New York Yankees: 25 Greatest Infielders in Franchise History

Catchers may play the most physically demanding position in the game, but infielders are crazy.

Often they leave their feet trying to catch—or at least knock down—a ball traveling in excess of 100 miles per hour that three seconds earlier was en route to home plate.

Some infielders are great with the glove.

Others are better with the bat.

Every once in awhile, you find someone who is equally adept with both.

In the history of the New York Yankees, hundreds of players have stepped foot onto the dirt infield wearing a pinstriped uniform with an interlocking "NY" on the front.

Let's take a look at the 25 who did it better than the rest, taking both offensive and defensive production into account.

Just Missed the Cut

Drawing the line at 25 players made for some difficult calls to miss the cut.

Notables who were in the final group of cuts include:

Scott Brosius

Mike Pagliarulo

Billy Martin

Alfonso Soriano

Joe Pepitone

Now, without further ado, let's get to the Top 25.

25. Frankie Crosetti

A World Series champion seven times and twice an All-Star, Crosetti spent his entire 17-year playing career as a member of the New York Yankees—11 of those years as the Opening Day starter at shortstop. (Crosetti would also start Opening Day of 1942 as the Yankees third baseman.)

Not known for his offensive production, Crosetti would have four consecutive seasons (1936-1939) where he scored more than 100 runs.

Crosetti was an adequate fielder, though nothing special. He led all American League shortstops in fielding percentage and assists once and putouts twice.

He lost his starting job to Phil Rizzuto in 1940, reclaimed it when Rizzuto joined the Navy and served in World War II, only to lose the job to Scooter again upon his return from active duty.

NYY Stats: 17 years (1932-1948), .245 BA, .341 OBP, .695 OPS, 98 HR, 649 RBI, .949 FLD%

24. Clete Boyer

It wasn't until Ralph Houk replaced Casey Stengel as Yankees manager that Clete Boyer really got a chance to shine.

From 1961 through 1963, Boyer led all American League third basemen in putouts, assists and double plays, but was always passed over for a Gold Glove award, which annually went to Brooks Robinson of the Baltimore Orioles, arguably the best defensive third baseman in the history of baseball.

Boyer had some pop in his bat, but was not an excellent hitter, hitting over .260 only once in the eight years he spent in the Bronx.

In Game 1 of the 1962 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals, Boyer hit a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh inning that broke a 1-1 tie and gave Whitey Ford the last of his record 10 World Series victories as a starting pitcher.

NYY Stats: 8 years (1959-1966), .242 BA, .299 OBP, .670 OPS, 95 HR, 393 RBI, .967 FLD%

23. Bucky Dent

Known more for his glove than his bat, Bucky Dent was a three-time All-Star and a part of two World Series championship teams.

1978 was the pinnacle of his playing career.

Between his go-ahead three-run homer against the Boston Red Sox in a winner-takes-all game to break the tie atop the AL East and earn the right to advance to the ALCS and his subsequent MVP performance in the World Series where he hit .414 with seven RBI, one month of his life cemented Bucky Dent in the hearts of Yankees fans forever.

He was consistently among the leaders in all defensive categories for American League shortstops.

NYY Stats: 6 years (1977-1982), .239 BA, .295 OBP, .618 OPS, 27 HR, 209 RBI, .976 FLD%

22. Mark Koenig

A slap-hitter who found himself on a team with two of the greatest players to ever live, Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, Mark Koenig didn't exactly fit in.

Koenig was the unsung hero of the 1927 World Series, one that saw the Yankees become the first AL team to sweep an NL team, disposing of the Pittsburgh Pirates in four games.

Batting second behind CF Earle Combs, Koenig would have a World Series to remember, hitting .500 with two doubles, two RBI and five runs scored.

NYY Stats: 6 years (1925-1930), .285 BA, .327 OBP, .710 OPS, 15 HR, 241 RBI, .928 FLD%

21. Red Rolfe

A four-time All-Star and part of five World Series championship teams, Red Rolfe was a solid, all-around third baseman for the Yankees.

Rolfe scored over 100 runs in seven consecutive seasons from 1934 through 1939, including a league leading and career high 139 in 1939—a year in which he would also lead the league in hits, with 213, and doubles, with 48. He would hit .300 or better four times during that stretch.

