Top 10 Greatest Yankees

[OrangeCrush22]

With Jeter's career at its end I'd like to see where others have him in the Yanks top 10 greatest players ever. The must have played the majority of their career with the Yanks. This order and their best seasons are entirely my opinion. Fun fact: 4 of the 5 American League players to win 3 MVPs are Yankees.

1. Babe Ruth
Arguably the most important player to any particular sport in history. He was a hall of fame quality pitcher and a legendary batter. He not only built Yankee Stadium; he built the entire organization with his play. His best season was 1921 where he crushed 59 homers, 168 RBIs, and a whopping 457 total bases -- the most ever in one season.

2. Lou Gehrig
A career cut short by the disease that would later bear his name. He benched himself and ended his own 2,130 consecutive games streak. To truly see how selfless this man was you must read this quote from a letter he wrote to his doctor on December 10, 1939;

"...what burns me up and modestly so, is the ten or
twelve thousand people who are or believe they are
affected the same way as I am, and who feel that I am
obtaining the best medical attention in the world, and if
the bottom falls out of me, what hope have they."

His best season came in 1927 where he slugged 47 homers, 173 RBIs, and a staggering 447 total bases. He holds the record for second most RBIs in a season with 185 behind the great Hack Wilson who had 191.

3. Mickey Mantle
This is where things get tough; Mantle and DiMaggio are really interchangeable here. The greatest switch hitter of all time and 3 time MVP may have played his entire career with a torn ACL. He badly injured his right knee during the 1951 World Series his rookie year. He also suffered from Osteomyelitis a bone marrow condition which led to the military deeming him unfit for service. His best season came in 1956 with 52 homers, 130 RBIs, and 376 total bases.

4. Joe DiMaggio
The 3 time MVP Joe DiMaggio didn't shy away from the limelight. He famously married and got divorced from icon Marylin Monroe in less than a year -- the last straw being a public fight between the two. Shortly before Monroe's death they rekindled their relationship to a degree; claiming publicly they were just together as friends. DiMaggio lost 3 years of his prime to military service, missing 3 seasons from '43-'45 when he was 28-30. His best season came in 1937 where he blasted 46 homers, 167 RBIs, and 418 total bases.

5. Mariano Rivera
Pitching in a record 24 World Series games; the greatest closer of all-time and subsequent greatest Yankee pitcher had Hank Aaron like consistency. He broke into the majors at the age of 25 as a starter and became the full time closer two years later. He played 19 years until the age of 43 and never ceased his dominance once it began. He potentially could have had Satchel Paige levels of longevity had he not decided it was best for him to call it quits. His best season came in 2005 where he had a .868 WHIP, 1.38 ERA over 78.1 innings pitched. Along with 43 saves and 80 strikeouts.

6. Whitey Ford
As a rookie in 1950 at 21 he pitched 20 games and went 9-1 with a 2.81 ERA. He would lose his next two seasons to military service only to return and pick up where he had left off. He pitched 22 World Series games, 146 innings, as a starter for second all-time and most as a starter. Because of this he not only has the most World Series wins as a pitcher of all time but the most losses as well. His best season came in 1964 where over 244.2 innings he hurled a 2.13 ERA with a 1.099 WHIP and 162 strikeouts.

7. Yogi Berra
He won 10 World Series as a player and 3 as a manager for the most rings of all time. The man played 18 full seasons and received MVP votes 15 of those season winning it 3 times and finishing second twice -- that's insane. His best season came in 1950 where he hit 28 homers, 124 RBIs, and 318 total bases.

8. Derek Jeter
One of the better offensive shortstops in history is the longest tenured Yankee captain ever. The only major award he hasn't won is the MVP having been snubbed in 2006. He has by far the most games played, at-bats, plate appearances, runs scored, hits, total bases, doubles, triples, and singles in postseason history. He's also top 5 in postseason homers, walks, and RBIs. His best season came in 1999 where he belted 24 homers, 102 RBIs, and 346 total bases - all career highs.

9. Thurman Munson
One of the greatest injustices in sports is this man not being in the hall of fame. He died midseason in 1979 at the age of 32. In his 11 year career he won rookie of the year and MVP having consistent numbers every year and winning 3 gold gloves. His best season came in 1977 where he hit 18 homers, 100 RBIs, and 275 total bases.

