The Arbitrary (and Unfair) Nature of Monument Park
- Paul Semendinger
- Aug 21
- 5 min read
By Paul Semendinger
August 21, 2026
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Monument Park in Yankee Stadium is supposed to be the hallowed ground where the Yankees honor their legends.
Except, the Yankees do not honor all of their legends. There are many players that deserve to be in Monument Park who are not there.
All week I have been running articles that demonstrate this very clearly:
The Yankees have also never explained how players are selected for this honor. There are no selection guidelines. There is no calendar for inclusion. The entire process is completely arbitrary.
And, as such, it is unfair to many Yankees legends who deserve to be there, but for reasons known only to Yankees personnel, are not.
The Arbitrary Calendar of Inclusion
Monument Park became part of Yankee Stadium in 1976 when the new stadium opened. Before that time, the players, manager, and executive who were honored had their monuments or plaques in centerfield - on the field of play.
Before 1976, Monument Park was reserved only for the greatest of the great in Yankees history. Only four players had plaques or monuments: Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, and Mickey Mantle. The only other people thusly honored were manager Miller Huggins, executive Ed Barrow, and owner Jacob Ruppert,
In 1976, two great Yankees managers, Joe McCarthy and Casey Stengel were enshrined there.
In 1980, the late Thurman Munson, who died tragically in a plane crash the season before was honored thusly.
It took four more years before two other Yankees were honored. In 1984, Elston Howard and Roger Maris were added. Howard was the first black Yankee. Maris had set the single-season homerun record in 1961.
In 1985, Phil Rizzuto, a great Yankees shortstop and longtime announcer was added.
In 1986, Billy Martin, a second baseman and manager, joined the ranks.
In 1987, two Hall of Fame left-handed pitchers were added: Lefty Gomez and Whitey Ford.
In 1988, two great Hall of Fame catchers, Bill Dickey and Yogi Berra, were included.
In 1989, stalwart ace pitcher Allie Reynolds earned inclusion.
And then... nothing. Despite the fact that many many many other great Yankees legends were eligible for inclusion, the Yankees honored no one. For years.
No Yankee earned recognition for inclusion in Monument Park until 1997, a full eight years, when Don Mattingly as added.
In 1998, the Yankees added long-time announcer Mel Allen.
Two years later, in 2000, Bob Sheppard, the long-time voice of Yankee Stadium eared this honor.
Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson was given his plaque in 2002.
Ron Guidry, ace left-hander, was recognized in 2003.
Hall of Fame pitcher Red Ruffing earned the honor in 2004.
And then again, inexplicably, for years, no one was added.
In 2010, the Yankees honored owner George Steinbrenner.
In 2014, the Yankees honored a host of players - Tino Martinez, Paul O'Neill, manager Joe Torre and Hall of Famer Goose Gossage all went in.
In 2015, Bernie Williams, Willie Randolph, Mel Stottlemyre, Jorge Posada, and Andy Pettitte went in.
In 2016, it was Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera.
In 2017, Hall of Famer Derek Jeter earned this honor.
And, then again, nothing. No one. The Yankees added no players or executives from their long history. No one was added for eight years.
In 2026, Hall of Famer C.C. Sabathia will earn this recognition.
What about the others who deserve this?
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Yankees Eras
It is clear that players from certain eras are more represented in Monument Park than others.
Note the following:
(Quick note - I assigned the honorees by the era in which they mostly played or achieved their greatness. A good number of these men crossed different decades but the assignments I assigned are valid and make the point. When in doubt, I primarily put the players where they won the most championships.)
Pre-1920: None are recognized
1920s - Babe Ruth
1930s - Lou Gehrig, Lefty Gomez, Bill Dickey, Red Ruffing
1940s - Joe DiMaggio, Phil Rizzuto
1950s - Mickey Mantle, Whitey Ford, Yogi Berra, Allie Reynolds, Billy Martin*
1960s - Elston Howard, Roger Maris, Mel Stottlemyre
1970s - Thurman Munson, Ron Guidry, Willie Randolph, Rich Gossage, Reggie Jackson
1980s - Don Mattingly
1990s - Tino Martinez, Paul O'Neill, Bernie Williams, Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada, Andy Pettitte
2000s -
2010s - C. C. Sabathia
While many of the 1990s players also played into and through the 2000s, it seems clear that that most recent championship dynasty is most represented in Monument Park.
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Positions Honored:
Starting Pitchers: Lefty Gomez, Whitey Ford, Allie Reynolds, Ron Guidry, Red Ruffing, Andy Pettitte, Mel Stottlemyre, C.C. Sabathia
Relief Pitchers: Mariano Rivera, Rich Gossage
Catcher: Thurman Munson, Elston Howard, Bill Dickey, Yogi Berra, Jorge Posada
First Base: Lou Gehrig, Don Mattingly, Tino Martinez
Second Base: Willie Randolph, Billy Martin*
Shortstop: Phil Rizzuto, Derek Jeter
Third Base: None
Outfield: Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, Reggie Jackson, Paul O'Neill, Bernie Williams
Catcher: Thurman Munson, Elston Howard, Bill Dickey, Yogi Berra, Jorge Posada
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Hall of Famers
There are a host of long-time Yankees Hall of Fame players who are not in Monument Park:
Willie Keeler
Clark Griffith
Jack Chesbro
Herb Pennock
Home Run Baker
Waite Hoyt
Earle Combs
Catfish Hunter
Tony Lazzeri
Dave Winfield
Wade Boggs
Rickey Henderson
Joe Gordon
Mike Mussina
The Yankees have never explained why these Hall of Famers are not recognized in Monument Park.
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Award Winners
The following major award winners as Yankees are not recognized in Monument Park:
MVPs: Joe Gordon, Spud Chandler, Alex Rodriguez
Cy Young Award: Bob Turley, Sparky Lyle, Roger Clemens
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Some Other Forgotten Stars
There are hosts of other players who, for many years, contributed to the history of the Yankees' greatness. Many have been forgotten, in part, because they have been excluded from Monument Park and therecognition that comes with that.
A partial list of these other import players includes, but is certainly not limited, to:
Bob Shawkey
Wally Pipp
Bob Meusel
George Selkirk
Johnny Murphy
Red Rolfe
Snuffy Stirnweiss
Charlie Keller
Tommy Henrich
Frank Crosetti
Hank Bauer
Ed Lopat
Vic Raschi
Jerry Coleman
Gil McDougald
Bobby Richardson
Moose Showron
Roy White
Bobby Murcer
Graig Nettles
Sparky Lyle
Dave Righetti
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No Shortage of Candidates
In short, there are no shortage of candidates, legendary and important Yankees, who deserve to be included in Monument Park. Many have been listed above, but the lists I created are certainly not complete.
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Time For A Change
The Yankees have never published the actual criteria for inclusion in Monument Park. It seems that some eras are better represented. It seems some players are largely forgotten.
The process for inclusion is arbitrary. That process is unfair to the excluded players, and in a larger sense, to Yankees history itself.
Since the Yankees have a location in the stadium where they honor their great players, it only makes sense that a public process be developed whereby all of the worthy candidates have the opportunity to gain inclusion.
It is time for the Yankees to do the right thing and establish the criteria for inclusion in Monument Park and to enshrine new players every year. There are hosts of candidates that deserve this recognition and honor.
It is a shame that the Yankees have such a special place that is handled in such an arbitrary, inconsistent, and unfair manner. It is time for them to make Monument Park more inclusive and less arbitrary.
And that time is now - especially for the oldest most deserving players so they can receive the recognition they deserve.
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