Yankees to retire Bernie Williams No.51 Tonight

The Yankees are set to retire Bernie Williams No. 51 during a pre-game ceremony before tonight’s game against the Texas Rangers. Williams was a five time All-Star and a postseason hero, who will finally get recognized for his accomplishments throughout the years in pinstripes. He made his major league debut in 1991 and had a very successful career for the Bronx Bombers to say the least.

Some of his career highlights consisted of being a 4x World Series Champion, ALCS MVP (1996), 4x Gold Glove award winner, AL Batting Champion (1998), Silver Slugger award in 2002.

During the dominating run the Yankees had in the mid to late 1990’s, he was arguably one of their best players. Williams career totals goes as follows; .297 batting average, 2,336 hits, 287 HR, 1,257 RBI.

Clutch at the plate and great with the glove, he carried himself with dignity and respect for his teammates, opponents and the game of baseball on and off the field. He was also very multi talented and is a very accomplished guitar player still today. Before his baseball career took off he was a track and field star, and in 1985 he represented Puerto Rico in the Under 17 Central American and Caribbean Junior Championships, where he came in first in multiple races.

Often left out and sometimes forgotten mostly because the success of the “Core 4” who were for the most part brought up together, Bernie suffered through the dark times of Yankees baseball in the early 90’s. There is no doubt he was a instrumental part of those New York Teams during their historic dynasty years.

Finally the Yankees will put him in his rightful place with the other greats in team history, right behind the center field he roamed for years in Monument Park. As the Yankees, who are currently on a slide gear up for their match up against the Rangers tonight, maybe this ceremony tonight will light a fuel under the team and get them back on track.