50 Greatest Yankees

[RickD]

ESPN New York decided to come up with a list of the 50 greatest Yankees.

The full list of ESPN New York's panel of voters for the 50 Greatest Yankees:

ESPNNewYork.com: Andrew Marchand, Matt Marrone, Wallace Matthews, Ian O'Connor

ESPN.com: Tim Kurkjian, David Schoenfield

1050 ESPN Radio: Michael Kay, Don La Greca, Robin Lundberg, Jody McDonald, Ryan Ruocco, Brandon Tierney

50. Mike Mussina
49. Bob Muesel
48. Sparky Lyle
47. Gil McDougald
46. Catfish Hunter
45. David Cone
44. Roy White
43. Hank Bauer
42. Jack Chesbro
41. Eddie Lopat
40. Rickey Henderson
39. Vic Raschi
38. Joe Gordon
37. Tommy Henrich
36. Charlie Keller
35. Bobby Murcer
34. Spud Chandler
33. Willie Randolph
32. Waite Hoyt
31. Mel Stottlemyre
30. Paul O'Neill
29. Graig Nettles
28. Dave Winfield
27. Herb Pennock
26. Allie Reynolds
25. Goose Gossage
24. Elston Howard
23. Earle Combs
22. Roger Maris
21. Jorge Posada
20. Phil Rizutto
19. Bernie Williams
18. Tony Lazerri
17. Ron Guidry
16. Andy Pettitte
15. Reggie Jackson
14. Lefty Gomez
13. Alex Rodriguez
12. Thurman Munson
11. Don Mattingly
10. Bill Dickey
9. Red Ruffing
8. Whitey Ford
7. Derek Jeter
6. Yogi Berra
5. Mariano Rivera
4. Mickey Mantle
3. Joe DiMaggio
2. Lou Gehrig
1. Babe Ruth

So there you go...I don't agree with this list myself....

thoughts?

[yankeebiscuitfan]

I don't know what to think. Sure it will be an average of the panel's opinion, but still.

Was Mattingly really greater than Roger Maris or Elston Howard? I think that sentiment plays a big role here. I guess that many of them have seen Mattingly play, while they may have never seen Elston Howard or Jack Chesbro play. I think that regarding the number of victories Chesbro had in 1904, he should be higher on this list. But he will be mainly remembered because of this wild pitch that cost the Highlanders the 1904 AL pennant.

[RickD]

To me greatest should be a combination of:

1. Yankee Tenure
2. How they contributed during the period they were with the Yankees
3. Stats

Sure Babe was great but Yogi was a part of 10 WS Champions....that to me is great!

[KILLADELFIA]

A-Rod is ranked WAY too high.

There are so many names behind him that don't belong there.

[Stars_Rangers_82]

IMO Jeter has to be in the top 5

[yankeebiscuitfan]

A-Rod is ranked WAY too high.

There are so many names behind him that don't belong there.

Agreed. IMO a player like Paul O'Neill should be in front of A-Rod. Even though he wasn't the most talented player, he always played his heart out, even when he was injured. That is something I don't see A-Rod do.

[RickD]

I don't have a problem with the names on the list but definitely the order.

[soberdennis]

It is an interesting list. I agree with most, if not all, of the names. I, too, am not sure of the order though.

[CoreyR]

A-Rod needs to be ranked behind Paul O'Neill, that is absurd.

[Old Sweater]

Really don't know how to rate the closer position but IMO they have Mariano Rivera way to high on that list.

Here is some WAR ratings of the Yankees.


http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYY/leaders_bat_50.shtml

WAR Position Players
Rank Player WAR Position Players PA
1. Babe Ruth 149.6 9198
2. Mickey Mantle 120.2 9909
3. Lou Gehrig 118.4 9660
4. Joe DiMaggio 83.6 7671
5. Derek Jeter 70.3 10548
6. Yogi Berra 62.1 8355
7. Bill Dickey 54.4 7060
8. Willie Randolph 49.8 7465
9. Bernie Williams 47.3 9053
10. Tony Lazzeri 46.6 7058
11. Jorge Posada 46.1 6763
12. Earle Combs 44.7 6507
13. Roy White 44.5 7735
14. Thurman Munson 43.4 5903
15. Charlie Keller 42.4 4466
16. Phil Rizzuto 41.8 6711
17. Alex Rodriguez 41.2 4519
18. Graig Nettles 40.6 6247
19. Gil McDougald 40.0 5395
20. Don Mattingly 39.8 7721
21. Tommy Henrich 37.6 5409
22. Joe Gordon 36.3 4216
23. Rickey Henderson 30.1 2735
24. Roger Peckinpaugh 29.4 5269
25. Elston Howard 28.7 5485
26. Wally Pipp 27.9 6341
Roger Maris 27.9 3475
28. Hank Bauer 27.2 5373
29. Bobby Murcer 27.1 4997
30. Snuffy Stirnweiss 26.0 3800
31. Red Rolfe 25.8 5405
32. Ben Chapman 25.6 4014
Dave Winfield 25.6 5021
34. Paul O'Neill 24.8 5368
35. Bob Meusel 24.4 5544
36. Bill Skowron 24.2 4102
Robinson Cano 24.2 3732
38. George Selkirk 22.6 3322
39. Frankie Crosetti 22.4 7273
40. Tom Tresh 22.3 4518
41. Jason Giambi 21.8 3693
42. Jimmy Williams 20.5 3934
43. Clete Boyer 19.4 4035
44. Home Run Baker 18.7 2820
45. Gene Woodling 17.7 2677
46. Kid Elberfeld 17.6 2743
47. Wade Boggs 17.1 2600
48. Reggie Jackson 16.9 2707
49. Tony Kubek 16.5 4494
50. Johnny Damon 15.7 2525