10. Alex Rodriguez
One of the greatest players of all time tainted due to steroid use, and sadly he didn't need it. Even with a tainted legacy his numbers and talent are too good to ignore. He's a 3 time MVP winner and 9th all time in total bases, but I doubt he'll catch Yastrzemski at 8th. His best season in New York came in 2007 where he jacked 54 homers, 156 RBIs, and 376 total bases.

 

[Toga]

I'm with you on 1-8. Love Thurman but have to go with Donnie Baseball at #9. ARod isn't a Yankee.

 

['72 Orange]

Also agree on your 1-8; however, as much as I love Thurman Munson, going by the numbers Bill Dickey was a better player at catcher. Going by a 162 game average for both players Dickey had BA - .313; HR - 18; RBI - 109; OBP - 382; Slg - .486 TB - 277
while Thurman Munson's 162 game #'s BA - .292; HR - 13; RBI - 80; OBP - .346; Slg - .410 TB - 249

As good as a defensive catcher that Thurman was, Dickey was slightly better. Their 162 game averages behind the plate:
Dickey Fld% - .988 Caught Stealing % - 47%
Munson Fld% - .982 Caught Stealing % - 44%

Can't stand Aroid. I would take Mattingly over him. Although Aroid had more power; Donnie had better BA, RBI & fewer strike outs per 162 game season as Yankee players.

 

[rrlbees]

Talk about a difficult question.

 

[Opus]

I am not a Yankees fan but there is no way you can do a top ten, comparing today's players with the greats of the past, especially pitching. (No specialists back in the day.)

I agree with the top 4 in any order. No wonder they won so much.

Okay that is a perspective from a Mets fan.

 

[General20]

Really hard to compare pitchers and relief pitchers to everyday players. I like an apples to apples comparison better . . . top 10 position players.

1) Babe Ruth - Best baseball player of all time, period.
2) Joe DiMaggio - This guy has become underrated over time because taking 5 years off in his prime to serve in the war really hurt his overall numbers, and he was not the same when he came back, but, if you look at the first 8 years of his career he put up better numbers than anybody ever with the exception of number one on this list.
3) Lou Gherig - Most people have him second in Yankee history, some people have him second in MLB history. He's probably top five all time so third on this list seems harsh, but its where he belongs.
4) Micky Mantle - Easiest to place on this list other than Ruth, there is a small drop between him and the top three and a big gap between him and number five.
5) Yogi Berra - Won ten world series in his career . . . think about that. The guy was the greatest of all time (beating out Mickey Cochrane) at arguably the most important position in the field.
6) Derek Jeter - You've heard a lot about why Jeter is great in the last week or so, but here is the thing you've never heard. Playing in the era of steroids where every contending team had multiple home run hitters, it was the guys that got on base ahead of the roiders and scored runs that made the difference. Jeter is one of only two hall of fame table setters in this era (Ichiro being the other). In the 80's it was the opposite, there were tons of great table setters (Rickey Henderson, Tim Raines, Vince Coleman, Wade Boggs, Tony Gwynn, Barry Larkin, etc.) and the teams that had legit home run hitters were the teams with the advantage. It was that way for most of baseball history, but not during the steroid era. Jeter was the thing the Yankees had offensively that their competitors didn't. That is why he is so great.
7) Bill Dickey - If Berra is the best catcher of all time (and he is) Dickey is not far behind. I'd probably place him third, but its a very tight race.
8) Earle Combs - That Murderer's Row Yankee team was so crazy good that Earle Combs is a Hall of Famer yet he is so overshadowed by his better teammates (Ruth and Gherig in particular) that he has been all but forgotten in history. The guy has a .325 career batting average though. On that 1927 team that was the best team in history, Combs, lead off, hit .356 (only third best on the team!) and played center field.
9) Toni Lazzeri - Hall of Fame second baseman, another Murderer's Row guy. Big time power numbers for a guy that played a historically defensive postion, and he was one of the big stars on the greatest team in baseball history.
10) Phil Rizzuto - He is the last (and least) of the Hall of Famers who played all (or pretty much all) of their careers for the Yankees. After him, its a choice between guys just short of becoming Hall of Famers . . . Mattingly, Williams, O'Neill, Nettles, Howard, Munson, and guys who were great Hall of Famers but who played a significant portion of their career on a team other than New York . . . Rodriguez, Jackson, Henderson, Winfield.

