Yankee Fans Unite

As a kid, I used to debate with my friends who were Yankees, Dodgers and Giants fans who the "all-time" teams would be made up of. So, here's my list of all-time best Yankees at each position. I've listed who I consider the top three (usually) for each position, with the best of the best at the top. Some of them are tough choices.

Starting Pitcher (on a team that has players named Clemens, Cone, Pettite, Niekro, John, Lopat, Pennock, Chesbro and Mays, this was not easy)

Whitey Ford - 236 - 106 (.690 winning %). 2.75 career ERA - for most of his career, pitched the toughest games - 11 WS - 6-5, ERA of 2.71 - 10 time all-star selection
Red Ruffing - 231- 124 as a Yankee (.651 winning %) 3.47 ERA as a Yankee - 7 WS - 6-1, ERA of 2.63 - 6 time all-star selection
Ron Guidry - 170 - 91 (.651 winning %) 3.29 career ERA - 3 WE, 3 ALCS, 1 ALDS - 9-4 post-season - 2-1 in WS, ERA of 1.69 - 4 time all-star selection

Catcher (decided to list 5 because 3d to 5th are darn hard to choose between)

Yogi Berra - 19 seasons, BA .285, 358 HRs, 1430 RBIs, 704 BBs - 14 WS, .274 BA, 12 HRs, 39 RBIs, selectedd to all-star game 18 times
Bill Dickey - 17 seasons, BA .313, 202 HRs, 1209 RBIs, 678 BBs - 8 WS, .255 BA, 5 HRs, 24 RBIs, selected to all-star game 11 times
Thurman Munson - 11 seasons, BA .292, 113 HRs, 701 RBIs, 438 BBs - 6 postseason series - 3 WS, .373 BA, 1 HR, 12 RBIs - selected to all-star team 7 times
Jorge Posada - 14 seasons (so far) BA .277, 221 HRs, 883 RBIs, 790 BBs, - 23 Postseason series - 5 WS, .208 BA, 2 HR, 6 RBI - selected to all-star team 5 times
Elston Howard - 12.5 seasons as Yankee, BA .274, 161 HRs, 743 RBIs, 342 BBs - 9 WS, .250 BA, 5 HRs, 18 RBIs, selected to all-star team 12 times

First Base - (There are only two great choices here to date)

Lou Gehrig - 17 seasons, BA .340, 493 HRs, 1995 RBIs, 1508 BBs - 7 WS, .361 BA, 10 HRs, 35 RBIs, selected to all-star team 7 times
Don Mattingly - 14 seasons, BA .307, 222 HRs, 1099 RBIs, 588 BBs - 1 postseason series, selected to all-star game 6 times
Third could go to Wally Pipp or Tino Martinez or Jason Giambi or maybe this new guy...

Second Base - (I think our current 2d baseman could finish his career at the top of this list if he focuses)

Willie Randolph - 14.5 seasons as a Yankee, BA .276, 48 HRs, 539 RBIs, 251 SBs - 11 postseason series - 4 WS - .181 BA, 3 HRs, 4 RBIs
Joe Gordon - 7 seasons, BA .268, 153 HRs, 617 RBIs, 481 BBs, 68 SBs - 5 WS, .250 BA, 3 HRs, 14 RBIs - selected to all-star game 6 times while a Yankee
Bobby Richardson - 12 seasons, BA .266, 34 HRs, 390 RBIs, 73 SBs - 7 WS, .305 BA, 1 HR, 15 RBIs - selected to all-star game 8 times

Shortstop (this one really isn't very hard)

Derek Jeter - 14 seasons (so far), BA .316, 206 HRs, 1002 RBIs, 275 SBs - 25 postseason series, 6 WS - .302 BA, 3 HR, 8 RBIs - selected to all-star game 9 times
Phil Rizzuto - 13 seasons - BA .273, 38 HRs, 563 RBIs, 149 SBs - 9 WS, .246 BA, 2 HR, 8 RBIs - selected to all-star game 5 times
Frank Crosetti - 17 seasons - BA .245, 98 HRs, 649 RBIs, 113 SBs - 7 WS, .174, 1 HR, 11 RBIs - selected to all-star game 2 times

