The 1996 New York Yankees season was the 94th season for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball. The Yankees played its home games at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx.
In Joe Torre's first season as manager, the team finished first in the American League Eastern Division with a record of 92–70, 4 games ahead of the Baltimore Orioles, for their first division title since 1981 (although the 1994 team had the best record in the American League and appeared to be on its way to winning the division when the season was ended prematurely by the players' strike).
The Yankees defeated the Texas Rangers, three games to one, in the American League Division Series, then defeated the Orioles in the American League Championship Series, four games to one.
In the World Series the Yankees beat the defending World Series champion Atlanta Braves, four games to two, for the club's 23rd World Series title and its first since 1978, winning four straight games after losing the first two at home. They finished the post-season with an 8–0 record on the road while going just 3–4 at home.
It was the final season for Hall of Fame announcer Phil Rizzuto, who retired after a forty-year career as a radio and TV announcer for Yankee games.
Offseason November 2, 1995: The Yankees name Joe Torre as their new manager. December 4, 1995: Jalal Leach was drafted by the Montreal Expos from the New York Yankees in the 1995 minor league draft. December 7, 1995: Russ Davis and Sterling Hitchcock were traded by the Yankees to the Seattle Mariners for Tino Martinez, Jeff Nelson and Jim Mecir. December 11, 1995: Mariano Duncan was signed as a free agent by the Yankees.Mariano Duncan at Baseball Reference December 21, 1995: David Cone was signed as a free agent by the Yankees.David Cone at Baseball Reference December 28, 1995: The Yankees traded a player to be named later to the Chicago White Sox for Tim Raines. The Yankees completed the deal by sending Blaise Kozeniewski to the White Sox on February 6, 1996.Tim Raines at Baseball Reference February 20, 1996: Dwight Gooden was signed as a free agent by the Yankees.Dwight Gooden at Baseball Reference February 24, 1996: Tim McIntosh was signed as a free agent by the Yankees.Tim McIntosh at Baseball Reference March 31, 1996: Rafael Quirico was released by the Yankees.Rafael Quirico at Baseball Reference
Regular season
Notable transactions June 4, 1996: 1996 Major League Baseball draft Nick Johnson was drafted by the Yankees in the 3rd round. Player signed June 14, 1996.Nick Johnson at Baseball Reference Scott Seabol was drafted by the Yankees in the 88th round. Player signed June 25, 1996.Scott Seabol at Baseball Reference June 12, 1996: Rich Monteleone was traded by the Yankees to the California Angels for Mike Aldrete.Mike Aldrete at Baseball Reference June 12, 1996: Wally Whitehurst was selected off waivers by the Yankees from the Montreal Expos.Wally Whitehurst at Baseball Reference July 4, 1996: Darryl Strawberry was purchased by the Yankees from the St. Paul Saints.Darryl Strawberry at Baseball Reference July 31, 1996: Rubén Sierra and Matt Drews (minors) were traded by the Yankees to the Detroit Tigers for Cecil Fielder.Cecil Fielder at Baseball Reference July 31, 1996: Dave Weathers was traded by the Florida Marlins to the New York Yankees for Mark Hutton. August 22, 1996: Luis Sojo was selected off waivers by the Yankees from the Seattle Mariners.Luis Sojo at Baseball Reference August 23, 1996: Bob Wickman and Gerald Williams were traded by the Yankees to the Milwaukee Brewers for Pat Listach, Graeme Lloyd and a player to be named later. The Brewers completed the trade by sending Ricky Bones to the Yankees on August 29.Pat Listach at Baseball Reference August 30, 1996: The Yankees traded a player to be named later to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Charlie Hayes. The Yankees completed the deal by sending Chris Corn to the Pirates on August 31.Charlie Hayes at Baseball Reference September 6, 1996: Robert Eenhoorn was selected off waivers from the Yankees by the California Angels.Robert Eenhoorn at Baseball Reference September 12, 1996: Wally Whitehurst was released by the Yankees.
