View source for Andy Pettitte

{{short description|American baseball player (born 1972)}}
{{Redirect|Pettitte|people with a similar surname|Pettitt (surname)|and|Pettit (surname)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2015}}
{{Infobox baseball biography 
|name=Andy Pettitte
|image=Army Black Knights vs New York Yankees (8610352360) (cropped).jpg
|caption=Pettitte with the New York Yankees in 2013
|width=240
|position=[[Pitcher]]
|bats=Left
|throws=Left
|birth_date={{Birth date and age|1972|6|15|mf=y}}
|birth_place=[[Baton Rouge, Louisiana]], U.S.
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate=April 29
|debutyear=1995
|debutteam=New York Yankees
|finalleague = MLB
|finaldate=September 28
|finalyear=2013
|finalteam=New York Yankees
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label=[[Win–loss record (pitching)|Win–loss record]]
|stat1value=256–153
|stat2label=[[Earned run average]]
|stat2value=3.85
|stat3label=[[Strikeout]]s
|stat3value=2,448
|teams=
* [[New York Yankees]] ({{mlby|1995}}–{{mlby|2003}})
* [[Houston Astros]] ({{mlby|2004}}–{{mlby|2006}})
* [[New York Yankees]] ({{mlby|2007}}–{{mlby|2010}}, {{mlby|2012}}–{{mlby|2013}})
|highlights=
* 3× [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] ([[1996 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1996]], [[2001 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|2001]], [[2010 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|2010]])
* 5× [[World Series champion]] ({{wsy|1996}}, {{wsy|1998}}–{{wsy|2000}}, {{wsy|2009}})
* [[ALCS MVP]] ({{alcsy|2001}})
* [[List of Major League Baseball annual wins leaders|AL wins leader]] (1996)
* [[New York Yankees#Retired numbers|New York Yankees No. 46]] retired
* [[Monument Park (Yankee Stadium)|Monument Park]] honoree
}}

'''Andrew Eugene Pettitte''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|p|ɛ|t|ɪ|t}}; born June 15, 1972) is an American former professional [[baseball]] [[pitcher]] who played 18 seasons in [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB), primarily for the [[New York Yankees]]. He also pitched for the [[Houston Astros]]. Pettitte won five [[World Series]] championships with the Yankees and was a three-time [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]]. He ranks as MLB's all-time postseason [[Win–loss record (pitching)|wins]] leader with 19.<ref name="thyt_wins">{{cite news|last=Araton|first=Harvey|date=September 10, 2010|title=Pettitte Rescues His Reputation With Stability|at=section B, p. 10|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/10/sports/baseball/10pettitte.html|access-date=September 11, 2010|quote=Postseason victories, for starters. Pettitte has more, 19, than any other pitcher in history, fueled by the Yankees' familiarity with October and by the expanded postseason.}}</ref>

Pettitte was drafted by the Yankees organization in 1990, and he signed with them roughly a year later. After debuting in the major leagues in 1995, Pettitte finished third in voting for the [[American League]] (AL) [[Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year Award|Rookie of the Year Award]]. In 1996, he led the AL with 21 wins and was runner-up for the AL [[Cy Young Award]]. Two years later, he was the Yankees' [[List of New York Yankees Opening Day starting pitchers|Opening Day starter]]. Pettitte established himself as one of the "[[Core Four]]" players who contributed to the Yankees' late-1990s [[dynasty (sports)|dynasty]] that produced four championships. Pettitte won the [[2001 American League Championship Series|2001]] [[League Championship Series Most Valuable Player Award|AL Championship Series Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award]] in helping his team win the [[Pennant (sports)|pennant]]. After spending nine seasons with the Yankees—a stint in which he won at least 12 games each season—Pettitte signed with the Astros in 2004. He rejoined the Yankees in 2007 and later that season admitted to using [[human growth hormone]] to recover from an elbow injury in 2002. Pettitte's second tenure with the team lasted six seasons, interrupted by a one-year retirement in 2011, and also produced a fifth World Series championship in [[2009 World Series|2009]]. He retired after the 2013 season.

Pettitte's pitching repertoire included a [[four-seam fastball|four-seam]] and [[cut fastball]] and several [[off-speed pitch]]es such as a [[Slider (baseball)|slider]], [[curveball]], and [[changeup]]. A left-handed pitcher, he had an exceptional [[pickoff]] move to first base, which allowed him to record 98 career pickoffs.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Andy Pettitte Pitching Stats|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pettian01-pitch.shtml|access-date=August 29, 2020|website=[[Baseball-Reference]]|language=en}}</ref> Among Yankees pitchers, Pettitte ranks first in [[strikeout]]s (2,020), third in wins (219), and tied for first in [[games started]] (438). He won the most games of any pitcher in the 2000s (148).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://stathead.com/tiny/Gj5K7|website=Stathead|title=For combined seasons, from 2000 to 2009, in the regular season, sorted by descending Wins.}}</ref> The Yankees retired his [[uniform number]] 46 and dedicated a plaque to him in [[Monument Park (Yankee Stadium)|Monument Park]] in 2015.

==Early life==
Andrew Eugene Pettitte was born on June 15, 1972, in [[Baton Rouge, Louisiana]]. He is of Italian and [[Cajun]] descent, and the younger of two children born to Tommy and JoAnn Pettitte. He moved to Texas while in the third grade. Pettitte attended [[Deer Park Independent School District|Deer Park High School]] in [[Deer Park, Texas]], where he pitched for the school's baseball team.<ref name="sjc_history">{{cite web|title=Former Gators Pettitte And Clemens Come Home|url=http://www.sjcd.edu/north/athletics/mensbaseball/history.shtml|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060901223309/http://www.sjcd.edu/north/athletics/mensbaseball/history.shtml|archive-date=September 1, 2006|access-date=December 11, 2006|work=Gators Baseball History|publisher=[[San Jacinto College]]}}</ref> His [[fastball]] ranged from between {{convert|85|–|87|mph}}. Pettitte also played [[center (American football)|center]] and [[Nose tackle|nose guard]] for the school's [[American football|football]] team.<ref name="linchpin">{{cite news|last=Sherman|first=Joel|date=February 20, 2008|title=How Andy Pettitte Became a Yankee Linchpin|work=[[New York Post]]|url=http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/yankees/item_u8y4Ip6SnxTxo8g32vyLKO|access-date=March 18, 2012}}</ref>

==College career==
Recruited by [[San Jacinto College|San Jacinto College North]] in [[Houston, Texas]], he opted to play [[college baseball]] when coach [[Wayne Graham]] compared him to [[Roger Clemens]].

==Professional career==
===Draft and minor leagues===
The Yankees selected Pettitte in the 22nd round, with the 594th overall selection, of the [[1990 Major League Baseball draft]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=22nd Round of the 1990 MLB June Amateur Draft|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/draft/?year_ID=1990&draft_round=22&draft_type=junreg&query_type=year_round&from_type_jc=0&from_type_hs=0&from_type_4y=0&from_type_unk=0|access-date=July 5, 2021|website=[[Baseball-Reference]]|language=en}}</ref> As Pettitte enrolled in a [[junior college]] rather than a four-year school, the Yankees retained the right to sign him as a draft-and-follow prospect. On May 25, 1991, he signed with the Yankees, receiving an $80,000 [[signing bonus]] (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|80000|1991}}}} in current dollar terms), double the Yankees' initial offer.<ref name=linchpin/> In 1991, Pettitte pitched for the [[Gulf Coast Yankees]] of the [[Rookie-level]] [[Gulf Coast League]] and [[Oneonta Yankees]] of the [[Class A-Short Season]] [[New York–Penn League]], making six [[games started|starts]] for each team.<ref name="prospectretro">{{cite web|last=Sickels|first=John|date=October 23, 2005|title=Prospect Retro: Andy Pettitte|url=http://www.minorleagueball.com/2005/10/23/131932/36|access-date=September 20, 2013|website=Minor League Ball|publisher=[[SB Nation]]}}</ref> With Oneonta, Pettitte teamed up with [[catcher]] [[Jorge Posada]], his longtime [[Battery (baseball)|batterymate]], for the first time.<ref name="knucksie">{{cite magazine|last=Verducci|first=Tom|date=May 3, 2010|title=So Far, So Good|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]|publisher=[[CNN]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100503161147/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1168943/2/index.htm|access-date=December 1, 2011|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1168943/2/index.htm|archive-date=May 3, 2010}}</ref> Pettitte threw a [[knuckleball]] at the time. Posada struggled to catch the knuckleball, prompting Pettitte to abandon the pitch.<ref name=knucksie/>

