Click here for an updated version of the list below (as of March 28, 2019).
When the Yankees take the field tonight, their uniforms will be emblazoned with two patches honoring the recent deaths of long-time public address announcer Bob Sheppard and principal owner George Steinbrenner. Unlike in the past when the team has used either a black armband or number to honor a fallen team legend, this time around the Yankees have opted to be more descriptive.
The Sheppard patch, in particular, uses the image of microphone enclosed by a diamond along with an apt inscription to evoke the memory of “the voice of Yankee Stadium”. It will be worn on the left sleeve, following tradition.
The Steinbrenner patch is ironically more understated, offering only a collage of his name, initials and “The Boss” moniker. It would have been nice to have an image incorporated into the tribute (maybe a turtle neck?), but then again, the Boss always provided his own embellishment anyway. What is unique, however, is the positioning of the patch, which will be worn just above the heart (i.e., the interlocking NY on the home uniform and “York” portion of the road uniform). The Yankees have never worn a memorial patch on the front of their uniform, but if anyone deserves such a distinction, it is the Boss.
Since the tragic death of Indians’ shortstop Ray Chapman, who was beaned in the head by Yankees pitcher Carl Mays, the Yankees have used their uniform as a means of offering tribute to the passing of legendary figures or commemorating tragic events. Below is a list of such honors:
| Year | Honoree | Designation | Term of Honor |
| 1920 | Ray Chapman | Black armband on left sleeve | (undetermined duration) |
| 1929 | Miller Huggins | Black armband on left sleeve | (undetermined duration) |
| 1948 | Babe Ruth | Black armband on left sleeve | (undetermined duration) |
| 1976 | Casey Stengel | Black armband on left sleeve of Billy Martin’s uniform only. | Entire 1976 season |
| 1979-1980 | Thurman Munson | Black armband on left sleeve | From August 3, 1979 through the entire 1980 season |
| 1981 | Elston Howard | Black armband on left sleeve | Entire 1981 season |
| 1985 | Pete Sheehy | Black armband on left sleeve | August 16 until the end of the 1985 season |
| 1986 | Roger Maris | Black armband on left sleeve | Entire 1986 season |
| 1990 | Billy Martin | Number “1” on left sleeve | Entire 1990 season |
| 1995 | Mickey Mantle | Black armband on left sleeve with number “7” later added above. | August 14 until end of the 1995 season |
| 1996 | Mel Allen | Black armband on left sleeve | June 18 until the end of the 1996 season |
| 1999 | Joe DiMaggio | Number “5” on left sleeve | Entire 1999 season |
| 1999 | Catfish Hunter | Black armband on left sleeve below Number 5 patch. | September 10 until end of 1999 season |
| 2000 | Bob Lemon | Black armband on left sleeve | Entire 2000 season |
| 2001 | 9/11 Tragedy | Various patches worn on caps; black armband on left sleeve | September 11 until end of the season |
| 2005 | Hurricane Katrina Relief | Salvation Army emblem worn on right sleeve | September 6-11, 2005 |
| 2007 | Corey Lidle | Black armband on left sleeve | Entire 2007 season |
| 2007 | Virginia Tech Murder Victims | Virginia Tech logo on left side of cap | May 23, 2007 |
| 2007 | Phil Rizzuto | Number “10” on left sleeve | From August 15 until the end of the 2007 season. |
| 2008 | Bobby Murcer | Black armband on left sleeve | From July 13 until the end of the 2008 season. |
| 2010 | Bob Sheppard | Black patch with name and microphone worn on left sleeve | From July 16 until the end of the 2010 season. |
| 2010 | George M. Steinbrenner III | Black patch with name and “The Boss” worn above the interlocking NY and “York” portion of road uniforms. Black armbands also worn by Yankees participants in the All Star Game on July 13, 2010. | From July 16 until the end of the 2010 season. |
[…] With the unfortunate string of events, the Yankees’ uniforms are getting a bit crowded. For a complete rundown of the tributes the Yankees have worn in history, the Captain’s Blog offers a good list. […]
Smply amazed that they would not have worn one for the Iron Horse.
You are so correct in pointing to the fact that the Iron Horse was not honored with a black arm band.
It is somewhat surprising that the Yankees didn’t wear an armband for Gehrig. They did, however, honor him with a monument just over one month later.
2010, yanks also wore a black armband under the Sheppard patch on left arm
Thanks for the update (helps to make this a living resource). Six days after this post was written, Ralph Houk passed away and the Yankees added the black armband.
[…] a moment of silence to commemorate his death, but Moose deserves much more. The Yankees have a rich history of honoring their fallen heroes with various uniform adornments, so hopefully they’ll consider one for Moose. Although not of the same stature as Yogi, Whitey, […]
[…] a moment of silence to commemorate his death, but Moose deserves much more. The Yankees have a rich history of honoring their fallen heroes with various uniform adornments, so hopefully they’ll consider one for Moose. Although not of the same stature as Yogi, Whitey, […]
[…] a moment of silence to commemorate his death, but Moose deserves much more. The Yankees have a rich history of honoring their fallen heroes with various uniform adornments, so hopefully they’ll consider one for Moose. Although not of the same stature as Yogi, Whitey, […]
[…] a moment of silence to commemorate his death, but Moose deserves much more. The Yankees have a rich history of honoring their fallen heroes with various uniform adornments, so hopefully they’ll consider one for Moose. Although not of the same stature as Yogi, […]
The list says the Yankees wore commemorative patches on their caps in 2001 for 9/11, but it doesn’t mention the black armbands they were wearing in the World Series and the sleeve patch above the armband. If you watch Jeter’s ‘Mr . November’ home run in the World Series, the armband and sleeve patch are very visible.
The black armband was also worn to commemorate the 9/11 victims (chart above has been updated). The patch was a World Series logo, not a commemorative marking.
Anyone know construction details of the Munson armband? Was it same material as numbers? Sewn on like numbers or straight stiched? Width?
Based on visual inspection (you can go to Youtube and search for the Munson Game or any game from 1980), it appears as if it was the same material and about an inch in thickness.