The New York Yankees today announced that they have re-signed Manager Aaron Boone to a three-year contract through the 2024 season with a club option for 2025.
Boone, 48, has compiled a career 328-218 managerial record and has led the Yankees to a postseason berth in each of his first four seasons at the helm (2018-21). Over his first three full seasons as manager (2018-19, ’21), he has averaged 98 wins per season. The La Mesa, Calif., native is just the second manager in Baseball history to reach the postseason in each of his first four managerial seasons, joining Mike Matheny (2012-15 with St. Louis, also four straight). He is the third manager to make the playoffs in each of his first four seasons with the Yankees, joining Casey Stengel (first five from 1949-53) and Joe Torre (first 12 from 1996-2007).
“We have a person and manager in Aaron Boone who possesses the baseball acumen and widespread respect in our clubhouse to continue to guide us forward,” said Yankees Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner. “As a team and as an organization, we must grow, evolve and improve. We need to get better. Period. I know Aaron fully embraces our expectations of success, and I look forward to drawing on his intelligence, instincts and leadership in pursuit of our next World Series championship.”
In the 2021 season, the Yankees posted a 92-70 record and clinched their fifth consecutive postseason berth (since 2017). The club was tied for second place in the AL East and clinched the second AL Wild Card spot. The Yankees posted a 50-29 (.633) record in their final 79 games of the regular season (7/6-10/3), marking the fourth-best record in the Majors in that span, trailing only San Francisco (54-24, .692), Los Angeles-NL (53-24, .688) and Tampa Bay (51-26, .662).
His 328 career managerial wins rank ninth on the Yankees’ all-time list, behind Joe McCarthy (1,460-867), Joe Torre (1,173-767), Casey Stengel (1,149-696), Miller Huggins (1,067-719), Ralph Houk (944-806), Joe Girardi (910-710), Billy Martin (556-385) and Clark Griffith (419-370). Boone reached his 300th career win in his 500th game, becoming the fifth-fastest Yankees Manager to reach 300 wins in decided games (excluding ties), trailing Ralph Houk (468th decision) and Hall of Famers Joe McCarthy (469), Casey Stengel (477) and Joe Torre (484).
In 2019, Boone placed second in AL Manager of the Year voting (with 13 first place votes, nine second place votes and four third place votes) after guiding the Yankees to a 103-59 record, the club’s best mark since it went 103-59 in 2009. In his rookie managerial season in 2018, he led the Yankees to a 100-62 mark, becoming the sixth manager in Baseball history to lead his team to at least 100 wins in his rookie season, joining Ralph Houk (1961 Yankees, 109-53), Alex Cora (2018 Red Sox, 108-54), Dusty Baker (1993 Giants, 103-59), Sparky Anderson (1970 Reds, 102-60) and Mickey Cochrane (1934 Tigers, 101-53). His 203 managerial wins over that two-year stretch trails only Ralph Houk (205 wins with the Yankees from 1961-62) for most by any manager in Major League Baseball history over his first two seasons at the helm.
Boone was named the 33rd manager in club history on December 4, 2017.
As a player, the 2003 NL All-Star hit .263 (1,017-for-3,871) with 519R, 216 doubles, 126HR, 555RBI and 107SB in 1,152 games over 12 Major League seasons as an infielder (primarily at third base) with the Cincinnati Reds (1997-2003), Yankees (2003), Cleveland Indians (2005-06), Florida Marlins (2007), Washington Nationals (2008) and Houston Astros (2009). Boone helped the Yankees clinch the American League pennant in 2003, hitting a series-ending, “walk-off” home run off Boston’s Tim Wakefield in the bottom of the 11th inning of ALCS Game 7 at the original Yankee Stadium.
Boone’s family was the first in Baseball history to produce three generations of Major League players. His father, Bob, played 19 seasons from 1972-90, and his grandfather, Ray, had a 13-year playing career from 1948-60. Additionally, his older brother, Bret, played 14 seasons (1992-2005), including two with Aaron in Cincinnati from 1997-98.
Selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the third round of the 1994 First-Year Player Draft after playing three seasons at the University of Southern California, Boone was originally selected by the California Angels in the 43rd round of the 1991 First-Year Player Draft but did not sign.
Per Release
Image: AP Photo / Charles Krupa