In 1992, Pettitte pitched for the [[Greensboro Hornets]] of the [[Class A (baseball)|Class A]] [[South Atlantic League]]. He pitched to a 10–4 [[Win–loss record (pitching)|win–loss record]] and a 2.20 [[earned run average]] (ERA), with 130 [[strikeout]]s and 55 [[base on balls|walks]], in 27 games started.<ref name=prospectretro/> That season, Pettitte and Posada first played with [[Derek Jeter]].<ref name="sensed what was to come">{{cite news|last=Curry|first=Jack|date=September 12, 2009|title=Even in Class A, Posada and Pettitte Sensed What Was to Come With Jeter|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/13/sports/baseball/13jeter.html?_r=1|access-date=May 11, 2012}}</ref> Pettitte pitched for the [[Prince William Cannons]] of the [[Class A-Advanced]] [[Carolina League]] in the 1993 season, finishing the year with an 11–9 record, a 3.04 ERA, 129 strikeouts, and 47 walks in 26 starts.<ref name=prospectretro/> He also made one start for the [[Albany-Colonie Yankees]] of the [[Class AA]] [[Eastern League (1938–2020)|Eastern League]] during the season.<ref name="path">{{cite web|last=Ghiroli|first=Brittany|date=December 9, 2009|title=Path of the Pros: Pettitte, Posada|url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-7760816|access-date=September 24, 2013|website=[[Minor League Baseball]]|publisher=}}</ref> Pettitte began the 1994 season with Albany-Colonie, where he had a 7–2 record and 2.71 ERA in 11 starts, before receiving a promotion to the [[Columbus Clippers]] of the [[Triple-A (baseball)|Class AAA]] [[International League]]. With Columbus, Pettitte had a 7–2 record and a 2.98 ERA in 16 starts.<ref name=prospectretro/> The Yankees named him their minor league pitcher of the year.<ref>{{cite news|last=Curry|first=Jack|date=September 15, 1995|title=BASEBALL; Pettitte Pays More Early Dividends|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/09/15/sports/baseball-pettitte-pays-more-early-dividends.html|access-date=September 24, 2013}}</ref>

===New York Yankees (1995–2003)===
''[[Baseball America]]'' ranked Pettitte the 49th-best prospect in baseball prior to the 1995 season. In spring training, Pettitte competed for a spot in the starting rotation with [[Sterling Hitchcock]]. Hitchcock won the competition, and Pettitte opened the season in the [[bullpen]],<ref name=linchpin/> making his major league debut with the Yankees on April 29, 1995. The Yankees demoted him back to the minors on May 16 to allow him to continue starting.<ref name=linchpin/> Eleven days later, he was recalled due to an injury to [[Jimmy Key]].<ref name=linchpin/> With [[Scott Kamieniecki]] and [[Mélido Pérez]] also suffering injuries, Pettitte became a member of the starting rotation. He recorded his first major league win on June 7.<ref>{{cite news|last=Curry|first=Jack|date=June 8, 1995|title=BASEBALL; A Cool Pettitte Notches No. 1 in the Big Leagues|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/06/08/sports/baseball-a-cool-pettitte-notches-no-1-in-the-big-leagues.html|access-date=September 24, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Diamos|first=Jason|date=July 13, 1995|title=Baseball; Yankees Look Like All-Star Squad|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/07/13/sports/baseball-yankees-look-like-all-star-squad.html|access-date=September 24, 2013}}</ref> He continued to perform well through July, leading Yankees' starters in ERA.<ref>{{cite news|last=Curry|first=Jack|date=July 28, 1995|title=Baseball; Pettitte Controls Emotions And Royals|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/07/28/sports/baseball-pettitte-controls-emotions-and-royals.html|access-date=September 24, 2013}}</ref> Pettitte won six of his last seven starts, finishing the season with a 12–9 record and a 4.17 ERA, and placed third in [[Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year Award|American League (AL) Rookie of the Year Award]] balloting, behind [[Marty Cordova]] and [[Garret Anderson]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Chass|first=Murray|date=November 9, 1995|title=BASEBALL;Cordova Named Top A.L. Rookie|website=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/11/09/sports/baseball-cordova-named-top-al-rookie.html|access-date=September 24, 2013}}</ref> He started Game 2 of the [[1995 American League Division Series]] (ALDS) against the [[Seattle Mariners]], allowing four runs in seven innings.<ref>{{Cite web|date=October 4, 1995|title=1995 American League Division Series (ALDS) Game 2, Seattle Mariners at New York Yankees, October 4, 1995|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYA/NYA199510040.shtml|access-date=July 5, 2021|website=[[Baseball-Reference]]|language=en}}</ref> The Mariners won the series three games to two.<ref>{{cite web|title=1995 League Division Series – Seattle Mariners over New York Yankees (3–2)|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1995_ALDS2.shtml|access-date=September 24, 2013|website=[[Baseball-Reference]]|publisher=[[Sports Reference]]}}</ref>

[[File:Andy_P.jpg|thumb|left|Pettitte pitching at [[Spring training]] in 2007]]
Believing Pettitte to be the superior pitcher, the Yankees traded Hitchcock prior to the 1996 season.<ref name=linchpin/> Starting the season in the rotation, Pettitte had a 13–4 record at the end of the first half of the season, and made the AL [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] team. He did not appear in the [[1996 MLB All-Star Game]], due to a sore arm.<ref>{{cite news|date=July 9, 1996|title=Yankees' Andy Pettitte watches NL pitchers dominate|page=19|newspaper=[[The Hour (newspaper)|The Hour]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|location=[[Norwalk, Connecticut]]|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=UShJAAAAIBAJ&pg=4878,1019893&dq=andy-pettitte&hl=en|access-date=September 29, 2013}}</ref> He led the AL with 21 wins and finished third in [[winning percentage]] (.724), and eighth in ERA (3.87).<ref>{{cite web|title=1996 American League Pitching Leaders|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1996-pitching-leaders.shtml|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921181731/http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1996-pitching-leaders.shtml|archive-date=September 21, 2013|access-date=September 29, 2013|website=[[Baseball-Reference]]|publisher=[[Sports Reference]]|df=mdy}}</ref> He finished second to [[Pat Hentgen]] for the AL [[Cy Young Award]], with the smallest difference in voting since 1972. Hentgen won the award in part because he pitched more [[complete game]]s than Pettitte.<ref>{{cite news|last=Teaford|first=Elliott|date=November 13, 1996|title=Hentgen's Perseverance Pays With Close Cy Young Victory|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927142829/http://articles.latimes.com/1996-11-13/sports/sp-64282_1_american-league-cy-young-award|access-date=September 24, 2013|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-11-13-sp-64282-story.html|url-status=live|archive-date=September 27, 2013}}</ref> The Yankees defeated the [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]] in the [[1996 ALDS]]<ref>{{cite web|title=1996 League Division Series – New York Yankees over Texas Rangers (3–1)|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1996_ALDS2.shtml|access-date=September 24, 2013|website=[[Baseball-Reference]]|publisher=[[Sports Reference]]}}</ref> and the [[Baltimore Orioles]] in the [[1996 American League Championship Series]] (ALCS).<ref>{{cite web|title=1996 League Championship Series – New York Yankees over Baltimore Orioles (4–1)|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1996_ALCS.shtml|access-date=September 24, 2013|website=[[Baseball-Reference]]|publisher=[[Sports Reference]]}}</ref> Pettitte won two games against the Orioles, and had his opportunity for a third start in the series cancelled by rain.<ref>{{cite news|last=Chass|first=Murray|date=October 9, 1996|title=Possible Third Start for Pettitte Seems Washed Out|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/10/09/sports/possible-third-start-for-pettitte-seems-washed-out.html|access-date=September 24, 2013}}</ref> Pettitte started Game 1 of the [[1996 World Series]] against the [[Atlanta Braves]]. He allowed seven runs in {{frac|2|1|3}} innings in the first game, but outdueled [[John Smoltz]] in Game 5, which the Yankees won 1–0.<ref>{{cite news|last=Chass|first=Murray|date=October 25, 1996|title=Pettitte's Arm Was Great, But His Glove Was Better|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/10/25/sports/pettitte-s-arm-was-great-but-his-glove-was-better.html|access-date=September 24, 2013}}</ref> The Yankees defeated the Braves in Game 6 to win the series, four games to two.<ref>{{cite web|title=1996 World Series – New York Yankees over Atlanta Braves (4–2)|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1996_WS.shtml|access-date=September 29, 2013|website=[[Baseball-Reference]]|publisher=[[Sports Reference]]}}</ref>

