The Greatest New York Yankees in Uniform #12

By Paul Semendinger

October 2025

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NOTE - This article appeared in first in the IBWAA newsletter, Here's the Pitch, on October 18, 2025.

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The following is an excerpt from Paul’s new book, The Greatest New York Yankees By Uniform Number, to be published by Artemesia Publishing on February 10, 2026.

In the history of the team, 53 Yankees have worn uniform No. 12. The number has been worn by a host of stars, former stars, award-winners, and Hall of Famers.

In 2025, Trent Grisham blasted a career-best 34 home runs while wearing that uniform number.

Amazingly, four eventual Hall of Famers wore No. 12 at one point in their Yankees career.

• Waite Hoyt (1929)

• Herb Pennock (1932-33)

• Wade Boggs (1993-97)

• Ivan Rodriguez (2008)

  
  

There is also long list of All-Stars and award-winners (not exclusively with the Yankees and not necessarily while wearing this number) that reads like a who’s-who of excellence who donned this number as Yankees:

• Babe Dahlgren (1938-40): All-Star

• Buddy Rosar (1941-42): 5-Time All-Star

• Charlie Keller (1945-48): 5-Time All-Star

• Billy Martin (1950): All-Star

• Gil McDougald (1951-60): 6-Time All-Star, Rookie of the Year

• Mike Hegan (1964): All-Star

• Ruben Amaro, Sr. (1966-68): Gold Glove

• Ron Blomberg (1969-76): First designated hitter in baseball history

• Jim Spencer (1978-81): All-Star, 2 Gold Gloves

• John Mayberry (1982): Two-time All-Star

• Roy Smalley (1983-84): All-Star

• Roger Clemens (1999-2003, 2007): 11-Time All-Star, MVP, 7-Time Cy Young Award

• Denny Neagle (2000): 2-Time All-Star

• Kenny Lofton (2004): 6-Time All-Star, 4 Gold Gloves

• Tony Womack (2005): All-Star

• Eric Chavez (2011-12): 6 Gold Gloves

• Vernon Wells (2013): Three-Time All-Star, 3 Gold Gloves

• Alfonso Soriano (2002-03, 13-14): Seven-Time All-Star

• Chase Headley (2014-17): Gold Glove

• Troy Tulowitzki (2019): 5-Time All-Star, 2 Gold Gloves

• Isiah Kiner-Falefa (2022-23): Gold Glove

• Trent Grisham (2024-): 2 Gold Gloves

  
  

In addition, four Yankees who wore No. 12 became major-league managers: Billy Martin, Billy Gardner, Joel Skinner, and Torey Lovullo.

Most of the players above wore No. 12 for three seasons or less, which limited their impact on the Yankees, despite their star status.

Three Yankees players wore No. 12 for more than four seasons. These players’ careers need to be examined to determine which was the best Yankee of all time in this uniform number:

• Gil McDougald (1951-60) - 10 seasons

• Ron Blomberg (1969-76) - 8 seasons

• Wade Boggs (1993-97) - 5 seasons

  
  

Wade Boggs, previously a star with the Red Sox, came to the Yankees in 1993 and spent five years with the club. In his Yankees tenure, Boggs was a four-time All-Star. He won two Gold Gloves and helped propel the Yankees to the 1996 World Championship. Overall, Boggs batted .313/24/246, accumulating 18.3 WAR in 601 games en route to the Hall of Fame.

Ron Blomberg, a first baseman who also played some outfield, had the distinction of being the first designated hitter in baseball history. As a Yankee, he batted .302/47/202 in 400 games. Unfortunately for Blomberg, his career was cut short by injuries. He accumulated 9.5 WAR in pinstripes.

Gil McDougald starred at three infield positions — second base, third base, and shortstop — across his 10 seasons as a Yankee. The 1951 Rookie of the Year, McDougald was a six-time All-Star who played in eight World Series with the Yankees (winning six of them). Across his career, McDougald batted over .300 twice and earned MVP votes in five different seasons. Overall, Gil McDougald batted .276 with 112 home runs and 576 runs batted in while accumulating 40.9 WAR over 1,336 games. McDougald spent his entire career with the Yankees and was the greatest Yankee in uniform No. 12.

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A retired principal, Dr. Semendinger was just called back to public education to serve as an interim principal during a school’s leadership transition. Paul also teaches as an adjunct professor at Ramapo College. An author, he will have no fewer than three new books published in 2026 including the aforementioned text on the greatest Yankees by uniform number. Paul is also the grandfather of the best two toddlers in the entire world. (Being Grandpa is his favorite role).