2006 New York Yankees

The final standing	Lost the ALDS to the Detroit Tigers
Regular season record	97–65 (.599)
Post-season record	1-3
Divisional rank	1st
ALDS record and opponent	Lost 1-3 vs Detroit Tigers
AL rank	1
ALCS record and opponent	Did not play
World Series record and opponent	Did not play
Manager	Joe Torre
Captain	Derek Jeter
Top batter	Home runs: Jason Giambi (37), Alex Rodriguez (35), Johnny Damon (24), Jorge Posada (23) BA: Derek Jeter (.343), Robinson Cano (.342), Bobby Abreu (.330 in 58 games), Hideki Matsui (.302 in 51 games), Alex Rodriguez (.290) Runs: Derek Jeter (118), Johnny Damon (115), Alex Rodriguez (113) RBI: Alex Rodriguez (121), Jason Giambi (113), Derek Jeter (97)
Top pitcher/ (W-L, ERA)	Chien-Ming Wang: 19-6, 3.63 Mike Mussina: 15-7, 3.51 Randy Johnson: 17-11, 5.00
Attendance record	4,248,067 (1st of 14)

2006 New York Yankees season: A brief summary

The 2006 New York Yankees clinched the franchise’s ninth consecutive American League East title after the Boston Red Sox lost to the Minnesota Twins. Despite losing 3-2 to the Toronto Blue Jays that day, the Yankees celebrated the division championship in a wild champagne-soaked clubhouse. The victory marked their 12th straight playoff berth.

The regular season had its share of challenges, with the 2006 New York Yankees overcoming major injuries to key players. The addition of right fielder Bobby Abreu in a trade with Philadelphia on July 30 provided a significant boost to the lineup. The race for the AL East was tight until the Yankees swept a crucial five-game series at Fenway Park in August, expanding their lead over the Red Sox to 6.5 games.

Manager Joe Torre praised the team’s perseverance in the face of adversity, emphasizing the importance of clinching the division early to allow players some rest. The 2006 New York Yankees finished the regular season with 97 wins and 65 losses, securing first place in the AL East with a .599 winning percentage.

The playoffs, however, brought heartbreak for Yankees fans. In the American League Division Series (ALDS), they faced the Detroit Tigers and were defeated 3 games to 1. The Tigers, considered underdogs with a “soup-line roster,” stunned the heavily favored Yankees with their victory. This disappointment was compounded by the success of the crosstown rival New York Mets, who swept the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Division Series (NLDS) and earned the right to compete for the National League pennant.

The rivalry between Yankees and Mets fans reached new heights as the postseason unfolded. Messages exchanged in online forums reflected the intense emotions, with Mets fans reveling in the Yankees’ misfortune and Yankees fans facing the reality of an early postseason exit. The stark contrast in the teams’ fortunes further fueled the animosity between the fan bases.

In the end, the 2006 season for the Yankees was a mix of triumph and disappointment. The celebration of the AL East title showcased the team’s resilience, but the ALDS loss to the Tigers left fans yearning for a deeper playoff run. As the Mets advanced in the postseason, the dichotomy between the two New York teams became more pronounced, adding another layer to the complex and passionate world of baseball fandom in the city.

2006 New York Yankees most memorable moment

July 2, 2006, stands out as one of the most memorable moments in the 2006 New York Yankees season, marked by Alex Rodriguez‘s remarkable performance against the New York Mets. In a 16-7 Yankees blowout, A-Rod delivered an unforgettable display of power, hitting two home runs and driving in an impressive seven runs. However, it wasn’t just his prowess at the plate that made this night stand out; it was the theatrics and ensuing drama that etched this game into Yankees lore.

A-Rod’s histrionics during the game added a layer of intensity to the budding rivalry between the Mets and the Yankees in 2006. After hitting a grand slam, Rodriguez stared into the Yankees dugout, tossed his bat, and emphatically slapped his hands together, a celebratory display that drew the ire of Mets catcher Paul LoDuca. The grand slam, coupled with A-Rod’s animated reaction, set the stage for a heated exchange between the two players.

As Rodriguez neared home plate, Lo Duca couldn’t contain his displeasure and began chirping at A-Rod, expressing his disdain for what he deemed disrespectful behavior. The exchange escalated to the point where the two players had to be separated, highlighting the intensity and passion that often characterize matchups between the Mets and the Yankees.

