Now that Ichiro chose number 31, do you think 51 will be retired?

[ewingandoakley]

So now that Ichiro is a yankee and changed his classic number 51 on the mariners to 31 on the yankees because he knew 51 was Bernie's and that number meant a lot to both Bernie and the Yankees, do you think that the yankees will eventually retire his number. A couple of things you should know are:

Bernie Williams played every year of his 16 year career with the yankees

He had a career .297 average, in his prime hitting in the .320s and .330s.

He crushed 287 career home runs, hitting 30 in 2000.

He had 2336 career hits.

In his prime from 1996 to 2002, he routinely had over 100 RBIs.

He hit 22 postseason home runs, drove in 80 RBIs, and 128 hits for a .275 average and 4 championship rings.

Nobody on the yankees has worn number 51 since Bernie "retired" after the 2006 season.

He was a fan favorite.

He was a five time all-star.

He was one of the best outfielders in baseball in the 90's.

He put together a borderline hall of fame career.

A similar case could be put together for Paul O'Neill.

**It has been assumed for some time that his number would be retired once he officially retired**

So, what do you guys think?

[jth1331]

Re: Now that Ichiro chose number 31, do you think 51 will be retired?

5 of his 16 years did he have 100 or more RBI's
4 of his 16 years did he hit over .320 like you said he did.
"crushed" 287 homeruns

I know he is a Yankee fan favorite, like O'Neill was, but there is a difference between being a good player, like Bernie, and great.
During his time, he went up against great OF's in Griffey, Bonds, Walker, Gwynn, Belle(if you want to classify him as a OF), Sheffield, Ramirez, Guerrero, Sosa, Alou.

Probably near the end there with Alou, who had a quiet nice career.

To answer your question, it depends what the Yankees credentials are for retiring a number. For me, no.

[Qdiddy]

I don't think they will, nor do I think they should. I am a huge yankee fan, and big Bernie Williams fan but I just don't think Bernie's numbers are good enough. A fan favorite without a doubt but so are so many other Yankees, I think you have to have been in a special category to get your number retired on the Yankees as is the case with all the other retired numbers.

I think it fits in right where you said at the end, borderline HOF=borderline number retired. He is close but goes into the class of really good Yankees but not a legend.

[woodser]

Re: Now that Ichiro chose number 31, do you think 51 will be retired?

I absolutely think they should. I think when a team retires a number it is about the numbers but about a whole lot more as well. It is saying this is a guy who played for this team (and in Bernie's case only this team) this is guy who meant a lot to this organization and to our fans. It is saying we want our club and the number 51 to remain synonymous with Bernie Williams and want to honor the commitment, dedication, and hard play/work. Especially for a guy like Bernie who will most likely be overlooked by Cooperstown. When you say to a guy this job has been yours for the better part of 16 years, you've never quit on us, never gone elsewhere for more playing time or to get out from under the big names often traipsing through new york and were going to reward you by offering you a chance to compete with subpar talent with a non guaranteed invite to spring training for a job that was yours in the first place. Given that, the fans, and his beyond decent numbers; I say you have no choice but to retire the 51. I think the only reason they haven't is because of they are unsure of the reaction of retiring the number of a guy who "most likely" wont make it in the hall. Or because theyve already retired so many pretty soon they'll have to start issuing guys 3 digit numbers.

[woodser]

Re: Now that Ichiro chose number 31, do you think 51 will be retired?

Oh yeah 2 more things: I like Paul O'neil and though their career numbers are close...ish; I dont think most fans view them the same, especially in terms of clutch, and the post season and paul did play for cinci for half his career. I don't think I view Paul in that same light.

and 2nd Bernie hit some home runs, I wouldn't say crushed. I like the quotation marks jth. Check out the reel of some of his homers a lot are just over the wall hits that could have been pulled back but were just hit so damn hard and fast that they couldn't get back in time.

[SPTO]

Re: Now that Ichiro chose number 31, do you think 51 will be retired?

jth hit the nail on the head IMO. Williams was a very good hitter but he wasn't a HOFer and while he was a fan favorite that doesn't mean his number should be retired. I mean if that's the case then shouldn't they retire Dave Winfield's number? I know he was vilified by George Steinbrenner but IIRC he wasn't exactly hated by the fans.

I think one reason Ichiro chose not to wear 51 is because he respects Bernie because he played when Bernie was still around. I bet some fresh faced rookie wouldn't really not THAT much or care that much about the number. Besides, if the Yankees retire 51 that's gonna leave one less number to wear!

[NotoriousReignz]

Re: Now that Ichiro chose number 31, do you think 51 will be retired?

The Yankees would never give a rookie #51.

[SPTO]

Re: Now that Ichiro chose number 31, do you think 51 will be retired?

The Yankees would never give a rookie #51.

Well not right now at least, I think what's happening right now is a moratorium on ANYONE wearing 51 but within 10 years you'll see someone wearing it.

[ryan36]

Yes. Randy Johnson and Ichiro definitely deserve to get their number retired

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[NotoriousReignz]

Re: Now that Ichiro chose number 31, do you think 51 will be retired?

The fans flipped over LaTroy Hawkins wearing #21, doubt anyone would go to the Yankees and ask for #51.

[seanjeezy]

Re: Now that Ichiro chose number 31, do you think 51 will be retired?

Yes. Randy Johnson and Ichiro definitely deserve to get their number retired

Sent from my VS920 4G using Tapatalk 2

Randy is being inducted into the Mariners Hall of Fame this Saturday I believe, maybe they'll do it then, although not even Edgar has had his number retired yet.

Edit:

I guess Mariner policy is that you must be eligible for the national baseball Hall of Fame before your number can be retired.

[DieHardYankee26]

Re: Now that Ichiro chose number 31, do you think 51 will be retired?

IF they've waited this long to retire a number, I'd have to guess they're waiting for Griffey.

[SPTO]

Re: Now that Ichiro chose number 31, do you think 51 will be retired?

Edit:

I guess Mariner policy is that you must be eligible for the national baseball Hall of Fame before your number can be retired.

That seems to be the Blue Jays policy as well. They have a ring of honor and with the player's name and number along the I think 400 level. They did break tradition though after Robbie Alomar got into the HOF and retired his number. i think if Halladay goes into the Hall his number would be retired too.

[ewingandoakley]

Re: Now that Ichiro chose number 31, do you think 51 will be retired?

An article about Latroy having to change his number.

[Perfect Zero]

Re: Now that Ichiro chose number 31, do you think 51 will be retired?

One of my more unpopular opinions is that retired numbers are worthless. I wouldn't care if some kid came up with 26 or 34 because we remember the names. There can never be others like Oates and Ryan; the same would be true for the Yankees or any other sports organization.