The distance between the New York Yankees and their last World Series title in 2009 has arguably never been greater.
For years, the link to that championship somewhere existed in and around the league with former Yankees heading for pastures new.
But with David Robertson announcing his retirement, the final active member of the 2009 winning team, that connection has officially disappeared.
Robertson first arrived in pinstripes during the 2008 season, a relatively unheralded rookie out of Alabama who did not immediately fit the stereotypical mold of a high-leverage reliever in New York.
But over time, though, he grew into one of the most reliable bullpen arms of his generation and a stabilizing presence during some of the Yankees‘ most competitive seasons.
Now, with his decision to retire, Robertson leaves behind not just a long résumé, but a piece of organizational history.
“Veteran reliever David Robertson announces his retirement,” MLB insider Bob Nightengale shared via X.
David Robertson’s illustrious career
With Robertson hanging up his cleats, there are now zero active major leaguers who can say they won a World Series with the Yankees.
His first stint in pinstripes ran from 2008 through 2014. After that, his career took him to the Chicago White Sox from 2015 to 2017, followed by a brief return to New York and additional stops around the league.
Statistically, Robertson‘s peak came during the 2011 season.
That year, he delivered one of the most dominant relief campaigns in modern baseball, throwing 66 innings with a 1.08 ERA. It was a season that cemented his reputation as one of the game’s most dependable late-inning arms.
By the time his career came to an end, Robertson had compiled a 2.93 ERA across just under 900 regular-season innings, along with nearly 1,200 strikeouts.
His durability stands out even more when placed in historical context. Since his debut, only Kenley Jansen appeared in more games than Robertson‘s 881, a remarkable feat for a role known for volatility and short shelf lives.
He leaves the game having pitched in the offseason 10 times out of 17, a remarkable feat to highlight his consistency.
Beyond the numbers, his retirement creates a noticeable void within the Yankees‘ historical lineage. No one remains who experienced the 2009 championship firsthand, underscoring just how long it has been since the franchise last stood at the top of the sport.
The so-called golden era of the Yankees is often associated with the early 2010s, when they could boast having stars like Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez on their roster.
Judge leading Yankees into new era
Since then, it has been difficult to replicate that level of dominance has been elusive. Yet, there may be reason for cautious optimism heading into 2026.
It starts with Aaron Judge. Entering the 2026 season, Judge remains the engine of the roster and is already being discussed as a leading AL MVP candidate.
If another 60-plus home run campaign with an elite slugging percentage materializes, the Yankees are still firmly inside the heart of his prime.
The roster itself also remains largely intact after finishing with the best record in the American League and reaching the ALDS.
With even marginal improvement, a legitimate World Series push is not out of the question. But for now, those memories from 17 years ago are fading quickly.
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