Mr. Yankee?
Baseball season is just around the corner. So let's get started on some lists and the delightfully inane debates that such lists generate.
First, here are the usual disclaimers:
· There are no Jamesian mathematical formulas here – this is a purely subjective exercise.
· I have indulged in the absurdity of comparing players from different eras.
· Baseball is a game of numbers. Statistics do count for a lot, but they are not everything.
· Service to the club counts for something. This is not a list of the 100 greatest players. It's the 100 greatest Yankees.
· A player’s standing is helped by contributing to World Championships – this is the Yankees after all. Championships are their currency.
· Standing is hurt by cheating (A-Rod, Petite, Giambi, Hal Chase, etc.)
· Standing is helped by legendary accomplishments and heroic post-season moments (Don Larsen, Reggie Jackson, Bucky Dent, etc.)
· The purpose of list is to generate discussion, argument and appreciation for great and memorable players, not to establish a hierarchy or pantheon.
Finally, although this list is subjective and arbitrary it is not burdened by sentiment. After all, I don’t like the Yankees. But let's face it - this is the most successful American sports team of all time. At least they were last century.
Here are the 100 Greatest Yankees of all time:
1. Babe Ruth
2. Lou Gehrig
3. Joe DiMaggio
4. Mickey Mantle
5. Yogi Berra
6. Mariano Rivera
7. Whitey Ford
8. Derek Jeter
9. Bill Dickey
10. Bernie Williams
11. Roger Maris
12. Reggie Jackson
13. Don Mattingly
14. Red Ruffing
15. Tony Lazzeri
16. Lefty Gomez
17. Phil Rizzuto
18. Jorge Posada
19. Joe Gordon
20. Ron Guidry
21. Elston Howard
22. Earl Combs
23. Allie Reynolds
24. Thurman Munson
25. Bobby Richardson
26. Graig Nettles
27. Paul O’Neil
28. Goose Gossage
29. Bobby Murcer
30. Bob Meusel
31. Sparky Lyle
32. Mel Stottlemyre
33. Andy Petite
34. Willie Randolph
35. Dave Winfield
36. Tino Martinez
37. Billy Martin
38. Bill Skowron
39. Waite Hoyt
40. Dave Righetti
41. Alex Rodriguez
42. Tommy Heinrich
43. Herb Pennock
44. Eddie Lopat
45. Bob Turley
46. Red Rolfe
47. Tommy John
48. Roy White
49. Hank Bauer
50. Spud Chandler
51. John Wettland
52. Charlie Keller
53. Catfish Hunter
54. Vic Raschi
55. Joe Girardi
56. Bob Shawkey
57. Roger Clemens
58. Chris Chambliss
59. Jack Chesbro
60. Luis Arroyo
61. Don Larsen
62. Wally Pip
63. Wade Boggs
64. Joe Pepitone
65. Mickey Rivers
66. Mike Mussina
67. Lou Pinella
68. David Wells
69. Gil McDougald
70. Hal Chase
71. Tony Kubek
72. Orlando Hernandez
73. Ben Chapman
74. Ricky Henderson
75. Bucky Dent
76. Johnny Murphy
77. David Cone
78. Hideki Matsui
79. Jim Leyritz
80. Roger Peckinpaugh
81. Joe Page
82. Jason Giambi
83. Frank Crosetti
84. George Selkirk
85. Scott Brosius
86. Snuffy Stirnweiss
87. Jimmy Key
88. Tom Tresh
89. Mark Koenig
90. Jeff Nelson
91. Chuck Knoblauch
92. Ralph Terry
93. Ed Figueroa
94. Clete Boyer
95. Gene Woodling
96. Fritz Peterson
97. Joe Dugan
98. Jim Bouton
99. Mike Stanton
100. Horace Clark
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