Andy Pettitte is the New York Yankees' all-time leader in starts (438), strikeouts (2,020) and postseason wins (18). The team will honor the left-hander this year at Yankee Stadium, less than two full seasons after his retirement.
August 23 will be "Andy Pettitte Day" at Yankee Stadium, during which the team will retire his No. 46 and honor him with a plaque in Monument Park, according to Pettitte's brother Josh. A team source later confirmed the news, according to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com.
Pettitte will join manager Joe Torre, first baseman Tino Martinez, outfielder Paul O'Neill and closer Mariano Rivera as members of the late-1990s Yankees' dynasty to be awarded plaques. Rivera was inducted into Monument Park in late 2013 while Torre, Martinez and O'Neill were last season. The Yankees said they will also be honoring outfielder Bernie Williams at some point in 2015 and will likely induct Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada soon thereafter.
Rivera, Pettitte, Jeter and Posada are referred to as the "Core Four" because they were all drafted or signed by the Yankees as amateurs in the early 90s, played together in the minor leagues, made their MLB debuts in 1995, and went on to win five World Series championships together.
Pettitte spent his first nine seasons with the Yankees and then spent three with the Houston Astros before he returned to New York for his final six. During his tenure in the Bronx, the left-hander amassed a 219-127 record with a 3.94 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 2,020 strikeouts in 447 games (438 starts) and a total of 2,796 1/3 innings. He was a three-time All-Star ('96, '01 and '10) and was named the MVP of the 2001 ALCS against the Seattle Mariners after going 2-0 with a 2.51 ERA and 0.91 WHIP in two starts (14 1/3 innings).
The 42-year-old retired after the 2013 season and will be remembered as one of the all-time great Yankees.
UPDATE: The Yankees will also retire Jorge Posada's No. 20 (Aug. 22) and Bernie Williams' No. 51 (May 24) in 2015 and Willie Randolph will receive a plaque in Monument Park.