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
Roster 1996 New York Yankees Roster Pitchers Catchers
Infielders Outfielders
Other batters Manager
Coaches (First Base) (Hitting) (Bullpen) (Third Base) (Pitching) (Bench)
Game log Regular season Legend Yankees win Yankees loss Yankees tie Postponement Clinched divisionBoldYankees team member
|- style="background:#bbb;" | style=";" |— || || style=";" |1:05p.m. EST || style=";" |@ Indians || colspan=8 style=";" |Postponed (Snow) (Makeup date: April 4) |- style="background:#bfb;" | style=";" |1 || || style=";" |1:08p.m. EST || style=";" |@ Indians || style=";" |W 7–1 || style=";" |Cone (1–0) || style=";" |Martínez (0–1) || style=";" |— || style=";" |3:08 || style=";" |42,289 || style=";" |1–0 || style=";" |W1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | style=";" |2 || || style=";" |7:05p.m. EST || style=";" |@ Indians || style=";" |W 5–1 || style=";" |Pettitte (1–0) || style=";" |McDowell (0–1) || style=";" |Nelson (1) || style=";" |3:18 || style=";" |41,843 || style=";" |2–0 || style=";" |W2 |- style="background:#bbb;" | style=";" |— || || style=";" |7:05p.m. EST || style=";" |@ Indians || colspan=8 style=";" |Postponed (Rain) (Makeup date: June 21) |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 3 || April 6 || @ Rangers || 2–4 || Witt || Key (0–1) || Henneman || 35,510 || 2–1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 4 || April 7 || @ Rangers || 2–7 || Hill || Gooden (0–1) || — || — || 2–2 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 5 || April 7 || @ Rangers || 1–4 || Pavlik || Howe (0–1) || Vosberg || 36,248 || 2–3 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 6 || April 9 || Royals || 7–3 || Pettitte (2–0) || Haney || — || 56,329 || 3–3 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 7 || April 11 || Royals || 5–3 || Key (1–1) || Belcher || Howe (1) || 17,519 || 4–3 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 8 || April 12 || Rangers || 4–3 || Cone (2–0) || Hill || Wetteland (1) || 20,238 || 5–3 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 9 || April 13 || Rangers || 6–10 || Pavlik || Gooden (0–2) || Vosberg || 19,603 || 5–4 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 10 || April 14 || Rangers || 12–3 || Pettitte (3–0) || Gross || — || 20,181 || 6–4 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 11 || April 16 || @ Brewers || 3–6 || Karl || Key (1–2) || — || 7,059 || 6–5 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 12 || April 17 || @ Brewers || 4–8 || Bones || Cone (2–1) || — || 7,124 || 6–6 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 13 || April 19 || @ Twins || 1–7 || Rodriguez || Gooden (0–3) || — || 20,279 || 6–7 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 14 || April 20 || @ Twins || 7–6 || Wickman (1–0) || Guardado || Wetteland (2) || 24,586 || 7–7 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 15 || April 21 || @ Twins || 9–5 || Rogers (1–0) || Radke || — || 20,115 || 8–7 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 16 || April 22 || @ Royals || 6–2 || Cone (3–1) || Appier || — || 14,763 || 9–7 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 17 || April 23 || @ Royals || 2–5 || Gubicza || Key (1–3) || Montgomery || 12,536 || 9–8 |- style="background:#bfb;" | style=";" |18 || || style=";" |7:36p.m. EDT || style=";" |Indians || style=";" |W 10–8 || style=";" |Kamieniecki (1–0) || style=";" |Martinez (3–2) || style=";" |— || style=";" |3:37 || style=";" |20,187 || style=";" |10–8 || style=";" |W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | style=";" |19 || || style=";" |7:36p.m. EDT || style=";" |Indians || style=";" |L 3–4 || style=";" |Poole (1–0) || style=";" |Pettitte (3–1) || style=";" |Mesa (7) ||style=";" |3:07 || style=";" |18,580 || style=";" |10–9 || style=";" |L1 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 20 || April 26 || Twins || 5–4 || Rivera (1–0) || Radke || Wetteland (3) || 14,450 || 11–9 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 21 || April 27 || Twins || 6–8 (10) || Bennett || Wickman (1–1) || — || 20,025 || 11–10 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 22 || April 28 || Twins || 6–3 || Rivera (2–0) || Rodriguez || Wetteland (4) || 24,793 || 12–10 |- style="background:#bfb;" | style=";" |23 || || style=";" |7:36p.m. EDT || style=";" |@ Orioles || style=";" |W 13–10 || style=";" |Nelson (1–0) || style=";" |Shepherd (0–1) || style=";" |Wetteland (5) || style=";" |4:21 || style=";" |43,117 || style=";" |13–10 || style=";" |W2
