Top 15 all-time coolest Yankees (continued): Numbers 7 through 5

Remember this, from the Smithsonian's "American Cool" exhibition: What do we mean when we say someone is "cool"? Cool is a supreme compliment that evokes people who exude rebellious self-expression, charisma, edge, and mystery.

Wait a minute. Did they say mystery? Hmm... That vaults Kevin Maas into the top 100! But not quite here.

Continuing our quest...

7. Bernie Williams:  Only Yankee to be nominated for Grammy; classical guitarist, once covered Dust in the Wind;  entire career as Yankee; Caribbean champion  sprinter at age 15; while in minors, took pre-med courses in college; was nearly traded for Darren Lewis (SF), Lance Johnson (Cubs), and guy named Mike Drumright (DET); first to win batting title, Golden Glove and WS ring in same year; won huge contract negotiation with George; last ex-player introduced before final game at Yankee Stadium, his ovation lasted 102 seconds; collaborated with Bella Fleck, Bruce Springsteen and Ruben Blades; signed to Paul McCartney's label; forward for memoir written by Paul Simon. Cool.

6. Bucky Dent: Appeared in movie Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders  as love interest to Jane Seymour;  posed for Playgirl magazine in swimsuit; grew up with step-parents and told of biological mom at age 10; was 6th pick in 1970 draft; hit THE home run, beat Redsocks, won Series MVP, was given middle name in Boston; returned to Fenway in 2003 and sat atop Green Monster, where THE home run landed; charmed Boston fans with grace and humor; became huge eighties sex symbol via pinup poster; couldn't go to corner store for pack of cigarettes without getting laid.

5.Joe Pepitone:  Yankees' self-destructive ambassador to 1960s counter-culture; as teen, blew whole signing bonus partying en route to spring training; replaced both Moose Skowron and Ernie Banks at 1B; posed nude (all out) for Foxy Lady magazine; did four months at Rikers Island on drug conviction (coke and ludes); played in Japan, but hung out in discos so much that "Pepitone" became Japanese vernacular for "goofing off;" owned two toupees, including his "game piece;" at age 52, arrested for punching guy who called him "has been;" one DWI; three All-Star games; three Golden Gloves; three divorces; named in three Seinfeld episodes, two Curb Your Enthusiasms, plus a Sopranos, a Golden Girls, a West Wing, a Rescue Me and a Mystery Science Theater 3000; fictional character in three novels; his critically acclaimed memoir "Joe, You Coulda Made Us Proud," full of harsh truths; Wikipedia page calls him "something of a cultural icon;" we called him "Pepi." He was cool.

 Coming tomorrow, numbers 4 and 3.