1980s New York Yankees "All Scrub" Team

The Yankees had some stacked teams in the 1980s.

They won a staggering 103 games in 1980.

They went to the World Series in the strike-shortened season in 1981, and won at least 90 games in  1983, 1985 and 1986.

Despite all that winning, the Yankees of the 1980s, the Yankees of my youth, never won a darn thing that counted.

There was always a team like the Red Sox or Blue jays that it seemed was a little bit better that particular year.

It broke my heart as a kid, because I was too young to remember '77-78, and my dad and grandfather would talk about the Yankee "glory years" of Mantle, Berra and DiMaggio.

I wanted to experience a Yankee Dynasty.

I wanted to see Don Mattingly, who was my version of Mickey Mantle, win a World Series.

Alas, it wouldn't happen until 1996, a year after Donnie Baseball retired.

I was still a huge Yankee fan, but it would have meant more to me had they won 10 years earlier.

By '96 I was an adult, and the world looks much different to an adult than to a baseball-obsessed 10-year-old who's biggest concern in life was why the Yankees couldn't get a decent shortstop.

Growing up during this difficult time in Yankee history, I developed a morbid fascination and bond with the "fringe" players the Yankees put on the field.

Sure, I loved Mattingly and Henderson, but who could forget Paul Zuvella?

Some might refer to them as "scrubs" but as a kid they were my scrubs.

They were Yankees.

So here it is, the 1980s New York Yankees "All-Scrub" Team. Enjoy!

C- Butch Wynegar

Butch Wynegar (1982-86).

Caught Dave Righetti's no-hitter in 1983. Got brained with a foul ball in the on deck circle in '86.

Honorable Mention: Ron Hassey (1985-1986).

Andrew "Dice" Clay lookalike is the only Major Leaguer to catch two perfect games. But couldn't catch a cold in New York.

1B- Chris Chambliss

Chris Chambliss, who had one AB in 1988 and then retired. By then he was a far cry from his late-70s glory days.

Honorable Mention: Steve Balboni.

No Explanation necessary.

2B- Rex "Wonder Dog" Hudler

2B- Rex "Wonder Dog" Hudler (1984-85).

What can you say about a guy who's average never broke the Mendoza line while in pinstripes yet had a nickname like "Wonder Dog"?

Honorable Mention: Larry Milbourne.

Had one of the great moustaches of all time. Plus, who can forget the classic photo of the Boss consoling a dejected Milbourne in the Yankees locker room?

SS- Bobby Meacham

SS- Bobby Meacham (1983-1988).

The Yankees changed shortstops in the 1980s like most people change underwear. Between trades, free agent signings and the infamous "Columbus Shuttle," it seemed like there was a new SS every day. Somehow, Bobby Meacham managed to hang around the Yankee organization for the better part of the decade.

Honorable Mention: Wayne Tolleson, Alvaro Espinoza, Rafael Santana, Paul Zuvella, Dale Berra, The Immortal Orestes Destrade, Keith Smith, Andre Robertson, Ivan DeJesus.

3B- Dale Berra

3B- Dale Berra (1985-86).

While it may seem a bit unfair to list Berra under SS and 3B, those of us who remember him can attest that he really was that bad. The son of Yankee great Yogi Berra was one apple that fell WAY off the tree.

Honorable Mention: Luis Aguayo (1988) Hensley "Bam Bam" Meulens (1989-93).

LF- Steve Kemp

LF- Steve Kemp (1983-84).

A huge free-agent disappointment.

Honorable Mention: Luis Polonia (1994-95, 2000).

A little man who wore a huge glove and had a terrible arm.

CF- Otis Nixon

CF- Otis Nixon (1983).

Came up as a young, speedy outfielder. Looked like he was 60, even though he was only 23. I'd hate to see what he looks like now.

Honorable Mention: Omar Moreno (1983-85).

RF- Jesse Barfield

RF- Jesse Barfield (1989-92).

If there ever was a living embodiment of the Yankees in the late 80s-early 90s, it was the talented yet overpaid, past his prime, underachieving Jesse Barfield.

Honorable Mention: Brian Dayett (1983-84).

DH- Jack Clark

DH: Without a doubt, the one and only Jack Clark (1988).

Honorable Mention: Ken Phelps (1988-89).

Starting Pitchers- Steve Trout/Ed Whitson

Because there were so many pitchers who were disasters for the Yankees in the 80s, I figured I would pare it down to two starters and two relievers.

SP- Steve Trout (1987).

George Steinbrenner reportedly proclaimed "I just won you the pennant" after getting Trout in a trade with the Cubs. He couldn't have been more wrong.

SP- Ed Whitson (1985-86).

Poster boy for wilting under the NY spotlight.

Honorable Mention: Dave LaPoint, Pascual Perez, Jack McDowell, Andy Hawkins.

RP- Cecilio Guante/Eric Plunk

RP- Cecilio Guante (1987-88).

Looked like one of the pimps that used to hang out on the corner of River Ave. outside of the stadium back in the 80s. 

Eric Plunk (1989-91).

Dead ringer for author Stephen King. Stephen King could have wrote many a horror story about Plunk's pitching prowess.

Honorable Mention: Shane Rawley, Hipolito Pena.

Manager- Dallas Green

Dallas Green (1989).

Just the mere mention of his name conjures up images of futility.

So there it is, in all it's glory. The team the Yankees could have put on the field, won just as many pennants and saved about 200 million dollars.

Still, although they didn't win a Series, I miss the "Balboni Years," the years of my youth.