Aaron Boone’s second season as skipper of the New York Yankees has been an interesting one, to say the least. Despite his Bronx Bombers having sent 28 different players onto the Injured List in 35 total stints, they lead the A.L East by 10 games entering Tuesday. The Yankees hold the best record in baseball, 83-43, good for an MLB-best .659 winning percentage.
Where does the credit go for overcoming such nonstop adversity? It could go to a number of different factors. Credit could go to unexpected contributors such as Gio Urshela, Mike Tauchman, and Domingo German. You could also credit general manager Brian Cashman for bringing such players to the Bronx at just the right time.
Boone should get some credit as well, helping to keep the ship steady despite injuries plaguing the team all year long. It’s gotten to the point where Boone should get significant consideration for A.L. Manager of the Year.
But of course, most Yankees fans know this already. What you might not know is that the Yankees’ players aren’t the only ones closing in on a historic season. Their skipper is close to joining franchise history as well.
Boone closing in on Yankee History:
The 46-year-old Boone and his Yankees are closing in on a second straight 100+ win season. Barring a September collapse, Boone would become the first manager in franchise history to win 100 games in each of his first two seasons as manager. Now take a step back and think about that for a moment.
In 119 year, 40 A.L Pennant, 27 World Series championship history of this franchise, not one manager has won 100+ games in each of their first two seasons in pinstripes. Miller Huggins, Joe McCarthy, Bucky Harris, Casey Stengel, Ralph Houk, and Joe Torre never accomplished the feat. Huggins, McCarthy, and Torre did have back-to-back 100+ win seasons during their tenure, though not in their first two seasons. That is quite the company for Boone.
Boone had already written a piece in Yankees lore after his infamous walk-off home run in game seven of the 2003 ALCS against Boston. Not bad for a man who, prior to his hiring in December of 2017, had not had any previous professional coaching experience.