies him.

But spell his name right anyway.

Wow jimbone, who pissed in your corn flakes this morning?

I'd add Bob Shirley to the list for his "clubhouse horseplay" with Donnie Baseball that gave Mattingly a serious case of warning track power for the final years of his career.

And much respect to Matsui for admitting to owning such a large stash of adult films.

Not one. There is not one Yankee I either liked or currently like. To hell with them all.

Hey guys... I'm looking for some feedback on my blog. Check it out during today's game and tell me what you think. If you like the blog - add it to your favorites and check back often - we try to make sure we have fresh stuff every day...

Thanks

www.thebottomlinenation.blogspot.com

...not to mention the Who's Who of hotness Jeter has bedded down. makes Tom Brady look like a priest...

...but Bernie Williams would definitely be my 10th.

Bob Turley, any one ???

My memories of Mickey Mantle are of a drunk, surly prima dona

How can I dislike DiMaggio?

Because I've read the biographies. He was a jerk.

Cletus...I just hate the yanks, what can I say. I thought we all did.

i kindalike whity ford myself

BM at post #37 hit the nail on the head -- Jeter's last game at Fenway will bring the loudest ovation for an opposing player the old yard has ever seen.

Chad,
What about Concords own Bob Tewksbury? I too say that Derek Jeter could play on my team any time. I put him in the same class as Cal Ripken Jr. as a divison foe that you just love to watch play.

Joe Torre had a lot of class, especially considering the upper management. Let's face it, ownership sets the tone for the whole team. A lot of these players would have been much better liked playing for other teams.

Seriously though, Derek Jeter is the classiest player on the Yankes and i wish he played in Boston.

I hate to admit it but I actually liked Thurman Munson. I loved Pudge Fisk but Thurman was a player I respected on the Yankee teams I loathed growing up.

I can't believe what I'm reading here! I had no idea there were so many closet Yankee fans in the nation! Not one of these NY Slobber-fest comments would have even crossed anyone's mind, never mind been actually published, in 2003 or before. Nothing like a couple of rings to bring out the soft underbelly, I guess.

Let me remind you, people, they have 26 rings and they still hate us! Don't get soft on me now! Let's see if we can get a nice old-fashioned "Yankees Suck!" chant going during Obama's acceptance speech tonight!

The late great Bill Chin often said Chris Chambliss stood out as a guy with class on a bunch of Yankee teams that lacked class. In fact he often told him that during games at Yankee Stadium.

Mickey Mantle.

I hate the pinstripes, but how can you not like Mantle?

I can't stand Jeter. Smug bastard.

Can't like Munson - the guy never smiled. Jeter's OK, but I've always liked Posada aming the present-day Yanks.
What about Ron Guidry? Great competitor, and the Sox always hit him pretty well.
You have to respect Johnny D's ability, but if anybody doubted that pro athletes were mercenaries, he's your prime example (wonder how he feels knowing that his team won't win anything this year - again!).
I liked Roy White, from back in the day . . .

Mantle, Munson,Jeter and O'Neil for me. Like many have said Jeter could play on my team any day.

I don't understand where any iota of pity could come from ? ... The Yankees are not a team to be pitied. Not with their insufferable fans (although, Sox fans are rapidly catching up in that department). It's about time they're knocked out of the post-season... I know you said 'almost' - but it really shouldn't even come that close.

The Orioles. Now, that's a team deserving of some pity. Gotta give the O's some love...

Now, understanding and appreciating some of the past Yankee players - sure. That's a valid exercise. However, it IS only the stadium that's going away. The team will still be there next season...

No Stuffy Sternweiss admirers around??Guess that dates me!!

I cant believe this column
Lets just do an all time hate list
Mickey Rivers
Thurman munson

Thurman Munson?

To some Yankee Swapper is a magazine, to others it's Fritz Peterson and Mike Kekich.

How could you not love Joe "Roadkil on my head" Pepitone.

