Aaron Boone ties Billy Martin’s Yankees record, ranks 7th best in franchise lore

Aaron Boone achieved a significant milestone by securing his 556th managerial win, tying him with Billy Martin for seventh all-time in franchise history. The Yankees rolled out their “B lineup” after a late travel day, a strategic move that paid off. Instead of relying on hero homers, the team focused on singles, bunts, and solid at-bats, showcasing a refreshing approach. This victory underlined Aaron Boone’s adept management style, blending traditional tactics with modern analytical insights, a fitting homage to Martin’s legacy.

Aaron Boone vs. Billy Martin

Billy Martin’s legacy with the Yankees is characterized by his aggressive style and fiery personality. Managing the Yankees over five different stints between 1975 and 1988, Martin accumulated a record of 556-385, boasting a .591 winning percentage. His most notable period was during 1976-1977 when he led the Yankees to consecutive American League pennants and a World Series title. Martin was known for his tactical brilliance, frequently employing strategies like the sacrifice bunt and hit-and-run to keep opponents off balance.

Martin’s tenure, however, was often tumultuous. His confrontational nature led to numerous clashes with players, umpires, and the Yankees’ front office, particularly with owner George Steinbrenner. Despite these challenges, Martin’s ability to transform underperforming teams into contenders was undeniable. His erratic behavior, often exacerbated by alcohol, ultimately led to multiple firings, but his impact on the team remained significant until his tragic death in 1989.

In stark contrast, Aaron Boone, who took over as manager in 2018, has adopted a more measured and analytical approach. Boone, a former player, leverages his experience and communication skills to foster a positive clubhouse atmosphere. His management style relies heavily on data-driven decisions and close collaboration with the front office, which has resulted in consistent success. Under Aaron Boone, the Yankees have enjoyed multiple 100-win seasons and have remained competitive in a highly scrutinized environment.

While Aaron Boone’s record stands at 556-382 with a .592 winning percentage as of June 10, 2024, his managerial style differs significantly from Martin’s. Aaron Boone’s calm demeanor contrasts sharply with Martin’s fiery personality. However, both managers share a propensity for standing up for their teams, with Martin being ejected 48 times in 2,267 games and Boone 36 times in 937 games.

Aaron Boone reacts to tying Billy Martin on the Yankees all-time Managerial wins list 💙#YANKSonYES pic.twitter.com/Z2zSQvV1sp

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) June 11, 2024

On being told that he’s taken another step towards greatness in pinstripes, Aaron Boone said: “An amazing manager amazing playing career. Certainly a storied history with this team. A lot of ups and downs, but I think in his time and his generation known as one of the great and really smart managers. I’ve been fortunate to have a lot of great players out there that allowed me to win some games. It’s more of a credit to the people you are surrounded with and the players you get. I certainly have a reverence for this chair and a reverence for the people that went before me”

Aaron Boone’s managerial stats

Year	Age	W	L	W-L%	G	Wpost	Lpost	W-L%post	Challenges	Overturned	Overturn%	Ejections
2018	45	100	62	0.617	162	2	3	0.4	35	26	74.30%	4
2019	46	103	59	0.636	162	5	4	0.556	22	15	68.20%	5
2020	47	33	27	0.55	60	4	3	0.571	12	5	41.70%	2
2021	48	92	70	0.568	162	0	1	0	10	3	30.00%	6
2022	49	99	63	0.611	162	3	6	0.333	33	19	57.60%	9
2023	50	82	80	0.506	162	0	0		30	18	60.00%	7
2024	51	47	21	0.691	68	0	0		6	6	100.00%	3
		W	L	W-L%	G	Wpost	Lpost	W-L%post	Challenges	Overturned	Overturn%	Ejections
		556	382	0.593	938	14	17	0.452	148	92	62.2%%	36

