All-Time Yankees

A lot of ink has been wasted in New York newspapers on whether or not high profile players achieved the nebulous status of "True Yankee" - whatever that means. I decided to look at the historical stats freely available online through MLB.com to outline an objective outline of the all-time Yankees team.

Basically I used the most games played as the measure and threw players into positions accordingly. MLB has a standard 25 player roster and I used the current mode of rostering in filling out this lineup; 2 Catchers, 1 each infield position, 1 back-up middle infielder, 1 back-up corner infielder, 5 outfielders, 5 starting pitchers, 5 middle relievers, 1 set-up man & 1 closer. There is a little fudge room inherent thereby, as not every outfielder is equally capable at each position and not every first baseman would serve as a capable third baseman, etc. Nevertheless, filling out the batters is easy enough; based on most games played I plugged in positions until there were none remaining:

1. Mickey Mantle (2401 games played as a Yankee) = Outfielder 1
2. Lou Gehrig (2164) = 1st Baseman
3. Yogi Berra (2116) = Catcher 1
4. Babe Ruth (2084) = Outfielder 2
5. Bernie Williams (2076) = Outfielder 3
6. Roy White (1881) = Outfielder 4
7. Derek Jeter (1835*) = Shortstop
8. Bill Dickey (1789) = Catcher 2
9. Don Mattingly (1785) = Corner Infielder
10. Joe DiMaggio (1736) = Outfielder 5
11. Willie Randolph (1694) = 2nd Baseman
12. Frank Crosetti (1683) = Middle Infielder
13. Phil Rizzuto (1661)
14. Tony Lazzeri (1659)
15. Graig Nettles (1535) = 3rd Baseman
16. Elston Howard (1492)
17. Wally Pipp (1488)
18. Earle Combs (1455)
19. Jorge Posada (1432*)
20. Thurman Munson (1423)

Likewise, the qualification for starting pitchers is straight forward and simply based on the most games started:

1. Whitey Ford (438 games as Yankees starting pitcher) = Starting Pitcher 1
2. Red Ruffing (391) = Starting Pitcher 2
3. Mel Stottlemyre (356) = Starting Pitcher 3
4. Ron Guidry (323) = Starting Pitcher 4
5. Lefty Gomez (319) = Starting Pitcher 5
6. Andy Pettitte (310*)
7. Waite Hoyt (276)
8. Bob Shawkey (274)
9. Herb Pennock (268)
10. Fritz Peterson (265)
11. Jack Chesbro (227)
12. Mike Mussina (214*)
13. Allie Reynolds (209)
14. Vic Raschi (207)
15. Tommy John (203)

Closer is of course based on the most saves, but I decided to use the second most saves as the set-up man:

1. Mariano Rivera (443* saves for the Yankees) = Closer
2. Dave Righetti (224) =Set-up Man
3. Goose Gossage (151)
4. Sparky Lyle (141)
5. Johnny Murphy (104)

For middle relievers I opted for a realistic stat rather than taking the next best available starters based on games started. Rather, I selected middle relievers make the pitchers with the most games played:

1. Mariano Rivera (787* games as a Yankee) already selected
2. Dave Righetti (522) already selected
3. Whitey Ford (498) already selected
4. Mike Stanton (456*) = Middle reliever 1
5. Red Ruffing (426) already selected
6. Sparky Lyle (420) = Middle reliever 2
7. Bob Shawkey (415) = Middle reliever 3
8. Johnny Murphy (383) = Middle reliever 4
9. Ron Guidry (368) already selected
10. Lefty Gomez (367) already selected
11. Waite Hoyt (365) = Middle reliever 5
12. Mel Stottlemyre (360) already selected
13. Herb Pennock (346)
14. Jeff Nelson (331)
15. Goose Gossage (319)
16. Andy Pettitte (319*)
17. Steve Hamilton (311)
18. Allie Reynolds (295)
19. Fritz Peterson (288)
20. Ramiro Mendoza (278)

This framework results in an objective measure of the "Truest" Yankees of all-time, based on the objective measures of time served rather than the subjective determination of performance evaluation.

Starting lineup:
Catcher = Yogi Berra
1st Baseman = Lou Gehrig
2nd Baseman = Willie Randolph
3rd Baseman = Graig Nettles
Shortstop = Derek Jeter
Outfielder = Mickey Mantle
Outfielder = Babe Ruth
Outfielder = Bernie Williams

Bench:
Catcher = Bill Dickey
Corner Infielder = Don Mattingly
Middle Infielder = Frank Crosetti
Outfielder = Roy White
Outfielder = Joe DiMaggio

Rotation:
Starting Pitcher 1 = Whitey Ford
Starting Pitcher 2 = Red Ruffing
Starting Pitcher 3 = Mel Stottlemyre
Starting Pitcher 4 = Ron Guidry
Starting Pitcher 5 = Lefty Gomez

Bullpen:
Middle reliever = Mike Stanton
Middle reliever = Sparky Lyle
Middle reliever = Bob Shawkey
Middle reliever = Johnny Murphy
Middle reliever = Waite Hoyt
Set-Up Man = Dave Righetti
Closer = Mariano Rivera


Of course there are some notable exclusions:
1B Hal Chase - 1 of 11 Team Captains in Yankees history
SP Jack Chesbro - Inducted into Hall of Fame (HOF) as a Yankee
CF Earle Combs - HOF
RP Goose Gossage
C Elston Howard - Plaque in Monument Park, #32 retired
SP Catfish Hunter
RF Reggie Jackson - HOF, Monument Park, #44 retired
2B Tony Lazzeri - HOF
RF Roger Maris - Monument Park, #9 retired
2B Billy Martin - #1 retired
C Thurman Munson - Monument Park, #15 retired, Captain
RF Paul O'Neill
SS Roger Peckinpaugh - Captain
SP Herb Pennock - HOF
SP Andy Pettitte
C Jorge Posada
RP Allie Reynolds - Monument Park
SS Phil Rizzuto - HOF, #10 retired
SS Everett Scott - Captain