NY Daily News all-time Yankees team

Today's Daily News had a fascinating 64-page special section on the Yankees'
all-time team for the franchise's centennial. A nine-member panel selected the
team, while the public also had its say -- sometimes they differed. Players
were chosen by position, including all three outfield spots.

The results, with public choices with percentage and runner-up in parentheses,
followed by the News panel's second team:

1B: Lou Gehrig (Gehrig 75%, Don Mattingly 17%, Tino Martinez 5%, Chris
Chambliss 2%, Moose Skowron 1%) Mattingly
2B: Tony Lazzeri (Alfonso Soriano 28%, Willie Randolph 27%, Lazzeri 18%, Bobby
Richardson 17%, Billy Martin 7%) Joe Gordon
SS: Phil Rizzuto (Derek Jeter 59%, Rizzuto 32%, Bucky Dent 4%, Tony Kubek 3%,
Frank Crosetti 2%) Jeter
3B: Graig Nettles (Nettles 67%, Clete Boyer 17%, Gil McDougald 8%, Red Rolfe
5%, Mike Pagliarulo 3%) Rolfe
RF: Babe Ruth (Ruth 74%, Paul O'Neill 11%, Reggie Jackson 7%, Roger Maris 6%,
Hank Bauer 1%) Jackson
CF: Joe DiMaggio (DiMaggio 46%, Mickey Mantle 45%, Bernie Williams 5%, Mickey
Rivers 2%, Bobby Murcer 1%) Mantle
LF: Dave Winfield (Winfield 47%, Lou Piniella 23%, Charlie Keller 11%, Bob
Meusel 10%, Roy White 9%) Meusel
C: Yogi Berra (Berra 67%, Thurman Munson 23%, Bill Dickey 5%, Jorge Posada 3%,
Elston Howard 2%) Dickey
RHP: Red Ruffing (Roger Clemens 36%, Catfish Hunter 20%, Allie Reynolds 14%,
Mel Stottlemyre 13%, Ruffing 8%) Reynolds
LHP: Whitey Ford (Ford 69%, Ron Guidry 23%, Andy Pettitte 4%, Lefty Gomez 3%,
Eddie Lopat 1%) Gomez
RP: Mariano Rivera (Rivera 63%, Rich Gossage 20%, Sparky Lyle 7%, Dave Righetti
6%, Joe Page 3%) Gossage
MGR: Casey Stengel (Joe Torre 40%, Stengel 32%, Billy Martin 12%, Joe McCarthy
11%, Miller Huggins 3%) McCarthy

Some interesting choices, although I find it hard to believe that nary a
mention was made of Tommy Henrich, who played more than a decade with the
Yankees and was one of their best clutch performers (hence the nickname "Old
Reliable").

Comprising the panel were News cartoonist Bill Gallo, editor-in-chief Edward
Kosner (who apparently has followed the Yankees since 1946), columnist Vic
Ziegel, former Yankees publicist and author Marty Appel, Elias Sports Bureau
president Seymour Siwoff, longtime News baseball writer Bill Madden, former
Yankee beat writer Phil Pepe and YES broadcasters Ken Singleton and Suzyn
Waldman.

There were some other categories as well, including top Yankee rookie seasons.
Those selected were:
1. Joe DiMaggio, 1936 (.323 BA, 29 HR, 125 RBI -- and remember, he missed the
first few weeks of the season)
2. Derek Jeter, 1996 (.314, 10, 7
3. Tom Tresh, 1962 (.286, 20, 93)
4. Tony Lazzeri, 1926 (.275, 18, 114)
5. Russ Ford, 1910 (26-6, 1.65 ERA for Mr. Emery Ball)
6. Thurman Munson, 1970 (.302, 6, 53)
7. Kevin Maas, 1990 (.252, 21, 41)
8. Mel Stottlemyre, 1964 (9-3, 2.06)
9. Gil McDougald, 1951 (.306, 14, 63)
10. Stan Bahnsen, 1968 (17-12, 2.05)

The nine greatest Yankees broadcasters were also named by Bob Raissman:
1. Mel Allen
2. Red Barber
3. Tony Kubek
4. Phil Rizzuto
5. Jim Kaat
6. Bill White
7. Frank Messer
8. Hank Greenwald
9. Jim Woods

V


"There is no such thing as accident. It is Fate--misnamed."
--title card, Erich Von Stroheim's "The Wedding March," 1928

vpaterno DeleteThis @aol.com wrote:

: SS: Phil Rizzuto (Derek Jeter 59%, Rizzuto 32%, Bucky Dent 4%, Tony Kubek 3%,
: Frank Crosetti 2%) Jeter

On this selection, the fans did a much better job than the writers. Derek Jeter
is the greatest shortstop in Yankees history, and I don't think it's
particularly close.


Tom Nawrocki