The Captain's Blog

On December 21, Aaron Judge was named the 16th Yankees’ captain? Or, was it the 15th? Would you believe the 17th? Unfortunately, the answer isn’t all that clear.

The reason for the confusion is due to the list of captains provided in the Yankees’ press release announcing the appointment of Judge. Included among the ranks of prior captains was a little known utility infielder named Rollie Zeider, who played all of 50 games for the Yankees in 1913. But that wasn’t the only historical curveball in the team’s pronouncement. Everett Scott, who in the past has been widely regarded as having been a captain from 1922 to 1925, was omitted from the list.

So, what gives? Was Zeider a captain despite such a brief and unremarkable tenure? And, was Scott’s captaincy incorrectly assumed for so long? What about other Captains who have emerged after years of being ignored by history?

Before diving deep into these questions, let’s first establish what isn’t in dispute, or at least wasn’t until Judge’s appointment last week. The line of Captains since Lou Gehrig is uncontested.  Since the Iron Horse’s tenure, nearly every source agrees that Thurman Munson, Graig Nettles, Ron Guidry and Willie Randolph as co-captains, Don Mattingly and Derek Jeter also filled the role. Finding agreement before Gehrig, however, is another matter. Modern sources as well as those cited in the historical record have differed on who deserves the title of Yankee Captain. What follows is a chronological examination of all contested Captains (using details stated in the Yankees’ press release) as well as a brief examination of how the historical line was presented at the time of each new coronation after Gehrig.

Clark Griffith, 1903 to 1905

Evidence: The first Yankees’ captain is now widely regarded to be Clark Griffith, though, it’s worth noting that at least two biographies (“Baseball Statesman” and The Old Fox of Washington Baseball”) on Griffith, not to mention countless newspaper articles listing past captains, do not assign him the honor. However, there are several newspaper accounts that refer to Griffith as manager-captain, including as early as April 21, 1903. Although there isn’t an article reporting on Griffith being definitively named in 1903, when you consider the very prominent role Griffith played as manager of the fledgling Highlanders, it seems reasonable to think he would have held the role from the start.

Verdict: Although his appointment as captain can not be determined, contemporary accounts seem to verify that Griffith was captain of the team from 1903 to 1905.

Norman “Kid” Elberfeld, 1906 to 1908

Evidence: Elberfeld was acquired by the Highlanders in 1903 and remained with the team through the 1909 season. The recent Yankees’ press release, however, identified his reign as captain as lasting from 1906 until only 1908. Despite finding one article stating that Elberfeld was named captain upon being acquired in 1903, the bulk of references do not begin until 1906. When you also consider the frequent use of the title when referring to Griffith from 1904 to 1905, it seems likely that 1906 was the starting point for Elberfeld’s captaincy. The end point is less clear. There are a few articles published in 1909 that refer to Elberfeld as captain, including one on March 8, which reports that “it is very likely that Elberfeld will be made captain of the team”.  As detailed in the examination of Willie Keeler below, however, his case for being captain in 1909 is much stronger than Elberfeld’s.

Verdict: Elberfeld’s claim to the captaincy is secure, but, there may be a small chance that his tenure was one year longer than stated in the Yankees’ recent press release. Although reports in early March suggested that Elberfeld was in the running to captain the team, it’s also true that the team was actively trying to trade him, which isn’t what you’d expect of someone being considered as a field leader. Because any indication of Elberfeld continuing as captain ceases in March, it is very unlikely that he and Keeler shared the captaincy in 1909.

“Wee” Willie Keeler, 1909

Evidence: Like Elberfeld, Wee Willie Keeler was an original Highlander. That he would have been considered to take over the captaincy isn’t a surprise, especially because Elberfeld only played in 19 games in 1908. Even the article cited above (“Elberfeld Likely Captain”) suggests Keeler as a possibility to wrestle the title away. And, it seems that’s exactly what happened. On April 15, the Pittsburgh Daily Press reported that Keeler’s teammates elected him captain for the season. This marks the first confirmed case of a captain being selected by his teammates and the bestowing of the honor being reported upon explicitly. Subsequent articles throughout the year continue to refer to Keeler by the title, further solidifying his claim to the captaincy. And, in no article is there mention of Keeler and Elberfeld as co-captains.