In 1997, Pettitte tied for first in games started (35),<ref name="1997al">{{cite web|title=1997 American League Pitching Leaders|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1997-pitching-leaders.shtml|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921101526/http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1997-pitching-leaders.shtml|archive-date=September 21, 2013|access-date=September 29, 2013|website=[[Baseball-Reference]]|publisher=[[Sports Reference]]|df=mdy}}</ref> and also led the league in [[pickoff]]s (14), and [[double play]]s induced (36).<ref>{{cite news|last=Curry|first=Jack|author-link=Jack Curry|date=October 2, 1997|title=Division Series Playoffs: Yankees Notebook; Cone Still Torre Pick To Pitch Game 4|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/10/02/sports/division-series-playoffs-yankees-notebook-cone-still-torre-pick-to-pitch-game-4.html|access-date=September 29, 2013}}</ref> He was third in the league in [[innings pitched]] (IP) ({{frac|240|1|3}}; a career high), fourth in ERA (2.88), wins (18), and [[winning percentage]] (.720), sixth in complete games (4), eighth in strikeouts (166), and tenth in [[walks per nine innings]] (2.43).<ref name=1997al/> Pettitte finished fifth in the AL Cy Young Award voting.<ref>{{cite news|last=Chass|first=Murray|author-link=Murray Chass|date=November 11, 1997|title=Baseball; Clemens Puts A Fourth Cy Young On Resume|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/11/11/sports/baseball-clemens-puts-a-fourth-cy-young-on-resume.html|access-date=September 29, 2013}}</ref> In 1998, he was seventh in the league in complete games (5; a career high), and eighth in wins (16). In the [[1998 ALCS]], Pettitte allowed four home runs in Game 3 against the [[Cleveland Indians]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=October 9, 1998|title=1998 American League Championship Series (ALCS) Game 3, New York Yankees at Cleveland Indians, October 9, 1998|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CLE/CLE199810090.shtml|access-date=July 5, 2021|website=[[Baseball-Reference]]|language=en}}</ref> The Yankees won the series, and defeated the [[San Diego Padres]] in the [[1998 World Series]]. Pettitte started in Game 4, defeating [[Kevin Brown (right-handed pitcher)|Kevin Brown]] in the deciding game of the series.<ref>{{cite web|last=Olney|first=Buster|date=October 22, 1998|title=1998 World Series: Yankees vs. Padres; Yanks Sweep Series and Assure Legacy|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/10/22/sports/1998-world-series-yankees-vs-padres-yanks-sweep-series-and-assure-legacy.html|access-date=January 5, 2015|work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref>

[[File:President George W Bush with the 2000 World Series Champion New York Yankees.jpg|thumb|Pettitte ''(back right)'' and teammates from the 2000 World Series champion Yankees team pose with US President [[George W. Bush]] during a [[White House]] visit]]
The Yankees won the [[1999 World Series]]. They continued their success in the [[2000 New York Yankees season|2000 season]]. Pettitte finished third in the AL in wins (19), sixth in winning percentage (.679), and seventh in complete games (3). He finished off the season with his fourth [[2000 World Series|World Series Title]]. In 2001, he made the All-Star team for the second time and was named the [[League Championship Series Most Valuable Player Award|ALCS Most Valuable Player]], after winning Games 1 and 5 against the [[Seattle Mariners]] in the [[2001 ALCS]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Feinsand|first=Mark|date=December 5, 2006|title=Pettitte returning to Yanks a possibility|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20061205&content_id=1751436&vkey=hotstove2006&fext=.jsp|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921053736/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20061205&content_id=1751436&vkey=hotstove2006&fext=.jsp|archive-date=September 21, 2013|access-date=September 20, 2013|work=[[MLB.com]]|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=2001 League Championship Series – New York Yankees over Seattle Mariners (4–1)|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/pl/player_search.cgi?search=2001+alcs|access-date=September 20, 2013|website=[[Baseball-Reference]]|publisher=[[Sports Reference]]}}</ref> He was third in the AL in walks per nine innings (1.84), and eighth in strikeouts (164) and strikeouts per nine innings (7.36).

The following year, he was ninth in the AL in winning percentage (.722) and complete games (3). Pettitte continued his success through 2003. Pettitte was second in the league in wins (21), fifth in winning percentage (.724), sixth in strikeouts (180; a career high) and strikeouts per nine innings (7.78; a career-best), eighth in games started (33), and ninth in walks per nine innings (2.16). He won the [[Warren Spahn Award]], given annually to the best left-handed pitcher in baseball.<ref>{{cite news|last=Footer|first=Alyson|date=January 14, 2004|title=Pettitte honored with Spahn award|work=[[MLB.com]]|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20040114&content_id=628093&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=null|url-status=dead|access-date=October 10, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023053020/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20040114&content_id=628093&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=null|archive-date=October 23, 2013|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

===Houston Astros (2004–2006)===
[[Image:1st pitch nolan to pettitte 03.jpg|Pettitte ''(left)'' with [[Nolan Ryan]]|thumb|right]]
Pettitte became a [[free agent]] after the 2003 season. Interested in playing closer to his Deer Park home, and feeling that the Yankees were not interested in re-signing him, Pettitte signed a three-year, $31.5&nbsp;million contract with the [[2004 Houston Astros season|Houston Astros]] of the [[National League (baseball)|National League]] (NL). The best offer actually came from the [[2004 Boston Red Sox season|Boston Red Sox]], the historic rivals of the Yankees, at four years for $52 million, yet Pettitte never seriously considered signing with them.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kepner|first=Tyler|date=December 12, 2003|title=Yankees Lose Part of Their Core As Pettitte Signs With Houston|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/12/sports/baseball-yankees-lose-part-of-their-core-as-pettitte-signs-with-houston.html?scp=1&sq=Andy+Pettitte+astros+31.5&st=nyt|access-date=October 14, 2009}}</ref> In Houston, Pettitte switched his uniform number to No.&nbsp;21, in honor of [[Roger Clemens]], who previously wore that number in Boston and Toronto.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/new-york/yankees/post/_/id/65461/astros-honor-pettitte-with-his-old-no-21|title=Astros honor Pettitte with his old No. 21|date=September 28, 2013|website=ESPN.com|accessdate=February 23, 2022}}</ref> His 2004 season, in which he held batters to a .226 batting average, was shortened by elbow surgery to repair a torn flexor [[tendon]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=1862341|title=Over and out: Elbow surgery KOs Pettitte|date=August 18, 2004|website=ESPN.com|accessdate=February 23, 2022}}</ref>