He was consistently among the league leaders in all fielding categories at the hot corner, leading the league in fielding percentage twice.

NYY Stats: 10 years (1931; 1934-1942), .289 BA, .360 OBP, .773 OPS, 69 HR, 497 RBI, .956 FLD%

20. Tony Kubek

A four-time All-Star and a part of three World Series championship teams, Tony Kubek was a versatile player who saw time at every position on the field except catcher and pitcher, though he was primarily a shortstop.

Kubek won the 1957 AL Rookie of the Year Award when he hit .297 with three home runs, 39 RBI and an OPS of .716. His 38 doubles in 1961 was the single-season record for Yankees shortstops until Derek Jeter hit 44 in 2004.

NYY Stats: 9 years (1957-1965), .266 BA, .303 OBP, .667 OPS, 57 HR, 373 RBI, .967 FLD%

19. Snuffy Stirnweiss

A two-time All-Star and part of three World Series winning teams, Stuffy Stirnweiss was an outstanding defensive player who had speed to burn and, at least early in his career, an excellent batting eye.

In both 1944 and 1945 he would lead the league in runs scored, hits, triples and stolen bases. He would win the AL Batting Crown in 1945 hitting .309 with 10 HR, 64 RBI, 195 hits, 22 triples and 33 stolen bases.

NYY Stats: 8 years (1943-1950), .274 BA, .366 OBP, .747 OPS, 27 HR, 253 RBI, .978 FLD%

18. Gil McDougald

A career Yankee who was a part of five World Championship teams and appeared in as many All-Star games, Gil McDougald was a versatile infielder who saw significant time at second base, third base and shortstop.

Against the New York Giants in Game 5 of the 1951 World Series, McDougal became the first rookie to hit a Grand Slam in series history—one that broke a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the third inning. The Yankees would win the Series in six games.

He was also named the American League Rookie of the Year in 1951, hitting .306 with 14 HR, 63 RBI and an OPS of .884. An excellent fielder, McDougald led American League infielders in double plays turned at three different positions—third base in 1952, second base in 1955 and shortstop in 1957.

An incident that occurred while playing the Cleveland Indians in 1957 almost ended two careers at the same time.

McDougald would step in to face Herb Score, a young flamethrower who had led the league in strikeouts each of his first two seasons.

A howling line drive off of McDougald's bat went screaming back towards Score and hit him in the face, resulting in a broken nose and serious damage to Score's right eye. As anyone could imagine, McDougald was crushed and distraught that he was responsible for such a horrible injury and he told reporters after the game: "If Herb loses the sight in his eye, I’m going to quit the game."

Thankfully both Score and McDougald recovered, though Score was never the same pitcher after that.

NYY Stats: 10 years (1951-1960), .276 BA, .766 OBP, .766 OPS, 112 HR, .576 RBI, .975 FLD%

17. Wally Pipp

Most people know Wally Pipp as the man that Lou Gehrig replaced, but Pipp was a smooth fielding first baseman and slugger for the Yankees during the Deadball Era.

Pipp received MVP votes three times in his Yankee career, finishing as high as eighth in 1922, when he hit .329 with nine home runs, 90 RBI and a .859 OPS.

In 1915, Pipp's first in pinstripes, he led all first baseman in putouts (1396), assists (85), double plays (85), and fielding percentage (.992).

A notorious free-swinger, Pipp became the first player in American League history to lead the league in both home runs (12) and strikeouts (82) in 1916. Even with his free-swinging ways, Pipp nearly walked as many times as he struck out over his 10-year Yankees career, drawing 490 free passes while striking out 495 times.

No Yankee has more sacrifice hits than Pipp, who accumulated 226 during his time in the Bronx, including 33 in 1921. Additionally, his 19 triples in 1924 and his 121 career triples both put him in the Top 10 for a season and career in the Yankees record books.

NYY Stats: 11 years (1915-1925), .282 BA, .343 OBP, .757 OPS, 80 HR, .826 RBI, .992 FLD%

16. Mark Teixeira

Mark Teixeira may end up being the best-fielding first baseman in Yankees history.

