The Yankees Have An Opportunity To Win A Post Core-Four Ring

The New York Yankees dispatched the Cleveland Guardians in five games in the ALCS to advance to the World Series. It is the 41^st time in franchise history that the Yankees are appearing in the fall classic. This is also the Yankees’ first World Series appearance without Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada, and Andy Pettitte. While many things are at stake for the Yankees in this World Series, the team has an opportunity to avenge their shortcomings in recent years and win a championship without the core four.

The Core Four’s Championship Winning Legacy

After the Yankees won the World Series in 2009, New York failed to make it back to the fall classic with the core four. At the end of the Core Four era, the Yankees would be eliminated from the postseason in 2010, 2011, and 2012. The Yankees would also miss the postseason completely in 2013 and 2014. Jorge Posada would call it a career in 2011. Mariano Rivera would retire in 2013. Pettitte would announce his retirement for the final time in 2013 as well. Derek Jeter would be the last of the core four to retire in 2014. The Yankees would finish the Core Four era winning seven pennants and five World Series championships.

No Championship Appearances Since The Core Four All Retired

Since the Core Four era ended, the New York Yankees had some moderate success. They would appear in the postseason in 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022. However, New York would fail to get back to the World Series in all those years. The Yankees would be eliminated in the ALCS three times during that span. It should be noted that the Yankees also missed the playoffs completely in 2016 and 2023. The Bronx faithful’s frustration has been at an all-time high.

Finally Getting To The World Series Without The Core Four

Thanks in part to heroics by Giancarlo Stanton, Juan Soto, Gleyber Torres, and Anthony Volpe; the Yankees eliminated the Guardians in five games in the ALCS. The most impressive part of their ALCS win is that Yankee bats hit Cleveland’s impressive bullpen hard. This marked New York’s first pennant since 2009 and the end of a 15-year drought. It would also mark the Yankees’ first World Series appearance without Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera, and Andy Pettitte on the roster.

Aaron Judge Can Cement His Yankee Legacy

This World Series marks the soon-to-be MVP Aaron Judge’s first appearance ever in the Fall Classic. The six-time all-star has already earned Rookie of the Year and MVP awards and holds the AL single-season home run record. He even became just the 16^th player in franchise history to earn the prestigious honor of being named captain. However, the big thing missing from an already accomplished resume is a championship ring. The 32-year-old now has an opportunity to immortalize himself among the Yankee greats.

This Group Can Start Its Own Championship Legacy

The Yankees have had many hall-of-fame caliber players be traded, retire, or leave in free agency. In their history, despite losing those kinds of players, the Yankees have found a way to win championships. After the Core Four era ended and until recently, the franchise had been unable to get back to the World Series. This current group now has an opportunity to start a championship legacy of its own. As glorious as the Core Four era was for the Yankees, nothing would be more special than winning a World Series without them.

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