Bernie Williams Was the Yankees' Secret Weapon | Baseball Dudes

[@ButterflyTommy]

What's better than this? Just baseball guys bein' baseball dudes. Great vid btw, Bernie doesn't get enough credit.

[@lloydkline6946]

Switch hitter benie Williams

[@mattamick1163]

Sir Yes Sir

[@FoolishBaseball]

One of the best hitting CFs ever.

[@BaseballHistorian]

Absolutely. I was shocked to see just how many career leaderboards he was on.

[@lloydkline6946]

Great switch hitter believe Williams

[@aspacebeing710]

Great hitter but hated him in the outfield he had a noodle for an arm

[@unkledoda420]

He kinda gets overshadowed by some of the other really good CF at the time, Andruw Jones, Jim Edmonds, Torii Hunter

[@joemarshall4226]

@@unkledoda420 Bernie won a few gold gloves if I remember.....

[@donwhiteley3293]

I was a Braves fan that absolutely hated the Yankees, but even I have to say that Posada and Pettitte deserve more HOF consideration than they've gotten. That being said, I have no idea what the BBWA was smoking when they allowed Williams to fall off the ballot. In a stacked lineup filled with stars (O'Neill, Tino Martinez, Jeter, Posada) aging veterans/former stars who still had something left in the tank (Chili Davis, Tim Raines, Darryl Strawberry) and some solid players who had some good years (Knoblauch, Scott Brosius, etc), Williams was the only guy I feared. Williams was the guy that drove that Yankee offense, especially in the post-season. Bernie may be the most underrated player of the last 30 years. He should absolutely be in the HOF.

[@ellandecampbell6279]

If that intentional walk in the 10th inning of Game 4 in '96 is any indication, Bobby Cox felt the same way

[@alwillk]

Williams had seven great seasons. He doesn’t have the longevity for The HOF. But he was showed up in the playoffs.

[@axelagosto5196]

He don't have number for HOF good players but not a.super player.

[@JohnAsaro57]

DAMN TY CUZ THAT REMINDED ME OF BERNIE IN A REAL WAY

[@yankees29]

Ty. Bernie was my idol growing up in NY. It means a lot to hear such high from a Braves fan. Much respect. We had a great rivalry.

[@Joseph-lz5er]

I have no idea why Bernie never gets mentioned as one of the cores of the Yankee dynasty. It should be core 5, with Bernie, Posada, Jeter, and Pettite.

[@johnb5082]

I forgot who said it first but the core 4 got their break more or less after the strike. Bernie was there before that and was often seen as the test. He survived as the video showed and as George was gone and back Bernie was the quiet leader. And i think he himself knows that as the guy who showed George and fans to give the farm a chance.

[@SeamHead33]

because they never even started using that term until after Bernie's retirement and it was a term for their current players

[@shanaeverowe9626]

Part of why Bernie never got the love was he was a link to the "dark era" for the Yankees. Where they weren't world slayers and were actually kinda bad. Even though Jeter's pick was because of a bad year, he doesn't have the play time taint of those years.

[@iamhungey12345]

@@shanaeverowe9626 That's a stupid reasoning since many players do not have the fortune to start in the beginning of the golden era and Bernie was a prospect that helped laid a groundwork. It's not like Bernie spend his prime in the early 1990s.

[@shanaeverowe9626]

@@iamhungey12345 your trying to use reasoning with sports fandom 🤦🏼‍♀️ that's like using facts in conversation with flat earthers😂. I have heard this in sports bars in NY from 2006 until I left the area in 2012. People would say best players they saw or best Yankees ever, usually the only player from those rough times picked would be Donnie Baseball(and even then you could hear the anxiety in their voice over it).

[@malanga5133]

Talk to any Puerto Rican, Bernie is a legend and enormously appreciated. Talk to any Yankee fan from that period and we know it was the fab 5 not the core 4 that won all those championships

[@cubswin3838]

I LOVE Bernie! I love my Yankees. Maybe Lou Gehrig and Yogi Berra I love more!

[@PFB1994]

The guy played CF and batted clean up during those winning years. That kind of says he's the best player on the team. And stats for fielding , I am not sure how they calculate that, but I was at Yankee stadium many times watching hard shots in the gap look like easy doubles, and out of nowhere his speed ran those down for outs.

[@iamhungey12345]

@@PFB1994 Plus the guy was there during the rebuilding years as well, helped laid a groundwork before Jeter, Posada, Mo and Pettitte came up.