Third Base - (the third spot demonstrates that this has not been a traditionally strong position for the Yanks)

Graig Nettles - 11 seasons as a Yankee, BA around .250, 250 HRs, 834 RBIs, 18 SBs - 10 postseason series as a Yankee, 4 WS, .255 BA, 0 HRs, 5 RBIs - selected to all-star game 6 times - great defender
Alex Rodriguez - 5 seasons as a Yankee (so far) BA .303, 208 HRs, 616 RBIs, 106 SBs - 5 postseasons series as a Yankee, 0 WS - selected to all star game 5 times as a Yankee - should move into first place on this list before he's through
Joe Dugan - 6.5 seasons as a Yankee, BA .280, 22 HRs, 320 RBIs, 12 SBs - 5 WS, .267 BA, 1 HR, 8 RBIs -

Right Field (1st and 2d place are very, very obvious)

Babe Ruth - 15 seasons as a Yankee, BA .342 (actually a bit higher as a Yank, I was too lazy to calculate it), 659 HRs, 1975 RBIs, 110 SBs - 7 WS as a Yankee, .326 BA, 15 HRs, 30 RBIs - selected to all-star game 2 times
Reggie Jackson - 5 seasons as a Yankee, BA .279, 144 HRs, 461 RBIs, 41 SBs - 8 postseason series as a Yankee - 3 WS - .391 BA. 8 HRs, 17 RBIs - selected to all-star game 5 times as a Yankee
Roger Maris - 7 seasons as a Yankee, BA .261, 203 HRs, 558 RBIs, 7 SBs - 5 WS as a Yankee, .195 BA, 5 HRs, 10 RBIs - selected to all-star game 6 times as a Yankee

Center Field (Choosing between 1st and 2d here is tough)

Joe DiMaggio - 13 seasons, BA .325, 361 HRs, 1537 RBIs, 30 SBs, 790 BBs - 10 WS, .271 BA, 8 HRs, 30 RBIs - selected to all-star team 13 times
Mickey Mantle - 18 seasons, BA .298, 536 HRs, 1509 RBIs, 153 SBs, 1733 BBs - 12 WS, .257 BA, 16 HRs, 40 RBIs - selected to all-star team 16 years
Bernie Williams - 16 seasons, BA .297, 287 HRs, 1257 RBIs, 147 SBs, 1069 BBs - 25 postseason series - 6 WS - .208 BA, 5 HRs, 14 RBIs - selected to all-star team 5 times

Left Field (Not a traditionally strong position for the Yankees)

Rickey Henderson - 4.5 seasons as a Yankee, BA .284, 78 HRs, 255 RBIs, 326 SBs, 406 BBs - selected to all-star game 4 times as a Yankee
Earle Combs - 12 seasons, BA .325, 58 HRs, 632 RBIs, 96 SBs, 670 BBs - 4 WS, .350 BA, 1 HR, 9 RBIs
Lou Pinella - 11 seasons as a Yankee, BA .291, 57 HRs, 417 RBIs, 10 SBs, 215 BBs - 10 postseason series, 4 WS, .319 BA, 0 HR, 10 RBIs


Closer
Mariano Rivera - 14 seasons (so far) 482 Saves, ERA 2.29 - 26 postseason series - 6 WS, ERA 1.16, 9 saves, 2 wins, 1 loss - selected to all-star team 9 times
"Goose" Gossage - 6.5 seasons as a Yankee, 156 saves, ERA around 2.40 - 6 postseason series as a Yankee, 2 WS - 2 saves, 1 win, 0 loss - selected to all-star team 4 times as a Yankee
Sparky Lyle - 7 seasons as a Yankee, 141 saves, ERA around 2.80 - 5 postseason series as a Yankee, 2 WS - 1 win, 0 loss - selected to all-star team 3 times

Your thoughts? Did I miss someone?

