In the 1980s, the New York Yankees were led by some of baseball’s biggest sluggers and amazing hurlers. Dave Winfield and Don Mattingly were two of the most notable players on the team, and they made it to the World Series twice during that decade. Unfortunately, they weren’t able to win it all.
Let’s look at five hallmark players for the NY Yankees in the 80s:
- Don Mattingly
- Dave Winfield
- Rickey Henderson
- Goose Gossage
- Willie Randolph
Don Mattingly
The Don was one of the most popular players on the Yankees during the 1980s. I still remember my Don Mattingly signature first base. I would carry it out to the park with my bat, mitt, and balls and practice running through first and, of course, sliding into it.
He was known for his consistent batting and his amazing fielding skills. He also became a team captain in 1985 and led the Yankees to some of their most successful seasons in history. In 1991, Mattingly decided to retire from baseball due to health concerns. He’ll forever be known as the greatest Yankee never to win a world series. This is something that current Yankees fans don’t have to worry about as they beat the Phillies in 2009 and are favorites at New York sports betting outlets to win the World Series in 2022.
It was 38 years ago when Don Mattingly won the American League batting title with an average of .343. But the most amazing part of this win was that he barely edged out his teammate, Dave Winfield, and went on to hit better than .300 in five consecutive seasons after.
Dave Winfield
Dave Winfield was one of the best sluggers in during the 1980s. He led the team in several categories: home runs, RBIs, and batting average. He was elected to the MLB Hall of Fame in 2001, something that his former teammate, Don Mattingly, has still yet to accomplish.
Dave Winfield was a true talent. He finished his career with 3,110 hits and 465 hum-dingers, along with 1,833 runs batted in. Something that many casual fans don’t realize, it Winfield was so athletically talented that he was drafted by pro teams in all of the Big Three of American sports: The San Diego Padres in the MLB, The Minnesota Vikings of the NFL, and the Atlanta Hawks of the NBA. It should be noted that the Utah Stars of the ABA also tried to sign Winfield.
Rickey Henderson
Rickey Henderson was among the most electrifying players in the Yankees lineup during the 1980s. He was a five-time All-Star and led the team in stolen bases for six consecutive seasons. In 1990, he became the first player in baseball history to steal 100 bases and score 100 runs in the same season. He was also a three-time MVP Award winner and helped the Yankees win two World Series championships.
Rickey Henderson holds the record for times caught stealing at 335. But that’s OK when you also hold the all-time record for runs scored at 2295 and stolen bases at 1406. There may not ever be a lead-off hitter as good as Rickey Henderson, and he lent his talents to the Yankees for five years, from 1985 to 1989. His 1985 and 1986 seasons were outstanding. He led the league in runs scored and also led the AL in stolen bases three times during his stint in NY.
Goose Gossage
Another key player for the Yankees throughout the 1980s was Goose Gossage. He was a dominant pitcher who led the team to victory on many occasions. He was known for his blazing fastball and his fierce competitive spirit. Gossage was a major part of the Yankees’ success in the 1980s, and he will be remembered as one of the best closers in team history. Just before he jumped to San Diego, he got 72 saves for the Yanks over a three-year period. In case you wondering, yes, Goose is now in the Hall of Fame. He is also known for giving up that massive HR in the ‘Pine Tar Game’ when George Brett batted the ball over the right field wall.
Brett dinged the ball out of the park, but there was pine tar all the way up the bat, covering the bat’s logo. After a lot of inspection, the officials called Brett out and took the two-run homer away, and the Yanks beat the Royals 4-3.
Willie Randolph
Willie Randolph was one of the most consistent players in Yankees’ history. He led the team in hits and runs scored during the 1980s and was a key part of the championship teams in 1981 and 1978. Randolph was also a respected leader in the clubhouse and served as captain from 1986-1988.
These players led the team to victory on many occasions and are remembered as some of the best players in the Yankees’ history. The Yankees were also fortunate to have great coaches during this time period, including Billy Martin and Lou Piniella. Thanks to these coaches and players, the Yankees were able to an AL Championship in the 1980s.