[@yankees29]

Bernie is my favorite all time Yankee. #1

[@jeffreyirizarry1749]

I dont like any of those name core four fab five. Posada wasnt ready in 96 but they always slide him in there like if a sept call up batting under .100 These nicknames blur the lines of the legacies of Yankees. Makes Mattingly and Williams also less important to our overall history. Posada was important in 09 but a non factor in 96. Williams retired in 06 so couldnt be a factor. 2009 is too far away from the dynasty of late 90s. So we replace Bernie for Posada forever just for a cool nickname and to further push Bernie legacy down hell even Paul Oneill got his jersey retired before Bernie and he was an all star for Reds way before he got here. Bernie was a Yankee lifer and retired with the MLB record for postseason home runs runs scored and RBI. Mlb doesnt respect Bernie the way they should because the Yankees never respected him as much as Jeter Pettite O”Neill Clemens Cone Wells etc on and on

[@jjb9739]

First player to win batting title, golden glove, and world series in the same year, come on man, he's THE Dude!

[@SeamHead33]

golden gloves is boxing, gold glove is baseball

[@jjb9739]

@@SeamHead33 nice catch, lol

[@harrynicholes3166]

Yankmees don't win all their championships without this DUDE! Not a bad musician either.

[@HydetheRapper]

Like most of the baseball world, I despise the Yankees. I despised the Yankees even more in the late ‘90s when I was 8. Even so, I remember watching them play and thinking that Bernie was way underrated. Never saw him get the credit he deserved.

[@bdbd1390]

Bernie was just consistent 25 to 30 home runs. 90 to 120 rbi's. Over 300 batting average. Even in the playoffs. As a A's fan. He scared me the most on those Yankees teams cause he never really had a hitting slump. Very good defense player also. A player every team looking to win needs. He should be in the HOF.

[@belhariry]

Williams and later Hideki Matsui were my two favorite Yankees. They were just clutch when it mattered the most. Went about their business without overwhelming fanfare.

[@SeamHead33]

you could always count on them to work a great professional AB.

[@yankees29]

Bernie is my all time favorite Yankee. Matsui put on one of the greatest displays of offense in post season history in 2009. He literally carried that team to a World Series victory. Epic run by Matsui that year.

[@philmaio2335]

Bernie is a baseball legend and he deserved way more recognition for the hall of fame

[@BaseballHistorian]

Absolutely

[@izzyk15]

yes!!

[@JusNoBS420]

@@BaseballHistorian He was a dude for sure!! Much better than a guy to use your terminology

[@yankees29]

Bernie was my favorite Yankee of all time. I grew up a Yankee fan here in NY. Bernie was a quiet assassin. Just a nice guy and a team player.

[@YungJ]

This was phenomenal by the way. I think a lot of us younger Yankee fans look at George as the guy willing to do/pay _anything_ to win… but he made a ton of poor choices along the way, a lot of it due to ego.

[@stephengrinkley9889]

Exactly! It's absolutely baffling thinking that they were willing to let a solid steady hand in Bernie walk in favor for a volatile wild card in Albert Belle. The Orioles really saved them from themselves

[@timperley69]

Bernie is my favorite Yankee of all time, loved that guy

[@ericshepperd4823]

as an orioles fan growing up during this time, he killlled us lol

[@BrianRMeo]

My favorite player ever, my childhood hero #51!

[@lloydkline6946]

Great switch hitter benie Williams, like hit king ,switch hitter pete rose

[@BrianRMeo]

@@lloydkline6946 Yes and Clutch, presented himself like a true gentleman. Pete rose was spectacular also.

[@ellandecampbell6279]

Well said. Bernie has been underrated/underappreciated because he was quiet and consistent (or "boring"). He wasn't Jeter (the guy that every woman wanted, and every guy wanted to be), Mariano (the GOAT at his position), or someone like Jorge Posada & Paul O'Neill (who wore their emotions on their sleeves). What is true, however, is that he was the team's best position player (if not the best player, period) during that dynasty. PS: The 1 thing I disagree with is that his defense is part of the reason he's been underrated/underappreciated. By that argument, Jeter should be ranked much lower than he is.

[@nacoran]

This- so much this- the biggest reason the Yankees were dominant was Steinbrenner's suspension and the affect it had on the farm system. I've been saying this for years.