Verdict: Keeler is secure in his claim to the throne, having been the first captain to have his election formally announced.

Hal Chase, 1910-1911

Evidence: With Keeler’s departure after the 1909 season, the captaincy was left vacant, and, on March 8, 1910, it was first reported that Hal Chase was the man most likely to fill it. In that same article, it was mentioned that Chase would be taking over for Keeler, further confirming the line of succession established above. Chase’s election was announced in the New York World two days later when it was reported that he “was made captain of the Highlanders”. That announcement was confirmed by the Ogdensburg Journal on March 11, 1910, with the added detail that the choice was “a popular one with the players”. Several other publications also reported on the naming of Chase as captain, and then over the next two years, the record is replete with references to Chase in that role. In 1912, however, the record becomes thin. There are a few references to Chase as being captain, including a report on January 9, 1912, stating that new manager Harry Wolverton, who was taking over from Chase, would again bestow the title upon him. But, during the season, there is nary a mention of him as captain, whereas in 1910 and 1911, the title was oft cited in various forms of attribution. Interestingly, there is also mention of Chase likely being named captain in 1913, which could imply that he had held the role in the year prior, or cast further doubt on the speculation that took place before the 1912 and 1913 seasons.

Verdict: Chase was certainly a captain, but there is some evidence to suggest his reign lasted a year longer than the Yankees’ press release suggested. Although the case for Chase having an extra year is stronger than Elberfeld’s (see above), the lack of references to him being captain, following two years when they were so plentiful, makes it seem more likely that the consideration given to returning the honor to him in 1912 was eventually reconsidered before the season began. Considering what we now know about Chase, and even the controversy that swirled around him at the time, this turn of events is entirely plausible.

Frank Chance, 1913 to midseason

Evidence: Frank Chance was acquired from the Cubs to manage the team in 1913, but, as a part-time player as well, he was also eligible for the captaincy. In fact, Griffith, Elberfeld and Chase before him all held both roles. What’s missing, however, is an abundance of references to Chance as captain. In an extensive search of various archives, only one article, published on August 22, 1913 , referring to Chance as “manager-captain” was found. That doesn’t exactly make a strong case for Chance, but if that reference is dispositive, it also refutes the notion that his captaincy came to an end mid-season.

Rollie Zeider, midseason 1913 to end of season 1913

Evidence: Zeider’s case needs to be considered in tandem with Chance’s because the implication from the Yankees’ press release is that Zeider assumed the role after he was acquired in a trade on June 1, 1913. The deal, which sent former captain Hal Chase to Chicago, was big news at the time, and, after it turned out Zeider was damaged goods, it became controversial as well. It’s reasonable, therefore, that news of Zeider being named captain would have been overlooked. Perhaps that’s why there are only two vague references to Zeider as a potential captain, apparently sourced from the Chicago White Sox side of the equation. The most explicit reference appeared on June 2, 1913 in the Quincy Daily Journal, which reported that “it is understood Zeider will be made captain of the Yankees”. Would the Yankees really name a just-acquired utility infielder to the role of captain, especially if it was already being held by the manager? One plausible explanation could center on Chase, who, despite being controversial, was also popular. Naming Zeider, who by accounts was respected for his baseball acumen, as a captain may have been intended to take some of the pressure off Chance and ease tension in the clubhouse, but, it still seems to be a curious move.