For the record, I'd put Mattingly at eleven. Of all the near Hall of Famers, Mattingly is the only one who was the best player in baseball for a few years. If he hadn't suffered that debilitating back injury he would certainly be in the top ten, maybe as high as five.

 

[MSOrange]

For the record, I'd put Mattingly at eleven. Of all the near Hall of Famers, Mattingly is the only one who was the best player in baseball for a few years. If he hadn't suffered that debilitating back injury he would certainly be in the top ten, maybe as high as five.

This is a really good point. I don't think many people really appreciate how good of a hitter Mattingly was before he got hurt. Even after he got hurt, he still averaged .290 for his past five years. And this is coming from a guy who can't stand the Yankees. But I know a good ballplayer when I see one.

 

[Toga]

What a talent Mantle was. It would have been awesome to see his numbers if he had been truly healthy most of his career and had taken care of himself off the field. In addition to his obvious power, pre-injuries he was supposedly the quickest player to first base (hitting from the left side) of anyone who has ever played the game.

 

[Toga]

This is a really good point. I don't think many people really appreciate how good of a hitter Mattingly was before he got hurt. Even after he got hurt, he still averaged .290 for his past five years. And this is coming from a guy who can't stand the Yankees. But I know a good ballplayer when I see one.

Ten home runs in seven consecutive games in 1987. It was unbelievable to watch.

 

[Toga]

This is a really good point. I don't think many people really appreciate how good of a hitter Mattingly was before he got hurt. Even after he got hurt, he still averaged .290 for his past five years. And this is coming from a guy who can't stand the Yankees. But I know a good ballplayer when I see one.

And an artist at first base.

 

[Opus]

Really hard to compare pitchers and relief pitchers to everyday players. I like an apples to apples comparison better . . . top 10 position players.

1) Babe Ruth - Best baseball player of all time, period.
2) Joe DiMaggio - This guy has become underrated over time because taking 5 years off in his prime to serve in the war really hurt his overall numbers, and he was not the same when he came back, but, if you look at the first 8 years of his career he put up better numbers than anybody ever with the exception of number one on this list.
3) Lou Gherig - Most people have him second in Yankee history, some people have him second in MLB history. He's probably top five all time so third on this list seems harsh, but its where he belongs.
4) Micky Mantle - Easiest to place on this list other than Ruth, there is a small drop between him and the top three and a big gap between him and number five.
5) Yogi Berra - Won ten world series in his career . . . think about that. The guy was the greatest of all time (beating out Mickey Cochrane) at arguably the most important position in the field.
6) Derek Jeter - You've heard a lot about why Jeter is great in the last week or so, but here is the thing you've never heard. Playing in the era of steroids where every contending team had multiple home run hitters, it was the guys that got on base ahead of the roiders and scored runs that made the difference. Jeter is one of only two hall of fame table setters in this era (Ichiro being the other). In the 80's it was the opposite, there were tons of great table setters (Rickey Henderson, Tim Raines, Vince Coleman, Wade Boggs, Tony Gwynn, Barry Larkin, etc.) and the teams that had legit home run hitters were the teams with the advantage. It was that way for most of baseball history, but not during the steroid era. Jeter was the thing the Yankees had offensively that their competitors didn't. That is why he is so great.
7) Bill Dickey - If Berra is the best catcher of all time (and he is) Dickey is not far behind. I'd probably place him third, but its a very tight race.
8) Earle Combs - That Murderer's Row Yankee team was so crazy good that Earle Combs is a Hall of Famer yet he is so overshadowed by his better teammates (Ruth and Gherig in particular) that he has been all but forgotten in history. The guy has a .325 career batting average though. On that 1927 team that was the best team in history, Combs, lead off, hit .356 (only third best on the team!) and played center field.
9) Toni Lazzeri - Hall of Fame second baseman, another Murderer's Row guy. Big time power numbers for a guy that played a historically defensive postion, and he was one of the big stars on the greatest team in baseball history.
10) Phil Rizzuto - He is the last (and least) of the Hall of Famers who played all (or pretty much all) of their careers for the Yankees. After him, its a choice between guys just short of becoming Hall of Famers . . . Mattingly, Williams, O'Neill, Nettles, Howard, Munson, and guys who were great Hall of Famers but who played a significant portion of their career on a team other than New York . . . Rodriguez, Jackson, Henderson, Winfield.

