NEW YORK — The Yankees will retire former manager Joe Torre’s No. 6, leaving Derek Jeter’s No. 2 as the last single digit in New York’s pinstripes.
Torre, Rich Gossage, Tino Martinez and Paul O’Neill also will be honored with plaques in Monument Park, the team said Thursday.
Torre managed the Yankees to World Series titles in 1996 and from 1998-00 and six AL pennants during 12 seasons as manager that ended in 2007. Currently Major League Baseball’s executive vice president for baseball operations, he is being inducted into baseball’s Hall of Fame this summer.
“I am incredibly humbled,” Torre said in a statement. “The Hall of Fame became possible for me because of what our players accomplished in 12 memorable years representing this historic franchise together. I hope that number 6 will stand for everything that our players achieved.”
Torre’s number will be retired during a ceremony in Monument Park on Aug. 23. His number will join those of Billy Martin (1), Babe Ruth (3), Lou Gehrig (4), Joe DiMaggio (5), Mickey Mantle (7), Yogi Berra and Bill Dickey (8), Roger Maris (9), Phil Rizzuto (10), Thurman Munson (15), Whitey Ford (16), Don Mattingly (23), Elston Howard (32), Casey Stengel (37), Mariano Rivera (42), Reggie Jackson (44) and Ron Guidry (49).
Jeter, the Yankees’ captain since 2003, said in February this will be his final season.
Martinez’s ceremony will be June 21 as part of Old-Timers’ Day weekend followed the next day by the honors for Gossage, one of only a handful of pitchers in the Hall of Fame who primarily were relievers. O’Neill’s ceremony will be Aug. 9.
The Yankees said the ceremonies are part of a recognition series that will include Bernie Williams in 2015, but they did not specify what honor Williams will receive.
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