My favorite Yankee is Wally Pipp. If they only had advil back then, the world may never have heard of Lou Gehrig.

Then again, Wally Pipp disease just doesn't sound right.

Relax Shill, I just sent a check to ALS...

I am a yankee fan, But if I was a Red Sox Fan my favorite Yankee would be A-Fraud

Just to give my favorite Red Sox,,With respect
1-Tony Conigliaro
2--Yaz
3-Jim Lonborg (sp)
4-Big Papi..(That smile)
5--Mike Lowell
6--Jon Lester
7--Tim Wakefield..(Saw him play High School ball here).
8--and even as a big munson fan I would say (Carlton Fisk)
Most hated
1-Bill Lee
2--Kevin Millar
3--Pedro Martinez

Carl Pavano Without a doubt one of the biggest reasons for the switch in fates for the Red Sox and Yankees! He also brought us Pedro. Who couldn't love a guy who gives every Yankee fan heartburn!!

I am a yankee fan, But if I was a Red Sox Fan my favorite Yankee would be A-Fraud

Just to give my favorite Red Sox,,With respect
1-Tony Conigliaro
2--Yaz
3-Jim Lonborg (sp)
4-Big Papi..(That smile)
5--Mike Lowell
6--Jon Lester
7--Tim Wakefield..(Saw him play High School ball here).
8--and even as a big munson fan I would say (Carlton Fisk)
Most hated
1-Bill Lee
2--Kevin Millar
3--Pedro Martinez

Just the thought of a group of supposedly intelligent baseball fans who mainly seem to be Sox fans debating which Yankees to like/root for/appreciate kind of makes me vomit up in my mouth a little bit.

You're right on with your Willie Randolph assessment...... he gets a pass.
I was part of the lenghty 3000 watch (in person) and if not for Mr. Randolph,
3000 wold have been on the road.

The people who put forward Munson should just *&% off. They are not Red Sox fans. He was perhaps the most despicable of all MFYs of all time. Chad, perhaps that's the next column to this one, ie, who do you hate the most from the Yanks.

As for those I like, how about Tony Clark. At least he had the good graces to suck just as badly for them as he did for the Red Sox. So that's gotta be worth something, right?

Get off Jeter's sack for a second and think about this...

For all his supposed 'intangibles', 'class', and 'leadership' he hasn't won a damn thing since O'Neill, Brosius, and Cone left the Yankees. Those guys were the true leaders of those teams. Jeter was just a piece of the puzzle that somehow always gets the credit for the success of those clubs. I think he's terribly overrated and given far too much credit that he doesn't deserve.

I thought O'Neill's temper tantrums in the dugout were ridiculous (I'm looking at you too, Youkilis), but I liked the way he played. Just a solid player that was perfect for Yankee Stadium. I always hoped that Trot Nixon would turn out to be the same player in the O'Neill/Dwight Evans mold.

I could never dislike David Cone, he always seemed like a good guy to me and was a quality pitcher, someone you didn't have to worry about sending out there every 5 days. Too bad he had nothing left in the tank when he made it to Boston. I always wanted the Sox to pick him up with I was a kid.

Tino Martinez, hands down. I could even hate Bernie Williams (who's a great guy, but somehow I could hate him just because he was a Yankee), but I couldn't bring myself to dislike Tino. What a professional.

How about zero Yankees I actually like/liked! Though there are some I respect/respected, there are none I like/liked. Even players I formerly liked, the minute they donned the hated pinstripes they became THE ENEMY. I cannot ever like anyone that represents this loathesome franchise. Period.

I don't care what anyone says -- I still think Jeter did not have to go into the stands that way. He was 2-3 steps from the stands when he caught the ball. Pokey Reese's catch was much more difficult

What's not to like about a guy named after one of the all time great Bruins personalities ... Derek Sanderson Jeter!