For the record, I'd put Mattingly at eleven. Of all the near Hall of Famers, Mattingly is the only one who was the best player in baseball for a few years. If he hadn't suffered that debilitating back injury he would certainly be in the top ten, maybe as high as five.

I respectfully disagree with your opinions about the Yankee catchers and their status in all of baseball but won't voice an opinion as that would change the topic of the thread.

I do agree with #10 Phil Rizzuto. Not only his on field performance but also in the broad cast booth. As stated above I am not a Yankee fan but would watch the Yanks in the 70's/80's on WPIX because of him, Bill White and to a lesser extent Frank Messer. Very entertaining.

 

[Toga]

I respectfully disagree with your opinions about the Yankee catchers and their status in all of baseball but won't voice an opinion as that would change the topic of the thread.

I do agree with #10 Phil Rizzuto. Not only his on field performance but also in the broad cast booth. As stated above I am not a Yankee fan but would watch the Yanks in the 70's/80's on WPIX because of him, Bill White and to a lesser extent Frank Messer. Very entertaining.

Love when Scooter would leave the broadcast booth early to beat the bridge traffic. Lovable guy.

 

[br801]

What a talent Mantle was. It would have been awesome to see his numbers if he had been truly healthy most of his career and had taken care of himself off the field. In addition to his obvious power, pre-injuries he was supposedly the quickest player to first base (hitting from the left side) of anyone who has ever played the game.

His numbers were still pretty awesome, especially considering he played primarily in an era dominated by pitching.

His health problems as a young boy and the injuries he suffered early in his career would have been enough to derail most people, to say nothing of the drinking that came later. He was an amazing talent. Glad I got to see him play, if only toward the end of his career.

 

[Toga]

His numbers were still pretty awesome, especially considering he played primarily in an era dominated by pitching.

His health problems as a young boy and the injuries he suffered early in his career would have been enough to derail most people, to say nothing of the drinking that came later. He was an amazing talent. Glad I got to see him play, if only toward the end of his career.

I got to see him when I was about 10. It was at Tiger Stadium. It was his first game back after injuring his leg on a sprinkler head in Baltimore. He homered and stole a base. Freaking awesome.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Really hard to compare pitchers and relief pitchers to everyday players. I like an apples to apples comparison better . . . top 10 position players.

1) Babe Ruth - Best baseball player of all time, period.
2) Joe DiMaggio - This guy has become underrated over time because taking 5 years off in his prime to serve in the war really hurt his overall numbers, and he was not the same when he came back, but, if you look at the first 8 years of his career he put up better numbers than anybody ever with the exception of number one on this list.
3) Lou Gherig - Most people have him second in Yankee history, some people have him second in MLB history. He's probably top five all time so third on this list seems harsh, but its where he belongs.
4) Micky Mantle - Easiest to place on this list other than Ruth, there is a small drop between him and the top three and a big gap between him and number five.
5) Yogi Berra - Won ten world series in his career . . . think about that. The guy was the greatest of all time (beating out Mickey Cochrane) at arguably the most important position in the field.
6) Derek Jeter - You've heard a lot about why Jeter is great in the last week or so, but here is the thing you've never heard. Playing in the era of steroids where every contending team had multiple home run hitters, it was the guys that got on base ahead of the roiders and scored runs that made the difference. Jeter is one of only two hall of fame table setters in this era (Ichiro being the other). In the 80's it was the opposite, there were tons of great table setters (Rickey Henderson, Tim Raines, Vince Coleman, Wade Boggs, Tony Gwynn, Barry Larkin, etc.) and the teams that had legit home run hitters were the teams with the advantage. It was that way for most of baseball history, but not during the steroid era. Jeter was the thing the Yankees had offensively that their competitors didn't. That is why he is so great.
7) Bill Dickey - If Berra is the best catcher of all time (and he is) Dickey is not far behind. I'd probably place him third, but its a very tight race.
8) Earle Combs - That Murderer's Row Yankee team was so crazy good that Earle Combs is a Hall of Famer yet he is so overshadowed by his better teammates (Ruth and Gherig in particular) that he has been all but forgotten in history. The guy has a .325 career batting average though. On that 1927 team that was the best team in history, Combs, lead off, hit .356 (only third best on the team!) and played center field.
9) Toni Lazzeri - Hall of Fame second baseman, another Murderer's Row guy. Big time power numbers for a guy that played a historically defensive postion, and he was one of the big stars on the greatest team in baseball history.
10) Phil Rizzuto - He is the last (and least) of the Hall of Famers who played all (or pretty much all) of their careers for the Yankees. After him, its a choice between guys just short of becoming Hall of Famers . . . Mattingly, Williams, O'Neill, Nettles, Howard, Munson, and guys who were great Hall of Famers but who played a significant portion of their career on a team other than New York . . . Rodriguez, Jackson, Henderson, Winfield.

