Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 1: The Yankee Standard

Date: February 18, 2026
Host(s): Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
Main Theme: The evolving standard and expectations for the New York Yankees, how legacy is measured, and whether that standard remains realistic or fair in the modern sports landscape.

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into what it means to be a New York Yankee, focusing on the franchise's legendary championship standard and how it weighs on current players like Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton. The hosts debate whether the "Yankee standard" is now unrealistic, discuss fan expectations, and reflect on how Yankees’ history continues to shape the perception of success and greatness in the Bronx.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Yankee Legacy & Its Modern Impact

• Stanton and Judge’s Recent Comments:
  The discussion opens around recent public statements from Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge, both of whom emphasized that being a Yankee is synonymous with being a champion.

• Stanton's Take on Legacy

  "The story’s still being written, but at the end of the day...the point of being a Yankee is being a champion. There’s always going to be a stain there [without a title], whether good or bad, great or okay times." – (Don quoting Stanton, 07:24)
  Don and Alan note that this internal pressure looks to re-ignite the pursuit of excellence within the clubhouse.

• Are Championship-Or-Bust Expectations Fair?

  • Don draws comparisons to NFL and NBA franchises (Cowboys, Patriots, Celtics) who haven’t always lived up to their old dynastic reputations but notes that the Yankees remain uniquely burdened by their history.

  • "We’re talking about a team that has won once in 25 years...you don’t say that [championship-or-bust] when you’re a Chief, because it’s recent...But the Yankees are in much better shape than those forever teams. But they’re not the Warriors, they’re not the Chiefs, they’re not the Eagles." (Don, 09:27)

• History as Burden vs. Motivation
  The hosts debate whether the constant comparison to past glories is counterproductive or if it instills a winning mentality.

  • Peter:

    "There was not enough in the clubhouse talk about it...there was always the typical stuff of, yeah, we’re trying to win...But to talk about it the way they’re talking about it is setting a tone. Not outside, inside. That pressure out there, we need it in here." (12:44)

  • Don pushes back, suggesting players shouldn’t feel overshadowed by "ghosts," but rather focus on the current team's talent:

    "Forget DiMaggio, forget Berra, forget Jeter. This team right now is good enough to win. Let’s go out and win. Forget the ghosts...That’s the past. That’s dead." (13:15)

Measuring Greatness: Rings vs. Talent

• Is Winning Required to Be an All-Time Yankee?
  The hosts examine how much winning a championship factors into legacy, especially for stars like Aaron Judge.

  • Don:

    "Derek Jeter, from a talent standpoint to me, is not in the same stratosphere as Judge. But every Yankee fan thinks he’s better because he has rings and Judge doesn’t. And I just keep thinking how unfair that stigma is..." (06:15–08:05)

  • Peter and Alan contend that within the Yankees, the connection to history—and to the literal monuments and ghosts—makes the standard different than other teams.

Fans’ Role in Sustaining This “Standard”

• Fan Callers Weigh In
  Several callers articulate the emotional investment of being a Yankees fan and the belief that wearing pinstripes comes with heightened obligations.

  • Al in the Bronx:

    "There’s a difference between going to the Hall of Fame as a Hall of Famer and going to the Hall of Fame with a ring as a Yankee...those guys have a different swag." (27:24)

• Double Standards and Tradition
  Don points out the inconsistency in how certain Yankees (e.g., Don Mattingly) are beloved without ever winning, but others are dismissed for the same.

  "It’s the right mental [for] Mattingly because he didn’t win, which is—I...the same fan base holds him in high regard and don’t beat him up because he didn’t win." (25:05)

Modern Difficulties & Changing Context

• Harder to Win Now

  • The group emphasizes how baseball's evolution (expansion, parity, playoff rounds) has made championships harder to come by, arguing the Yankee standard is rooted partly in an outdated era.

    "Don’t hold the Yankees to the standard of Mickey Mantle and Joe DiMaggio. That’s a joke. And even holding them to the standard of the four championships in five years..." (24:09)

• Moving the Goalposts

  • Alan and Peter feel that, fair or not, the franchise’s history sets a tone that still reverberates.

    "The brand does, no matter how long ago it was. This is one of the few brands in sports that feels like it’s a winning brand no matter how long it’s been." (24:21)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Difference Between Yankees & Other Franchises:

  "But at what point do we say that standard has changed? Never." – (Don & Alan, 30:54)

• On What Winning Means in Context:

  "This is about being in a fraternity that happens to have history to it. A historic fraternity that’s over 100 years old and has had a lot of success. And you’re trying just one. If I get one, I’m in, right?" – (Alan, 33:20)

• Nostalgia vs. Reality:

  "At what point do the fans just say, enough? ...Because I think you’re holding them to a standard that just does not—it can’t possibly live that." – (Don, 46:51)

• On Shifting Goalposts and Fan Enjoyment:

  "When the Yankees were winning 100 games and Judge is hitting 60 home runs and every Yankee fan’s complaining...Like, it’s almost like it’s no fun. You’re missing a lot of fun stuff, man." – (Don, 48:11)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Yankees Standard & Judge/Stanton Comments:
  04:46–16:50

• The Clubhouse Mentality vs. The Ghosts:
  12:44–16:50

• Legacy, Talent vs. Winning:
  17:01–20:33

• Historical Perspective & Comparing Eras:
  23:40–24:57

• Fan Calls - The Meaning of Championships:
  27:16–33:20

• Yankee Brand and Legacy Discussion:
  33:20–37:08

• Moving Forward: Modern Realities vs. The Old Standard:
  37:16–48:50

Tone & Style

• Conversational, passionate, and at times contentious, the hosts balance humor and deep sports insight.
• Regularly personal, with anecdotes connecting both to their own histories and to broader sports lore.
• Heavy use of metaphors and comparisons across sports and eras to highlight contrasts.

Conclusion

"The Yankee Standard" explores the complex expectations living inside the Yankees clubhouse and out in Yankee Nation. The hosts dissect whether legacy should be defined strictly by championship rings or whether the reality of the modern game demands a more nuanced perspective. Despite new realities in sports, the mythos and pressure of the pinstripes, as Don, Hahn, and Rosenberg agree, remains an inescapable—and for some, essential—part of being a New York Yankee.

For anyone who hasn’t listened, this episode serves as both a history lesson and a live debate about what it really means to wear Yankee pinstripes, why that history matters, and how—despite it all—it still shapes the future of one of the most storied franchises in sports.