The incident fueled the flames of the Mets-Yankees rivalry, providing fans with a memorable and contentious moment that added to the rich tapestry of the cross-town feud. A-Rod’s grand slam and the ensuing clash with Lo Duca became a focal point in discussions and debates among fans, contributing to the narrative of a fierce and competitive rivalry between the two New York teams during the 2006 season.

In the larger context of the 2006 New York Yankees season, this incident served as a microcosm of the emotional highs and lows experienced by Yankees fans. While A-Rod’s offensive onslaught showcased the team’s offensive prowess, the confrontation with the Mets symbolized the intensity of the rivalry and the heightened emotions that defined the 2006 season for both teams.

2006 New York Yankees season in videos

ALDS result

Yankees 1-3 Tigers

	Date	Visitor	Score	Home	OT	Win/Loss	Save	Attendance	Record
1	October 3	Detroit	4 – 8	New York (AL)		Wang		56,291	1-0
2	October 5	Detroit	4 – 3	New York (AL)		Mussina		56,252	1-1
3	October 6	New York (AL)	0 – 6	Detroit		Johnson		43,440	1-2
4	October 7	New York (AL)	3 – 8	Detroit		Wright		43,126	1-3

ALCS result

(Didn’t play)

World Series result

(Didn’t play)

2006 New York Yankees roster

Name	Age	B	T	Ht	Wt	DoB	Yrs	G	GS	WAR	Salary
Bobby Abreu	32	L	R	6′ 0″	220	Mar 11, 1974	11	58	55	1.9
T.J. Beam	25	R	R	6′ 7″	215	Aug 28, 1980	1st	20	0	-0.4
Colter Bean	29	R	R	6′ 6″	255	Jan 16, 1977	2	2	0	0
Brian Bruney	24	R	R	6′ 3″	235	Feb 17, 1982	3	19	0	1.1
Melky Cabrera	21	B	L	5′ 10″	210	Aug 11, 1984	2	130	121	3
Miguel Cairo	32	R	R	6′ 1″	225	May 4, 1974	11	81	57	0.8	$1,000,000
Andy Cannizaro	27	R	R	5′ 10″	170	Dec 19, 1978	1st	13	1	0
Robinson Cano	23	L	R	6′ 0″	228	Oct 22, 1982	2	122	119	3.2	$381,000
Shawn Chacon	28	R	R	6′ 3″	212	Dec 23, 1977	6	17	11	-0.9	$3,600,000
Bubba Crosby	29	L	L	5′ 11″	180	Aug 11, 1976	4	65	19	-0.5	$354,250
Johnny Damon	32	L	L	6′ 2″	205	Nov 5, 1973	12	149	144	3.4	$13,000,000
Octavio Dotel	32	R	R	6′ 0″	230	Nov 25, 1973	8	14	0	-0.5	$2,000,000
Scott Erickson	38	R	R	6′ 4″	220	Feb 2, 1968	15	9	0	-0.4
Kyle Farnsworth	30	R	R	6′ 4″	230	Apr 14, 1976	8	72	0	0.7	$5,416,666