For the record, I'd put Mattingly at eleven. Of all the near Hall of Famers, Mattingly is the only one who was the best player in baseball for a few years. If he hadn't suffered that debilitating back injury he would certainly be in the top ten, maybe as high as five.

Wherefore art thou, Mariano Rivera?

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Wherefore art thou, Mariano Rivera?

Wherefore art my reading comprehension about only comparing position players?

 

[OrangeXtreme]

YES Network ‏@YESNetwork 2m
Derek Jeter’s career is over, as he leaves the game to a standing ovation after an infield single at Fenway Park.

3,465 hits. Career .310 average.

 

[br801]

I got to see him when I was about 10. It was at Tiger Stadium. It was his first game back after injuring his leg on a sprinkler head in Baltimore. He homered and stole a base. Freaking awesome.

I saw him in person in his final season when I was 10, August 1968, Old-Timer's Day at Yankee Stadium against the Twins. The Yankees lost 3-2, but Mantle hit two moonshots to left for their only runs. He could barely get his 36-year-old body around the bases, but that didn't matter a bit. I can still see those blasts rising into the sky.

 

[pfister1]

I respectfully disagree with your opinions about the Yankee catchers and their status in all of baseball but won't voice an opinion as that would change the topic of the thread.

I do agree with #10 Phil Rizzuto. Not only his on field performance but also in the broad cast booth. As stated above I am not a Yankee fan but would watch the Yanks in the 70's/80's on WPIX because of him, Bill White and to a lesser extent Frank Messer. Very entertaining.

I remember them broadcasting a Chiefs game during the 1981 strike and waiting outside the gates after the game to get their autographs. I was a kid at the time and really only knew them because of their mini-celebrity in the booth.

Rizzuto was the best. Well, most entertaining. Holy Cow! White you Huckleberry. Rizzuto could go toe to toe with Willard Scott as the king of on air Birthday wishes. I always wondered if he left early to beat the traffic or to get home to Cora sooner.

 

[IthacaMatt]

1. Babe Ruth - invented the modern game, master of the pre-home run era as a pitcher. Could have probably hit .400 if he didn't have to hit all those dinky singles.

2. Lou Gehrig - consecutive game streak, tremendous hitter - lifetime .340 average, 10 seasons with more than 30 HRs.

3. Joe DiMaggio - elegant, smooth, so fundamentally sound. The Derek Jeter of a bygone era. Lifetime .325 hitter, had 100 RBI every year before going into the service for 3 years during WWII.

4. Yogi Berra - 10 years in a row with 20+ homers, World Series winner 10 times, 3 time AL MVP, was an All-Star for 16 straight seasons. The backbone of the great Yankee teams from the DiMaggio era to the Mantle era.

5. Mickey Mantle - 9 years in a row with more than 100 runs scored, leading the league 5 times during that stretch despite hitting number 3 or 4 in the lineup. Averaged more than 100 walks for 9 out of 10 years during his prime, leading the league 5 times in that category. Of course, it goes without saying that he hit 536 HRs and still managed to hit .298 for his career despite being prone to strikeouts, and hanging on for the last six years of his career riddled by injuries and pretty much unable to run anymore. Like Junior Griffey, he could have been the best ever.

