NEWSLETTER
Back before the 1992 MLB Draft, the Houston Astros (who had the first pick overall) had a scout by the name of Hal Newhouser.
Newhouser had evaluated and followed a young Derek Jeter closely in the months leading up to the draft, and lobbied for the Astros to take him first overall. Worried that he would require a signing bonus of $1 million or more, however, the Astros (as well as four other teams) passed on Jeter. He was later selected by the Yankees sixth overall, and signed for a total of $800,000 (just $100,000 more than the Astros paid top pick Phil Nevin). Newhouser felt so strongly about Jeter and his future, that he quit his job with the Astros in protest.
24 years later, the Yankees are retiring his number.
https://twitter.com/Yankees/status/806151664218554368
Indeed, in a pregame ceremony on Mother’s Day (May 14th) 2017, the Yankees will retire Derek Jeter’s No. 2 and unveil his Monument Park Plaque. He will be the first retired number since Bernie Williams, Jorge Posada and Andy Pettitte each had theirs retired during the 2015 season.
And with No. 2 off the board, there are no more single digit Yankees numbers available.
#1 – Billy Martin
#2 – Derek Jeter
#3 – Babe Ruth
#4 – Lou Gehrig
#5 – Joe DiMaggio
#6 – Joe Torre
#7 – Mickey Mantle
#8 – Yogi Berra, Bill Dickey
#9 – Roger Maris
Oh and by the way, the Yankees are scheduled to host the Houston Astros on Mother’s Day.