[@soadratmetc]

Agreed - he gets way too much credit for those teams. Dude wanted to trade Rivera for Felix Fermin, Pettitte for Adam Eaton, Posada for Bob Stanley, and Bernie for anyone that would take him. Deep pockets and a will to win, but no baseball smarts at all.

[@ellandecampbell6279]

@@soadratmetc He also tried to get Buck Showalter to come back after he hired Torre, but before Torre's first season with the Yankees ('96) had even begun

[@alwillk]

It’s funny because people Like to give cashman credit when the guy won World Series with mostly people on the team before he took over. All cashman did was sign brosius and trade for Clemens.

[@robotman8444]

steinbrenner was the dumbest owner in pro sports. He had an extremely low baseball iq

[@BaseballQuotes1]

Grew up on Bernie Williams and those late '90's and early 2000's Yankees teams. One of my favorite players of all time!

[@thesleepingboy1543]

Me too!

[@yankees29]

Bernie is my favorite Yankee growing up. I still have his jersey.

[@ugaais]

I was born in 1970…the 90’s Yanks for us fans was a glorious time

[@jeffjacobson59]

Paul O’Neill was damn good too

[@yankees29]

@@jeffjacobson59 O’Neil was a beast. He was Bernie’s best friend on the team.

[@rohitpuri4237]

I was always a fan of Bernie Williams; he was a HOFer in my books. The stats, gold gloves, all-star games, post season success & production, and rings. He also batted cleanup in that Yankee Lineup from 1996-2002.

[@fuzzbrain913]

My favorite player ever. True class, true player. And a great guitarist lol

[@Sc-ld7os]

Saw him play a concert and when he played take me out to the ballgame on guitar the whole place started crying

[@MrSpeed-lt8gr]

He’s a fantastic guitar player.

[@Mr.Wonderful888]

Excellent work! I’m glad I’m onboard before this channel blows up. Santa Maria!

[@RetroBaseball]

Exactly what I wanted to watch this morning Mr. historian thank you!

[@BaseballHistorian]

Happy to provide!

[@unhpsychology3909]

I consider myself a highly knowledgeable baseball fan, in particular regarding the past 20-30 years of history. I know Bernie is criminally under rated, but I was shocked at his stats during his peak years (being essentially the top CF during that time), and his all time 2k/.800 club status. Thank you for the enlightening video!

[@johncassani6780]

I always considered him and Jeter to be the heart of the Yankee offense during those great years. Those were great teams, who didn’t have, and didn’t need superstars. Bernie Williams typified the pre-ARod era for the Yankees, and this Red Sox fan had great respect for him.

[@Jiff321]

Gotta love a “secret weapon” being one of the most famous baseball players in the world lol

[@matthewgodsey4268]

Awesome way to close out the video. Bernie's consistency at being pretty darn good at everything extended to his guitar playing. Great ball player, absolutely key to that last baseball dynasty. Keep it up, man. Love your content.

[@MrBrandonMarak]

Quietly producing amazing baseball content. you’re gonna blow up just keep grinding!

[@BaseballHistorian]

Thanks for the support! 🙏

[@PTBNL]

not to mention the man could jam on the guitar

[@izzyk15]

that just makes him even cooler 😂

[@regularsnippets]

He has some great music.

[@ebrown112]

this totally justifies my childhood bernie williams fandom, despite being a mets fan. boring is beautiful.

[@danplewnarz]

Some of the criticism was true, we never did find out if he could handle failure...

[@AnthonyPastore6]

Anyone who saw Bernie play AA in Albany like I did knew he was going to be a top player. Also one of the nicest guys in Albany Yankees history.

[@lordfinesse4173]

Literally my favorite Yankee of all time. People look at me like I'm crazy when I say it's Bernie Williams

[@danorourke1585]

I won a framed painting of Bernie in 3rd grade and still have it till this day, loved that guy!

[@userloco99]

Under rated because he did not sleep with every woman in NY on his prime. He's like Tim Duncan a quiet superstar.

[@JonDoe-fo3kl]

Great comparison

[@agentbillstoll6235]

Yes he was very un-Jeter-esque in that respect.

[@dzanier]

Yeah.

[@yankees29]

Bernie was a quiet family guy.

[@jermellfoster5564]

You have done “Gods Work” with this Video. Bernie is the reason I’m a Yankee Fan

[@GaffordVids]

Bernie Williams is the only Yankee I have ever been a fan of. He was a special player.