Pettitte returned to form in the [[2005 Houston Astros season|2005 season]] to help the Astros reach their first-ever [[2005 World Series|World Series]].  His 2.39 ERA was a career-best, and second in the NL behind teammate Clemens.  He was also second in the league walks/9 IP (1.66) and LOB percentage (79.7%; a career best),<ref>{{cite news|title=Major League Leaderboards » 2005 » Pitchers » Advanced Statistics &#124; FanGraphs Baseball|work=[[Fangraphs]]|publisher=|url=http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=pit&lg=all&qual=y&type=1&season=2005|access-date=July 14, 2010}}</ref> third in sacrifice hits (15), fifth in wins (17), and eighth in winning percentage. (.654). He held left-handed batters, who over his career have outhit righties when batting against him, to a .200 batting average, had a career-best 4.17 SO/BB ratio.<ref>{{cite web|title=Andy Pettitte Stats and Graphs&nbsp;– New York Yankees|url=http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=840&position=P|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101225100116/http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=840&position=P|archive-date=December 25, 2010|access-date=February 3, 2011|website=[[FanGraphs]]|publisher=}}</ref>  Pettitte went 14–13 with a 4.20 ERA during the [[2006 Houston Astros season|2006]] season as the Astros missed the playoffs. He tied for the National League lead in starts (35), tied for sixth in pickoffs (4), and was eighth in double plays induced (26), and tenth in strikeouts (178) and batters faced (929).<ref>{{Cite web|title=2006 National League Batting Against|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/2006-batting-pitching.shtml|access-date=March 4, 2019|website=[[Baseball-Reference]]|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=2006 National League Standard Pitching|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/2006-standard-pitching.shtml|access-date=March 4, 2019|website=[[Baseball-Reference]]|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=2006 National League Pitcher|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/2006-specialpos_p-fielding.shtml|access-date=March 4, 2019|website=[[Baseball-Reference]]|language=en}}</ref>

===Second stint with the New York Yankees (2007–2010)===
After the 2006 season, Pettitte signed a one-year, $16&nbsp;million contract with the [[New York Yankees]] with a player option for 2008 worth $16&nbsp;million. The Astros had offered Pettitte $12&nbsp;million for a one-year contract.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Kepner|first1=Tyler|last2=Curry|first2=Jack|date=December 9, 2006|title=Back to Start, Pettitte Is a Yankee Again|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/09/sports/baseball/09yankees.html?fta=y&_r=0|access-date=September 20, 2013}}</ref> Pettitte won his 200th career game on September 19, 2007.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hoch|first=Bryan|date=September 20, 2007|title=Pettitte gets 200, Yanks close in on Sox|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071002105657/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20070919&content_id=2218334&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20070919&content_id=2218334&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy|archive-date=October 2, 2007|access-date=July 6, 2021|website=[[New York Yankees]]}}</ref> In 2007, he led the American League in starts (34), was seventh in batters faced (916), and was ninth in innings pitched ({{frac|215|1|3}}), finishing the regular season with a 15–9 win–loss record. He also had the 5th-lowest HR/9 innings pitched ratio in the AL (0.67). After the season, Pettitte declined his 2008 option, becoming a free agent.<ref>{{cite web|title=Andy Pettitte Declines His Option|url=http://allthingspinstripes.googlepages.com/andypettittedeclineshisoptionfor2008|access-date=February 3, 2011|website=All Things Pinstripes|publisher=[[Google Sites]]|archive-date=July 7, 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120707014339/http://allthingspinstripes.googlepages.com/andypettittedeclineshisoptionfor2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Yankees offered Pettitte [[salary arbitration]], and Pettite accepted the Yankees offer. He signed a one-year, $16&nbsp;million contract with the Yankees on December 12.<ref>{{Cite web|date=|title=The Official Site of The New York Yankees: Team: Transactions|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080109082119/http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/team/transactions.jsp?c_id=nyy&year=2007&month=12|url=http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/team/transactions.jsp?c_id=nyy&year=2007&month=12|archive-date=January 9, 2008|access-date=July 6, 2021|website=[[New York Yankees]]}}</ref>

[[File:Andy Pettitte by Keith Allison 8 31 09 pic2 CROP.jpg|thumb|Pettitte in 2009]]
On September 21, 2008, Pettitte was the last starting pitcher for the Yankees at Yankee Stadium. He recorded his 2,000th career strikeout in the second inning, striking out [[2008 Baltimore Orioles season|Baltimore Orioles]] catcher [[Ramón Hernández]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hoch|first=Bryan|date=September 22, 2008|title=Yanks prevail as Stadium goes dark|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207040457/http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080921&content_id=3525619&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy|url=http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080921&content_id=3525619&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy|archive-date=December 7, 2008|access-date=July 6, 2021|website=[[New York Yankees]]}}</ref> Pettitte led the Yankees in innings pitched in 2008 with 204. Over 14 seasons, Pettitte has averaged 158 strikeouts a season, the same number as he accumulated in 2008.<ref>{{cite news|last=Chuck|first=Bill|date=April 2, 2009|title=100 random things about the Red Sox, Rays, and Yankees|work=[[The Boston Globe]]|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/100_random_things_2009/|url-status=dead|access-date=May 2, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090405115602/http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/100_random_things_2009/|archive-date=April 5, 2009}}</ref>

Pettitte agreed to a one-year, $5.5&nbsp;million contract with incentives on January 26, 2009. Based on incentives such as innings pitched and days on the active roster, Pettitte eventually earned $10.5&nbsp;million for 2009. Pettitte began the 2009 season as the Yankees' fourth starter, behind [[CC Sabathia]], [[A. J. Burnett]], and [[Chien-Ming Wang]], followed by [[Joba Chamberlain]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Hoch|first=Bryan|date=January 26, 2009|title=Pettitte holding onto his pinstripes|work=[[New York Yankees]]|publisher=[[MLB.com]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090203080104/http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090126&content_id=3772722&vkey=news_nyy&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy|access-date=February 3, 2011|url=http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090126&content_id=3772722&vkey=news_nyy&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy|archive-date=February 3, 2009}}</ref>

Pettitte was the winning pitcher as the Yankees beat the [[Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim]] in Game 6 of the [[2009 American League Championship Series|ALCS]] on October 25, 2009, to clinch the series and advance to the [[World Series]] against the [[Philadelphia Phillies]]. This brought his career total of series-clinching wins to five, breaking the record he previously shared with [[Roger Clemens]], [[Catfish Hunter]] and [[Dave Stewart (baseball)|Dave Stewart]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Curry|first=Jack|date=October 26, 2009|title=Pettitte Again Shows His Toughness|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/26/sports/baseball/26curry.html?_r=1|access-date=June 24, 2012}}</ref>