I started to like Jeter a few years ago. When he talks about the Red Sox he always says the right things. Just imagine if fate had put him in a Red Sox uniform. He would have been quite the fan favorite. I also liked Bernie Williams and Paul O'Neill. O'Neill's home run reaction where he put his head down was the best. But my personal favorite was Piniella, aside from the fact that the SOB made the 2 best plays of his life in the 78 playoff game.

Luis Tiant, Damon, Mo Rivera

Most hated is more fun:

Reggie Jackson
Thurmon 'Dead' Munson
Nettles
Mickey Rivers
Jeter- f him
Wade Boggs
Clemens
Karim Garcia
Jeff Nelson
Arod

Pokey Reese made the same play as Jeter in that game, but he did it better. Without the histrionics.

I didn't mind at all Damon taking the money. What I did mind was Damon spending the next few months taking every opportunity to let us know how classy the Yankees are, how it's such a winning organization, that A-Rod is so awesome, that Jeter is his bestest friend, etc. etc. etc. until I was at the point that I wanted him to JUST SHUT THE EFF UP ALREADY! THAT is a huge reason why Sox fans booed him. The media totally missed that story.

On Tim Raines :
One of the most hilarious moments I remember was when Raines played with the Montreal Expos. One Sunday afternoon, they had pre-game event where people could come out on the playing field with home-made signs. One joker came out on the field with a sign on which you could read : Raines goes better with Coke.
A priceless moment!

How about Mike Torrez. Didn't he help them win in '78?

Jeter will get a great ovation here, no doubt. But the only way I'm cheering him is if he takes Alex Cora's job next season. (Or Lugo's.)

Damon was overcompensating. He praised the Yankees so much that it seemed to me he was hurt that he wasn't still here.

Jeter probably is overrated in the intangibles dept. But there's nothing intangible about getting your 2,500th hit at age 34.

For the people who say they have no favorite Yankees, I totally understand & respect that feeling. Until we turned the tables on these in 04 I felt the same.

I have the 2004 DVD set and one of my favorite moments is when Jeter grounded out in the 8th inning in game 7. It was a nice play by Mueller and Mint-cave-itch made a great play to dig out the throw. It was a close play at first and on the slo-mo replay you can see Jeter about to argue the call, then turning his head in disgust realizing it's useless and the season is over. We had finally vanquished him.

Assuming we're talking about players we have watched, I guess my favorite is Mariano Rivera...

I hate Posada with irrational exuberance. He, not Aaron Boone, haunts my memories of the 2003 ALCS. I wish Pedro had hit him in the head...without missing.

I never blamed Damon for taking the money, but I loathe him for saying it was not about the money especially after all his "I'll never play for the Yankees" BS.

Don Baylor, Mike Easler, Butch Wynegar, Ron Davis, Mel Hall, Ed Whitson, Danny Tartabull, Kevin Brown, Carl Pavano.

There is no Yankee to hate more than Bob Watson! Is it going to take Youk getting a third degree concussion before he suspends the Fat Punk with the awful name?

I always liked Tom Tresh.

I've always had a soft spot for Horace Clark and Roy White, poster boys for the worst era in Yankee history.
No Sox fan in his or her right mind can like Nettles, that sucker-punching bleep. Same for Mickey Rivers.

Okay, all (most of ) you nation guys are showing the love to some great Yanks. As a 59 year old passionate (not Bronx crazy) Yankee fan let me share some back. I will always admire Terry Francona for his class in the All Star game. He made every effort to shine the light on the Yankee players on their home turf .... even if A-Rod didn't deserve the courtesy. Treasure your manager. He's smart and classy.

Yankees Red Sox what a rivalry. I am a yankees fan and you cannot find a classier athlete than Derek Jeter, Bernie WIlliams, Mariano Rivera, Tino Martinez. No Steriods there. At least we cut our hair and shave like grown men. How many Red Sox players have jumped head first into the stands for a out.