Verdict: The case for Chance and Zeider being captains are tenuous. Chance, by virtue of his being manager and the likelihood that he’d also captain the team as a player, seems more likely than not to have been a captain, while Zeider’s case relies more on speculation in the immediate aftermath of the trade. However, a lot of things changed after the deal was announced, including the realization that Zeider was injured, leading to his lengthy absence from the field. If the Yankees had intended to make Zeider a captain, these circumstances could have caused them to change course. With Zeider never subsequently being referred to as a captain in my search of the archives, and a subsequent reference to Chance handing off the captaincy to a different successor (Peckingpaugh), I am inclined to exclude Zeider from the roll. And, even if taking the trade speculation at face value, it seems clear that Zeider would have been captain alongside Chance, not in place of him.

Roger Peckinpaugh, 1914-1921

Evidence: Among the early captains, Peckinpaugh’s claim to the title has been the longest and most widely recognized. As a result, the historical record not only contains voluminous references to his holding the title, but also details his election and re-election in subsequent seasons. A more interesting consideration of Peckinpaugh’s case is how it pertains to the preceding debate. On April 20, 1914, the Boston Post reported on Peckinpaugh’s election by noting that the role would have “few responsibilities, as Frank Chance will continue to do most of the directing on his own account.” This could imply that Chance was handing off the captaincy from himself to Peckinpaugh, strengthening the former’s case for having been captain for the entire 1913 season. Finally, just to make the 1913 captain debate even more confusing, there is one article, published in the Niagara Falls Gazette on October 2, 1914, that claims Peckinpaugh had served as captain since his acquisition from Cleveland early in 1913. One reference is hardly definitive, but the cases for Chance and Zeider aren’t based on much more.

Verdict: There is no room to doubt Peckinpaugh’s captaincy, and though there is a sliver of a chance that he may have held the role in 1913, it seems almost certain that his tenure lasted from 1914 to his trade in the winter of 1921.

Babe Ruth, March 13, 1922 to May 25, 1922

Evidence: Babe Ruth was larger than life, so nothing pertaining to him could slip through the cracks. Ruth was named captain by Miller Huggins on March 14, 1922 (not March 13), according to an article in Boston Daily Globe from that day. With Ruth under a suspension for his barnstorming activities, he wouldn’t be able to assume the role at the start of the season. For that reason, the article also noted John Franklin Baker (better known as Home Run Baker) and Everett Scott were being considered as interim captains. However, no subsequent confirmation of a decision was reported. Unfortunately, Ruth’s stint as captain didn’t last long. On May 25, after being thrown out trying to stretch a single into a double, Ruth contested the call by throwing a handful of dirt at umpire George Hildebrand. His actions were met by jeers from the crowd, and, apparently some of those words touched a nerve, as Ruth proceeded to charge into the stands after a fan, who luckily beat a hasty retreat. The end result was a $200 fine and an order from Commissioner Ban Johnson that Ruth be stripped of his captaincy. That announcement was made on May 26, so again, by technicality, it seems as if the Yankees’ press release if off by one day.

Verdict: Ruth’s captaincy was brief, but it started and ended one day later than stated in the Yankees’ press release.

Everett Scott, 1922 to 1925 (omitted from Yankees’ press release)

Evidence: The Yankees’ press release omits Scott from the list of captains, but his case is quite strong. Not only is he repeatedly referred to as captain in books retrospectively and newspaper reports contemporaneously, but there was speculation that he would be Ruth’s successor as soon as the Babe was deposed. Although a formal announcement was never reported, and as of May 30, 1922 the captaincy was still vacant, by the end of the year, there are several references to Scott as captain, including in the byline of a series of articles he authored after each game of the 1922 World Series. And, if that’s not definitive, he again, as “Captain of the New York Yankees”, chronicled each game of the 1923 World Series. Although the references to Scott as captain are far less frequent than Peckinpaugh, for example, there are enough to weigh the balance in his favor, not to mention the explicit attribution provided in the two articles printed under his byline. This would be an open and shut case if not for two caveats (see section below on Lou Gehrig). In an article published on October 10, 1923, it is noted that the Yankees have been without a Captain since Ruth was disbarred, and that Scott might be named to the role for the upcoming showdown with the Giants. Could Scott’s captaincy have been a temporary assignment made before each World Series?