Pettitte drove in his first postseason run during Game 3 of the World Series when he got a single to center field that scored [[Nick Swisher]]. He was the winning pitcher for that game.<ref>{{Cite web|date=November 1, 2009|title=A-Rod starts rally, Pettitte hits RBI single as Yankees claim 2-1 lead over Phillies|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap/_/gameId/291031122|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709184842/https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap/_/gameId/291031122|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 9, 2021|access-date=July 6, 2021|website=[[ESPN]]|publisher=[[Associated Press]]|language=en}}</ref> Pettitte pitched Game 6 of the 2009 World Series on three days of rest. Experts were critical of the decision to pitch the 37-year-old on short rest,<ref>{{cite news|last=Wojciechowski|first=Gene|date=November 3, 2009|title=2009 World Series: A. J. Burnett falls woefully short on short rest|work=[[ESPN]]|publisher=|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=wojciechowski_gene&id=4618452&sportCat=mlb|access-date=July 14, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Wojciechowski|first=Gene|date=October 31, 2009|title=2009 World Series: New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi pushing it with a three-man rotation|work=[[ESPN]]|publisher=|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=wojciechowski_gene&id=4612984&sportCat=mlb|access-date=July 14, 2010}}</ref> but Pettitte again was the winning pitcher in Game 6, defeating the [[Philadelphia Phillies]] 7–3. He extended his record career total series-clinching wins to six, and extended his record for post-season career wins to 18. He became the first pitcher in Major League Baseball history to start and win three series-clinching playoff games in the same year.<ref>{{Cite web|date=November 5, 2009|title=Matsui's bat drives Yankees to 27th World Series crown|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap/_/gameId/291104110|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709191051/https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap/_/gameId/291104110|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 9, 2021|access-date=July 6, 2021|website=[[ESPN]]|publisher=[[Associated Press]]|language=en}}</ref> [[Derek Lowe]] also won three series in 2004, but with one of his wins coming in relief. Additionally, on September 27 against the Red Sox, Pettitte had been the winning pitcher in the division-clinching game.<ref>{{cite web|last=Boland|first=Erik|date=September 27, 2009|title=Yankees clinch division, home field advantage|url=http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/yankees/yankees-clinch-division-home-field-advantage-1.1481134|access-date=June 24, 2012|website=[[Newsday]]|publisher=}}</ref>

[[File:Andy Pettitte in April 2010.jpg|thumb|upright|Pettitte pitching in 2010]]
Pettitte filed for free agency after the 2009 season.<ref>{{cite news|last=DiComo|first=Anthony|date=October 31, 2009|title=Pettitte files to become free agent|work=[[New York Yankees]]|publisher=[[MLB.com]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091122123130/http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20091119&content_id=7688984&vkey=news_nyy&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy|access-date=July 14, 2010|url=http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20091119&content_id=7688984&vkey=news_nyy&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy|archive-date=November 22, 2009}}</ref> He re-signed with the Yankees, receiving a one-year contract worth $11.75 million.<ref>{{cite news|last=King III|first=George A.|date=December 9, 2009|title=Yankees re-sign Pettitte to one-year deal|newspaper=[[New York Post]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091213044642/http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/hardball/yankees_re_sign_pettitte_to_one_FjPxPQ5bVzMFDE67ZKPWkN|access-date=July 14, 2010|url=http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/hardball/yankees_re_sign_pettitte_to_one_FjPxPQ5bVzMFDE67ZKPWkN|archive-date=December 13, 2009}}</ref> In the first half of the 2010 season, Pettitte went 11–2 with a 2.70 ERA, earning an appearance in the [[2010 Major League Baseball All-Star Game]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Feinsand|first=Mark|date=July 9, 2010|title=Andy Pettitte, Nick Swisher, Alex Rodriguez make All-Star showings in 3–1 New York Yankees win|newspaper=[[New York Daily News]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100711052442/http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/2010/07/08/2010-07-08_andy_pettitte_nick_swisher_alex_rodriguez_make_allstar_showings_in_31_new_york_y.html|access-date=February 18, 2011|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/2010/07/08/2010-07-08_andy_pettitte_nick_swisher_alex_rodriguez_make_allstar_showings_in_31_new_york_y.html|archive-date=July 11, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Spencer|first=Lyle|date=July 14, 2010|title=National uprising: NL wins All-Star Game|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160107115308/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/print.jsp?ymd=20100713&content_id=12241778&vkey=allstar2010&fext=.jsp|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/print.jsp?ymd=20100713&content_id=12241778&vkey=allstar2010&fext=.jsp|archive-date=January 7, 2016|access-date=February 18, 2011|website=[[MLB.com]]|publisher=[[MLB Advanced Media]]}}</ref> Pettitte finished the season with an 11–3 record and a 3.28 ERA, his lowest since 2005.<ref name=":0" />

After months of speculation about his future, Pettitte announced his retirement on February 4, 2011.<ref>{{cite news|last=Hoch|first=Bryan|date=February 3, 2011|title=Pettitte calls it a career after 16 years, five rings|work=[[New York Yankees]]|publisher=[[MLB.com]]|url=http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110203&content_id=16566294&vkey=news_nyy&c_id=nyy|url-status=dead|access-date=February 3, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110208050753/http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110203&content_id=16566294&vkey=news_nyy&c_id=nyy|archive-date=February 8, 2011}}</ref> He spent the year away from professional baseball.

===Comeback, third stint with the New York Yankees (2012–2013)===
Pettitte agreed to join the Yankees in spring training in 2012 as a guest instructor. Stating that his return gave him "the itch", Pettitte signed a minor league contract with the Yankees worth $2.5 million on March 16, 2012.<ref>{{cite news|last=Curry|first=Jack|date=March 16, 2012|title=Andy Pettitte returns to the Yankees|work=[[YES Network]]|publisher=|url=http://www.myyesnetwork.com/16197/blog/2012/03/16/andy_pettitte_returns_to_the_yankees|access-date=March 16, 2012}}</ref> Pettitte began the season in the minor leagues pitching in games for different affiliates to build his endurance and pitch count.<ref name="NYTCOMEBACK2012">{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=March 16, 2012|title=LHP Andy Pettitte makes comeback, rejoins Yankees|url=http://bangordailynews.com/2012/03/16/sports/baseball/lhp-andy-pettitte-makes-comeback-rejoins-yankees/|access-date=July 6, 2021|website=[[Bangor Daily News]]|language=en-US}}</ref> Pettitte returned on May 13, allowing four runs over {{Frac|6|1|3}} innings in a loss to the [[Seattle Mariners]] 6–2.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Schonbrun|first=Zach|date=May 13, 2012|title=Pettitte Feels at Home, but Shows Some Rust|language=en-US|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/14/sports/baseball/pettitte-struggles-against-mariners-in-return-to-yankees.html|access-date=July 6, 2021|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> During a game against the [[Cleveland Indians]] on June 27, 2012, Pettitte was hit hard on his ankle by a ground ball. Shortly thereafter, it was announced that Pettitte had a fractured left fibula and would be out for at least six weeks.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=June 27, 2012|title=Andy Pettitte Suffers Fractured Ankle; Out Six Weeks|url=https://www.mlbdailydish.com/2012/6/27/3121656/andy-pettitte-suffers-fractured-ankle-out-six-weeks|access-date=July 6, 2021|website=MLB Daily Dish|publisher=[[SB Nation]]|language=en}}</ref> Pettitte returned on September 19, 2012 against the Blue Jays, pitching five scoreless innings.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Verderame|first=Matt|date=September 19, 2012|title=Yankees 4, Blue Jays 2, Game 1: Andy Pettitte Earns The Win|url=https://newyork.sbnation.com/2012/9/19/3359204/new-york-yankees-toronto-blue-jays-score-boxscore-recap-mlb-results-al-east-standings|access-date=July 6, 2021|website=[[SB Nation]] New York|language=en}}</ref> He finished the season with a 5–4 record and a 2.87 ERA in 12 games started.<ref name=":0" /> He also made two postseason appearances.<ref name=nj2013/>

