Recently I saw this............ 1B - Lou Gehrig 2B - Willie Randolph SS - Derek Jeter 3B - Alex Rodriquez LF - Dave Winfield CF - Mickey Mantle RF - Babe Ruth C - Yogi Berra Starting pitcher - Whitey Ford, Closer - Mariano Rivera. __________________________________________________________ These would be my choices........... 1B - Lou Gehrig 2B - Robinson Cano SS - Derek Jeter 3B - Alex Rodriquez LF - Mickey Mantle CF - Joe DiMaggio RF - Babe Ruth C - Yogi Berra Starting pitchers, Whitey Ford (LHP), Lefty Gomez (LHP), Ron Guidry (LHP), Red Ruffing (RHP), Bob Shawkey (RHP). Closer - Mariano Rivera, set up Goose Gossage.
At this point, I can't really disagree or debate the merits of: Cano vs Lazzeri A-Roid vs Red Rolfe, Even, Bill Dickey vs Yogi,..... I've had my Dad's High School, (pre-WWII made)- 'Wilson 3 finger fielder's glove'; and His 'Rawlings Bill Dickey Catcher's mitt', since I was a kid. Tried using the Mitt during a LL game, like using a leather pancake to catch with. As for the 3 finger glove, amazing how little padding, if any those old gloves had, even more amazing how MLB Player's had nothing other to use in those days; and still were amazing.....
It killed me putting A-Roid at 3rd but the only other choice was Nettles. Same with 2B I had to take Cano over Lazzari.
...they say that while he could always hit, Yogi was terrible defensively when he first came up...Dickey worked with him and made the difference.
I'd take Brosius over ARod....he had heart. Not sure how I feel about Cano....Willie, Jerry Coleman is a sentimental choice too. Can we get an all-fuck up team? Happy to put ARod there with Knoblauch, Kevin Brown and Pavano.
I can't help but think Dickey helped Yogi learn how to use this A220 1950 Model Mitt, that was first made for Dickey in 35, the same glove Yogi began His career with. That old model Mitt was worse than trying to catch a ball with a thick Pancake....It would stop or knock down anything, (good for knuckle ball catching also), but only real pro's could catch in that tiny web, since there barely was a web, a 2.5" piece of leather, with leather strings. Notice the differences b/t the 1st, A220 glove, (both used by Dickey and Berra), while technology advanced slowly, then Spalding built Berra His own Spalding Model 1461 in 1954, and Yogi then had excellent and vastly improved Defensive stats; like night and day).... Spalding A220 Model worn by both Dickey, then Berra, in Yogi's very earliest years: continued on next post, unable to upload more than one pic, on this post.
Compare to Yogi new designed 1954 Spalding 1461: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Spa...f6748ff&pid=100033&rk=1&rkt=4&sd=181921064469 By 1959 Yogi Berra was the best catcher in the American League. His adroit handling of an ever changing Yankees pitching staff led to a staggering 10 AL pennants and 8 World Championships. During the decade Berra won an unheard of three MVP Awards including back-to-back awards in 1954 and 1955. This extraordinary Spalding 1461/32.5 catcher's mitt dates to the mid-1950's era and was game used by Berra during his reign as the best backstop in the league. When the glove was presented to the catcher he confirmed it as being used by him circa "late 1950's early 1960's".
Designated Hitter(s): and or bench pinch hitters, utility field players, limit to 2. Combine Two, one is always on, for average, OBP%, Runs, or RBI big hits. Pitcher's more than a starting 5 should be named, as those 5 will change with time forever.... DH Earle Combs Bill Dickey Pitchers: Jack Chesbro: give me 1 year, sure a dead ball 1904 year, but he won 41 games, still......just sayin' Lefty Gomez: no explanation needed, a lifer. Whitey Ford: same as Gomez. Red Ruffing: a 10-25, then 9-22 Bosox SP in 28-29 comes to the Yanx, and would win 20 games 4 years in a row, 36-39. Waite Hoyt: His 1927-28 Years only Allie Reynolds- once a Yank, always the Consummate Warrior, Battler from many Allie led Pinstripe Massacres. Vic Raschi= no explanation needed, his Yankee Numbers speak for his self. Eddie Lopat= double digits in Complete Games 9 years in a row. 144 GG's in those 9 years. Guidry: of 77-79, the Luzianna Lightning struck for the 78 season like no other, .839 Win Pctg., 25-3, 1.73 ERA, filthy as his slider to hell.. that's still 2 players short of a 24 man roster, let's keep it at 23
Neither A-Roid nor Cano have 'the heart' to be all-time anything! For me, stats are not the end all to be the best at any position. Whatever happened to that "intangible" that makes a fan say, "He is the best"?
I'd take Brosius also over A-Roid. Hell with his (#13's) accolades. Nettles an easy pick, who didn't love Nettle's, ie, our Brooks Robinson with glove and bat.... Hensley 'Bam Bam' Meulens I thought Rick was holding out to name as the all time 3rd baseman; as his ace up his lined-up sleeve. Don't forget Charlie Hayes wasn't bad, but they had to get rid of Charlie to land Brosius "the intangibles monster clutch hitter"....and not for just one at bat, ie Aaron Boone...~ Boggs I would of loved seen begin and end his career in the Bronx.
