Remembering the Core Four's impact on the Yankees' dynasty

Former New York Yankees general manager Gene 'Stick' Michael, who helped build the team's 1990s dynasty, died Thursday at the age of 79 after suffering a heart attack.

Michael, a beloved "character" and "bright baseball man," according to Yankees manager Joe Girardi, was integral in rebuilding New York into a perennial powerhouse.

The Yankees' Core Four of Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte, Jorge Posada, and Mariano Rivera were either drafted or signed during Michael's tenure as GM and helped the franchise win five championships, including three straight from 1998-2000.

With Michael's intuition giving rise to a legacy, let's take a look at the impact the Core Four had on forging a Yankees dynasty.

1995 - The 1st look

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1995 would give the baseball world its first looks at what would eventually become one of the greatest franchise cores in the game's history.

Jeter, Pettitte, Posada, and Rivera all made their big-league debuts for a Yankees club that would make the postseason, but fall to the Seattle Mariners in the division series.

Pettitte was the only one of the four to have a real impact for the '95 team, going 12-9 with a 4.17 ERA and finishing third in AL Rookie of the Year voting.

1996 - The 1st title

After the Yankees were unable to advance past the division series in '95, manager Joe Torre asserted that Jeter would be his starting shortstop for the 1996 season. It turns out, George Steinbrenner - unhappy with the idea of using a young player in the role - approved a trade of Rivera to the Mariners for middle infielder Felix Fermin, which Michael ultimately nixed.

Luckily, the band was not torn apart that day, because Jeter (.314, 78 RBIs, AL Rookie of the Year), Pettitte (21-8, 2nd in AL Cy Young voting), and Rivera (107 2/3 innings across 61 appearance, third in AL Cy Young voting) were key contributors to the Yankees' first World Series title in 18 years.

1998 - The big winners

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After falling to the powerhouse Cleveland Indians in the 1997 ALDS, the Yankees clearly had enough of the rest of baseball and launched themselves into the history books by winning 114 games during the next regular season - most in club history.

Jeter finished third in MVP voting, Pettitte tossed 200+ innings for a third straight season, Rivera was nearly untouchable as Yankees closer (1.91 ERA, 1.06 WHIP), and Posada began to fortify himself as a fixture behind the plate.

They also dominated in the postseason, losing just twice, while Posada was integral in the World Series against the San Diego Padres, posting an OPS of 1.121.

1999 - The repeat

While the Indians were the game's best offensive team and led the majors with 1,009 runs scored, the Yankees didn't appear threatened when they won their second consecutive division title in what may have been the best season of Jeter's career. The shortstop led the majors with 219 hits, and boasted a career-high OPS of .989 while driving in 102 runs.

It was Rivera, however, that the postseason revolved around. The right-hander didn't yield a single run during the playoffs, en route to a World Series MVP and back-to-back titles for the Yankees for the first time since 1978.

2000 - The subway series

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The Core Four may have been establishing their dominance as individuals in seasons prior, but 2000 may have been the season in which the foursome really shined as a unit.

Jeter hit .339, Pettitte won 19 games, Posada broke out offensively - hitting 28 home runs and driving in 86 - and Rivera saved 36-plus games for a fourth consecutive season and established himself as a perennial All-Star.

With the exception of Posada, who struggled in the playoffs, the core remained on fire into the postseason, en route to a third consecutive title.

Jeter posted a ridiculous 1.344 OPS in the Subway Series against the New York Mets, earning World Series MVP. Pettitte was untouchable and could have won the award himself after recording a 1.98 ERA in two starts, and Rivera saved six games and struck out seven.

2009 - The last hurrah

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The dynasty may have ended following the 2000 World Series victory, but the Yankees' Core Four wasn't done just yet.

After failing to claim a title in nine years, the Yankees outdueled a talented Philadelphia Phillies squad led by manager Charlie Manuel to capture the 27th title in franchise history.

Jeter's stroke was on point that season, as he hit .334. A 37-year-old Pettitte won 14 games. Posada drove in 81 runs after only having 22 RBIs the season prior, and Rivera saved 44 games while appearing in the 10th All-Star game of his storied career.

It would be the last time any of Jeter, Pettitte, Posada, or Rivera would win the grandest prize of them all.

All four have since retired and will go down as some of the best players to ever don the pinstripes.

They did it all together, and if it wasn't for the vision of Gene Michael, the dynasty would likely have never existed.