Billy Martin’s managerial stats

Year	Team	W	L	W-L%	G	Wpost	Lpost	W-L%post	Ejections
1969	Minnesota Twins	97	65	0.599	162	0	3	0	3
1971	Detroit Tigers	91	71	0.562	162	0	0		4
1972	Detroit Tigers	86	70	0.551	156	2	3	0.4	2
1973	Detroit Tigers	71	63	0.53	134	0	0		4
1973	Texas Rangers	9	14	0.391	23	0	0		0
1974	Texas Rangers	84	76	0.525	161	0	0		5
1975	Texas Rangers	44	51	0.463	95	0	0		4
1975	New York Yankees	30	26	0.536	56	0	0		1
1976	New York Yankees	97	62	0.61	159	3	6	0.333	2
1977	New York Yankees	100	62	0.617	162	7	4	0.636	2
1978	New York Yankees	52	42	0.553	94	0	0		2
1979	New York Yankees	55	40	0.579	95	0	0		2
1980	Oakland Athletics	83	79	0.512	162	0	0		4
1981	Oakland Athletics	37	23	0.617	60	3	3	0.5	1
1981	Oakland Athletics	27	22	0.551	49	3	3	0.5	1
1982	Oakland Athletics	68	94	0.42	162	0	0		6
1983	New York Yankees	91	71	0.562	162	0	0		3
1985	New York Yankees	91	54	0.628	145	0	0		0
1988	New York Yankees	40	28	0.588	68	0	0		2
		W	L	W-L%	G	Wpost	Lpost	W-L%post	Ejections
		1253	1013	0.553	2267	15	19	0.441	48

Who’s ahead of Aaron Boone now?

With his 556th win, Aaron Boone is now ranked the seventh-best manager in Yankees history. Dick Howser, with a record of 103-60 and a .632 winning percentage, tops the list. Howser’s brief but impactful tenure in 1980 led the Yankees to the AL Eastern Division championship, though they fell short in the playoffs. Howser’s abrupt resignation, widely seen as a forced move by Steinbrenner, remains a notable chapter in Yankees history.

Joe McCarthy (1931-1946) is the winningest Yankees manager, with a 1,460-867 record (.627 winning percentage). Under McCarthy, the Yankees won eight pennants and seven World Series titles, including four consecutive championships from 1936 to 1939. McCarthy’s 16-season tenure remains a benchmark of managerial excellence.

Casey Stengel (1949-1960) transformed the Yankees into MLB’s most successful team, winning 10 pennants and seven World Series titles during his 12-year tenure. Stengel’s record of five consecutive World Series titles remains unmatched, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest managers in baseball history, with a .623 winning percentage.

Joe Torre (1996-2007) is perhaps the most popular Yankees manager, overseeing one of the greatest dynasties in baseball history. Torre led the Yankees to four World Series titles and six pennants, with a 1,173-767 record and a .605 winning percentage. His 12 consecutive playoff appearances solidified his status as a legendary manager.

Miller Huggins (1918-1929) managed the Yankees for 12 years, guiding them to three World Series titles and six pennants. Huggins finished his career with a 1,067-719 record, laying the foundation for the Yankees’ future success.

Ralph Houk (1961-1963, 1966-1973) led the Yankees to three straight AL Pennants and two World Series titles in his first managerial stint. Houk’s 944-806 record and .539 winning percentage reflect his steady leadership during a transitional period for the team.

Despite being questioned very often and often being a punching bag for fans, since 2018 Aaron Boone has taken great steps in the direction of Yankees greatness. While his wins are somewhat evidence of that, the lack of a World Series in his tenure will always make his list of accomplishments incomplete. For a Yankees fan, there’s just one thing that matters – the World Series. And when you’ve already tasted that sweet victory 27 times, you always want one more. 2024 is Aaron Boone’s best chance to get there. Will he? What do you think? Leave your comment below!

New York Yankees top 10 managers

Rk	Manager	W	L	W-L%	G	Ejections
1	Joe McCarthy	1460	867	0.627	2348	6
2	Joe Torre	1173	767	0.605	1942	22
3	Casey Stengel	1149	696	0.623	1851	12
4	Miller Huggins	1067	719	0.597	1796	14
5	Ralph Houk	944	806	0.539	1757	24
6	Joe Girardi	910	710	0.562	1620	34
7	Aaron Boone	556	382	0.593	938	36
8	Billy Martin	556	385	0.591	941	14
9	Clark Griffith	419	370	0.531	807	23
10	Buck Showalter	313	268	0.539	582	9