Sal Fasano	34	R	R	6′ 2″	220	Aug 10, 1971	9	28	16	-0.3
Jason Giambi	35	L	R	6′ 3″	240	Jan 8, 1971	12	139	134	2.9	$20,428,571
Nick Green	27	R	R	5′ 11″	190	Sep 10, 1978	3	46	22	0.5
Aaron Guiel	33	L	R	5′ 10″	200	Oct 5, 1972	5	44	21	0.5
Sean Henn	25	R	L	6′ 3″	235	Apr 23, 1981	2	4	1	0.1
Derek Jeter HOF	32	R	R	6′ 3″	195	Jun 26, 1974	12	154	154	5.6	$20,600,000
Randy Johnson HOF	42	R	L	6′ 10″	225	Sep 10, 1963	19	33	33	1.7	$15,661,427
Jeff Karstens	23	R	R	6′ 3″	185	Sep 24, 1982	1st	8	6	0.8
Cory Lidle	34	R	R	5′ 11″	175	Mar 22, 1972	9	10	9	0.5
Terrence Long	30	L	L	6′ 1″	190	Feb 29, 1976	8	12	9	-0.4
Hideki Matsui	32	L	R	6′ 2″	210	Jun 12, 1974	4	51	49	0.8	$13,000,000
Mike Mussina HOF	37	L	R	6′ 2″	185	Dec 8, 1968	16	32	32	5	$19,000,000
Mike Myers	37	L	L	6′ 3″	197	Jun 26, 1969	12	62	0	0.7	$1,150,000
Wil Nieves	28	R	R	5′ 11″	190	Sep 25, 1977	3	6	1	-0.1	$328,600
Andy Phillips	29	R	R	6′ 0″	205	Apr 6, 1977	3	110	53	-0.4	$333,150
Sidney Ponson	29	R	R	6′ 1″	220	Nov 2, 1976	9	5	3	-0.6
Jorge Posada	35	B	R	6′ 2″	215	Aug 17, 1970	12	143	123	4	$12,000,000
Scott Proctor	29	R	R	6′ 1″	195	Jan 2, 1977	3	83	0	2.6	$352,675
Darrell Rasner	25	R	R	6′ 3″	210	Jan 13, 1981	2	6	3	0.4
Kevin Reese	28	L	L	5′ 11″	195	Mar 11, 1978	2	10	2	0.2
Mariano Rivera HOF	36	R	R	6′ 2″	195	Nov 29, 1969	12	63	0	3.9	$10,500,000
Alex Rodriguez	30	R	R	6′ 3″	230	Jul 27, 1975	13	154	151	4.5	$21,680,727
Gary Sheffield	37	R	R	5′ 11″	190	Nov 18, 1968	19	39	38	0.4	$10,756,171
Aaron Small	34	R	R	6′ 5″	200	Nov 23, 1971	9	11	3	-0.8	$1,200,000
Matt Smith	27	L	L	6′ 5″	225	Jun 15, 1979	1st	12	0	0.5
Kelly Stinnett	36	R	R	5′ 11″	195	Feb 14, 1970	13	34	24	-0.2	$650,000
Tanyon Sturtze	35	R	R	6′ 5″	190	Oct 12, 1970	11	18	0	-0.3	$1,500,000
Kevin Thompson	26	R	R	5′ 10″	195	Sep 18, 1979	1st	19	7	0.4
Jose Veras	25	R	R	6′ 6″	240	Oct 20, 1980	1st	12	0	0.2
Ron Villone	36	L	L	6′ 3″	245	Jan 16, 1970	12	70	0	0.2	$2,250,000
Chien-Ming Wang	26	R	R	6′ 4″	225	Mar 31, 1980	2	34	33	6	$353,175
Bernie Williams	37	B	R	6′ 2″	180	Sep 13, 1968	16	131	104	-0.4	$1,500,000
Craig Wilson	29	R	R	6′ 2″	217	Nov 30, 1976	6	40	25	-0.9
Kris Wilson	29	R	R	6′ 4″	220	Aug 6, 1976	5	5	1	-0.2
Jaret Wright	30	R	R	6′ 2″	220	Dec 29, 1975	10	31	27	2.1	$7,666,667