6. Mariano Rivera - the top relief pitcher in post-season history, and one of the best 3 or 4 ever, if not the very best. 652 saves, eleven times had an ERA under 2.00. In 32 post-season series, including 7 World Series, he went 8-1 with 42 saves and a 0.70 ERA. Thirteen time all-star.

7. Whitey Ford - in 14 seasons as a regular starting pitcher only twice had 10 or more losses. Winning percentage of .690. Lifetime ERA of 2.75 in a hitter's era. Nine time all-star and led the AL in winning percentage 3 times.

8. Derek Jeter. Sixth all-time in hits. Double-digit homers and stolen bases for 16 years in a row. Five time World Series champion. The ultimate glue-guy. A true winner.

9. Thurman Munson - For those who grew up watching him, he is the one whose personality built the Yankees from laughingstock to a World Series team. He only played 11 years, but was a tremendous clutch player, hitting .357 in ten post-season series, including a remarkable .529 against the Cincinnati Reds in the 1976 World Series.

10. Ron Guidry - 170 wins, .651 winning percentage, 3-1 in the World Series with a 1.69 ERA. Was a great starting pitcher for 10 years, with his 25-3 1.78 ERA season in 1978 and his 22-6 record in 1985 providing the bookends for the best part of his career.

Don Mattingly doesn't make the cut. He was the best hitter in baseball for six years, but the Yankees never won anything in that time, and back injuries cut his career short.

People like Catfish Hunter, Reggie Jackson and Goose Gossage are Yankee legends, but their time in pinstripes was too short compared to the rest of their careers to be considered Yankee All-Time Greats.

I suppose I could have named more old-time Yankees like Red Ruffing, Tony Lazerri, Tommy Heinrich and guys like that, but I think I have a pretty representative group. I haven't looked at anybody else's list in this thread, but I'll bet we all have lots of overlap.

 

[Toga]

1. Babe Ruth - invented the modern game, master of the pre-home run era as a pitcher. Could have probably hit .400 if he didn't have to hit all those dinky singles.

2. Lou Gehrig - consecutive game streak, tremendous hitter - lifetime .340 average, 10 seasons with more than 30 HRs.

3. Joe DiMaggio - elegant, smooth, so fundamentally sound. The Derek Jeter of a bygone era. Lifetime .325 hitter, had 100 RBI every year before going into the service for 3 years during WWII.

4. Yogi Berra - 10 years in a row with 20+ homers, World Series winner 10 times, 3 time AL MVP, was an All-Star for 16 straight seasons. The backbone of the great Yankee teams from the DiMaggio era to the Mantle era.

5. Mickey Mantle - 9 years in a row with more than 100 runs scored, leading the league 5 times during that stretch despite hitting number 3 or 4 in the lineup. Averaged more than 100 walks for 9 out of 10 years during his prime, leading the league 5 times in that category. Of course, it goes without saying that he hit 536 HRs and still managed to hit .298 for his career despite being prone to strikeouts, and hanging on for the last six years of his career riddled by injuries and pretty much unable to run anymore. Like Junior Griffey, he could have been the best ever.

6. Mariano Rivera - the top relief pitcher in post-season history, and one of the best 3 or 4 ever, if not the very best. 652 saves, eleven times had an ERA under 2.00. In 32 post-season series, including 7 World Series, he went 8-1 with 42 saves and a 0.70 ERA. Thirteen time all-star.

7. Whitey Ford - in 14 seasons as a regular starting pitcher only twice had 10 or more losses. Winning percentage of .690. Lifetime ERA of 2.75 in a hitter's era. Nine time all-star and led the AL in winning percentage 3 times.

8. Derek Jeter. Sixth all-time in hits. Double-digit homers and stolen bases for 16 years in a row. Five time World Series champion. The ultimate glue-guy. A true winner.

