The New York Yankees are mourning the death of a former player who was part of two championship teams.
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Rollie Sheldon, who pitched for the Yankees during the franchise's legendary run in the early 1960s, died Aug. 31 at age 89.
"The Yankees mourn the passing of Rollie Sheldon and extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends and loved ones," the team said in a Wednesday tribute.
Sheldon arrived in New York for quite a rookie season.
The right-hander won 11 games for the Yankees in 1961 while playing alongside Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris during their historic pursuit of Babe Ruth's single-season home run record.
That Yankees team went 109-53 before defeating the Cincinnati Reds in the World Series. Sheldon was also part of New York's 1962 championship team, giving him two World Series rings early in his career.
The Yankees mourn the passing of Rollie Sheldon and extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends and loved ones. pic.twitter.com/9qZPjdAxbA
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) September 9, 2026
Before reaching the majors, Sheldon served in the U.S. Air Force in Germany and later played both baseball and basketball at UConn.
His major league career eventually included stops with the Kansas City Athletics and Boston Red Sox in addition to his years in New York.
YES Network also remembered Sheldon with a video tribute following news of his death.
For a franchise with no shortage of history, Sheldon owned a pretty special piece of it. He was there when Mantle and Maris captivated baseball, and when the Yankees were once again on top of the sport.
