The Greatest Yankees Of All-Time?
Derek Jeter has reached the 3,000-hit mark, and he has done so with a flourish.
Here’s a chance to revisit a By the Numbers column I wrote last month in which I proclaimed Jeter the seventh-best shortstop in major-league history. But where does he rank all-time among Yankees?
Not only have the Yankees had more than their share of great players, they’ve had more than their share of great players who spent their entire careers with the franchise. Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, Mariano Rivera, Whitey Ford, and Jeter all played with one club. Remarkable.
So, off the top of my head, here’s my list of greatest Yankees:
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Babe Ruth — Had some great years with the Red Sox, but still stands as the greatest Yankee.
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Mickey Mantle
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Lou Gehrig
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Yogi Berra
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Mariano Rivera
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Joe DiMaggio — Should probably rank ahead of Rivera. But he played only 13 seasons (and missed three during World War II), while Rivera is in his 17th season. Plus, I have DiMaggio as the fourth-best center fielder in history, while Rivera clearly is the greatest closer. Then again, a great center fielder is more valuable than a great closer.
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Derek Jeter
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Whitey Ford
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Bill Dickey
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Bernie Williams