A two-time Gold Glove winner with an All-Star appearance and World Series ring on his resume, the 31-year-old enters 2012 looking to put his offensive struggles of the past two seasons behind him.

His best season with the Yankees was his first, in 2009, when he led the league with 39 home runs and 122 RBI while hitting .292 with an OPS of .948.

If Tex is able to get his bat back on track, he could easily move up this list.

NYY Stats: 3 years (2009-present), .266 BA, .363 OBP, .877 OPS, 111 HR, 341 RBI, .997 FLD%

15. Joe Gordon

The man who pushed Tony Lazzeri out the door, Joe Gordon was a power-hitting, acrobatic second baseman who was a part of five World Championship teams.

A six-time All-Star as a Yankee, Gordon led the AL in assists four times and in double plays three times. He became the first second baseman in the American League to hit 20 home runs in a season during his rookie year in 1938 and is the American League's home run champion amongst second basemen for a career, hitting 253. (Note: 100 of his home runs were hit as a member of the Cleveland Indians.)

In 1942, Gordon hit .322 with 18 HR, 103 RBI and an OPS of .900, an excellent season for sure. In what remains to this day one of the more bizarre decisions in the history of MVP voting, Gordon was named the 1942 AL MVP over Ted Williams of the Boston Red Sox, who won the Triple Crown hitting .356 with 36 HR, 137 RBI, 141 runs scored and a 1.147 OPS.

In what some consider to be the second questionable honor that Gordon received, he was elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veteran's Committee in 2008.

NYY Stats: 7 years (1938-1943; 1946), .271 BA, .358 OBP, .825 OPS, 153 HR, 617 RBI, .968 FLD%

14. Wade Boggs

One of the best hitters the game has ever seen, Wade Boggs was excellent with the glove as well and a part of a World Series championship team in the Bronx.

A four-time All-Star with the Yankees, Boggs bought stability to the hot corner for the Yankees and provided timely hitting with his patented sweet stroke.

Watching Boggs and Don Mattingly in the same lineup was a bit surreal, seeing as how Yankee fans loathed Boggs back in 1986 for sitting out the last game of the season while Mattingly battled to catch him for the AL Batting Crown, which Boggs would eventually win .356 to .352.

In Game 4 of the 1996 World Series, Boggs worked a bases-loaded walk that scored the winning run and swayed momentum back to the Yankees from the Atlanta Braves.

NYY Stats: 5 years (1993-1997), .313 BA, .396 OBP, .803 OPS, 24 HR, 246 RBI, .974 FLD%

13. Robinson Cano

The best second baseman in baseball today, 29-year-old Robinson Cano has a World Series championship and three All-Star games under his belt so far.

A perennial MVP candidate, Cano is an offensive force, having hit .300 or better in five of his seven seasons in the major leagues.

While not a wizard with the glove, he has led second basemen in putouts four times and assists three times, including each of the past two seasons.

Cano is one of the only Yankees to have shown up at the plate in their last three playoff series, hitting .333 with six home runs, 15 RBI and a .964 OPS over the team's last 14 playoff games.

As his career continues, so will hiss ascent up the list of greatest infielders in team history.

NYY Stats: 7 years (2005-present), .308 BA, .347 OBP, .843 OPS, 144 HR, 621 RBI, .985 FLD%

12. Alex Rodriguez

Perhaps no player in recent memory has divided Yankee fans quite like Alex Rodriguez has. Some tolerate him while others loathe him, while nobody loves A-Rod as much as A-Rod loves himself.

Since arriving in the Bronx, A-Rod has won two American League MVP Awards, a World Series championship, and admitted to past steroid abuse. His defense, while not spectacular, has been above average after switching positions and acquiescing to Derek Jeter, the incumbent shortstop in New York.

While he has underperformed in the postseason, hitting .260 with 10 HR and 33 RBI over 55 playoff games, an average A-Rod season in pinstripes has been excellent: a .295 average, 36 HR, 113 RBI and an OPS of .941.

NYY Stats: 8 years (2004-present), .295 BA, .391 OBP, .941 OPS, 284 HR, 903 RBI, .965 FLD%

11. Bobby Richardson

A superb defensive second baseman, Bobby Richardson was a five-time All-Star, eight-time Gold Glove award winner and someone who raised their game in the postseason. A .266 hitter in the regular season, Richardson became a .305 hitter in the postseason.

