2007 New York Yankees

The final standing	Lost the ALDS to the Cleveland Indians
Regular season record	94–68 (.580)
Post-season record	1-3
Divisional rank	2nd
ALDS record and opponent	Lost 1-3 vs Cleveland Indians
AL rank	4
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: Alex Rodriguez (54), Hideki Matsui (25), Jorge Posada (20) BA: Jorge Posada (.338), Derek Jeter (.322), Jose Molina (.318 in 29 games), Alex Rodriguez (.314) Runs: Alex Rodriguez (143), Bobby Abreu (123), Johnny Damon (102) RBI: Alex Rodriguez (156), Hideki Matsui (103), Bobby Abreu (101)
Top pitcher/ (W-L, ERA)	Chien-Ming Wang: 19-7, 3.70 Andy Pettitte: 15-9, 4.05 Mike Mussina: 11-10, 5.15
Attendance record	4,271,083 (1st of 14)

2007 New York Yankees season: A brief summary

The 2007 New York Yankees, top contenders for the AL East championship, found themselves in an unusual position, finishing second to the Boston Red Sox in the division. However, they secured a lifeline by clinching the American League wild card, narrowly besting the Seattle Mariners and the Detroit Tigers.

As the postseason unfolded for the 2007 New York Yankees, the tension reached a critical point, with manager Joe Torre‘s future hanging in the balance. Torre, a figure deeply ingrained in Yankees lore with 12 championship-filled years at the helm, faced the looming possibility of his managerial era coming to an end.

The pivotal moment came in the playoff series against the Cleveland Indians when the 2007 New York Yankees found themselves on the brink of elimination. The Indians took a commanding 3-0 lead, prompting speculation that Torre’s tenure might conclude with a disappointing exit.

However, in a dramatic turn of events, the 2007 New York Yankees rallied to save their season and, potentially, Torre’s job. Johnny Damon emerged as the hero with a go-ahead, three-run homer in the fifth inning. Rookies Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain stepped up to rescue the Yankees after Roger Clemens’ early exit.

The atmosphere at Yankee Stadium was electric, with the fans rallying behind Torre and the team. Signs pleading, “DO IT FOR JOE,” highlighted the deep connection between the manager and the passionate Yankees faithful.

Despite owner George Steinbrenner‘s earlier comments suggesting Torre’s job security depended on the series outcome, the 2007 New York Yankees fought back. Damon’s four RBIs and a series of crucial hits, including Hideki Matsui, Robinson Cano, and Melky Cabrera’s contributions, fueled a comeback that mirrored the team’s resilience throughout the season.

The series against the Indians became a symbol of the 2007 New York Yankees’ ability to defy the odds, reminiscent of their rebound from a challenging 21-29 start to the season. The players, led by Damon and supported by the dynamic duo of Hughes and Chamberlain, showcased their determination to prolong Torre’s storied managerial career.

In a game that showcased the Yankees’ trademark resilience, they denied the Indians a ticket to the AL Championship Series, at least for one more night. The crowd of 56,358 erupted in joy as Damon’s home run soared over the wall, providing a moment of catharsis for the fans who had witnessed their 2007 New York Yankees’ troubles and struggles.

As the 2007 New York Yankees faced the challenge of overcoming a 2-1 deficit in the series, the narrative shifted from uncertainty to renewed hope. The emotional rollercoaster of the 2007 season, with its highs and lows, encapsulated the essence of being a Yankees fan—full of passion, drama, and an unwavering belief in the team’s ability to overcome adversity.

Top moments of 2007 New York Yankees

The 2007 Yankees season was characterized by a turbulent start as they set a major league record, utilizing an unprecedented 10 different starting pitchers in the first 30 games. Notably, six of these starters were rookies.

As the season progressed, the 2007 New York Yankees found their stride, embarking on a remarkable 9-game winning streak, their longest since May 2005. This impressive run set the stage for a highly anticipated Subway Series against the New York Mets, showcasing the city’s fierce baseball rivalry.

A pivotal moment in the season occurred on August 4, 2007, during a game against the Kansas City Royals. In the first inning, Alex Rodriguez, one of the Yankees’ biggest stars, made history by hitting his 500th career home run. Rodriguez’s achievement was particularly noteworthy as he became the youngest player ever to reach this milestone at the age of 32 years and 8 days.

Tragedy struck the Yankees community on August 13 when Hall of Fame shortstop Phil Rizzuto, a beloved figure and the long-time voice of the team on television and radio, passed away. In a heartfelt tribute, the 2007 New York Yankees honored Rizzuto by wearing his iconic number 10 on their left sleeves for the remainder of the season, commemorating his lasting impact on the franchise.

