A beloved fan-favorite from the New York Yankees’ legendary 1990s and 2000s’ teams is reportedly in discussions to join the franchise’s broadcast team for the 2024 season.
During the era when the Yankees were an absolutely dominant force and won four championships in five years, several players forever become immortalized in the team’s fandom. Obviously, MLB legends like Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera are true franchise icons, however, long-time center fielder Bernie Williams has always held a special place in fan’s hearts.
Well, now their legion of supporters that tune into the YES Network for games could soon get to see the five-time All-Star on a regular base during their broadcasts next season. On Tuesday afternoon, New York Post sports media insider Andrew Marchand reported that “YES and Yankees legend Bernie Williams have had talks about Williams joining Yankees broadcasts this upcoming season, according to sources.”
The 55-year-old would not be a part of the play-by-play team and would likely serve as a member of the YES studio analysts before possibly taking on a greater role. Marchand reports that discussions on a potential deal occurred this past week.
What made Bernie Williams a New York Yankees legend
Over 16 seasons Williams was a fixture in the outfield and the middle of the order for the Yankees. He was a reliable player in one of the hardest defensive positions on the field and was fairly durable throughout his career.
He smashed 20 or more home runs in seven seasons and scored 100 or more runs eight times. Along with earning five straight trips to the All-Star game (From 1997 to 2001) he also won an American League battle title when he finished the season with a .339 average in 1998.
Yet for as good as he was in the regular season, he was a fantastic player in the postseason. In 121 postseason games, he has a .275 AVG with 22 HRs, 80 RBIs, and 83 Rs. He put up numbers in the playoffs against elite teams that many players would be happy with during the regular season.