2006 New York Yankees additions, transactions, and trades

• On November 3, 2005, Alan Embree entered Free Agency.
• On November 4, 2005, Al Leiter also entered Free Agency.
• Tino Martinez joined Free Agency on November 8, 2005.
• Russ Johnson was signed as a free agent on November 15, 2005.
• On November 16, 2005, Ben Julianel (minors) was traded to the Florida Marlins in exchange for Ron Villone.
• Dusty Bergman was signed as a free agent on November 27, 2005.
• Kelly Stinnett joined as a free agent on December 1, 2005.
• Kyle Farnsworth was signed as a free agent on December 5, 2005.
• On December 8, 2005, Tony Womack and cash were traded to the Cincinnati Reds, and in return, Ben Himes (minors) and Kevin Howard (minors) were received.
• Jose Veras was signed as a free agent on December 12, 2005.
• Matt Childers was signed as a free agent on December 14, 2005.
• Mike Myers joined as a free agent on December 16, 2005.
• Wayne Franklin entered Free Agency on December 21, 2005.
• On January 3, 2006, Johnny Damon was signed as a free agent.
• Octavio Dotel joined as a free agent on January 4, 2006.
• On January 6, 2006, Frank Brooks, Miguel Cairo, Mark Corey, Ben Davis, and Al Leiter were all signed as free agents.
• Damian Rolls was signed as a free agent on January 26, 2006.
• Ramiro Mendoza joined as a free agent on January 30, 2006.
• Graham Koonce was signed as a free agent on February 10, 2006, and Darrell Rasner was selected off waivers from the Washington Nationals.
• On February 15, 2006, Jason Anderson was selected by the San Diego Padres off waivers.
• Scott Erickson was signed as a free agent on February 16, 2006.
• On March 19, 2006, Frank Brooks was released, and Al Leiter retired.
• Graham Koonce was released on March 20, 2006.
• Keith McDonald was purchased from the Texas Rangers on March 24, 2006.
• Koyie Hill was selected off waivers from the Arizona Diamondbacks on April 6, 2006.
• Jesus Colome and Carlos Pena were signed as free agents on April 15, 2006.
• Tommy Phelps was signed as a free agent on April 20, 2006.
• Randy Ruiz joined as a free agent on April 23, 2006.
• Keith McDonald was released on April 24, 2006.
• Damian Rolls was released on May 1, 2006.
• Todd Self was signed as a free agent on May 12, 2006.
• On May 13, 2006, Jason Conti was received from the Pittsburgh Pirates as part of a conditional deal.
• Terrence Long was signed as a free agent on May 18, 2006.
• Erubiel Durazo joined as a free agent on May 21, 2006.
• Nick Green was purchased from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on May 24, 2006.
• Multiple players were drafted in the amateur draft on June 6, 2006.
• Todd Self was released on June 10, 2006.
• Scott Erickson was released on June 11, 2006.
• Jason Conti was released on June 13, 2006.
• Scott Patterson was purchased from Lancaster (Atlantic) on June 17, 2006.
• R.J. Swindle was purchased from Schaumburg (Northern) on June 20, 2006.
• Brian Bruney was signed as a free agent on July 1, 2006.
• Multiple players were signed as amateur free agents on July 2, 2006, and Erubiel Durazo was released.
• Aaron Guiel was selected off waivers from the Kansas City Royals on July 5, 2006.
• Edwar Ramirez was purchased from Edinburg (United) on July 9, 2006.
• Dusty Bergman was released on July 10, 2006.
• Sidney Ponson was signed as a free agent on July 14, 2006.
• On July 26, 2006, Kelly Stinnett was released, and Hector Made (minors) was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for Sal Fasano.
• On July 30, 2006, C.J. Henry (minors), Jesus Sanchez (minors), Carlos Monasterios, and Matt Smith were traded to the Philadelphia Phillies, and in return, Bobby Abreu and Cory Lidle were received.
• Shawn Chacon was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates on July 31, 2006, in exchange for Craig Wilson.
• John Axford was signed as an amateur free agent on August 11, 2006.
• Carlos Pena was released on August 16, 2006.
• Frank Menechino was signed as a free agent on August 17, 2006.
• Sidney Ponson was released on August 23, 2006.
• On September 13, 2006, Ben Davis was released.

2006 New York Yankees player debuts

• T.J. Beam – 06-17-2006 – 25 years old
• Andy Cannizaro – 09-05-2006 – 27 years old
• Jeff Karstens – 08-22-2006 – 23 years old
• Matt Smith – 04-14-2006 – 26 years old
• Kevin Thompson – 06-03-2006 – 26 years old
• Jose Veras – 08-05-2006 – 25 years old