The 2007 New York Yankees faced a critical juncture in their season after falling eight games behind in the AL East standings. But they mounted a comeback. A pivotal series against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium saw the team sweep their rivals. Combined with losses by the Seattle Mariners, these victories propelled the 2007 New York Yankees to the top of the AL Wild Card race, keeping their postseason hopes alive.

One of the most memorable moments of the season occurred on September 14 during a marathon game against the Boston Red Sox. Lasting 4 hours and 43 minutes, the contest fell just 2 minutes short of a nine-inning game record. This grueling battle underscored the intensity of the longstanding rivalry between the Yankees and the Red Sox, captivating fans and adding another chapter to the storied history of this fierce competition.

2007 New York Yankees season in videos

ALDS result

Yankees 1-3 Indians

Game	Score	Date	Starting Pitchers	Winning pitcher	Losing pitcher
1	New York 3 at Cleveland 12	October 4	Chien-Ming Wang vs. CC Sabathia	CC Sabathia (1–0)	Chien-Ming Wang (0–1)
2	New York 1 at Cleveland 2	October 5	Andy Pettitte vs. Fausto Carmona	Rafael Pérez (1–0)	Luis Vizcaíno (0–1)
3	Cleveland 4 at New York 8	October 7	Jake Westbrook vs. Roger Clemens	Phil Hughes (1–0)	Jake Westbrook (0–1)
4	Cleveland 6 at New York 4	October 8	Paul Byrd vs. Chien-Ming Wang	Paul Byrd (1–0)	Chien-Ming Wang (0–2)

ALCS Result

(Didn’t play)

World Series result

(Didn’t play)

