Yankeeography

"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 [http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20050415&content_id=1016595&vkey=pr_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb] . 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 Casey Stengel. 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. Some profiles have been updated to reflect new developments.

Selected players and coaches profiled

First airing in 2002 season

*Roger Clemens
*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

First airing in 2008

*1998
*Alex Rodriguez
*Yankee Stadium

Yankeeography episodes available on DVD

100 Years of the New York Yankees (2003)

This two disk 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 disk 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 disk includes various extras such as unforgettable moments and archived footage.

Yankeeography, Vol. 3 (2005)

Volume 3 contains six episodes on Joe DiMaggio, Catfish Hunter, Bobby Murcer, Reggie Jackson, Goose Gossage, and Jorge Posada. A third disk includes various extras such as unforgettable moments and archived footage.

Yankeeography, Vol. 4 (2005)

Volume 4 contains six episodes on Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford, Roger Maris, Lou Piniella, Willie Randolph, and Bernie Williams. A third disk includes various extras such as unforgettable moments and archived footage.

Yankeeography "Megaset" DVD Collection (2007)

The Megaset is a 12 DVD set with 34 episodes of Yankeeography, including 10 previously unreleased episodes (Billy Martin, Casey Stengel, Sparky Lyle, Graig Nettles, David Cone, Tino Martinez, Roger Clemens, The Hall of Famers, The Left Handers, The Right Handers)

Set 1 contains 11 episodes: Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Phil Rizzuto, Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle, Whitey Ford, Billy Martin, Casey Stengel, Elston Howard, and Roger Maris.

Set 2 contains 12 episodes: Thurman Munson, Bobby Murcer, Sparky Lyle, Graig Nettles, Lou Piniella, Catfish Hunter, Ron Guidry, Willie Randolph, Reggie Jackson, Goose Gossage, Don Mattingly, and Bernie Williams.

Set 3 contains 11 episodes: Paul O'Neill, David Cone, Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada, Joe Torre, Tino Martinez, Roger Clemens, The Hall of Famers, The Left Handers, and The Right Handers.

Set 4 contains extra features such as archived footage and interviews about all players included on previous disks.

References

* [http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20050415&content_id=1016595&vkey=pr_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb MLB Productions Press Release]