9. Thurman Munson - For those who grew up watching him, he is the one whose personality built the Yankees from laughingstock to a World Series team. He only played 11 years, but was a tremendous clutch player, hitting .357 in ten post-season series, including a remarkable .529 against the Cincinnati Reds in the 1976 World Series.

10. Ron Guidry - 170 wins, .651 winning percentage, 3-1 in the World Series with a 1.69 ERA. Was a great starting pitcher for 10 years, with his 25-3 1.78 ERA season in 1978 and his 22-6 record in 1985 providing the bookends for the best part of his career.

Don Mattingly doesn't make the cut. He was the best hitter in baseball for six years, but the Yankees never won anything in that time, and back injuries cut his career short.

People like Catfish Hunter, Reggie Jackson and Goose Gossage are Yankee legends, but their time in pinstripes was too short compared to the rest of their careers to be considered Yankee All-Time Greats.

I suppose I could have named more old-time Yankees like Red Ruffing, Tony Lazerri, Tommy Heinrich and guys like that, but I think I have a pretty representative group. I haven't looked at anybody else's list in this thread, but I'll bet we all have lots of overlap.

Only quibble is I'd replace Munson with Mattingly. Otherwise a great post.

 

[pfister1]

I don't think anyone has mentioned Red Ruffing He started out as a Red Sox. But appeared in seven World Series, six of which the Yankees won. During his 15 years with the Yankees, Ruffing compiled 231 wins, which ranks second on the Yankees' all-time list behind Whitey Ford's 236 victories. He had a 3.47 ERA and 1526 Ks.

or Lefty Gomez

A Yankee for 13 seasons, Gomez was a four-time 20-game winner and twice won pitching's Triple Crown, leading the league in wins, ERA and strikeouts in 1934 and '37. He had a 3.34 career ERA and 189-102 record in New York. He pitched 28 shutouts and completed more than half of his starts. The Hall of Famer helped the Yankees to five World Series titles and went 6-0 with four complete games in seven Fall Classic starts.

How about the top pitchers all time:

1. Whitey Ford 236 Wins 2.75 ERA 1956 Ks 6 World Series titles
2. Red Ruffing 231 Wins 3.47 ERA 1526 Ks 6 World Series titles
3. Lefty Gomez 189-102 3.34 ERA 1468 Ks 5 World Series titles
4. Mariano Rivera 652 Saves 2.21 ERA 1173 Ks 5 World Series titles
5. Andy Pettitte 203-112 3.98 ERA 1823 Ks 19 post season wins 5 World Series titles
6. Ron Guidry 170 - 91 3.29 ERA 1778 Ks 2 World Series titles

 

[Cowtown]

With Jeter's career at its end I'd like to see where others have him in the Yanks top 10 greatest players ever. The must have played the majority of their career with the Yanks. This order and their best seasons are entirely my opinion. Fun fact: 4 of the 5 American League players to win 3 MVPs are Yankees.

1. Babe Ruth
Arguably the most important player to any particular sport in history. He was a hall of fame quality pitcher and a legendary batter. He not only built Yankee Stadium; he built the entire organization with his play. His best season was 1921 where he crushed 59 homers, 168 RBIs, and a whopping 457 total bases -- the most ever in one season.

2. Lou Gehrig
A career cut short by the disease that would later bear his name. He benched himself and ended his own 2,130 consecutive games streak. To truly see how selfless this man was you must read this quote from a letter he wrote to his doctor on December 10, 1939;

"...what burns me up and modestly so, is the ten or
twelve thousand people who are or believe they are
affected the same way as I am, and who feel that I am
obtaining the best medical attention in the world, and if
the bottom falls out of me, what hope have they."

His best season came in 1927 where he slugged 47 homers, 173 RBIs, and a staggering 447 total bases. He holds the record for second most RBIs in a season with 185 behind the great Hack Wilson who had 191.

3. Mickey Mantle
This is where things get tough; Mantle and DiMaggio are really interchangeable here. The greatest switch hitter of all time and 3 time MVP may have played his entire career with a torn ACL. He badly injured his right knee during the 1951 World Series his rookie year. He also suffered from Osteomyelitis a bone marrow condition which led to the military deeming him unfit for service. His best season came in 1956 with 52 homers, 130 RBIs, and 376 total bases.