2007 New York Yankees roster

Name	Age	B	T	Ht	Wt	DoB	Yrs	G	GS	WAR	Salary
Bobby Abreu	33	L	R	6′ 0″	220	Mar 11, 1974	12	158	151	2.4	$15,000,000
Chris Basak	28	R	R	6′ 2″	190	Dec 6, 1978	1st	5	0	0
Colter Bean	30	R	R	6′ 6″	255	Jan 16, 1977	3	3	0	-0.2
Wilson Betemit	25	B	R	6′ 2″	220	Nov 2, 1981	5	37	20	0
Chris Britton	24	R	R	6′ 3″	275	Dec 16, 1982	2	11	0	0.2
Jim Brower	34	R	R	6′ 2″	205	Dec 29, 1972	9	3	0	-0.4
Brian Bruney	25	R	R	6′ 3″	235	Feb 17, 1982	4	58	0	0.2	$395,545
Melky Cabrera	22	B	L	5′ 10″	210	Aug 11, 1984	3	150	137	1.6	$432,400
Miguel Cairo	33	R	R	6′ 1″	225	May 4, 1974	12	54	26	-0.1	$750,000
Robinson Cano	24	L	R	6′ 0″	228	Oct 22, 1982	3	160	157	6.7	$490,800
Joba Chamberlain	21	R	R	6′ 3″	245	Sep 23, 1985	1st	19	0	1.4
Roger Clemens	44	R	R	6′ 4″	205	Aug 4, 1962	24	18	17	1.5	$17,400,000
Tyler Clippard	22	R	R	6′ 3″	200	Feb 14, 1985	1st	6	6	0
Johnny Damon	33	L	L	6′ 2″	205	Nov 5, 1973	13	141	123	2.7	$13,000,000
Matt DeSalvo	26	R	R	6′ 0″	180	Sep 11, 1980	1st	7	6	-0.1
Shelley Duncan	27	R	R	6′ 5″	215	Sep 29, 1979	1st	34	16	0.5
Kyle Farnsworth	31	R	R	6′ 4″	230	Apr 14, 1976	9	64	0	0	$5,666,667
Jason Giambi	36	L	R	6′ 3″	240	Jan 8, 1971	13	83	69	0.9	$23,428,571
Alberto Gonzalez	24	R	R	5′ 10″	195	Apr 18, 1983	1st	12	2	-0.5
Sean Henn	26	R	L	6′ 3″	235	Apr 23, 1981	3	29	1	-0.7	$382,048
Phil Hughes	21	R	R	6′ 5″	240	Jun 24, 1986	1st	13	13	0.9
Kei Igawa	27	L	L	6′ 1″	210	Jul 13, 1979	1st	14	12	-0.2	$4,000,000
Derek Jeter HOF	33	R	R	6′ 3″	195	Jun 26, 1974	13	156	154	3.9	$21,600,000
Jeff Karstens	24	R	R	6′ 3″	185	Sep 24, 1982	2	7	3	-1	$389,495
Ian Kennedy	22	R	R	6′ 0″	210	Dec 19, 1984	1st	3	3	0.6
Hideki Matsui	33	L	R	6′ 2″	210	Jun 12, 1974	5	143	143	4.1	$13,000,000
Doug Mientkiewicz	33	L	R	6′ 2″	195	Jun 19, 1974	10	72	48	1.4	$1,500,000
José Molina	32	R	R	6′ 0″	250	Jun 3, 1975	8	29	16	0.4
Mike Mussina HOF	38	L	R	6′ 2″	185	Dec 8, 1968	17	28	27	1	$11,070,423
Mike Myers	38	L	L	6′ 3″	197	Jun 26, 1969	13	55	0	1	$1,250,000
Wil Nieves	29	R	R	5′ 11″	190	Sep 25, 1977	4	26	21	-0.4	$382,150
Ross Ohlendorf	24	R	R	6′ 4″	240	Aug 8, 1982	1st	6	0	0.1
Carl Pavano	31	R	R	6′ 5″	265	Jan 8, 1976	9	2	2	0	$10,000,000
Andy Pettitte	35	L	L	6′ 5″	235	Jun 15, 1972	13	36	34	3.7	$16,000,000
Josh Phelps	29	R	R	6′ 3″	225	May 12, 1978	7	36	21	-0.5	$600,000
Andy Phillips	30	R	R	6′ 0″	205	Apr 6, 1977	4	61	49	0.7
Jorge Posada	36	B	R	6′ 2″	215	Aug 17, 1970	13	144	131	5.4	$12,000,000
Scott Proctor	30	R	R	6′ 1″	195	Jan 2, 1977	4	52	0	0.5	$455,923
Edwar Ramirez	26	R	R	6′ 3″	165	Mar 28, 1981	1st	21	0	-0.6
Darrell Rasner	26	R	R	6′ 3″	210	Jan 13, 1981	3	6	6	0.3	$384,523
Mariano Rivera HOF	37	R	R	6′ 2″	195	Nov 29, 1969	13	67	0	2	$10,500,000
Alex Rodriguez	31	R	R	6′ 3″	230	Jul 27, 1975	14	158	158	9.4	$22,708,525
Bronson Sardinha	24	L	R	6′ 1″	220	Apr 6, 1983	1st	10	2	0
Kevin Thompson	27	R	R	5′ 10″	195	Sep 18, 1979	2	13	5	-0.2
Jose Veras	26	R	R	6′ 6″	240	Oct 20, 1980	2	9	0	-0.1	$382,475
Ron Villone	37	L	L	6′ 3″	245	Jan 16, 1970	13	37	0	0.5
Luis Vizcaino	32	R	R	6′ 1″	170	Aug 6, 1974	9	77	0	0.7	$3,000,000
Chien-Ming Wang	27	R	R	6′ 4″	225	Mar 31, 1980	3	30	30	5	$489,500
Chase Wright	24	L	L	6′ 2″	205	Feb 8, 1983	1st	3	2	-0.1

2007 New York Yankees additions, transactions, and trades

Offseason Moves

• Cory Lidle tragically lost his life in a plane crash.
• Traded right fielder Gary Sheffield to the Detroit Tigers for pitching prospects.
• Traded pitcher Jaret Wright to the Baltimore Orioles for reliever Chris Britton.
• Andy Pettitte signed as a free agent with the Yankees on December 21, 2006.
• Traded Randy Johnson to the Arizona Diamondbacks for pitcher Luis Vizcaíno and three minor league prospects.

Regular Season Changes

• Kei Igawa, acquired during the offseason, struggled with 26 earned runs in 6 appearances and an ERA of 7.63. Sent to the Tampa Yankees, the Single-A affiliate of the Yankees.
• Roger Clemens announced his return to the Yankees on May 6 after a three-year absence.
• In July, traded Scott Proctor to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Wilson Betemit.
• In July, traded Jeff Kennard for Jose Molina.