I would add Allie Reynolds and maybe Mike Mussina to the list of honorable mention pitchers, but otherwise this looks very thorough.

I'm trying to picture this lineup:
1. Randolph 2B
2. Jeter SS
3. Ruth RF
4. Gehrig 1B
5. Mantle LF
6. DiMaggio CF
7. Jackson DH
8. A-Rod 3B
9. Berra C

Not too bad when you've got the likely future home run champion batting eighth (I put him down there to break up a few of the lefties).

I would add Billy Martin, the proudest Yankee ever.

Do you realize what kind of team we root for, when its second lineup (not anyone of Karl's choices) could be the following?

1- Rickey Henderson, LF
2- Bernie Williams, CF
3- Don Mattingly, 1B
4- Roger Maris, RF
5- Jorge Posada, DH
6- Thurman Munson, C
7- Graig Nettles, 3B
8- Phil Rizzuto, SS
9- Billy Martin, 2B

Or, how about this:
[a darned good lineup featuring players not listed above]

1-CF-Mickey Rivers
2-DH-"Wee" Willie Keeler
3-LF-Charley "King Kong" Keller
4-RF-"Old Reliable" Tommy Henrich
5-1B-Bill "Moose" Skowron
6-C-Wally Schang
7-3B-Clete Boyer
8-SS-Tony Kubek
9-2B-George "Snuffy" Stirnweiss

SP-Happy Jack Chesbro
SP-Lefty Gomez
SP-Waite Hoyt
SP-Tommy John
SP-Carl Mays

RP-Joe Page

All good players and with some bit players, I could probably win a championship or two
[kinda difficult, though, against the lineups listed above!]

I went with the great glove at third, Cletus.
Ninth is almost like alternate leadoff, so I gave Snuffy and his base-stealing the nod.
Wasn't too sure of Wee Willie's fielding, so I put him at DH for his hit-making ability
[got enough mashers in the lineup with Keller, Henrich, and Skowron].

SP was ridiculously easy: I kinda randomized here, plenty of other choices.
Except for one pitch, Carl Mays would be in the Hall of Fame.

Funny thing is, this lineup is down the depth chart a bit.
Betcha someone could make another lineup as I have done, from players no one else has
mentioned, and IT would be pretty good......
Lemme see.......
"Horace Clarke....."
Never mind

You could say that, you history buff, you.

Cool thread--it's fun reading.

From my list (and honorable mentions), starting lineup and rotation I'd choose:

Rickey Henderson - LF
Derek Jeter - SS
Babe Ruth - DH
Joe DiMaggio - CF
Lou Gehrig - 1B
Mickey Mantle - RF
Alex Rodriguez - 3B
Yogi Berra - C
Willie Randolph - 2B

Whitey Ford
Red Ruffing
Ron Guidry
Jack Chesbro
Carl Mays

Now THAT would be a lineup..... who would ya get to manage it?

Charmaine, thank you for the kind words

Totally random lineup, featuring names not mentioned above [so far]:

1-2B- Horace Clarke
2-3B-Frank "Home Run" Baker
3-RF-Lou Piniella
4-DH-Ron Blomberg
5-C-Jake Gibbs
6-LF-Roy White
7-1B-Chris Chambliss
8-CF-Ben Chapman
9-SS-Gene "Stick" Michael

SP-Mel Stottlemyre
SP-Fritz Peterson
SP-Urban Shocker
SP-Jim Bouton
SP-Vic Raschi

Closer-Dave Righetti
RP-Lindy McDaniel
RP-Jim Konstanty

I did not name all 25 teammates, but how would
this random lineup perform? Let's say Bill Virdon
was the manager.... reckon I could win a pennant?

Joe McCarthy... .627 record managing the Yankees, better than Stengel's .623

Might want to look at #3 on my list of left-fielders.

hahaha! oops! Bound to let one slip by =:-0

Yeah, but Stengel might do a better job with those lineups and he was a real gem... character, funny, nutty, you name it.