Pettitte re-signed with the Yankees for the 2013 season, agreeing to a one-year, $12 million contract.<ref name="nj2013">{{cite web|author=Bradley|first=Jeff|date=November 29, 2012|title=Andy Pettitte agrees to one-year, $12 million contract with Yankees for 2013 season|url=http://www.nj.com/yankees/index.ssf/2012/11/andy_pettitte_agrees_to_one-ye.html|access-date=September 20, 2013|website=[[NJ.com]]|publisher=}}</ref> On May 17, 2013, Pettitte was put on the 15-day disabled list due to a strained left trapezius muscle.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Moylan|first=Connor|date=May 17, 2013|title=Yankees place Andy Pettitte on the DL|url=https://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2013/5/17/4341814/andy-pettitte-injury-yankees-disabled-list|access-date=July 6, 2021|website=[[SB Nation]]|language=en}}</ref> He was activated on June 3.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Boarman|first=John|date=June 3, 2013|title=Yankees activate Andy Pettitte from DL|url=http://tireball.com/mlb/2013/06/03/yankees-activate-andy-pettitte-from-dl/|access-date=July 6, 2021|website=Tireball Sports|language=en-US}}</ref> On June 8, Pettitte recorded his 250th career win against the Seattle Mariners, becoming the 47th pitcher in major league history to achieve as many wins.<ref>{{cite news|author=|date=June 8, 2013|title=Andy Pettitte earns 250th win, Yankees top Mariners 3–1|work=[[USA Today]]|publisher=[[Associated Press]]|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2013/06/08/andy-pettitte-250-new-york-ny-yankees-seattle-mariners-mlb-draft/2404345/|access-date=September 20, 2013}}</ref> On July 1, in a game against the [[Minnesota Twins]], Pettitte struck out [[Justin Morneau]], thereby passing [[Whitey Ford]] as the Yankees all-time strikeout leader with 1,958.<ref>{{cite web|last=Hoch|first=Bryan|date=July 2, 2013|title=Andy Pettitte passes Whitey Ford for most strikeouts in Yankees history|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130701&content_id=52405260&c_id=nyy|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921054232/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130701&content_id=52405260&c_id=nyy|archive-date=September 21, 2013|access-date=September 20, 2013|website=[[New York Yankees]]|publisher=[[MLB.com]]|df=mdy-all}}</ref> He struck out his 2,000th batter as a Yankee on September 6.<ref>{{cite web|last=Mazzeo|first=Mike|date=September 6, 2013|title=Andy Pettitte gets 2,000th strikeout as a New York Yankee – ESPN New York|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/new-york/yankees/post/_/id/63829/pettitte-gets-2000th-yankee-strikeout|access-date=September 20, 2013|website=[[ESPN]]|publisher=}}</ref>

Pettitte announced on September 20 that he would retire at the end of the season. Teammate [[Mariano Rivera]] convinced him to announce it before the end of the season.<ref>{{cite news|author=Jennings|first=Chad|date=September 20, 2013|title=Pettitte: 'Mo told me you need to say something'|work=[[USA Today]]|publisher=|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2013/09/20/andy-pettitte-yankees-retirement/2842583/|access-date=September 20, 2013}}</ref> Pettitte made his last regular season start at [[Yankee Stadium]] on September 22.<ref>{{Cite web|date=September 22, 2013|title=Giants win, spoil Yankees' celebrations|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap/_/gameId/330922110|access-date=July 6, 2021|website=[[ESPN]]|language=en}}</ref> Pettitte's last major league start, on September 28 against the Astros in Houston, tied Ford for the most games started in Yankees history (438). Pettitte pitched a complete game, allowing only one run on five hits and receiving the victory.<ref>{{cite web|last=Barron|first=David|date=September 28, 2013|title=Andy Pettitte closes out career by shutting down Astros in complete game|url=http://blog.chron.com/ultimateastros/2013/09/28/andy-pettitte-closes-out-career-by-shutting-down-astros-in-complete-game/|access-date=September 29, 2013|website=[[Houston Chronicle|Chron.com]]|publisher=}}</ref> The Astros honored his career during the game.<ref>{{cite web|last=Unger|first=Todd|date=September 28, 2013|title=Houston Astros honor retiring Andy Pettitte|url=http://www.khou.com/sports/Houston-Astros-honor-retiring-Andy-Pettitte-225657261.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002091903/http://www.khou.com/sports/Houston-Astros-honor-retiring-Andy-Pettitte-225657261.html|archive-date=October 2, 2013|access-date=September 29, 2013|website=[[KHOU]]|publisher=}}</ref>

===Career perspective===
{{MLBBioRet
|Image  = AndyPettitte46.jpg
|Name   = Andy Pettitte
|Number = 46
|Team   = New York Yankees
|Year   = 2015
|}}
Pettitte [[win (baseball statistics)|won]] 20 games in a season twice, posting 21–8 records in 1996 and 2003. He was part of seven [[American League]] pennant-winning teams, one [[National League (baseball)|National League]] pennant-winning team and five [[World Series]] championship teams. He holds the record for most wins in [[Major League Baseball postseason|postseason]] history with 19. He is the only MLB pitcher since 1930 to win at least 12 games in each of his first nine seasons.<ref name="therunnersports.com">{{Cite web|last=Fuller|first=Griffin|date=November 26, 2018|title=Andy Pettitte's Case For The Hall Of Fame|url=https://therunnersports.com/andy-pettittes-case-for-the-hall-of-fame/|access-date=July 6, 2021|website=The Runner Sports|language=en-US}}</ref> Pettitte recorded the second-most career pickoffs (98) behind [[Steve Carlton]] (144).<ref>{{cite web|title=Steve Carlton Career Stats|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/carltst01.shtml|website=[[Baseball-Reference]]|publisher=}}</ref>

For his career, Pettitte had a 256–153 win–loss record with a 3.85 ERA and 2,448 strikeouts in 3,316 innings. He also never had a losing season in the major leagues. Among Yankees pitchers, Pettitte ranks first in strikeouts (2,020), tied-first in [[games started]] (438), and third in wins (219).<ref>{{cite web|author=|date=March 16, 2012|title=Andy Pettitte returning to Yankees|url=https://www.espn.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/7696338/2012-spring-training-andy-pettitte-returning-new-york-yankees-signs-minor-league-deal|access-date=March 16, 2012|work=[[ESPN]]}}</ref> Pettitte and Rivera have combined for a record 81 (11 in the playoffs) win-save combinations, the most in history.<ref>{{cite web|author=|date=|title=Mariano Rivera|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/riverma01.shtml|access-date=May 8, 2012|website=[[Baseball-Reference]]|publisher=}}</ref> They, along with teammates [[Derek Jeter]] and [[Jorge Posada]], have been noted as the "[[Core Four]]", as they were teammates for the five World Series won by the Yankees between 1996 and 2009.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/remembering-the-1996-yankees-jeter-posada-pettitte-rivera/|title=Remembering The 1996 Yankees: Core Was Truly A Fantastic 4|website=www.cbsnews.com|date=June 10, 2016 |accessdate=February 23, 2022}}</ref> His 148 wins from 2000 to 2009 were the most of the decade.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=crasnick_jerry&id=4747688|title=Crasnick: Rivera second to none among pitchers in the 2000s|date=December 16, 2009|website=ESPN.com|accessdate=February 23, 2022}}</ref>

Pettitte was 19–10 with a 3.81 ERA in the postseason.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/baseball-hall-of-fame-ballot-why-andy-pettitte-mark-buehrle-and-tim-hudson-are-worth-a-longer-look/|title=Baseball Hall of Fame ballot: Why Andy Pettitte, Mark Buehrle and Tim Hudson are worth a longer look|website=CBSSports.com|date=January 15, 2022 |accessdate=February 23, 2022}}</ref> He holds the all-time postseason record for most wins, games started (44) and innings pitched ({{frac|276|2|3}}). In 2009, he became the second pitcher in history to win three series-clinching games (ALDS, ALCS and World Series) in the same postseason (following [[Derek Lowe]] in 2004).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nj.com/yankees/2009/11/andy_pettitte_does_just_enough.html|title=Andy Pettitte does just enough in short-rest start to help NY Yankees win World Series|first=Manish|last=Mehta|work=The Star-Ledger|date=November 5, 2009|accessdate=February 23, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/world-series-clincher-andy-pettitte-handy-new-york-yankees-article-1.416845|title=In World Series clincher, Andy Pettitte comes in handy for New York Yankees|first=Christian|last=Red|work=New York Daily News|date=November 5, 2009 |accessdate=February 23, 2022}}</ref> When Pettitte started Game 3 of the [[2009 World Series]], he passed [[Christy Mathewson]] and [[Waite Hoyt]], with the second most [[World Series]] starts. [[Whitey Ford]] is in front with 22 starts.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/yankees/is-andy-pettitte-a-hall-of-famer-1.1645147|title=Is Andy Pettitte a Hall of Famer?|work=Newsday }}</ref> Pettitte played in eight different World Series (seven with the Yankees, and one with the Astros), and been on the winning end of 19 postseason series—both of which were tops among active players. On February 16, 2015, the Yankees announced that they would be retiring Pettitte's number 46 on August 23, 2015.<ref>{{cite web|last=Fitzpatrick|first=Mike|date=February 16, 2015|title=Yankees to retire numbers of Pettitte, Posada and Williams|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150216123454/https://sports.yahoo.com/news/ap-source-pettittes-number-retired-yankees-032351186--mlb.html|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/news/ap-source-pettittes-number-retired-yankees-032351186--mlb.html|archive-date=February 16, 2015|access-date=February 16, 2015|website=[[Yahoo! Sports]]|publisher=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref>