|- style="background:#bfb;" | style=";" |24 || || style=";" |7:35p.m. EDT || style=";" |@ Orioles || style=";" |W 11–6 || style=";" |Pettitte (4–1) || style=";" |Mercker (2–2) || style=";" |— || style=";" |5:34 || style=";" |47,472 || style=";" |14–10 || style=";" |W3 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 25 || May 2 || White Sox || 5–1 || Cone (4–1) || Fernandez || — || 19,773 || 15–10 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 26 || May 3 || White Sox || 2–0 || Rivera (3–0) || Thomas || Wetteland (6) || 15,599 || 16–10 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 27 || May 4 || White Sox || 5–11 || Karchner || Nelson (1–1) || — || 20,661 || 16–11 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 28 || May 5 || White Sox || 7–1 || Pettitte (5–1) || Tapani || — || 26,525 || 17–11 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 29 || May 6 || Tigers || 10–5 || Wickman (2–1) || Myers || — || 12,838 || 18–11 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 30 || May 7 || Tigers || 12–5 || Mecir (1–0) || Lewis || Nelson (2) || 12,760 || 19–11 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 31 || May 8 || Tigers || 10–3 || Gooden (1–3) || Keagle || — || 18,729 || 20–11 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 32 || May 9 || Tigers || 2–4 || Gohr || Key (1–4) || Myers || 13,098 || 20–12 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 33 || May 10 || @ White Sox || 2–5 || Tapani || Pettitte (5–2) || Hernandez || 15,784 || 20–13 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 34 || May 11 || @ White Sox || 5–7 || McCaskill || Wetteland (0–1) || — || 25,722 || 20–14 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 35 || May 12 || @ White Sox || 9–8 || Wickman (3–1) || Thomas || Wetteland (7) || 17,405 || 21–14 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 36 || May 14 || Mariners || 2–0 || Gooden (2–3) || Hitchcock || — || 20,786 || 22–14 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 37 || May 15 || Mariners || 5–10 || Hurtado || Key (1–5) || — || 20,680 || 22–15 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 38 || May 17 || Angels || 8–5 || Pettitte (6–2) || Abbott || Rivera (1) || 19,087 || 23–15 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 39 || May 18 || Angels || 7–3 || Rogers (2–0) || Williams || Rivera (2) || 22,821 || 24–15 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 40 || May 19 || Angels || 1–10 || Finley || Kamieniecki (1–1) || — || 37,326 || 24–16 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 41 || May 21 || Athletics || 7–3 || Gooden (3–3) || Reyes || — || 15,614 || 25–16 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 42 || May 22 || Athletics || 1–5 || Wojciechowski || Pettitte (6–3) || Mohler || 18,544 || 25–17 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 43 || May 23 || Athletics || 4–3 || Rogers (3–0) || Taylor || Wetteland (8) || 19,315 || 26–17 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 44 || May 24 || @ Mariners || 4–10 || Hitchcock || Kamieniecki (1–2) || — || 44,236 || 26–18 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 45 || May 25 || @ Mariners || 5–4 || Mendoza (1–0) || Hurtado || Wetteland (9) || 57,173 || 27–18 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 46 || May 26 || @ Mariners || 3–4 || Menhart || Gooden (3–4) || Charlton || 42,410 || 27–19 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 47 || May 27 || @ Angels || 16–5 || Pettitte (7–3) || Abbott || — || 20,926 || 28–19 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 48 || May 28 || @ Angels || 0–1 || Grimsley || Rogers (3–1) || — || 17,284 || 28–20 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 49 || May 29 || @ Angels || 0–4 || Finley || Mendoza (1–1) || — || 19,246 || 28–21 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 50 || May 31 || @ Athletics || 4–1 || Key (2–5) || Johns || Wetteland (10) || 13,279 || 29–21
|- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 51 || June 1 || @ Athletics || 6–3 || Pettitte (8–3) || Chouinard || Wetteland (11) || 21,354 || 30–21 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 52 || June 2 || @ Athletics || 11–4 || Rogers (4–1) || Wojciechowski || Wetteland (12) || 26,331 || 31–21 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 53 || June 4 || Blue Jays || 5–4 || Gooden (4–4) || Hanson || Wetteland (13) || 17,368 || 32–21 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 54 || June 5 || Blue Jays || 7–12 || Hentgen || Key (2–6) || — || 17,142 || 32–22 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 55 || June 6 || Blue Jays || 8–1 || Pettitte (9–3) || Quantrill || — || 18,475 || 33–22 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 56 || June 7 || @ Tigers || 5–6 || Lewis || Nelson (1–2) || — || 16,350 || 33–23 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb"