The All-Time New York Yankees

Catcher: YOGI BERRA

1. Highlights: Three MVP's, fifteen straight All Star appearances, ten straight years with twenty or more HR's, lead the league in most AB's per strikeout in 1950.

2. Career Best: Yogi's two best seasons,1950 and 1956, were before his first MVP and after his last. 1950 stands out: 151 G (as a catcher!), 116 RS, 192 H, 30 2B, 28 HR, 124 RBI, .322 BA, .383 OBP, .533 SLG, 318 TB, and the aforementioned least K's per AB's.

3. Summary: Was Bench better? Conventional wisdom says yes, yet Yogi leads Bench in every single offensive category except HR. Bench was a better catcher but an examination of the numbers says not by much; part of Bench's legendary defense behind the plate seems to stem from his height. Bench was to the catcher position what Ripkin would be to the Shortstop position. Although Berra does lead in every offensive category, and Bench in most defensive categories, the difference is often so close as to be negligible. Except in career strike-outs: Berra: 414, and Bench:1278. I'm taking Berra.

First Base: LOU GEHRIG

1. Highlights: Won the Triple Crown in 1934, two time MVP, played in the first six All-Star Games, led the majors in OBP five times, led the majors in SLG twice, led the majors in RS four times, led the majors in TB four times, led the majors in RBI five times, led the majors in HR three times, led the majors in BB three times, led the league in Extra Base Hits four times, led the majors in 2B twice, led the majors in triples, hits and BA once.

He also played in a record 2,130 consecutive games, later broken by Cal Ripkin. He only had more than eighty strike-outs once in his long career. Thirteen straight years with more than one hundred RS. Had two hundred hits eight times. Had double digits in doubles, triples, and homers seven straight seasons. Thirteen straight seasons with over 110 RBI. Had one season over 180 RBI, three over 170 RBI, and seven over 160 RBI. Thirteen straight seasons with an OBP over .400. Fifteen straight seasons with a SLG over .500, with nine seasons over .600, and three seasons over .700 topping out at a whopping .765 in 1927. Twelve straight seasons hitting .300 or better with a high of .379 in 1930; beating his back to back seasons of 1927 and 1928 when Gehrig hit .373, and .374 .

Lou Gehrig is best remembered for delivering one of the greatest public speeches in American history.

2. Career Best: In 1927 Lou Gehrig had 218 hits, 52 doubles, 18 triples, 175 runs batted in, 47 home runs, a .371 batting average, a .474 on base percentage, and a .765 slugging percentage.

3. Summary: The greatest First Baseman who ever lived.

Second Base: TONY LAZZERI

1. Highlights: Hit .300 five times and had a SLG over .500 three times. Five seasons with double digits in doubles, triples, and home runs. Seven 100 RBI seaons.

2. Career Best: 1929- 101 runs scored, 193 hits, 37 doubles, 11 triples, 18 home runs, a .354 batting average, a .429 on base percentage, and a .561 slugging percentage.

3. Summary: Is in the Hall Of Fame and probably doesn't deserve to be there.

Third Base: ALEX RODRIGUEZ

1. Highlights: Two time MVP, five time All-Star, led the league in slugging three times, led the league in runs scored twice, led the league in home runs twice, and led the league in RBI once. Five straight years with at least 100 runs scored, 20 doubles, 30 home runs, 100 RBI, and a .500 SLG.

2. Career Best: 2007- 143 runs scored, 31 doubles, 54 home runs, 156 runs batted in, 24 stolen bases, a .314 batting average, a .422 on base percentage, and a .645 slugging percentage.

3. Summary: We should've known when the reports came out last year that he was hanging around Pete Rose. And by the way the man CHOSE to wear the number 13. Alex you always seemed to think you were above the constraints of mortal men. To quote Bob Dylan "Temporary Like Achilles".

Shortstop: DEREK JETER

1. Highlights: Eleven years with 100 runs scored, six years with over 200 hits, 25 doubles or more every year of his career, double digits in home runs and stolen bases every year of his career, hit .300 or better ten times while never hitting below .291 in his career, led the league in runs scored and hits, Rookie of the Year, All-Star MVP, and World Series MVP.

2. Career Best: 1999- 134 runs scored, 219 hits, 37 doubles, 24 home runs, 102 runs batted in, a .349 batting average, a .438 on base percentage, and a .552 slugging percentage.

3. Summary: With all the scandals around baseball Mr. Cool looks better, and better.

Outfield: BABE RUTH

1. Highlights: 1 MVP, 2 All-Star games, 1 batting title, in ten World Series games hit .326 .467 .744, led the league in OBP 9 times, led the league in SLG eleven straight years, led the league in RS seven straight years, led the league in HR ten years, led the league in RBI five years, and led the league in OPS eleven straight years. In fourteen years hit under .300 twice.

Hit over .350 eight times, and over .370 six times. Hit over 40 home runs eleven times, and over 50 four times. 13 one hundred RBI seasons. 16 seasons with an OBP over .400, and five seasons over .500. 15 seasons with a SLG over .500, 12 seasons over .600, 9 seasons over .700, and 2 seasons over .800. Broke the single season home run record four separate times. When Ruth hit 54 home runs in 1920 the next closest man, George Sisler, hit 19.

2. Career Best: Although popular with fans baseball people of his time had an ambivalent relationship with Ruth. His only MVP season came in 1923 when he hit .393; representing the old-timers idea of a great ball player as opposed to his greater power years.

His best year to me, and his numbers make it a matter of taste, is 1921. Ruth scored 177 runs, had 204 hits, 44 doubles, 16 triples, 59 home runs, 171 runs batted in, a .378 batting average, a .512 on base percentage, and a .846 slugging percentage.

3. Summary: Is Ruth the greatest ever? Tough to say. He never played in an integrated league. By comparison, Williams missed years in the wars, and played in an integrated league part of his career. Bonds used P.E.D.'s. No one else should really be in the conversation.
Could he play in today's game? Of course he could and he'd be a Hall of Famer; as a left handed starter.

Outfield: MICKEY MANTLE

1. Highlights: A Triple Crown, led the league in triples in 1955, 16 time All-Star, 3 time MVP, led the league in runs 6 times, led the league in HR and SLG 4 times a piece, led the league in OBP 3 times. Had an OPS over 1.000 eight separate times. All time leader for switch hitters in OBP, OPS, and Home Runs.

2. Career Best: 1956, Mantle's first MVP season-132 runs scored, 22 doubles, 52 home runs, .353 batting average, .464 on base percentage, .705 slugging percentage.

3. Summary: Admitted to getting drunk with Billy Martin before many ball games. The main reason the Yanks traded Billy away. How do you think that would go over these days? And why isn't it brought up when the Mick's legacy is discussed? When he needed a liver transplant after destroying his own with decades of alcoholism, NYC unethically and disgustingly moved him to the top of the recipient list. Rarely gets mentioned either. Some guys are just born with Halos. My Father's favorite player.

Outfield: JOE DIMAGGIO

1. Highlights: 13 time All-Star, 3 time MVP, led the league in triples, and led the league in AVG, SLG, HR, and RBI two times a piece. Eight seasons with double digits in doubles, triples and home runs. Nine 100 RBI seasons. Seven 30 HR seasons. In 13 seasons batted under .300, and slugged under .500 only twice a piece. Hit safely in 56 straight games.

2. Career Best: This was tough. Joe routinely missed twenty games to injury, give or take, almost every year of his career. I'm going with one of only three years he played close to a full season:1937- 151 runs scored, 215 hits, 35 doubles, 15 triples, 46 home runs, 167 runs batted in, a .346 batting average, a .412 on base percentage, and a .673 slugging percentage.

3. Summary: Another Halo guy. The amount of doubles and triples tells you how well he ran the bases. Strangely he only had 30 steals in his career, which is more of an era thing, as the stolen base almost died in the thirties and forties. Only played five years in an integrated league and lost three prime years to WWII. Married Marilyn Monroe when it meant something. Immortalized in prose and song by Hemingway, and Paul Simon respectively.

Designated Hitter: ROGER MARIS

1. Highlights: 2 straight MVP's, 3 straight All-Star games, 3 straight 30 HR, 100 RBI seasons. Broke the unbreakable Babe Ruth's single season home run record.

2. Career Best: 1961- 132 runs scored, 61 home runs, 142 runs batted in, a .269 batting average, a .372 on base percentage, and a .620 slugging percentage.

3. Summary: All through 1961, Baseball Managers chose to pitch around Mantle, and go after Maris. Roger made them pay all year long. No one wanted Maris to be the one to break the Babe's record; seemingly even himself at times. But he did it, and no amount of Halo induced vitriol or P.E.D. inflated numbers can ever take that away from him. Good for you, Roger.

PITCHERS: Whitey Ford, Jack Chesbro, Lefty Gomez, Ron Guidry, Bob Shawkey, Mariano Rivera, Goose Gossage

1. Highlights: Guidry's 1.74 ERA, 248 strikeouts, 9 shutouts, and .208 ERA+. Chesbro's 451 innings pitched, 48 complete games, 41 wins and 0.937 WHIP. Mo Rivera's 53 saves.

2. Career Best:
Whitey Ford's 1964- 244 IP, 17-6 record, 8 shutouts, 12 complete games, 172 strikeouts, 2.13 ERA, 1.099 WHIP, 170 ERA+.

Jack Chesbro's 1904- 454 IP, 41-12 record, 6 shutouts, 48 complete games, 239 strikeouts, 1.82 ERA, 0.937 WHIP, 148 ERA+.

Lefty Gomez's 1937- 278 IP, 21-11 record, 6 shutouts, 25 complete games, 194 strikeouts, 2.33 ERA, 1.171 WHIP, 191 ERA+.

Ron Guidry's 1978- 273 IP, 25-3 record, 9 shutouts, 16 complete games, 248 strikeouts, 1.74 ERA, 0.946 WHIP, 208 ERA+.

Bob Shawkey's 1920- 267 IP, 20-13 record, 5 shutouts, 20 complete games, 126 strikeouts, 2.45 ERA, 1.237 WHIP, 156 ERA+.

Goose Gossage's 1978- 134 IP, 27 saves, 122 strikeouts, 2.01 ERA, 1.087 WHIP, 180 ERA+.

Mariana Rivera's 2008- 70 IP, 39 saves, 77 strikeouts, 1.40 ERA, 0.665 WHIP, 317 ERA+.

3. Summary: Doesn't match up to the lineup. Best All Time Bullpen though.

BENCH: Bernie Williams, Don Mattingly, Bill Dickey, Joe Gordon, Reggie Jackson

BULLPEN: Waite Hoyt, Red Ruffing, Dave Righetti, Fritz Peterson, Mel Stottlemyre.

Batting Order:
1.Jeter-R
2.DiMaggio-R
3.Ruth-L
4.Mantle-S
5.Gehrig-L
6.Rodriguez-R
7.Berra-L
8.Maris-L
9.Lazzeri-R

Conclusion: The lineup includes possibly the best player ever (Ruth), the best First baseman ever (Gehrig), the future Home Run King at 3rd base (A-Rod), probably the best catcher ever(Berra), the best switch hitter ever (Mantle), and a guy with a 56 game hitting streak (DiMaggio). It also holds two players to hold the single season home run record. Six MVP's and eight Hall of Famers in the lineup. Two MVP's and four Hall of Famer's on the bench. They are the Yankees.