Pinstripe Alley’s Top 100 Yankees: #9: Bill Dickey: Arguably the most underrated Yankee ever, Bill Dickey was the backbone of one of the most successful eras in franchise history
January 29, 2024
Pinstripe Alley’s Top 100 Yankees: #9: Bill Dickey: Arguably the most underrated Yankee ever, Bill Dickey was the backbone of one of the most successful eras in franchise history
2 comments
> There may be no more underrated Yankee than Bill Dickey. Despite being one of the best players in baseball in his era, his tenure was often overshadowed by the legendary performances of Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig on his own team. After his playing career, the Yankees did retire his No. 8, but not before also giving to another catcher who became an even bigger franchise icon in Yogi Berra.
> Dickey got the nickname “The Man Nobody Knows” more for his quiet and reserved personality, although it’s also somewhat apt for his status among other Yankee legends. However in almost any other era and on almost any other team, he would be considered among the inner circle of franchise icons. He may not always get the recognition among the Yankees’ greats, but Bill Dickey absolutely deserves his place among them.
> With 11 All-Star appearances and eight World Series titles, Bill Dickey is one of the most decorated players in Yankees’ history. He doesn’t get as many historical headlines as most franchise icons and in fact is the only Yankee with a retired number who has never been featured on a YES Network “Yankeeography.” But Dickey set the standard for other legendary catchers to follow him in Bronx lore, and the franchise could have never reached their remarkable heights without him.
2 comments
> There may be no more underrated Yankee than Bill Dickey. Despite being one of the best players in baseball in his era, his tenure was often overshadowed by the legendary performances of Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig on his own team. After his playing career, the Yankees did retire his No. 8, but not before also giving to another catcher who became an even bigger franchise icon in Yogi Berra.
> Dickey got the nickname “The Man Nobody Knows” more for his quiet and reserved personality, although it’s also somewhat apt for his status among other Yankee legends. However in almost any other era and on almost any other team, he would be considered among the inner circle of franchise icons. He may not always get the recognition among the Yankees’ greats, but Bill Dickey absolutely deserves his place among them.
> With 11 All-Star appearances and eight World Series titles, Bill Dickey is one of the most decorated players in Yankees’ history. He doesn’t get as many historical headlines as most franchise icons and in fact is the only Yankee with a retired number who has never been featured on a YES Network “Yankeeography.” But Dickey set the standard for other legendary catchers to follow him in Bronx lore, and the franchise could have never reached their remarkable heights without him.
Who’s left ? Mantle, Jeter, Berra, Gehrig, Ruth, Ford, Rivera, DiMaggio ?