2007 New York Yankees player debuts

• Chris Basak – 06-09-2007 – 28 years old
• Joba Chamberlain – 08-07-2007 – 21 years old
• Tyler Clippard – 05-20-2007 – 22 years old
• Matt DeSalvo – 05-07-2007 – 26 years old
• Shelley Duncan – 07-20-2007 – 27 years old
• Alberto Gonzalez – 09-01-2007 – 24 years old
• Phil Hughes – 04-26-2007 – 20 years old
• Kei Igawa – 04-07-2007 – 27 years old
• Ian Kennedy – 09-01-2007 – 22 years old
• Ross Ohlendorf – 09-11-2007 – 25 years old
• Edwar Ramirez – 07-03-2007 – 26 years old
• Bronson Sardinha – 09-15-2007 – 24 years old
• Chase Wright – 04-17-2007 – 24 years old

2007 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	36	144	589	506	91	171	42	1	20	90	2	0	74	98	0.338
1B	Doug Mientkiewicz	33	72	192	166	26	46	12	0	5	24	0	0	16	23	0.277
2B	Robinson Cano	24	160	669	617	93	189	41	7	19	97	4	5	39	85	0.306
SS	Derek Jeter	33	156	714	639	102	206	39	4	12	73	15	8	56	100	0.322
3B	Alex Rodriguez	31	158	708	583	143	183	31	0	54	156	24	4	95	120	0.314
LF	Hideki Matsui	33	143	634	547	100	156	28	4	25	103	4	2	73	73	0.285
CF	Melky Cabrera	22	150	612	545	66	149	24	8	8	73	13	5	43	68	0.273
RF	Bobby Abreu	33	158	699	605	123	171	40	5	16	101	25	8	84	115	0.283
DH	Jason Giambi	36	83	303	254	31	60	8	0	14	39	1	0	40	66	0.236
OF	Johnny Damon	33	141	605	533	93	144	27	2	12	63	27	3	66	79	0.27
1B	Andy Phillips	30	61	207	185	27	54	7	1	2	25	0	3	12	26	0.292
1B	Miguel Cairo	33	54	121	107	12	27	7	0	0	10	8	1	8	19	0.252
IF	Wilson Betemit	25	37	92	84	11	19	4	0	4	24	0	0	6	33	0.226
1B	Josh Phelps	29	36	88	80	8	21	2	0	2	12	0	0	6	19	0.263
DH	Shelley Duncan	27	34	83	74	16	19	1	0	7	17	0	0	8	20	0.257
C	José Molina	32	29	71	66	9	21	5	0	1	9	0	0	2	13	0.318
C	Wil Nieves	29	26	66	61	6	10	4	0	0	8	0	0	2	9	0.164
OF	Kevin Thompson	27	13	23	21	2	4	3	0	0	2	0	0	2	10	0.19
IF	Alberto Gonzalez	24	12	15	14	3	1	0	0	0	1	0	1	1	1	0.071
UT	Bronson Sardinha	24	10	12	9	6	3	0	0	0	2	0	0	2	1	0.333
IF	Chris Basak	28	5	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Team Totals	30.9	162	6528	5717	968	1656	326	32	201	929	123	40	637	991	0.29
	Rank in 14 AL teams				2	1	1	4	7	1		4	8	3	5	1

2007 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	Andy Pettitte	35	15	9	0.625	4.05	36	34	0	0	0	0	215.1	238	106	97
SP	Chien-Ming Wang	27	19	7	0.731	3.7	30	30	0	1	0	0	199.1	199	84	82
SP	Mike Mussina	38	11	10	0.524	5.15	28	27	0	0	0	0	152	188	90	87
SP	Roger Clemens	44	6	6	0.5	4.18	18	17	0	0	0	0	99	99	52	46
SP	Phil Hughes	21	5	3	0.625	4.46	13	13	0	0	0	0	72.2	64	39	36
SP	Kei Igawa	27	2	3	0.4	6.25	14	12	0	0	0	0	67.2	76	48	47
CL	Mariano Rivera	37	3	4	0.429	3.15	67	0	59	0	0	30	71.1	68	25	25
RP	Luis Vizcaino	32	8	2	0.8	4.3	77	0	13	0	0	0	75.1	66	37	36
RP	Kyle Farnsworth	31	2	1	0.667	4.8	64	0	11	0	0	0	60	60	35	32
RP	Brian Bruney	25	3	2	0.6	4.68	58	0	16	0	0	0	50	44	28	26
RP	Mike Myers	38	3	0	1	2.66	55	0	11	0	0	0	40.2	38	14	12
	Scott Proctor	30	2	5	0.286	3.81	52	0	10	0	0	0	54.1	53	27	23
	Ron Villone	37	0	0		4.25	37	0	13	0	0	0	42.1	36	20	20
	Sean Henn	26	2	2	0.5	7.12	29	1	8	0	0	0	36.2	44	32	29
	Matt DeSalvo	26	1	3	0.25	6.18	7	6	0	0	0	0	27.2	34	20	19
	Tyler Clippard	22	3	1	0.75	6.33	6	6	0	0	0	0	27	29	19	19
	Darrell Rasner	26	1	3	0.25	4.01	6	6	0	0	0	0	24.2	29	14	11
	Joba Chamberlain	21	2	0	1	0.38	19	0	3	0	0	1	24	12	2	1
	Edwar Ramirez	26	1	1	0.5	8.14	21	0	5	0	0	1	21	24	19	19
	Ian Kennedy	22	1	0	1	1.89	3	3	0	0	0	0	19	13	6	4
	Jeff Karstens	24	1	4	0.2	11.05	7	3	2	0	0	0	14.2	27	21	18
	Chris Britton	24	0	1	0	3.55	11	0	4	0	0	0	12.2	9	5	5
	Carl Pavano	31	1	0	1	4.76	2	2	0	0	0	0	11.1	12	7	6
	Chase Wright	24	2	0	1	7.2	3	2	0	0	0	0	10	12	8	8
	Jose Veras	26	0	0		5.79	9	0	3	0	0	2	9.1	6	6	6
	Ross Ohlendorf	24	0	0		2.84	6	0	3	0	0	0	6.1	5	2	2
	Jim Brower	34	0	0		13.5	3	0	0	0	0	0	3.1	8	7	5
	Colter Bean	30	0	1	0	12	3	0	0	0	0	0	3	5	4	4
	Team Totals	31.4	94	68	0.58	4.49	162	162	161	1	0	34	1450.2	1498	777	724
	Rank in 14 AL teams		3	11		8				12	13	12	2	6	7	8

