ReggieDailyNewsCurtis Granderson may or may not be the most prominent acquisition the Yankees make over this off-season.  Through free agency and trades, the Yankees have made significant moves almost every year since a group led by George Steinbrenner bought the team in 1973.

Here’s the first of a four part series on the best and worst moves in each decade, from the 1970’s through the 2000’s.

The 1970’s:

Best moves:
1. Reggie Jackson (free agent), prior to 1977 season – Reggie helped the Yankees to two World Series titles and electrified the city with his personality and play.
2. Goose Gossage (free agent), 1978 – It not only seemed like Goose came into the seventh inning of every important game, but he also posted 150 saves and a 2.10 ERA from 1978-83 with the Yanks.
3. Sparky Lyle (trade, for Danny Cater and Mario Guerrero), 1972 – Lyle was the Cy Young Award winner in 1977, and when he had just one good year left, was turned around in a deal for Dave Righetti before the 1979 season.
4. Mickey Rivers and Ed Figueroa (trade, for Bobby Bonds), 1976 – two key pieces in the ‘77 and ‘78 champions came in the same deal for the oft-traveled Bonds, who played for six more teams in the next six years.
5. Graig Nettles (trade, with Gerry Moses for John Ellis and three others), 1973 – one of the first great moves that helped build the Yankees dynasty later in the decade, Nettles became one of the premier third basemen in the game, hitting 250 home runs in 11 years in Pinstripes.
Also: Lou Piniella (trade), 1974; Willie Randolph (trade, 1976); Tommy John (free agent), 1979; Bucky Dent (trade, 1977).

Worst moves:
1. Rich McKinney (trade, for Stan Bahnsen), 1972 – Not that many to choose from, almost every deal worked out or was at least neutral.  Bahnsen would have been a nice fit on the mid-70’s Yanks and was still effective later in the decade, while McKinney hit .215 in 37 games and ended up getting sent down to Syracuse then traded at the end of the year.
2. Andy Messersmith (purchased), 1978 – if the Yankees were counting at all on this former two-time 20-game winner, arm trouble ruined any of those thoughts as he went 0-3 in five starts and was released.
3. Jimmy Wynn (purchase), 1977 – too bad the Yanks got ‘The Toy Cannon’ after his good days were over; he terrorized NL pitchers for 14 years but fizzled in N.Y., hitting just one HR in 92 at bats before getting cut.