Yankees retire Andy Pettitte's No. 46
One day after retiring the uniform of longtime catcher Jorge Posada, the New York Yankees paid tribute to another member of the franchise's Core Four on Sunday afternoon in Bronx.
Andy Pettitte, the soft-spoken left-hander lauded for his dependability and postseason brilliance through his 15 seasons with the Yankees, received a plaque in Monument Park and watched the club retire his No. 46 during a pregame ceremony before Sunday's series finale against the Cleveland Indians.
Pettitte also got to throw out the game's ceremonial first pitch and, like so many times before, Posada was there behind the plate to catch him.
(Courtesy: MLB.com)
Not surprisingly, the 43-year-old so often praised for his humble nature was uncomfortable being the center of attention.
"It makes me a little uncomfortable being honored like this," he said. "I did not play this game for personal recognition."
Despite Pettitte's compelling resume, the gesture of recognition from the Yankees is somewhat groundbreaking: No player with a connection to performance-enhancing drug use had ever had his number retired. Two days after being named in the infamous Mitchell Report, the left-hander admitted to using human growth hormone on two occasions, a decision he characterized as "an error in judgment."
Still, Pettitte's willingness to admit his mistakes, along with his decorated tenure in pinstripes, made him worthy of recognition, according to Yankees general manager Brian Cashman.
"It is a recognition of how impactful he was on us," Cashman told ESPN New York. "Listen, everyone makes mistakes. Everybody has debits on their ledger, so to speak. But he has got less than most people walking this planet. He is as much deserving of the recognition, both professionally and personally. We are very fortunate to have had a guy like that here."
Pettitte spent his entire career in New York, save for a three-year stint with the Houston Astros. He crafted a 3.85 ERA (117 ERA+) and compiled 256 wins in 531 games, earning three All-Star appearances in 18 seasons. The Louisiana native also won five World Series championships with New York - four of them as part of the club's 1990s dynasty - and holds the all-time record with 19 postseason victories.
"Through it all, this place has become home to me and my family," Pettitte said. "It's hard to believe a kid born in Baton Rouge, La., living in Deer Park, Texas, would find a second home in New York.
"Thank you for supporting me, for getting on me when I needed it and accepting me. There is no better place because of you. Thank you for the best fans in the world," he said.