2007 New York Yankees record vs. opponents/ team splits

Opponent (Games)	Won	Lost	WP
Arizona Diamondbacks (3)	3	0	1.000
Baltimore Orioles (18)	9	9	0.500
Boston Red Sox (18)	10	8	0.556
Chicago White Sox (10)	6	4	0.600
Cleveland Indians (6)	6	0	1.000
Colorado Rockies (3)	0	3	0.000
Detroit Tigers (8)	4	4	0.500
Kansas City Royals (10)	9	1	0.900
Los Angeles Angels (9)	3	6	0.333
Minnesota Twins (7)	5	2	0.714
New York Mets (6)	3	3	0.500
Oakland Athletics (6)	2	4	0.333
Pittsburgh Pirates (3)	3	0	1.000
San Francisco Giants (3)	1	2	0.333
Seattle Mariners (10)	5	5	0.500
Tampa Bay Devil Rays (18)	10	8	0.556
Texas Rangers (6)	5	1	0.833
Toronto Blue Jays (18)	10	8	0.556

2007 New York Yankees monthly record

Month (Games)	Won	Lost	WP
April (23)	9	14	0.391
May (28)	13	15	0.464
June (27)	16	11	0.593
July (28)	19	9	0.679
August (29)	18	11	0.621
September (27)	19	8	0.704

2007 New York Yankees All-Stars

• Alex Rodriguez
• Derek Jeter
• Jorge Posada

2007 New York Yankees awards and honors

AL MVP: Alex Rodriguez

Silver Slugger Awards

• Alex Rodriguez
• Derek Jeter
• Jorge Posada

Hank Aaron Award

• Alex Rodriguez

Other achievements

• Jorge Posada finished 6th in AL MVP Voting.
• Joe Torre finished 3rd in AL Manager of the Year Voting.

End of a dynasty

On October 14, 2007, George Steinbrenner passed the baton of Yankees leadership to his sons, Hank and Hal Steinbrenner. This pivotal moment marked not just a transition of power for the renowned baseball team but also encompassed the YES Network and the ambitious project of erecting the new Yankee Stadium. “My focus will lean more towards the baseball aspect,” asserted Hank Steinbrenner, adding, “The stadium, that’s more Hal. But essentially, decisions will be a collaborative effort.” Although technically still present, Steinbrenner assumed a chairman-like role within the team. According to team president Randy Levine, “George has embraced a role akin to the chairman of a major corporation,” highlighting his long-standing desire to involve his sons in the family enterprise. Both Hank and Hal stepped up, assuming the day-to-day responsibilities required to steer the Yankees.

Following the 2007 New York Yankees’ postseason exit, uncertainty surrounded the fate of Joe Torre, the team’s manager since 1996. Speculation grew as the team deliberated, and indications suggested Torre might not return. Eventually, a contract was extended to Torre, featuring a reduced salary with incentives. Feeling unfairly treated despite his lengthy tenure, Torre declined the offer and found a new home with the Los Angeles Dodgers. In Torre’s stead, the Yankees welcomed Joe Girardi as their new manager.

How do you rate the 2007 New York Yankees?