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NEW YORK, UNITED STATES: Members of the New York Yankees celebrate on the pitchers mound after beating the Atlanta Braves to win the World Series at Yankee Stadium in New York 26 October. The Yankees won the game 3-2 to claim the series four games to two. AFP PHOTO/Henny Ray ABRAMS (Photo credit should read HENNY RAY ABRAMS/AFP/Getty Images)

Yankees of 1996 had Albany connections

This season the New York Yankees are commemorating the twentieth anniversary of the 1996 World Series championship team. Folks upstate around my neck of the woods in the Capital Region remember that squad had a distinctly Albany feel to it. In fact, 15 of the players on the club spent some time with the old Eastern League, Double-A, Albany-Colonie Yankees. Here’s a look back.

Derek Jeter: SS (1994)

Before winning AL Rookie of the Year in 1996, Jeter batted .377 with Albany-Colonie in 1994.

1994 Albany Yankees Yearbook Team Issue #2 Derek Jeter Front

Gerald Williams: OF (1990-91)

Prior to preserving Dwight Gooden’s no-hitter in 1996, “Ice” played parts of two seasons with Albany-Colonie, batting .286 for the 1991 Eastern League champs.

1991 Line Drive AA #23 Gerald Williams Front

Bernie Williams: CF (1989-90)

In 1996, “Bernie Baseball” was ALCS MVP. Williams also had a championship pedigree with A-C, hitting eleven home runs with the 1989 Eastern League title team.

1990 Best Albany Yankees #1 Bernie Williams Front

Jim Leyritz: C (1988-89)

Known for his signature blast in Game 4 of the 1996 World Series, “The King,” was the Eastern League batting champ, hitting .315 as Albany-Colonie won the crown in 1989.

1989 ProCards #325 Jim Leyritz Front

Andy Fox: 2B (1993-94)

Fox was a versatile infielder with speed in New York and at Albany-Colonie in 1994, Fox hit eleven home runs and stole 22 bases.

1994 Fleer/ProCards #1449 Andy Fox Front

Pat Kelly: 2B (1990, ’92, ’94)

Kelly, known for his defense, speed and bunting ability was injured most of 1996. With Albany, PK was an Eastern League All-Star in 1990, batting .270 with 32 stolen bases.

1990 Best Albany Yankees #16 Pat Kelly Front

Robert Eenhoorn: IF (1992-93)

Eenhoorn played just 12 games with the Yankees in 1996. Eenhoorn batted .280 with A-C in 1993.

1994 Classic Best Gold #9 Robert Eenhoorn Front

Jorge Posada: C (1993)

While the aforementioned Leyritz and Joe Girardi shared the bulk of the catching duties, Posada appeared in eight games in 1996. In 1993 with Albany-Colonie, Posada batted .280 across seven games.

1995 Bowman #56 Jorge Posada Front

Matt Luke: OF (1994)

Luke got into one game and scored a run as a pinch runner in 1996. In 1994, Luke hit eight home runs and batted .284 with Albany-Colonie.

1996 Bowman #217 Matt Luke Front

Andy Pettitte: SP (1993-94)

In 1996, Pettitte led the AL with 21 victories, was an AL All-Star and ranked second in AL Cy Young voting. Pettitte’s first win at a major-league ballpark came in 1993, as he and Albany-Colonie defeated the Bowie Baysox at Memorial Stadium. In 1994, Pettitte went 7-2 with a 2.71 ERA for A-C.

1994 Classic #28 Andy Pettitte Front

Mariano Rivera: RP (1994)

In 1996, Mo finished third in AL Cy Young voting, whiffing 130 in 107.2 innings, with a 2.09 ERA and a record of 8-3. When he was a starting pitcher with Albany-Colonie in 1994, Rivera went 3-0 with a 2.27 ERA in nine outings.

Brian Boehringer: RP (1994)

Boehringer won two games in 15 outings for New York in 1996. In 27 starts with Albany-Colonie in 1994, Boehringer won ten games and posted a 3.62 ERA with 145 K’s.

1994 Fleer/ProCards #1430 Brian Boehringer Front

Mark Hutton: P (1992)

Hutton appeared in 12 games with New York in 1996. With Albany-Colonie in 1992, Hutton won 13 games and pitched to a 3.59 ERA with 128 strikeouts.

1992 SkyBox Team Sets #12a Mark Hutton Front

Scott Kamieniecki: SP (1987, ’89, ’90)

Kamieniecki won one game in seven outings with New York in 1996. Across parts of three seasons with Albany-Colonie, Kamieniecki won 21 games and was a member of the 1989 Eastern League title squad.

1989 Best Albany Yankees #25 Scott Kamieniecki Front

Steve Howe: RP (1994)

Howe made 25 outings with New York in 1996. Howe fanned two in a rehab outing with A-C in 1994.

1994 Collector's Choice #613 Steve Howe Front