New York Yankees: The All-Time Yankees Lineup
The New York Yankees.
The name alone brings many memories: Of World Series wins, perfect games, and larger-than-life characters—that is the New York Yankees.
With 27 championships and counting, the Yankees are very likely the greatest sports franchise in history. And with a great franchise, brings great players.
The following slideshow will showcase who I feel to be the greatest Yankees of all time, position by position.
For clarity, players with steroid accusations are out, as well as players with long and successful careers at other teams.
Catcher: Lawrence Peter "Yogi" Berra
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It ain't over till it's over, Yogi Berra would say. And with Yogi's sustained success over his career, it never seemed like it would end.
Speaking of endings, it's difficult to begin to tell Yogi's success. Where do you start? 10 World Series rings, an MLB record? 15-Time All-Star? Three MVP awards? How about 358 career home runs? Perhaps, however, it's best to simply say that Yogi was likely the greatest catcher in Yankees history.
Yogi was known for being a "bad-ball" hitter, someone who could reach low or go up the ladder and still get a hit. That certainly helped his .285 batting average. But he was most known for his "Yogi-isms," which are much easier said than described.
"I want to thank you all for making this day necessary."
"Baseball is 90 percent mental, the other half physical."
"I didn't really say everything I said." That may be true, but Yogi certainly did everything he did, and more.
Honorable Mentions: Bill Dickey, Thurman Munson
First Base: Henry Louis "Lou" Gehrig
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Lou Gehrig was a man that didn't need to say a word. His nickname said it all: "The Iron Horse." Can't argue with that!
Gehrig's most famous stat was his 2130 consecutive game streak, a streak that was assumed to last forever until Cal Ripken, Jr. broke it in 1998. Still, those 2130 games were some pretty impressive ones: He had a .340 batting average and 493 home runs. A two-time MVP and a seven-time All-Star, Lou played until he took himself out of the lineup due to a fatal case of ALS. If that had not have been, his home runs would've pushed well past 500, and he would only solidify his spot in the Hall of Fame.
Honorable Mention: Don Mattingly
Second Base: Tony Lazzeri
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The man on your screen is not Tony Lazzeri, but with a little seasoning, Robinson Cano could be the next one.
Tony Lazzeri was the most underrated player on the 1927 Yankees. He had a career batting average of .292, and was an All-Star in 1933. He had an average of 111 RBIs per year. If you think about it, Lazzeri could've been a superstar in his own right.
Lazzeri was a spectacular second baseman, but if Robinson Cano can have another great season like last year, he could very well surpass him.
Honorable Mention: Joe Gordon
Shortstop: Derek Jeter
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I'm not going to say too much about Derek Jeter, because he still has plenty of career ahead of him. But Jeter has been truly dominant. He won Rookie of the Year, and has five World Series rings. He is an 11-time All-Star and has won four Gold Gloves and three Silver Sluggers.
But I think the most important thing about Derek Jeter is that he is a class act. He is humbled by the records he passes, and will definitely have No. 2 retired in his honor.
Honorable Mention: Phil Rizzuto
Third Base: Graig Nettles
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Graig Nettles doesn't have all the powerful stats that the other members of this team have, although he did have 390 homers. What made him famous was his glove. He won two Gold Gloves and was a six-time All-Star.
Nettles was at the top of his game in 1977, when he hit 37 homers, drove in 109 runs, and won his first Gold Glove. Graig Nettles will always be remembered for his sparkling plays and great reaction time.
Honorable Mention: Only Alex Rodriguez's steroid use in Texas keeps him off the list.
Left Field: Mickey Mantle
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Mickey Mantle had a .298 batting average, hit 536 home runs, and drove in 102 runs per season.
And this was with leg problems, ladies and gentlemen.
Are you impressed yet?
Honorable Mention: Dave Winfield
Center Field: Joe DiMaggio
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56-Game Hitting Streak.
Hall of Famer.
Married Marilyn Monroe.
Can you really say anything else?
Honorable Mentions: Earle Combs, Bernie Williams
Right Field: George Herman "Babe" Ruth
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Did you really think I would forget the Great Bambino?
There isn't enough to say about the Sultan of Swat: 714 home runs, .690 slugging percentage, and 2217 RBIs, Babe Ruth was just the hero baseball fans needed after the Black Sox scandal of 1919.
Babe was known for his larger-than-life attitude, his clutch hitting, but mostly his power. He used all of these in his favor after the "Called Shot" of 1932. It was Game 6 of the World Series again the Chicago Cubs, and—after a point toward center field—he launched a home run right where he pointed. Despite eyewitnesses claiming it was a point to the Cubs dugout, the legend lives on.
Babe Ruth is definitely the greatest Yankee of all time, and maybe the greatest player of all time. As Odgen Nash wrote in his poem Lineup For Yesterday, "R is for Ruth. To tell you the truth, there's no more to be said. Just R is for Ruth."
Honorable Mention: Reggie Jackson
DH: Roger Maris.
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I wasn't leaving out the man who broke Ruth's single-season homer record, either. I felt that Roger Maris deserves to be remembered in a DH slide.
Maris was a two-time MVP and a seven-time All-Star. But he is most famous for his 1961 season, with 61 home runs, 141 RBIs, 132 runs, and a .372 OBP.
If Roger Maris is only remembered for one season, he should be remembered as a hero.
Starting Pitcher: Whitey Ford
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The Chairman of the Board. That name deserves its own slideshow.
While some members of this list, such as Graig Nettles, were famous for their glove, and others, such as Tony Lazzeri, were the unknown heroes, Whitey Ford was all numbers. So why not read them? One Cy Young, 236-106 W-L Record, Eight-time All-Star, 1.215 WHIP, 2.75 ERA, 45 shutouts...all that's missing is a partridge in a pear tree. Talk about a Chairman—if you needed a big-game pitcher, Whitey was your man.
Honorable Mentions: Ron Guidry, Red Ruffing
Relief Pitcher: Mariano Rivera
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Mariano Rivera is a dominator on the mound. He has over 500 saves and is an 11-time All-Star. We can't fully judge his career just yet, but it would be a great surprise if The Sandman isn't a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
Honorable Mention: Goose Gossage
The 10th Player: The Fan
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Through thick and thin, high and low, Yankee fans have stayed true.
From the tradition of the Stadium to the rowdy yells of the Bleacher Creatures, perhaps the most important Yankees player is the fan.
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