He is the only player in baseball history to win the World Series MVP award as a member of the losing team, as he did in 1960 where he hit .367 with two doubles, two triples, a home run, 12 RBI and eight runs scored in the seven-game series.

Richardson led the league in putouts twice and won five-consecutive Gold Glove awards from 1961 through 1965.

NYY Stats: 12 years (1955-1966), .266 BA, .299 OBP, .634 OPS, 34 HR, 390 RBI, .979 FLD%

10. Chris Chambliss

A smooth fielding first baseman, Chris Chambliss's Yankee legacy comes down to one swing.

Chambliss had an excellent 1976 season, earning his first (and only) All-Star berth and setting career highs with 17 home runs and 93 RBI. In the ALCS against the Kansas City Royals, Chambliss took the first pitch that he saw from Royals reliever Mark Littell deep into the stands, winning the game and sending the Yankees to their first World Series since 1964.

He would be part of World Championship teams in 1977 and 1978, winning his only gold glove award in 1978, as well, though he was consistently near the top of the leader boards for putouts, assists and double plays turned by a first baseman.

NYY Stats: 7 years (1974-1979), .282 BA, .323 OBP, .740 OPS, 79 HR, 454 RBI, .993 FLD%

9. Moose Skowron

A seven-time All-Star and part of four World Series championship teams, Bill "Moose" Skowron was a power-hitting, smooth fielding first baseman who came through in the clutch on a number of occasions.

Four times he hit over 20 home runs as a Yankee, including a memorable shot in the 1955 World Series.

Up 5-0 over the Brooklyn Dodgers in Game 7, Bill Skowron would hit a grand slam in the top of the seventh inning, giving the Yankees a commanding 9-0 lead and ensuring that the Dodgers would not mount a comeback in their final nine outs. It would be Skowron's only hit of the series.

NYY Stats: 9 years (1954-1962), .294 BA, .346 OBP, .842 OPS, 165 HR, 672 RBI, .991 FLD%

8. Willie Randolph

A five-time All-Star and member of two World Championship teams as a player for the Yankees, Willie Randolph had one of the more overlooked playing careers in recent history.

Consistently among the Top 10 leaders in on-base percentage and walks, Willie drew nearly twice as many walks (1005) as he struck out (512), leading the American League with 119 free passes in 1980. He was also an adept baserunner, stealing 30 bases or more four times.

An underrated defensive player who excelled at turning the double play, he was generally overlooked in lieu of Frank White of the Kansas City Royals and Lou Whitaker of the Detroit Tigers, who both put up gaudier offensive numbers.

NYY Stats: 13 years (1976-1988), .275 BA, .374 OBP, .731 OPS, 222 HR, 1099 RBI, .980 FLD%

7. Tino Martinez

Twice an All-Star and four times a World Series champion, Tino Martinez was saddled with the unenviable task of replacing Don Mattingly at first base for the Yankees.

To say that Tino performed better than expected would be an understatement—he provided clutch hitting and superb fielding, hitting over 20 home runs and drove in more than 100 runs five times.

He is responsible for two of the most memorable home runs in Yankees history: his grand slam off of Mark Langston in Game 1 of the 1998 World Series against the San Diego Padres, and his game-tying two-run home run off of Byung-Hyung Kim against the Arizona Diamondbacks with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning in Game 4.

Tino consistently found himself amongst the defensive leaders at first base on a yearly basis, though he was never rewarded with a Gold Glove award.

NYY Stats: 7 years (1996-2001; 2005), .276 BA, .347 OBP, .831 OPS, 192 HR, 739 RBI, .991 FLD%

6. Tony Lazzeri

When you play on the same team as Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig it is easy to go unnoticed, but Tony Lazzeri was a standout at second base in the Bronx for over a decade.

A member of five World Series championship teams, he hit over .300 five times and drove in more than 100 runs on seven different occasions.

In the field, Lazzeri was solid but not spectacular. While he consistently had one of the five highest fielding percentages in the league for second basemen, he did lead the league in errors from the position three times.

He was elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veteran's Committee in 1991.

