The 2010s were a decade of regular-season dominance for the New York Yankees. Despite failing to capture a World Series title, the franchise produced historic individual performances that defined the Pinstripes. From Brett Gardner to Robinson Cano, specific stars kept the Bronx Bombers competitive during a transitional era.

At the top of the Yankees' food chain was Brett Gardner, who was also known as the heartbeat for the Bronx in that decade. From the 2010-20 stretch, ‘Gardy’ appeared in a combined 1315 games, recording 1204 hits, 97 home runs, 421 RBIs, and 243 stolen bases while maintaining an amazing average of .260 in batting.

While his raw statistics were not elite, he was certainly an elite player who carried the team when it mattered the most.

Even though his numbers are consistently above average, his longevity has made him one of the MVPs of the Yankees in that decade. However, another player made a big impact in the early 2010s.

The name is Robinson Cano; he was arguably the most complete hitter of the early decade. Between 2010 and 2013, Robinson hit over .300 in three seasons, including a .313 average in 2010 and a career-high 33 home runs in 2012.

When the Yankees struggled with offense, they looked at Robinson for a savior as his smooth swing and middle-order production made him one of the most reliable offensive weapons for the Yankees till 2013.

Power hitting has been the specialty for the pinstripes, and when Gardner and Robinson left the game, Aaron Judge stood as the next big thing for the team. Making his debut in 2017, Judge was unstoppable. He smashed 52 home runs, won rookie of the year, and finished second in MVP voting. Talk about an absolute dominance.

From 2017 to 2020, despite the injuries, he stood as the centerpiece for the Yankees, and his performance just screamed the ‘Bomber’ archetype.

The core that bridged two eras

The 2010-2020 era was a transition from legacy players to modern players. Supported by CC Sabathia, who delivered multiple 200-innings seasons, the bombers hit carefree.

On the other hand, Masahiro Tanaka quietly became one of the most dependable postseason arms for the team, posting a 3.33 ERA in the playoffs during his Yankees tenure.

Another name that made some noise back in 2016 was Gary Sanchez, who hit 20 homers in just 53 games, making him feared among the team.

However, he couldn’t keep his consistency. Regardless, every player has their own moment during the decade, but if we were to name a single individual who truly defined the best ‘Bomber’ for the team in the decade, then it all circles back to Gardner.

Not because he was the absolute best, but because he was always there when the team needed him to perform.

With that said, who do you think actually ruled the 2010-2020 era? Was it Brett Gardner or someone else? Do tell us your answers in the comments.

Read more at the New York Yankees Community!

Written by

Suryakant Das

Edited by

Ashvinkumar Patil