The Greatest New York Yankees in Uniform #29

By Paul Semendinger

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

October 31, 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.

Uniform No. 29 is one of the most issued numbers on the Yankees, with 66 players wearing it while playing for the Yankees. Of those players, one stands out as the obvious choice for the greatest ever. That being said, there were some other Yankees who enjoyed a bit of success in this uniform number.

Charlie Silvera was a back-up catcher on the Yankees for nine seasons, from 1948 through 1956. From 1949 onward, he wore uniform No. 29. Across his entire Yankees career, Silvera batted an impressive .291. While he only appeared in one World Series game, he was a member of six Yankees teams that were World Champions.

Jesse Barfield came to the Yankees in 1989 in a trade with the Toronto Blue Jays for pitcher Al Leiter. Over the next four seasons in New York, no Yankees player hit more home runs than Barfield. As a Yankee, Jesse Barfield batted .231 with 62 home runs and 181 runs batted in. In 1993, Jesse Barfield played on the Tokyo Giants in Japan with future Yankees great Hideki Matsui.

Mike Stanton was a Yankees pitcher during their most recent dynasty, from 1997 to 2002 and again briefly in 2005. A relief pitcher who was one of the main set-up men for Mariano Rivera, Stanton pitched in 456 games for the Yankees, the fifth-highest total in Yankees history. Stanton’s overall record as a Yankee was 31-14, 3.77 along with 15 saves. The Yankees won three World Series during his tenure.

The greatest Yankee to wear No. 29 was Hall of Fame pitcher Jim “Catfish” Hunter.

The Yankees signed Jim Hunter before the 1975 season as baseball’s first free agent. Hunter had enjoyed an impressive career pitching for the Oakland A’s. In his years with the A’s, Hunter was a six-time All-Star, a Cy Young Award winner, and a three-time World Champion.

By signing Hunter, the Yankees, who had not been to a World Series since 1964, were announcing that they once again intended to reach the heights of the baseball world. And, they did just that. In his five seasons in New York, from 1975 through 1979, the Yankees went to three World Series, winning two. It is no coincidence that the Yankees became winners during the Catfish Hunter years.

Overall, as a Yankee, Hunter pitched to a record of 63-53 with a 3.58 ERA.

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In retirement, Dr. Semendinger is serving as an interim principal in New Jersey, helping a great school through a transition. An author of a host of books, two of Paul’s newest books will come out in early 2026: The Greatest New York Yankees By Uniform Number (Artemesia Publishing) and West Point at Gettysburg, Vol. 1 (Sunbury Press). Paul loves writing, but he most loves being Grandpa to the greatest babies in the whole world.