Yet Another Thought on Monument Park

by Dusty Writes

September 2026

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I agree that the Yankees should add many more players to Monument Park. It is disappointing that the Yankees organization really have no interest in adding players to Monument Park that we have spoken about. 

Believe it or not, other teams have included ex-Yankees players in their team's Hall of Fames. Here are some examples:

Gene Woodling played only a few seasons for the Baltimore Orioles and was their coach for a brief time, and Woodling is in the Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame. Woodling made a much greater contribution as a player for the Yankees than he did as a player and coach for the Orioles. The Yankees don't acknowledge Woodling's contributions, but the Orioles do. Woodling was a key player on the Yankees 5 straight world championships, and is not in Monument Park, but he is in the Orioles Hall of Fame as he was the coach on one world championship team in Baltimore!

Dave Winfield had most of his great seasons as a Yankees player, yet he is not in Monument Park. Winfield, a Hall of Famer, is in the San Diego Padres Hall of Fame and his number is retired by the Padres.

Jerry Coleman, who served in two wars, is in the Padres Hall of Fame as an announcer. Coleman played in 6 World Series, and batted .275 in his World Series career for the Yankees. The Yankees won 4 of the 6 World Series that Coleman played in. Coleman also played briefly for the 1952 and 1953 world champion Yankees as he served in the military those seasons.

Coleman came through with a clutch double to drive in 3 runs in the 8th inning on the last day of the 1949 season to decide the pennant vs the Boston Red Sox, as the teams had identical records going into the last game. The Yankees won the game and the pennant by a 5-3 score.

In the 1950 World Series sweep vs the Philadelphia Phillies, Coleman was voted best player of the series , batting .286, with 3 rbi. Coleman is not in Monument Park.

Hank Bauer, the manager of the 1966 world champion Orioles is in the Orioles Hall of Fame. Bauer was a major contributor to 7 Yankees world championships and 9 pennants during the greatest dynasty in MLB history, yet Bauer incredibly is not in Monument Park. Hank's great career is even more impressive when it is taken into account he served in the military in WW2 and didn't become a regular or semi-regular player until age 27. 

Herb Pennock, elected to the Hall of Fame, is not in Monument Park. How does a player get elected to the Hall of Fame, but is not qualified to be given an award by his own team? Pennock is in the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame, but the vast majority of his great seasons were when he pitched for the Yankees. In his World Series career, he won 5 games, with no losses, and 3 saves, as he won 4 World Series and 5 pennants in his Yankee career.

Lee MacPahil, farm system director of the Yankees during their greatest period of success, contributed to 7 world championships and 9 pennants, in his 10 seasons in that role. He is in the Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame, but not in Monument Park.

These were just a few players overlooked. The Yankees should recognize these contributors - and more!