[@sum-tim-Wong]

The irony is that the Yankees spent the 80’s trying to buy a pennant then changed strategies and picked up 5 key players that led to a dynasty.

[@ellandecampbell6279]

What changed is Steinbrenner getting suspended for 3 years. When he returned, he was still an impatient blowhard (& there were more examples of that besides what was mentioned in this video). Before the '96 season (Jeter's first full year), Gene Michael had to talk him out of trading Mariano Rivera to the Mariners for some shortstop named Felix Fermin. (Who's Felix Fermin? My point exactly.). In '99, Andy Pettitte wasn't pitching well, so Steinbrenner was ready to ship him off (but Joe Torre and Mel Stottlemyre had to talk him out of it). Hell, he hired Torre in the 95/96 off-season, & then tried to get Buck Showalter to come back during that same off-season. The Yankees won in spite of Steinbrenner

[@briennawyer6674]

I was 12 years old at a bar called Cpt Jacks in clayton NY in 2008 and my late uncle told me, a huge yankees a fan, that he had met Bernie and in fact had his number. i still so vividly remember calling this number behind the bar and talking to this guy who answered all my questions. obviously it wasn't Bernie Williams and my uncle just enlisted a friend to help make me smile but now 8 years after he passed this video reminded me of you uncle joey. i love you. here's to WS number 28

[@richardlundberg1111]

Thank you, Gene "Stick" Michael. If it wasn't for him, not only Williams, but Mariano Rivera was also rumored to be traded to Seattle for SS Felix Fermin. Instead, Yankees signed the late Tony Fernandez to be their SS in '96. Fernandez broke his arm & a young rookie out of Kalamazoo, Michigan was given the opportunity.

[@iamhungey12345]

Tony Fernandez was signed in 1995 and his injury was why the Fermin trade was considered.

[@antiBOARDom]

Bernie was a bad bad man. Absolute stud. Great video, thanks 👍🏻

[@robertszekely8686]

Bernie Williams is definitely an underrated player. In my opinion he is definitely HOF caliber.

[@JusNoBS420]

Mid to late 2000 Giants winning every other year for 6 years was pretty damn good. Me being a life long suffering Mariners fan born in 1977 has literally lived his whole life without getting to the WS. In 1995 my dad bought us tickets to the playoffs. We had to buy tickets all through the playoffs. That Yankees wild card was magic. Then the Indians series not so much.

[@yankees29]

As a huge Yankee fan growing up Bernie Williams was my favorite all time Yankee.

[@Jose_Hunters_EWF_Remixes]

Like what I've seen of your work thus far From Baseball Reference, his lifetime stats per 162 games (Over 16 years from 1991 to 2006): R - 107 H - 182 2B - 35 HR - 22 RBI - 98 BB - 83 K - 95 BA - .297 OBP - .381 SLG - .477 OPS - .858 Adjusted OPS+ - 125 Just looking over his numbers, the word that comes to my mind: *SOLID* Plus, he played an excellent jazz guitar, if I recall correctly From Wiki: Williams is ... a classically trained guitarist. Following his retirement from baseball, he has released two jazz albums. He was nominated for a Latin Grammy in 2009.

[@deadpan80]

He was my favorite during period. No flash. No drama. Did his job and did it very well with very little celebration from the media. True class. Should be a HOF for clutch players. Had no idea the Yanks held him in such low regard.

[@jeff8117]

When I think of the term "criminally underrated", Bernie Williams always comes to mind. A switch hitter who hit for average, drew walks and could go yard at any moment. Couple that with the fact that he routinely played, and performed well, in the postseason, he is easily one the most important Yankee during their last dynasty.

[@dantean]

Bob Watson calling someone "a GOOD player, not a GREAT player" is more than a little ironic, isn't it? I wonder how many times in his playing career he heard that said about Bob Watson?! Meanwhile, what I wouldn't give to be the New York Yankees' centerfielder-turned-romantic guitarist! If THAT doesn't get you laid nothing will!!! Thanks for posting this, Bernie deserves this.

[@thebosskingreturns]

the word dude defiantly fits him just seems like a cool guy also nice Ace Attorney bit

[@paulmarion3013]

As a huge Red Sox fan during middle school in the mid-late 90s.. I knew all about Bernie Williams

[@TheQuest145]

My favorite yankee growing up . He one of the guys that made me wana play ball and play center field.