2006 New York Yankees team stats (batting)

Pos	Name	Age	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA
C	Jorge Posada	35	143	545	465	65	129	27	2	23	93	3	0	64	97	0.277
1B	Andy Phillips	29	110	263	246	30	59	11	3	7	29	3	2	15	56	0.24
2B	Robinson Cano	23	122	508	482	62	165	41	1	15	78	5	2	18	54	0.342
SS	Derek Jeter	32	154	715	623	118	214	39	3	14	97	34	5	69	102	0.343
3B	Alex Rodriguez	30	154	674	572	113	166	26	1	35	121	15	4	90	139	0.29
LF	Melky Cabrera	21	130	524	460	75	129	26	2	7	50	12	5	56	59	0.28
CF	Johnny Damon	32	149	671	593	115	169	35	5	24	80	25	10	67	85	0.285
RF	Bobby Abreu	32	58	248	209	37	69	16	0	7	42	10	2	33	52	0.33
DH	Jason Giambi	35	139	579	446	92	113	25	0	37	113	2	0	110	106	0.253
OF	Bernie Williams	37	131	462	420	65	118	29	0	12	61	2	0	33	53	0.281
2B	Miguel Cairo	32	81	244	222	28	53	12	3	0	30	13	1	13	31	0.239
LF	Hideki Matsui	32	51	201	172	32	52	9	0	8	29	1	0	27	23	0.302
RF	Gary Sheffield	37	39	166	151	22	45	5	0	6	25	5	1	13	16	0.298
1B	Craig Wilson	29	40	109	104	15	22	4	0	4	8	0	0	4	34	0.212
OF	Bubba Crosby	29	65	96	87	9	18	3	1	1	6	3	1	4	21	0.207
UT	Aaron Guiel	33	44	92	82	16	21	3	0	4	11	2	1	7	20	0.256
C	Kelly Stinnett	36	34	87	79	6	18	3	0	1	9	0	0	5	29	0.228
IF	Nick Green	27	46	82	75	8	18	5	0	2	4	1	1	5	29	0.24
C	Sal Fasano	34	28	57	49	3	7	4	0	1	5	0	0	2	14	0.143
OF	Terrence Long	30	12	40	36	6	6	1	0	0	2	0	0	4	8	0.167
OF	Kevin Thompson	26	19	37	30	5	9	3	0	1	6	2	0	6	9	0.3
OF	Kevin Reese	28	10	14	12	2	5	0	0	0	1	1	0	1	1	0.417
IF	Andy Cannizaro	27	13	9	8	5	2	0	0	1	1	0	0	1	1	0.25
C	Wil Nieves	28	6	6	6	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
	Team Totals	31	162	6455	5651	930	1608	327	21	210	902	139	35	649	1053	0.285
	Rank in 14 AL teams				4	1	1	5	11	2		2	8	3	8	2

2006 New York Yankees team stats (pitching)

Pos	Name	Age	W	L	W-L%	ERA	G	GS	GF	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	R	ER
SP	Chien-Ming Wang	26	19	6	0.76	3.63	34	33	1	2	1	1	218	233	92	88
SP	Randy Johnson	42	17	11	0.607	5	33	33	0	2	0	0	205	194	125	114
SP	Mike Mussina	37	15	7	0.682	3.51	32	32	0	1	0	0	197.1	184	88	77
SP	Jaret Wright	30	11	7	0.611	4.49	30	27	0	0	0	0	140.1	157	76	70
SP	Shawn Chacon	28	5	3	0.625	7	17	11	0	0	0	0	63	77	54	49
CL	Mariano Rivera	36	5	5	0.5	1.8	63	0	59	0	0	34	75	61	16	15
RP	Scott Proctor	29	6	4	0.6	3.52	83	0	12	0	0	1	102.1	89	41	40
RP	Ron Villone	36	3	3	0.5	5.04	70	0	19	0	0	0	80.1	75	48	45
RP	Kyle Farnsworth	30	3	6	0.333	4.36	72	0	24	0	0	6	66	62	34	32
RP	Mike Myers	37	1	2	0.333	3.23	62	0	6	0	0	0	30.2	29	14	11
	Cory Lidle	34	4	3	0.571	5.16	10	9	0	0	0	0	45.1	49	26	26
	Jeff Karstens	23	2	1	0.667	3.8	8	6	2	0	0	0	42.2	40	20	18
	Aaron Small	34	0	3	0	8.46	11	3	2	0	0	0	27.2	42	29	26
	Brian Bruney	24	1	1	0.5	0.87	19	0	2	0	0	0	20.2	14	2	2
	Darrell Rasner	25	3	1	0.75	4.43	6	3	1	0	0	0	20.1	18	10	10
	T.J. Beam	25	2	0	1	8.5	20	0	5	0	0	0	18	26	17	17
	Sidney Ponson	29	0	1	0	10.47	5	3	1	0	0	0	16.1	26	20	19
	Matt Smith	27	0	0		0	12	0	6	0	0	0	12	4	0	0
	Scott Erickson	38	0	0		7.94	9	0	2	0	0	0	11.1	13	12	10
	Jose Veras	25	0	0		4.09	12	0	4	0	0	1	11	8	5	5
	Tanyon Sturtze	35	0	0		7.59	18	0	2	0	0	0	10.2	17	10	9
	Octavio Dotel	32	0	0		10.8	14	0	7	0	0	0	10	18	13	12
	Sean Henn	25	0	1	0	4.82	4	1	0	0	0	0	9.1	11	5	5
	Kris Wilson	29	0	0		8.64	5	1	1	0	0	0	8.1	14	8	8
	Colter Bean	29	0	0		9	2	0	1	0	0	0	2	2	2	2
	Team Totals	32.5	97	65	0.599	4.41	162	162	157	5	1	43	1443.2	1463	767	708
	Rank in 14 AL teams		1	14		6				4	7	7	6	4	6	7