NYY Stats: 14 years (1926-1937), .292 BA, .380 OBP, .846 OPS, 178 HR, 1191 RBI, .967 FLD%

5. Graig Nettles

A five-time All-Star and member of two World Championship teams as a player for the Yankees, Graig Nettles is one of the best defensive third basemen to ever play the game, leading the league in putouts once and assists three times.

Nettles hit at least 15 home runs every season he spent in pinstripes, including a league-leading 32 in 1976. His 319 career home runs stands as the most by a third baseman in American League history. (Note: 250 of his home runs came as a member of the Yankees.)

He would be named MVP of the 1981 ALCS after hitting .500 with one home run and nine RBI in the three game series, driving in three runs in each game.

NYY Stats: 11 years (1973-1983), .253 BA, .329 OBP, .762 OPS, 250 HR, 834 RBI, .962 FLD%

Photo courtesy of Sportsillustrated.com

4. Phil Rizzuto

For more than a decade, Phil Rizzuto was a spark plug for the New York Yankees, appearing in five All-Star games and being a part of seven World Championship teams.

Not a slugger by any means, Scooter was one of the premier bunters of his day and he led the league in sacrifice hits four years in a row, from 1949 through 1952. His 193 sacrifice hits place him third on the Yankees all-time, behind Wally Pipp (226) and Willie Keeler (211).

He would be named American League MVP in 1950 after hitting .324 with seven home runs, 66 RBI and an OPS of .857.

His .969 fielding percentage in 1947 broke the Yankee record for shortstops that had been set by Frankie Crosetti in 1939 with .968. Rizzuto would best his own record in 1948 and again in 1950.

Scooter was elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee in 1994.

NYY Stats: 13 years (1941-1942; 1946-1956), .273 BA, .351 OBP, .706 OPS, 38 HR, 563 RBI, .968FLD%

3. Derek Jeter

Everyone knows about Derek Jeter, so there will not be a re-hash of the same Jeter stats and moments that have become engrained in many of our heads over the past 17 years.

People want to criticize his defense, not only now but over the course of his career, and that's fine. They use stats like dWAR and UZR and again, that's fine. They just don't matter.

Jeter has been the backbone of five World Series championship teams. He has a career batting average over .300 and come through in the clutch countless times.

Does anyone really care about the 50 runs or 15 wins that the Yankees would have had with someone other than Jeter at shortstop?

I didn't think so.

NYY Stats: 17 years (1995-present), .313 BA, .383 OBP, .832 OPS, 240 HR, 1196 RBI, .976 FLD%

2. Don Mattingly

Before his back betrayed him, Don Mattingly was arguably the best player in baseball from 1984 through 1989.

With one of the sweetest swings the game has ever seen, Mattingly won the 1984 AL Batting Crown over teammate Dave Winfield, going 4-for-5 on the last day of the season to bring his average to .343. (Winfield went 1-for-4 in that game, finishing the season at .340).

He would also be named American League MVP in 1985 when he hit .324 with 35 HR, 145 RBI and an OPS of .939.

A six-time All-Star, Mattingly was one of the best-fielding first basemen of his generation, wining nine gold glove awards over a 10-year period from 1985 through 1994.

In 1987, Mattingly tied a major league record by hitting home runs in eight consecutive games and his six grand slams that year set a new major league record, one that was tied by Travis Hafner of the Cleveland Indians in 2006. Also in 1987, Mattingly would set an American League record by getting an extra base hit in ten consecutive games.

NYY Stats: 14 years (1982-1995), .307 BA, .358 OBP, .830 OPS, 222 HR, 1099 RBI, .996 FLD%

1. Lou Gehrig

Lou Gehrig is unquestionably the greatest first baseman who ever played, though where he falls on the list of the 10 greatest players to ever play remains up for discussion.

While most think of Gehrig as a slugger, he was quick as well. He had 10 or more triples in eight different seasons, notching a career high 20 in 1926. He stole 102 bases over parts of 13 years, including 15 steals of home plate.

Gehrig was the complete package. He could hit, he could field, and he is the best infielder that the Yankees have ever—and likely will ever—have.

NYY Stats: 17 years (1995-present), .340 BA, .447 OBP, 1.080 OPS, 493 HR, 1995 RBI, .991 FLD%