[@WestCooly]

My favorite player when I was a kid! Thanks for the vid :)

[@Brooklynquietmoney]

My favorite Yankee ever so glad I grew up with this team great video dude🔥

[@Nick_Valentine2702]

Bernie Williams was always the scariest hitter on the Yankees in the 90's and 2000's. So clutch in the postseason

[@Stepthatway6]

Was just talking to my softball teammates about Bernie and the 90’s Yankees today!! HOFer in my book

[@octopusron1395]

Ive watched all of your videos yourgreat and have awesome potential

[@ibrahimkhalif83]

Dude was a killer. He broke my heart every year against my Mariners

[@idiotwind2248]

Anyone that knows baseball, I mean REALLY knows baseball , understands that Bernie was consistent. For almost a decade, he was the glue that held that successful run together. One of the best Yankees ever. And plays a helluva guitar 🎸

[@robertkuhn-qr6vb]

Bernie, no question. Was the lynch pin to those Championship teams. A gold glove centerfielder, switch hitting power hitting, run the bases like a gazelle middle of the lineup player. No other team in MLB had this type of player. DIFFERENCE MAKER! And a great human being! #51.

[@jluchette]

How did I not know about this channel. Liked, commented, subscribed. Boom.

[@SakAttack87]

Bernie is my favorite baseball player ever.

[@J.C...]

That's hilarious how Steinbrenner had the wool pulled over his eyes on that attempted Bernie trade. Nobody made an offer because nobody knew he was up for trade. GENIUS!

[@therealmenaze]

It was suppose to be the fab 5 instead of the core 4 but only a few broadcasters acknowledged his excellence . It would’ve helped if he was resigned and probably won’t I. 2009 as well. Probably would’ve made it to the HoF. My favorite Yankee to this day

[@therealmenaze]

Would’ve won in 2009*

[@TheTEN24]

Never liked the Yankee players as a met fan as a kid but I had high respect for him. He was a great player and person.

[@ZaboombaFOO]

Hey man, I just recently came across your page. I’ve got to say, your videos are beautiful written and put together. I really look forward to seeing what videos are to come. Keep up the good word🤝

[@oski2303]

My favorite player. Very Underrated

[@CalebsCards]

Bernie was super good. I think he's a HOFer, I guess time will tell. He should have had a contract offer for 2008.

[@unhpsychology3909]

Beach walk song is elite I could jam to that all day.

[@544CampStreet]

An upvote to downvote ratio of 194-0. In the words of Jon Bois, pretty good. That's the most thumbs up I've ever seen without a thumbs down. This channel is one of the rare creators on this platform that merits turning on all notifications IMHO. The list for me is RedLetterMedia, Internet Historian, David Oranchak (the dude who just solved the 340 character Zodiac Killer cypher), and Jon Bois.

[@BaseballHistorian]

Thank you, that’s very fine company to be in! Pretty much everyone has been incredibly supportive, and I really appreciate comments like yours from people who enjoy these videos.

[@adamfitzgerald911]

No player hit bigger in clutch playoffs spots than Bernie Williams for the Yankees. He hit some of the most important home runs in Yankee history during the stretch of 1996-2003. In fact during the 1996 Divisional and American Divisional Championships, if it werent for Bernie Williams, the Yankees most likely wouldnt have won either of those series. Divisional Round: Texas: 4G 7H 5R 3HR 5RBI .467 AVG American Round: Baltimore: 5G 6R 2HR 6RBI .474 AVG Texas Rangers: Game 3 series tied 1-1, Williams homered in the top of the first inning, then robbed Rusty Greer in the bottom half. His ninth-inning sacrifice fly tied a game the Yankees would eventually win. They would win the series the next day. Williams also hit two home runs in Game 4 to clinch the series. Baltimore Orioles: In Game 1, Williams would hit a game winning 11th inning home run off Randy Meyers to win the lead off game. In game 3 in Baltimore, Williams FBI siingle ties the game in the 8th inning, in which the Yanks scored 4 runs to win the game giving them a 2-1 series lead. In game 4, it was Bernie Williams's two-run home run in the top of the first off Rocky Coppinger that gave the Yanks a 2-0 lead, which they never relinquished giving them a commanding 3-1 series lead.