[[File:Andy Pettittle 2008.jpg|250px|thumb|left|Pettitte pitching in 2008]]
When the [[National Baseball Hall of Fame]] ballot for [[2019 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting|2019]] was announced, Pettitte and former teammate [[Mariano Rivera]] were two of 20 players appearing on the ballot for the first time.<ref name="therunnersports.com"/> Pettitte received 9.9% of the vote,<ref>{{Cite web|title=2019 Hall of Fame Voting|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/hof_2019.shtml|access-date=July 6, 2021|website=[[Baseball-Reference]]|language=en}}</ref>  which was above the 5% minimum required to remain on the ballot, but well short of the 75% required for election. He received 11.3% of the vote in the [[2020 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting|2020 balloting]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2021/01/12/andy-pettitte-baseball-hall-of-fame-case/6587352002/|title=Baseball Hall of Fame debate: Andy Pettitte's candidacy exemplifies the quandary of the modern ballot|first=Gabe|last=Lacques|work=USA TODAY|accessdate=February 23, 2022}}</ref> 13.7% of the vote in [[2021 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting|2021 balloting]], 10.7% of the vote in [[2022 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting|2022 balloting]], and 17% of the vote in [[2023 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting|2023 balloting]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/roger-clemens-alex-rodriguez-yankees-2022-hall-of-fame-ballot|title=A-Rod at 34% on 1st ballot; Clemens falls off|website=MLB.com|accessdate=February 23, 2022}}</ref> A player may appear on the ballot a maximum of 10 times.

===Performance-enhancing drugs===
On September 30, 2006, the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' reported that former [[relief pitcher]] [[Jason Grimsley]], during a raid by [[federal government|federal agents]] investigating [[steroid]]s in baseball on June 6, 2006, named Pettitte as a user of [[performance-enhancing drugs]].<ref name="LATimes">{{cite news|last=Pugmire|first=Lance|date=October 1, 2006|title=Clemens Is Named in Drug Affidavit|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100115063802/http://articles.latimes.com/2006/oct/01/sports/sp-clemens1|access-date=February 18, 2011|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-oct-01-sp-clemens1-story.html|url-status=live|archive-date=January 15, 2010}}</ref> The ''Times'' reported that Pettitte was one of five names blacked out in an affidavit filed in federal court.<ref name = LATimes/> Grimsley had told investigators that he got [[amphetamines]], [[anabolic steroid]]s, and [[Growth Hormone (treatment)|human growth hormone]] (HGH) from someone (later named as [[Kirk Radomski]]) recommended to him by former Yankees trainer [[Brian McNamee]], who is a personal strength coach for Roger Clemens and Pettitte.<ref name = LATimes/> However, on October 3, 2006, ''[[The Washington Post]]'' reported that San Francisco [[United States attorney]] Kevin Ryan said that the ''Los Angeles Times'' report contained "significant inaccuracies."<ref name="WashingtonPost">{{Cite news|date=October 3, 2006|title=U.S. Attorney Says Report Alleging Drug Use Contains 'Inaccuracies'|language=en-US|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/02/AR2006100201054.html|access-date=October 4, 2006|issn=0190-8286}}</ref> Contrary to the initial ''Los Angeles Times'' report, neither the name of Clemens nor Pettitte appeared in the affidavit submitted by Grimsley.<ref>{{cite news|date=December 20, 2007|title=Contrary to report, Clemens, Pettitte not named in Grimsley affidavit&nbsp;– MLB&nbsp;– ESPN|work=[[ESPN]]|publisher=[[Associated Press]]|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=3163889|access-date=July 14, 2010}}</ref>

Pettitte was one of several Yankees named in the [[Mitchell Report (baseball)|Mitchell Report]], released on December 13, 2007. Mitchell and his staff received the information on Pettitte from McNamee, who told them he injected Pettitte with HGH on 2–4 occasions in 2002 so that he would heal from an elbow injury more quickly.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://files.mlb.com/mitchrpt.pdf |title=The Mitchell Report |access-date=February 3, 2011| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110208164144/http://files.mlb.com/mitchrpt.pdf| archive-date= February 8, 2011 | url-status= live}}</ref> Pettitte verified McNamee's claim, admitting to using the HGH on two occasions in 2002, as it was meant to help heal an injury, and not to enhance his performance. Pettitte said he felt an obligation to return to the team as quickly as possible. He denied any further usage of HGH during his career; he also denied use of steroids or any other performance-enhancing drug.<ref>{{cite news|date=December 15, 2007|title=Yankees' Pettitte admits to using HGH&nbsp;— Baseball&nbsp;— MSNBC.com|work=[[MSNBC]]|publisher=[[Associated Press]]|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22274719/|url-status=dead|access-date=February 3, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071216154447/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22274719/|archive-date=December 16, 2007}}</ref>

On February 13, 2008, in an affidavit made public as part of a hearing before the [[U.S. House of Representatives]]' [[United States House Committee on Oversight and Reform|Committee on Oversight and Governmental Reform]], Pettitte admitted to additional injections of HGH twice in one day in 2004, using HGH obtained via prescription for his seriously ill father. Also in this affidavit, Pettitte recalled being told by former Yankees teammate Clemens in 1999 or 2000 that Clemens had recently received injections of HGH. Clemens claimed during the noted hearing that Pettitte "misremembered" Clemens's 1999 or 2000 HGH remark, alleging that what Pettitte really heard was Clemens's reporting of his wife's use of HGH at that time, though earlier during this same hearing Clemens denied knowing of any use of HGH by his wife. McNamee corroborated Pettitte's recollection of events.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=3243667|title=Pettitte admits to additional use of HGH in 2004|date=February 13, 2008|website=ESPN.com|accessdate=February 23, 2022}}</ref>

On February 18, 2008, Pettitte reported to Yankees spring training and apologized to both Yankees and Astros fans for his past drug use. In the press conference, he said the performance-enhancing-drug scandal has put a "strain" on his relationship with Clemens, his close friend and former teammate.<ref name="apology">{{cite web|date=February 18, 2008|title=Pettitte apologizes for 'embarrassment' of HGH use, says he mulled not playing|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/spring2008/news/story?id=3251828|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080402060930/http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/spring2008/news/story?id=3251828|archive-date=April 2, 2008|access-date=March 21, 2008|website=[[ESPN]]|publisher=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref>

