All-Time Yankees Team | Mario Soto's Blog

I am a Yankee fan. I openly admit it - though I do live in the heart of Red Sox territory (I just hate the term Red Sox nation and won't use it again). And each year, as spring training becomes a part of my life,

I prepare for a new season by looking forward to the young players and thinking about the great Yankee teams and players of the past. I do this by looking at my all-time Yankee team. And, through analysis and reading, I evaluate whether to make any changes to that team.

When I first started this, back in the late 1960s, my starting team consisted of: Dickey, Gehrig, Lazzeri, Rolfe, Rizzuto, Ruth, DiMaggio, Mantle, Ford, Raschi, and no closer. As the years passed, I became more and more convinced of Berra's greatness, his hitting prowess and his defense, which is better than many credit him for. And, thus, after maybe 25 years, Yogi supplanted Dickey.

Others have entered my team during the years, but certain players are mainstays - and probably will be there forever - or at least my lifetime. Maybe I'll pass this yearly tradition down to my son (also an ardent Yankee fan), in which he may have more players from the modern era. But, for better or worse, here is my 25 man team. One rule (there are always rules): a player must have played a minimum of five contiguous years with Yankees. The way I think about a player, past or present, is to make sure there is some longevity with his team. And, then, I like to think of the player's best three years with the team. I contend that when we think back on the players we have witnessed or read about, we think of their best years. A prime example is that of Don Mattingly (one of my personal favorites). His overall career was excellent, though not quite hall-worthy. But, if you look at his three best seasons, 1984 - 1986 (averages at .340/30/122 as compared to career .307/15/78), then he stacks up with most anyone in history, especially during his era. And for me, that is how I remember him.

As with all lists, I have some honorable mentions. First, is Bob Meusel, who was on my original team in the 1960s, but was replaced recently by Bernie Williams. Second is Reggie Jackson. Unfortunately, Reggie only played five years with the Yanks as compared with Bernie's long career. I also watched both players in their prime. Reggie was definitely star power and if I needed a big hit in a clutch situation, I would probably choose him over Bernie. But, for the long haul of a season, I believe that Bernie would be more helpful to my team, especially a team laden with power from Ruth, Gehrig and Mantle. Bernie's splits: [1997-1999 (.336/24/104)]; Reggie's splits: [1977, 1979, 1980] (.293/33/103).

One more note on these Williams and Jackson. Reggie would most definitely be on my all-World Series team for the Yankees or for all baseball. Game 6 of the 1977 World Series would clinch it for me - as I was there (thank you grandpa) with field box seats, half way between first base and right field. Yes, I know that everyone my age who is a Yankees fan insists they were there, but I have the ticket stubs to prove it. Anyway, that is a story for another day. In the end, Reggie's five years with the Yanks were pretty good, but not exceptional, and I don't believe stand up to Bernie's career in pinstripes.