[@FrankThe77Tank]

From 1996-2001, Bernie was by far, the most feared hitter in that Dynasty Lineup. Switch Hitter, Batted 4th, was as clutch as they come.. Didn’t steal bases, but was very fast going extra bases, like 1st to 3rd or 1st to Home.. Bobby Cox wanted NO PART of pitching to him in the 96 & 99 World Series.. Walk-Off Bomb in Game 1 of the 1996 ALCS.. Walk-Off HR in Game 1 of the 1999 ALCS.. Huge HR in Game 3 of the 1996 World Series. I was at the game for his Walk-Off HR to clinch the AL East. I can go on & on.. Guy won a Batting Title, Gold Gloves & was as good a teammate as there was. He was #1 in Postseason HRs for a while, until Manny passed him. Guy should be a HOFer, but it’s fraudulent & only based on Reg Szn stat padding.. Thank You for making a video like this. Most creators just hate on the Yankees..

[@SRM110]

Bernie has always been my favorite Yankee

[@tyrk1589]

Glad to have found your channel, I hope the fantastic content keeps coming

[@connorb3931]

im not all too into baseball but this made me tear up a bit. great video!

[@BaseballHistorian]

Love to hear that 💛

[@jakebsowders357]

Jim Layritz , Alfonso Soriano , Tino Martinez , Paul O’Neill and Robinson Cano and Scott Brosius was all Monsters in Big Games , but Bernie Williams is my #1 guy I’d want in a clutch situation, he should be in the hall of fame

[@soadratmetc]

Just found your channel through your Ubaldo Jimenez video, imagine my surprise when I went to your page and saw you just made a vid about my favorite player growing up! My current love for Aaron Hicks is entirely because he’s a switch hitting CF like Bernie was. You’re making phenomenal content, keep up the great work.

[@BaseballHistorian]

I love Hicks, he reminds me a lot of Bernie in how he quietly puts up solid numbers year in and year out.

[@soadratmetc]

@@BaseballHistorian absolutely - he’s also massively underrated by the sector of fans who value batting average over OBP. Man takes his walks (and bat flips them) year in and year out.

[@ellandecampbell6279]

@@soadratmetc There's 2 reasons why Hicks isn't rated higher by Yankee fans: 1) His on base percentage throughout his time with the Yankees is .346 (which isn't good enough, no matter how much higher it is than your batting average). 2) He can't stay healthy. (Never more than 137 games; under 100 games 3 times in his 5 years; under 60 games in each of the last 2 years.)

[@soadratmetc]

@@ellandecampbell6279 no one’s saying he’s Joey Votto, but with his power he’s still an above-average hitter and that’s valuable in center. I won’t argue about the injury history, although knocking him for playing under 60 games last year seems unfair since he played the whole season. I’ve actually found that a good amount of yankee fans like myself do like him, I was talking about the old-school batting average & RBIs crowd underrating him

[@ellandecampbell6279]

@@soadratmetc I forgot that last year was a 60-game season, so that one's on me. Unfortunately, the one time he stayed healthy, the power wasn't there (6 home runs in 169 AB's).

[@J.C...]

Joey Albert Belle is from my hometown, Bossier City, LA. His dad was a baseball coach here back in the day at one of the biggest high schools in the city. They're also usually really good every year. Albert also had a twin brother that played ball. Pretty sure they both played at LSU, also. Their father is(was?) a great great man. He taught a lot of boys around here how to play better baseball through the years. Albert doesn't come back here much, if at all. Not that I know of anyway.

[@aa697]

Bernie was and still is the Yankees most important player during the Yankees great World Series Championship teams and post season runs from the the mid 1990s on.

[@dscharlesworth1]

Bernie was a solid player, there was some talk that Bernie would be the first Yankee to get to 3000 hits. Obviously that didn't happen but it doesn't take away he was one of the pillars of those Yankee teams that went to and won all those World Series. Plus I have never heard a bad word about him.

[@kendricksantiago7712]

The force him to retirement early! Mind you he had a decent year

[@kendricksantiago7712]

He wanted to retire as a yankee

[@WolcottOakTree]

Bernie had the power to occasionally hit some long tape measure homeruns.

[@Christlockhart1]

In a month or two (unless ya get cen sor ed) by the almighty KZbin powers, you’ll be at 500k subs. Good stuff! Makes me miss baseball.

[@BW4EIRE]

Bernie Williams belongs in the HOF. Just look at his post season stats. Yes, he had lots of post-season opportunity. But he took advantage of those opportunities. He was one of the best clutch hitters in Yankees history. Opposing managers feared him. The player who was most key to that Yankees dynasty was Mariano Rivera.