4. Joe DiMaggio
The 3 time MVP Joe DiMaggio didn't shy away from the limelight. He famously married and got divorced from icon Marylin Monroe in less than a year -- the last straw being a public fight between the two. Shortly before Monroe's death they rekindled their relationship to a degree; claiming publicly they were just together as friends. DiMaggio lost 3 years of his prime to military service, missing 3 seasons from '43-'45 when he was 28-30. His best season came in 1937 where he blasted 46 homers, 167 RBIs, and 418 total bases.

5. Mariano Rivera
Pitching in a record 24 World Series games; the greatest closer of all-time and subsequent greatest Yankee pitcher had Hank Aaron like consistency. He broke into the majors at the age of 25 as a starter and became the full time closer two years later. He played 19 years until the age of 43 and never ceased his dominance once it began. He potentially could have had Satchel Paige levels of longevity had he not decided it was best for him to call it quits. His best season came in 2005 where he had a .868 WHIP, 1.38 ERA over 78.1 innings pitched. Along with 43 saves and 80 strikeouts.

6. Whitey Ford
As a rookie in 1950 at 21 he pitched 20 games and went 9-1 with a 2.81 ERA. He would lose his next two seasons to military service only to return and pick up where he had left off. He pitched 22 World Series games, 146 innings, as a starter for second all-time and most as a starter. Because of this he not only has the most World Series wins as a pitcher of all time but the most losses as well. His best season came in 1964 where over 244.2 innings he hurled a 2.13 ERA with a 1.099 WHIP and 162 strikeouts.

7. Yogi Berra
He won 10 World Series as a player and 3 as a manager for the most rings of all time. The man played 18 full seasons and received MVP votes 15 of those season winning it 3 times and finishing second twice -- that's insane. His best season came in 1950 where he hit 28 homers, 124 RBIs, and 318 total bases.

8. Derek Jeter
One of the better offensive shortstops in history is the longest tenured Yankee captain ever. The only major award he hasn't won is the MVP having been snubbed in 2006. He has by far the most games played, at-bats, plate appearances, runs scored, hits, total bases, doubles, triples, and singles in postseason history. He's also top 5 in postseason homers, walks, and RBIs. His best season came in 1999 where he belted 24 homers, 102 RBIs, and 346 total bases - all career highs.

9. Thurman Munson
One of the greatest injustices in sports is this man not being in the hall of fame. He died midseason in 1979 at the age of 32. In his 11 year career he won rookie of the year and MVP having consistent numbers every year and winning 3 gold gloves. His best season came in 1977 where he hit 18 homers, 100 RBIs, and 275 total bases.

10. Alex Rodriguez
One of the greatest players of all time tainted due to steroid use, and sadly he didn't need it. Even with a tainted legacy his numbers and talent are too good to ignore. He's a 3 time MVP winner and 9th all time in total bases, but I doubt he'll catch Yastrzemski at 8th. His best season in New York came in 2007 where he jacked 54 homers, 156 RBIs, and 376 total bases.

Because it's all subjective, I have no issues with anything except Alex Rodriguez. He was never a Yankee. I'd easily put Tony Lazzeri, Elston Howard, Ron Guidry, Roy White, Graig Nettles, Jorge Posada, Andy Pettitte, Bernie Williams, Willie Randolph, and Don Mattingly miles ahead of that self-absorbed a-h. Screw Alex Rodriguez.

 

[Hoo's That]

I always loved Elston Howard and was heartbroken when they trade him to the Sawx. One player I always admired was Hector Lopez. He could have been a regular on a lot of other teams, but always stayed with the Yankees as a fill-in. There was never anything that said he eve wanted to be traded.

 

['72 Orange]

I always loved Elston Howard and was heartbroken when they trade him to the Sawx. One player I always admired was Hector Lopez. He could have been a regular on a lot of other teams, but always stayed with the Yankees as a fill-in. There was never anything that said he eve wanted to be traded.

He had a great 1961 World Series against the Reds with 7 RBIs in 9 at bats hitting a triple and HR. That was the series that Mickey Mantle only had 6 plate appearances after having a absesse in his leg towards the end of the season which knocked him out of the HR chase of Babe Ruth's record with Maris.