Verdict: Although it is possible that Scott was never formally made captain and that his service in the role was in a limited capacity, there are too many references to discount him. Besides, even if the role was temporary, Scott could still lay claim to having been a Yankee Captain. For that reason, his status as a captain seem firms, even if the length of his stint remains on shaky ground.

Lou Gehrig, January 12, 1935 to 1939

When Lou Gehrig was named captain by Miller Huggins on April 12, 1935, it was explicitly reported that he was the first to serve in the role since Babe Ruth was deposed. This seems to put Everett Scott’s candidacy back in doubt, but articles announcing subsequent captains reversed course. Contemporary articles should carry more weight, but the same facts cited above remain. Even if Scott was not an everyday captain, he was certainly assigned the role as needed. It’s hard to believe Scott would repeatedly claim the captaincy in bold headlines if the Yankees didn’t concur.

Thurman Munson, April 17, 1976 to August 2, 1979

Although there is one reference to Munson being named Captain by Billy Martin when he took over the team in 1975, the first formal report on the designation being granted occurred in April 1976. That article from AP focused more on who hadn’t been a captain than recounting prior honorees, which suggests the title having lost its esteem. “It’s nice,” was Munson’s response, and the lack of attention paid to the announcement seems to echo that muted sentiment.

Graig Nettles, January 29, 1982 to March 30, 1984

When Nettles was named captain in 1982, it was claimed that he was the sixth Yankee to be so honored. Included on the list was Peckinpaugh, Ruth, Scott, Gehrig and Munson. Between Gehrig and Nettles, Scott’s captaincy had been restored, at least among sportswriters. As for the relevancy of being captain? “I have no idea what a captain does,” Nettles said, “but it’s a great honor”.

Willie Randolph, March 4, 1986 to October 2, 1988

Ron Guidry, March 4, 1986 to July 12, 1989

The first named co-captains, Randolph and Guidry were awarded the honor in a Spring Training ceremony and identified as being seventh and eighth in the line of succession, maintaining the history cited when Nettles was selected four years earlier.

Don Mattingly, February 28, 1991 to 1995

Mattingly became the 10th Yankees’ captain, not the 9th. Subsequent research had, for the first time, credited Hal Chase as being a Captain, though his tenure was cited as ending in 1912, but being of unknown origin.

Derek Jeter, June 3, 2003 to 2014

The naming of Jeter as 11th Captain maintained the history provided when Mattingly was honored, and created Judge’s historical leap that saw him become the 16th captain instead of the 12th.

Based on an extensive search of newspaper archives and other published accounts, below is the most accurate representation of the Yankees’ Captaincy.

Yankees Captains

Tenure	Captain	Position
1903 to 1905	Clark Griffith	P/MGR
1906 to 1908	Kid Elberfeld	SS
1909	Willie Keeler	OF
1910 to 1912*	Hal Chase	1B
1913**	Frank Chance	P/MGR
1914 to 1921	Roger Peckinpaugh	SS
3/14/1922 to 5/26/1922***	Babe Ruth	OF
1922 to 1925****	Everett Scott	SS
4/12/1935 to 1939	Lou Gehrig	1B
4/17/1976 to 8/2/1979	Thurman Munson	C
1/29/1982 to 3/30/1984	Graig Nettles	3B
3/4/1986 to 10/2/1989	Willie Randolph^	2B
3/4/1986 to 7/12/1989	Ron Guidry^	P
2/28/1991 to 1995	Don Mattingly	1B
6/03/2003 to 2014	Derek Jeter	SS
12/21/2022 to Present	Aaron Judge	OF
^co-captains from 3/4/1986 to 7/12/1989 Yankees’ 12/21/22 press release has the following differences: *Hal Chase: 1910-1911 **Frank Chance: Start 1913 – midseason ***Babe Ruth: 3/13/1922-5/25/1922 ****Everett Scott omitted; Also: Rollie Zeider: midseason 1913 – end of season