[@tmalecki1521]

Apparently I met Bernie Williams when I was like 3 years old after Yankees-Brewers game at County Stadium. I do have a signed baseball from him so I guess that’s cool!

[@BaseballHistorian]

That is pretty cool!

[@ellandecampbell6279]

I have a book about the final season of Yankee Stadium, which includes a page that he signed (as well as a picture of him signing it & a certificate of authenticity)

[@L1KECLOCKWORK]

Bernie has always been so underrated to non-Yankees fans

[@StreetRide845]

For whatever reason he's also underrated to them too.

[@TripleCubedTriune]

He was a professional.. somehow that didn't support that he was a star despite numbers to support that.. his consistency today would be lauded.. salute Mr Williams🤌🏾

[@Hoontear]

Bernie was my favorite and only Yankee I've ever liked.

[@rosemarymagrino772]

He is the “core” the “four” was built around⚾️‼️#51

[@Vincepelosi]

Great stuff dude! Making your father proud

[@PinstripeTerritory]

Bernie was the man. Good video

[@baroqueguitarist5673]

Bernie's numbers don't show his true value. The 90s Yankee dynasty was packed with lifetime 300 hitters who also had power... Not homerun hitters at least in the 90s. They constantly took counts deep and fouled off tons of pitches. They wore out the other teams pitchers no matter how good they where the Yanks forced there pitch counts up quickly. Especially in a 7 game series pitchers wore down towards the end of a series. Plus seeing all those pitches ups the odds the pitcher makes a mistake. If every player is going deep in counts the probability of a pitching mistake became much higher with each batter. Bernie was a switch hitter who was beyond clutch. No matter the stars the Yanks had Bernie always batted cleanup and had the highest average on the team with names like Boggs, Jeter, Mattingly, ONeill... legendary hitters for average and career 3000 hit players the Yankees had was astounding. Despite them all Bernie was the best at going deep into counts, spoiling pitches, and getting huge clutch hits on mistake pitches he created by being patient and fouling pitches off. Being a switch hitter you could not match up against him and his fielding was off the hook. Bernie's patience at the plate and his fielding not only made him great but it filtered to help his team mates. Bailing a pitcher out with a diving catch, or wearing out the pitcher so much the guys batting after get huge hits. Bernie to me was one of the most valuable players ever despite how his stats looked. He was not only a great player but he was great for the team. He made the whole team better and increased the winning probability with him on the field

[@BaseballHistorian]

Couldn’t have said it better myself

[@42nick56]

It’s no secret that Bernie Williams should be in the hall

[@anthonyfuller9933]

My favorite player of all time

[@TheDCGuitar13]

Bernie Williams and Vinnie Castilla were two of the greatest players ever and folks don’t even know their name in 2021.

[@ozzymorrison8628]

Gotta Love this guy

[@thesite]

Can we expect a Rickey Henderson episode perhaps? Maybe a Miguel Tejada episode?....ok fine I just want something Oakland A's related.

[@BaseballHistorian]

I’d love to do a video on Rickey, keep an eye out for that in the future 👀

[@cosini24]

Hell yes. He doesn't get the credit he deserves. Not a flashy player. But did his job. Clutch in the playoffs.

[@OroborusFMA]

Bernie was a smart guy. During the regular season we'd laugh as he gave up on balls the moment his cleats touched the warning track. But then in the post-season the guy was all of the wall like superman. But that kept him playing 145+ games a year while the "stud" center fielders would wind up with concussions and broken bones from crashing into the wall in regular season games. And in 1996 he without question carried them to the World Series with his bat.

[@boomersooner3483]

Very good argument that he is the most underrated Yankee of all-time, and is likely one of the most underrated players of the modern era. The only real arguments against him are that his counting stats weren't enough, because his peak ended rather abruptly, and that his defense was mediocre based on metrics (although he was a 3x gold glove winner). That being said, I always thought that being the best offensive player on the greatest dynasty in the modern era over the course of 8/9 years, retiring as one of the greatest playoff hitters of all time, winning 4 WS should be enough to push him over the HOF line. Honestly, the 2,000 hit & .800 OPS stat for centerfielders was surprising to me and bolsters the argument. When you're on a list of centerfielders that excludes Mantle, Puckett, and the 19 other HOFers, you deserve to be seriously considered for the HOF. My recollection is that he was included on less than 5% of HOF ballots in his final year of eligibility, so he somehow never even got close .

[@travisrowe7697]

The Larry walker deal arguably would’ve been a good move.