Forgotten Yankees: Kerry Wood
- Dominic Konareski
- Mar 2
- 1 min read
Kerry Wood may very well be one of the greatest New York Yankees relievers of all-time for hurlers who have pitched in 30 or less innings. Despite Wood’s short-term excellence, he is forgotten in the pinstripe world.
Acquired on July 31st of 2010, by New York in a trade with Cleveland that saw Yanks’ Andrew Shive, Matt Cusick and cash go over to the Indians, would end up allowing Kerry Wood to pitch in the Bronx.
Wood, who was a 13-year vet at the time, immediately excelled with New York. Wood would pitch in 21 straight scoreless appearances and would overall finish his 2010 Yankees stint with a 2-0 record and a 0.69 ERA in 24 games, 26 innings pitched. Going into the postseason, New York used Wood as a bridge to Mariano Rivera, where he would end up appearing in 7 games overall and pitched to a 2.25 ERA.
Despite both regular season and postseason success, the Yankees declined to exercise their option for Wood in 2011 for what would be his age 34 season. Kerry Wood would pivot and signed a deal with the Cubs in 2011, but arm issues would plague him and a soaring ERA eventually led to his retirement in May of 2012.
Kerry Wood’s 0.69 ERA as a Yankee is the lowest ERA in New York’s franchise history for a pitcher who has recorded at least 15 innings on the mound.
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