2006 New York Yankees record vs. opponents/ team splits

Opponent (Games)	Won	Lost	WP
Atlanta Braves (3)	2	1	0.667
Baltimore Orioles (19)	12	7	0.632
Boston Red Sox (19)	11	8	0.579
Chicago White Sox (6)	4	2	0.667
Cleveland Indians (7)	4	3	0.571
Detroit Tigers (7)	5	2	0.714
Florida Marlins (3)	2	1	0.667
Kansas City Royals (9)	7	2	0.778
Los Angeles Angels (10)	4	6	0.400
Minnesota Twins (6)	3	3	0.500
New York Mets (6)	3	3	0.500
Oakland Athletics (9)	3	6	0.333
Philadelphia Phillies (3)	2	1	0.667
Seattle Mariners (6)	3	3	0.500
Tampa Bay Devil Rays (18)	13	5	0.722
Texas Rangers (10)	8	2	0.800
Toronto Blue Jays (18)	10	8	0.556
Washington Nationals (3)	1	2	0.333

2006 New York Yankees monthly record

Month (Games)	Won	Lost	WP
April (23)	13	10	0.565
May (28)	18	10	0.643
June (26)	14	12	0.538
July (25)	16	9	0.640
August (30)	18	12	0.600
September (29)	18	11	0.621
October (1)	0	1	0.000

2006 New York Yankees All-Stars

• Derek Jeter
• Alex Rodriguez
• Mariano Rivera
• Robinson Cano

2006 New York Yankees awards and honors

• Derek Jeter – AL Gold Glove, Hank Aaron Award, AL Silver Slugger
• Robinson Cano – AL Silver Slugger

Other Achievements

• Derek Jeter finished 2nd in AL MVP Voting.
• Chien-Ming Wang finished 2nd in AL Cy Young Voting.
• Joe Torre finished 4th in AL Manager of the Year Voting.

MVP Snub of ’06: Jeter’s unforgettable season overshadowed

In 2006, despite having one of his absolute greatest seasons, Derek Jeter found himself on the outside looking in when it came to the AL MVP race. The Yankees shortstop had been a consistent force for his team throughout his illustrious career, and this particular season was no exception. Leading the Yankees to a formidable 97-win season, Jeter showcased his exceptional skills both offensively and defensively. However, when the MVP award was announced, it was Justin Morneau of the Minnesota Twins who claimed the honor.

The 2006 New York Yankees, not among the best teams during Jeter’s era, owed much of their success that year to his outstanding performance. Jeter finished the season with a .343 batting average, collecting 214 hits, 118 runs scored, 97 RBIs, and 34 stolen bases. His offensive prowess was complemented by his defensive excellence, earning him his third consecutive Gold Glove Award at the premium defensive position of shortstop.

Despite Jeter’s remarkable season, the MVP went to Morneau, who compiled impressive numbers with a .321 average, 34 home runs, and 130 RBIs. The decision sparked controversy, with many questioning whether Morneau truly deserved the award over other candidates like David Ortiz, Jermaine Dye, Travis Hafner, and Vladimir Guerrero.

In hindsight, the debate continues. MLB.com conducted a re-vote in which 15 writers participated, considering the players who received MVP votes that year. The outcome of this re-vote placed Jeter at the top, with David Ortiz, Johan Santana, Grady Sizemore, and Travis Hafner rounding out the “new” Top 5. This exercise only fueled the frustration among 2006 New York Yankees fans and supporters of Jeter, underscoring the belief that he was unjustly denied the MVP recognition that season.

The absence of an MVP Award on Jeter’s otherwise illustrious resumé remains a point of contention and disappointment for many fans. Despite consistently being among the top players in the league, Jeter’s contributions often seemed undervalued when it came to individual accolades, leaving a lingering sense of what could have been in the 2006 New York Yankees.

How do you rate the 2006 New York Yankees?