Yankeeography is a biography-style television program that chronicles the lives and careers of the players, coaches, and other notable personnel associated with the New York Yankees Major League Baseball team. The series is aired on the YES Network and is produced by MLB Productions. The series is hosted by Yankees radio personality John Sterling. The series has earned five New York Sports Emmy Awards since its inception. In addition to airing on YES, MLB Productions has packaged many of the shows into DVD boxed sets.
After debuting as a weekly show with the 2002 launch of YES, Yankeeography only debuts new episodes periodically (as there are fewer prominent Yankees yet to be spotlighted). For instance, four episodes premiered in 2006: Tino Martinez, David Cone, the Yankees' 1996 World Series team, and Billy Martin. All Yankees with retired numbers have had shows completed with the exception of Bill Dickey. The show has been criticized for producing episodes on players who remain active while Hall of Famers from much earlier eras such as Jack Chesbro, Tony Lazzeri, Red Ruffing and Lefty Gomez were not profiled. Some profiles have been updated to reflect new developments.
Selected players and coaches profiled
First airing in 2002 season
Joe DiMaggio
Lou Gehrig
Ron Guidry
Derek Jeter
Mickey Mantle
Don Mattingly
Thurman Munson
Paul O'Neill
Mariano Rivera
Babe Ruth
Joe Torre
Bernie Williams
First airing in 2003
Yogi Berra
Catfish Hunter
Roger Maris
The History of the Yankees; a six-part, six-hour series commemorating the franchise's 100th anniversary: "Moments and Mystique," featuring great moments in team history, including a discussion of the rivalry with the Boston Red Sox 1903-1956, covering the team's early days, and the years of Ruth, Gehrig and DiMaggio, into the early Mantle years 1957-1978, into the later years of Mantle, the down years between the 1965 collapse of the dynasty and the renewal of glory under new owner George Steinbrenner 1979-2002, covering the Winfield and Mattingly years, and the rebuilding that led to the titles of the Jeter/Torre years The Stadium, concerning the history of Yankee Stadium, including its non-baseball-related events The Greatest Yankees Teams, featuring the 1927, 1961, 1977–1978 and 1998 World Championship squads
First airing in 2004
Whitey Ford
Elston Howard
Reggie Jackson
Bobby Murcer
Jorge Posada
Phil Rizzuto
Generations: The First Basemen
Generations: The Second Basemen
Generations: The Third Basemen
Generations: The Right-Handed Pitchers
Generations: The Left-Handed Pitchers
First airing in 2005
Goose Gossage
Sparky Lyle
Graig Nettles
Lou Piniella
Willie Randolph
Casey Stengel
The Hall-of-Famers; hosted by Reggie Jackson on location at the Baseball Hall of Fame, this is the one Yankeeography yet aired that was hosted by someone other than John Sterling.
First airing in 2006
David Cone
Billy Martin
Tino Martinez
1996
First Airing in 2007
Hideki Matsui; this was set to premiere in June 2006, but was held back due to an on-field injury. Pitcher Perfect; dedicated to the 3 perfect games pitched by former Yankees Don Larsen, David Wells, and David Cone. Andy Pettitte Roger Clemens
First airing in 2008
1998
Alex Rodriguez
Yankee Stadium
First airing in 2009
Dave Winfield
Mike Mussina
George Steinbrenner
First airing in 2013
David Wells
Yankeeography episodes available on DVD
100 Years of the New York Yankees (2003) This two disc collection contains the six parts of The History of the Yankees, entitled: "1903-1956", "1957-1978", "1979-2002", "Moments and Mystique", "The Stadium", and "The Greatest Yankees Teams"
Yankeeography, Vol. 1 (2004) Volume 1 contains six episodes on Babe Ruth, Thurman Munson, Ron Guidry, Don Mattingly, Derek Jeter, and Joe Torre. A third disc includes various extras such as unforgettable moments and archived footage.
Yankeeography, Vol. 2 (2004) Volume 2 contains six episodes on Lou Gehrig, Phil Rizzuto, Mickey Mantle, Elston Howard, Paul O'Neill, and Mariano Rivera. A third disc includes various extras such as unforgettable moments and archived footage.