So we nanaged to choose a Greatest Devil Ray. At the other end of baseball's historical spectrum ... Greatest Yankee?
| Yogi Berra |  2 (1.50%) |
| Bill Dickey | 0 (0.00%) |
| Joe DiMaggio | 8 (6.02%) |
| Whitey Ford | 0 (0.00%) |
| Lou Gehrig | 10 (7.52%) |
| Derek Jeter | 1 (0.75%) |
| Mickey Mantle | 9 (6.77%) |
| Mariano Rivera | 2 (1.50%) |
| Babe Ruth | 101 (75.94%) |
| Other (who?) | 0 (0.00%) |
Now, that said -- if any poll is ever going to be won unanimously, it's THIS one!
I have the opposite view.
I can understand a vote for Gehrig (since it depends on your definition of 'great'), but Mantle over Ruth? Not even close.
And now somebody has voted for Rivera. I would say it was meant as a joke but I think a jokester would vote for Jeter.
Ruth's pitching was minimal as a Yankee - 5 games, 4 starts, he won them all although I don't know how given he threw just 4 innings in one of those starts - thus it isn't the big strength it is for his career. He hit 55 of his home runs elsewhere, pushing his total under 700 (OK, not much of a knock there). Lifetime OPS+ was 207 which was hurt by his years elsewhere (don't have the Yankee years only).
Lou (Biscuit Pants) Gehrig was a lifetime Yankee (literally) who from very early in his career played every last game until his body gave out on him. He was barely short of 500 HR & 2000 RBI at that point (7 HR, 5 RBI) and had a lifetime OPS+ of 179. He won 2 MVP's to Ruth's 1 (rules of the time prevented you from winning a second MVP until 1931).
Gehrig was viewed as a team leader and statesman during his career, Ruth as a disruptive drunk.
If you put a high value on intangibles and on being there everyday (Ruth would miss lots of time due to suspensions and injuries) as well as on being a lifetime member of the team then I can see taking Gehrig. FYI: Mick's lifetime OPS+ is 172, Berra 125, Jeter 123
This is an interesting poll. The "Greatest Yankee"? So many varying criteria. If you choose longevity it's Gehrig... if you choose power it's Ruth... if you choose consistancy it's DiMaggio (no votes for the Yankee Clipper ?)... if you choose hype it's Jeter...if you choose the best flat out player as shown to be as in his prime it has to be Mantle. Mantle had speed, power, and ability; great offense and defense and his desire to play day in day out with pain was unparalleled and Mantle at his zenith was the 5 tool prototype ...therefore my vote for the "Greatest Yankee" goes to the Mick ...even though my vote for the greatest ballplayer (steroids excluded) would be for Ruth...
CA: Berra/Dickey (2 HOF'ers)
1B: Gehrig
2B: Tony Lazzeri (HOF 121 OPS+), Willie Randolph (6 time AS)
3B: Graig Nettles (6 time AS)
SS: Jeter
OF: DiMaggio/Mantle/Ruth
DH: Reggie Jackson
Just 3B isn't a HOFer (was there one who I forgot?) and you could slot one into there via Wade Boggs who hit 313/396/407 as a Yankee over 2600 PA's.
Of course the bench could hold guys who spent a good chunk of their careers in NY and are/will be HOFers - Wade Boggs, Rickey Henderson, A-Rod, Dave Winfield, etc.. Plus there are tons of others who are dang good in Mattingly, Bernie Williams, Roger Maris, Jorge Posada, Elston Howard, etc.
Pitching has strengths but I'm not certain I'd put it in the same category as the hitting.
SP: Whitey Ford/Red Ruffing/Lefty Gomez/Ron Guidry all had 170+ wins and 3 are in the HOF
RP: Rivera/Goose Gossage/Sparky Lyle/Dave Righetti provide a good mix of 2 right/2 left and 200+ saves each (140+ in pinstripes).
3 HOF'ers and 2 future HOF'ers in the staff and it is the weak link of this all-time team? Wow.
I voted for Joltin' Joe. I thought Yankees, I thought him. The streak, the Italian American name, the disastrous marriage to the biggest movie star ever, the Simon and Garfunkel lyric, the aura. Although, Mickey Mantle and Lou Gehrig give him a run.
As for the Babe, he belongs to baseball. He is beyond one team, even the Yankees.
Joanna ..."As for the Babe, he belongs to baseball. He is beyond one team, even the Yankees."... Nicely phrased! I agree.