Who were the players on the original 3 monuments in center field in Yankee Stadium?

Answer 1

Figures are listed in the order in which their plaques were dedicated: * Miller Huggins, manager 1918-29, monument dedicated May 30, 1932. This monument was originally placed on the field of play, in front of the center-field flagpole. Placing monuments in the deepest part of the playing field was not unprecedented - the Polo Grounds and Forbes Field also had monuments in deep centerfield. Huggins never wore a number on his uniform, and so no number is retired in his honor. * Jacob Ruppert, owner 1915-39, plaque dedicated April 19, 1940. This plaque was placed on the outfield wall, to the right of the flagpole. * Lou Gehrig, first baseman 1923-39, number 4 retired July 4, 1939, monument dedicated July 6, 1941. This monument was placed to the left of the Huggins monument. Gehrig was the first Major League Baseball player to have his uniform number retired. * Babe Ruth, right fielder 1920-34, number 3 retired June 13, 1948, monument dedicated April 19, 1949. This monument was placed to the right of the Huggins monument. The three monuments together were about 450 feet from home plate, but a ball would occasionally get behind them. In the 1992 book The Gospel According to Casey, by Ira Berkow and Jim Kaplan, it is reported that Yankee manager Casey Stengel was watching his center fielder fumbling with the ball in the vicinity of the monuments, while the batter-runner circled the bases. Stengel yelled out, "Ruth, Gehrig, Huggins, somebody get that ball back to the infield!" * Ed Barrow, general manager 1921-46, plaque dedicated April 15, 1954. The plaque was placed on the wall, to the left of the flagpole. * Joe DiMaggio, center fielder 1936-51, number 5 retired April 18, 1952, plaque dedicated June 8, 1969, replaced by a monument April 25, 1999. * Mickey Mantle, center fielder 1951-68, number 7 retired and plaque dedicated June 8, 1969, replaced by a monument August 25, 1996. Mantle was awarded his plaque on Mickey Mantle Day, handed to him by DiMaggio. Mantle then handed DiMaggio his plaque, saying, "His oughta be just a little bit higher than mine." They were placed side-by-side on the wall, although as former Yankee publicist Marty Appel noted in his own memoir, DiMaggio's was indeed slightly higher on the wall than Mantle's. These were the last plaques to be placed in play. Following the 1974-75 renovation of Yankee Stadium, the monuments and plaques were moved to the new Monument Park. * Joe McCarthy, manager 1931-46, plaque dedicated April 29, 1976. Although the Yankees adopted uniform numbers in 1929, McCarthy never wore a number as Yankee manager, and so no number has been retired in his honor. * Casey Stengel, manager 1949-60, number 37 retired August 8, 1970, plaque dedicated July 30, 1976. * Thurman Munson, catcher 1969-79, number 15 retired August 2, 1979, plaque dedicated September 20, 1980. * Elston Howard, outfielder and catcher 1955-67, coach 1969-80, number 32 retired and plaque dedicated July 21, 1984. * Roger Maris, outfielder 1960-66, number 9 retired and plaque dedicated July 21, 1984, in the same ceremony as Howard's. * Phil Rizzuto, shortstop 1941-56 and broadcaster 1957-96, number 10 retired and plaque dedicated August 4, 1985. * Billy Martin, second baseman 1950-57, manager 1975-78, 1979, 1983, 1985 and 1988, number 1 retired and plaque dedicated August 10, 1986. * Lefty Gomez, pitcher 1930-42, plaque dedicated August 1, 1987. His number 11 has not been retired. * Whitey Ford, pitcher 1950-67, number 16 retired April 6, 1974, plaque dedicated August 1, 1987, in the same ceremony as Gomez's. * Bill Dickey, catcher 1928-46, manager 1946, coach 1949-60, number 8 retired April 18, 1972, plaque dedicated August 21, 1988. * Yogi Berra, catcher and outfielder 1946-63, manager 1964 and 1984-85, coach 1975-83, number 8 retired April 18, 1972, plaque dedicated August 21, 1988 -- in each case, in the same ceremony as Dickey's. * Allie Reynolds, pitcher 1947-54, plaque dedicated August 27, 1989. His number 22 has not been retired. * Don Mattingly, first baseman 1982-95, coach from 2004-2007, number 23 retired and plaque dedicated August 31, 1997. * Mel Allen, broadcaster 1939-64 and 1976-89, plaque dedicated July 25, 1998. * Bob Sheppard, public address announcer since 1951, plaque dedicated May 7, 2000. * Reggie Jackson, right fielder 1977-81, number 44 retired August 14, 1993, plaque dedicated July 6, 2002. * Ron Guidry, pitcher 1975-88, coach 2006-2007, number 49 retired and plaque dedicated August 23, 2003. * Red Ruffing, pitcher 1930-46, plaque dedicated July 10, 2004 at an Old Timers Day Ceremony. His number 15 had already been retired for Munson. * Jackie Robinson, plaque dedicated April 17th, 2007. In honor of Robinson's unique place as the first African-American player of the modern era, his number 42 was retired throughout baseball on April 15, 1997, the 50th anniversary of his debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers. On April 17th, 2007 (their first home game following the 60th anniversary), the Yankees erected a plaque for Robinson reading: "In becoming the first Major League player to break the color barrier, Jackie will forever be an inspiration with his grace, dignity and perseverance. His story and the stories of those who never had the same opportunity must never be forgotten." 42's were also painted in front of each dugout. Players active at the time of the number's retirement in 1997 were granted a special exemption (grandfather clause) permitting them to continue wearing the number for the remainder of their careers; the last such player still active is Yankee relief pitcher Mariano Rivera. The number may be ceremonially retired by the Yankees after Rivera retires.