==Pitching style==
Pettitte threw a four-seam [[fastball]], a [[cutter (baseball)|cutter]], a [[curveball]], a sinker, a [[changeup]] to right-handed batters, and a [[Slider (baseball)|slider]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Brooks Baseball · Home of the PitchFX Tool – Player Card: Andy Pettitte|url=http://brooksbaseball.net/player_cards/player_card.php?player=120485|access-date=September 19, 2012|website=Brooks Baseball|publisher=}}</ref> His out pitch was a cutter at 84–88&nbsp;mph with good inside break on right-handed batters, resulting in a lot of ground ball outs and double plays.<ref>{{cite news|last=Matuszewski|first=Erik|date=May 14, 2012|title=Andy Pettitte Takes Loss in First Game With Yankees Since 2010– Bloomberg|work=[[Bloomberg L.P.]]|publisher=|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921060413/http://mobile.bloomberg.com/news/2012-05-13/yankees-pettitte-loses-in-first-major-league-game-since-2010?category=&BB_NAVI_DISABLE=MARKETS_%2Fslideshow%2F%3Fcategory%3D%2Fnews%2Fenvironment%2Ftopic|access-date=June 24, 2012|url=http://mobile.bloomberg.com/news/2012-05-13/yankees-pettitte-loses-in-first-major-league-game-since-2010?category=&BB_NAVI_DISABLE=MARKETS_%2Fslideshow%2F%3Fcategory%3D%2Fnews%2Fenvironment%2Ftopic|archive-date=September 21, 2013}}</ref> Before his original 2011 retirement, his fastball was measured in the lower 90s and his curveball was about 74–76&nbsp;mph. As a [[Left-handedness|left-handed]] pitcher, Pettitte had an exceptional [[pickoff]] move to first base, allowing him to record 98 career pickoffs.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite web|last=Orr|first=Conor|date=October 18, 2010|title=Yankees vs. Rangers: Aggressive Texas baserunners could meet their match in Yanks starter Andy Pettitte|url=http://www.nj.com/yankees/index.ssf/2010/10/yankees_vs_rangers_aggressive.html|access-date=March 16, 2012|work=[[The Star-Ledger]]|publisher=[[NJ.com]]}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Pettitte met his wife, Laura, in high school. They have four children: Josh, Jared, Lexy, and Luke. Pettitte and his wife are devout Christians.<ref>{{cite news|last=Nichols|first=Adam|date=December 17, 2007|title=Andy Pettitte finds haven at his Texas church, worshipers forgive HGH rap|work=[[New York Daily News]]|publisher=|location=New York|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/andy-pettitte-finds-haven-texas-church-worshipers-forgive-hgh-rap-article-1.277278|access-date=September 20, 2013}}</ref> The family resides in [[Houston]], although Pettitte also owned a home in [[Westchester County, New York]] before putting it up for sale in 2020.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/high-school/2018/03/13/lance-berkman-andy-pettitte-houston-high-school-baseball-team/421847002/ | title=Lance Berkman, Andy Pettitte lead Houston high school team in Horizon tourney }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.lohud.com/story/money/real-estate/homes/2020/11/06/andy-pettitte-selling-westchester-home-yankees-houses/6186636002/ | title=Andy Pettitte is selling Westchester home; see other Yankee greats' Hudson Valley homes }}</ref>

All three of Pettitte's sons have played baseball. Josh was selected by the Yankees in the 37th round of the [[2013 MLB draft]], but enrolled at [[Baylor University]] rather than sign a professional contract.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Vitale|first1=Josh|last2=Hoch|first2=Bryan|date=June 9, 2013|title=SDSU hurler Walby's fastball good enough for Yanks|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130611195908/http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?c_id=nyy&content_id=50017368&notebook_id=50017480&partnerId=as_mlb_20130609_8686994&vkey=notebook_nyy&ymd=20130608|url=http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?c_id=nyy&content_id=50017368&notebook_id=50017480&partnerId=as_mlb_20130609_8686994&vkey=notebook_nyy&ymd=20130608|archive-date=June 11, 2013|access-date=September 20, 2013|work=[[MLB.com]]}}</ref> He played at [[Rice University]] after transferring from Baylor in April 2014, before announcing his retirement on Instagram after a series of injuries in February 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Gotera|first=Daniel|date=February 3, 2015|title=Andy Pettitte excited to see son play at Rice|url=http://www.khou.com/story/sports/2015/02/03/andy-pettitte-excited-to-see-son-play-at-rice/22801783/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150526091456/http://www.khou.com/story/sports/2015/02/03/andy-pettitte-excited-to-see-son-play-at-rice/22801783/|archive-date=May 26, 2015|access-date=May 11, 2015|website=[[KHOU]]|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Josh Pettitte: Rice University|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171229232541/http://www.riceowls.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/josh_pettitte_906275.html|url=http://www.riceowls.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/josh_pettitte_906275.html|archive-date=December 29, 2017|access-date=July 6, 2021|website=[[Rice Owls]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Pettitte|first=Josh|date=February 9, 2018|title=Josh Pettitte on Instagram: "February 22nd. My 4th and final procedure on my elbow. They will be going in to remove the screw that's been holding the bone in place.…"|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/Be-xLbxnKmF/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/Be-xLbxnKmF |archive-date=December 26, 2021 |url-access=registration|url-status=live|access-date=August 29, 2020|website=[[Instagram]]|language=en}}{{cbignore}}</ref> His son, Jared, played for the [[University of Houston]] before transferring to [[Dallas Baptist University]] in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/college/article/Jared-Pettitte-Lael-Lockhart-to-transfer-from-UH-15246453.php|title=Jared Pettitte transferring to Dallas Baptist from UH|first=Joseph|last=Duarte|date=May 4, 2020|work=Houston Chronicle|accessdate=February 23, 2022}}</ref> He signed a professional contract with the [[Miami Marlins]].<ref name=marlins>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/derek-jeters-marlins-sign-andy-pettittes-son-jared-to-undrafted-free-agent-deal/|title=Derek Jeter's Marlins sign Andy Pettitte's son, Jared, to undrafted free-agent deal|website=CBSSports.com|date=July 21, 2021 |accessdate=February 23, 2022}}</ref> {{As of|2025}}, Luke is a sophomore on the baseball team at Dallas Baptist University .<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/hs-sports/article/2022-Houston-HS-baseball-preview-What-to-watch-for-16927774.php|title=2022 Houston high school baseball preview: What to watch for|first=Jon|last=Poorman|date=February 17, 2022|work=Houston Chronicle|accessdate=February 23, 2022}}</ref> Pettitte's daughter plays volleyball at Dallas Baptist University. 

On July 23, 2023, Pettitte returned to the [[New York Yankees]] as an advisor coach.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.mlb.com/news/andy-pettitte-joins-yankees-as-advisor | work=MLB.com | first=Bryan | last=Hoch| title=Postseason hero Pettitte joins Yanks as advisor | date=July 23, 2023}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Biography|Baseball}}
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Houston Astros award winners and league leaders]]
* [[List of athletes who came out of retirement]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball annual wins leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career batters faced leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career games started leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career strikeout leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career wins leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball players named in the Mitchell Report]]
* [[List of New York Yankees team records]]
* [[List of people from Baton Rouge, Louisiana]]
* [[List of World Series starting pitchers]]
* [[New York Yankees award winners and league leaders]]
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Andy Pettitte}}
{{baseballstats|mlb=120485|espn=3171|br=p/pettian01|fangraphs=840|brm=pettit002and|retro=P/Ppetta001}}

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{{succession box|before=[[David Cone]]|title=[[List of New York Yankees Opening Day starting pitchers|New York Yankees Opening Day starting pitcher]]|years=1998|after=[[Roger Clemens]]}}
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{{1996 New York Yankees}}
{{1998 New York Yankees}}
{{1999 New York Yankees}}
{{2000 New York Yankees}}
{{2009 New York Yankees}}
{{ALCS MVP}}
{{AL wins champions}}
{{Warren Spahn Award}}
{{Willie, Mickey and the Duke Award}}
{{New York Yankees Opening Day starting pitchers}}
{{New York Yankees retired numbers}}
{{Monument Park honorees}}
{{United States roster 2023 World Baseball Classic}}
{{Authority control}}

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