------------------------------------------------

http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYY/leaders_pitch.shtml

WAR for Pitchers
Rank Player WAR for Pitchers IP
1. Whitey Ford 55.3 3170.3
2. Mariano Rivera 52.8 1150.0
3. Red Ruffing 49.7 3168.7
4. Ron Guidry 44.4 2392.0
5. Lefty Gomez 43.2 2498.3
6. Andy Pettitte 42.4 2535.7
7. Mel Stottlemyre 37.9 2661.3
8. Bob Shawkey 37.6 2488.7
9. Waite Hoyt 31.0 2272.3
10. Mike Mussina 30.3 1553.0

Once again, it's hard to rate the overrated closer position. Most of the time it is just 3 outs work and any MLB pitcher will convert a save around 88% of the time with a 2 run lead in the 9th.

[G-men]

I know he's fallen out a bit and didn't play his whole career there, but no Roger Clemens? And Posada is wayyy to high IMO

[Old Sweater]

Here is a top 50 WAR with the top 10 WAR pitchers of the Yankees. Could be some other Yankees pitchers with a high enough WAR to bump a position player outta the top 50.


WAR Position Players
Rank Player WAR Position Players PA
1. Babe Ruth 149.6 9198
2. Mickey Mantle 120.2 9909
3. Lou Gehrig 118.4 9660
4. Joe DiMaggio 83.6 7671
5. Derek Jeter 70.3 10548
6. Yogi Berra 62.1 8355
7 Whitey Ford 55.3
8 Bill Dickey 54.4 7060
9 Mariano Rivera 52.8
10 Willie Randolph 49.8 7465
11 Red Ruffing 49.7
12 Bernie Williams 47.3 9053
13 Tony Lazzeri 46.6 7058
14 Jorge Posada 46.1 6763
15. Earle Combs 44.7 6507
16 Roy White 44.5 7735
17 Ron Guidry 44.4
18 Thurman Munson 43.4 5903
19 Lefty Gomez 43.2
20 Andy Pettitte 42.4
21 Charlie Keller 42.4 4466
22 Phil Rizzuto 41.8 6711
23 Alex Rodriguez 41.2 4519
24 Graig Nettles 40.6 6247
25 Gil McDougald 40.0 5395
26 Don Mattingly 39.8 7721
27 Mel Stottlemyre 37.9
28 Bob Shawkey 37.6
29 Tommy Henrich 37.6 5409
30 Joe Gordon 36.3 4216
31 Rickey Henderson 30.1 2735
32 Waite Hoyt 31.0
33 Mike Mussina 30.3
34 Roger Peckinpaugh 29.4 5269
35 Elston Howard 28.7 5485
36 Wally Pipp 27.9 6341
37 Roger Maris 27.9 3475
38 Hank Bauer 27.2 5373
39 Bobby Murcer 27.1 4997
40 Snuffy Stirnweiss 26.0 3800
41 Red Rolfe 25.8 5405
42 Ben Chapman 25.6 4014
43 Dave Winfield 25.6 5021
44 Paul O'Neill 24.8 5368
45 Bob Meusel 24.4 5544
46 Bill Skowron 24.2 4102
47 Robinson Cano 24.2 3732
48 George Selkirk 22.6 3322
49 Frankie Crosetti 22.4 7273
50 Tom Tresh 22.3 4518

[Old Sweater]

A player like Reggie Jackson to be behind an A-Rod I don't think is really correct and Jeter should be like #5. It is hard not to have the top 4 the way they are.


In War Jeter is #5 but Reggie isn't in the top 50 where as A rod is #23