New York Yankees 85th Anniversary Team

On September 21, 2008 Yankees fans witnessed the final Major League Baseball game that will ever be played in the Cathedral known as Yankee Stadium. Despite hosting numerous other tenants over the course of its 85 year history (New York Giants, New York Cosmos, Army/Fordham/NYU College Football), the Stadium was built for and is most famous for its namesake franchise: the New York Yankees.

Much will be written about this period in time due to the changing of venues, but let us not forget that this year also marks the 85th anniversary of the Yankees' first World Series victory which would be the first of a record 26 titles over the 85 year span. So in honor not only of 85 years in the House That Ruth Built, but 85 years of World Championships, I present my personal picks for an 85th Anniversary Team.

First Team

C	Yogi Berra
	Aside from his 3 MVPs, 10 WS titles, and 15 All-Star game selections, Yogi earns this spot for being the face of the franchise for almost 60 years. Even with his own personal issues with The Boss, no other player has had such an association with one team for so long. Ruth will always be king, Gehrig and Munson will always be the fallen heroes, but Yogi embodies the soul of the greatest team in North American sports history.
1B	Lou Gehrig
	He will forever be known for his streak, his speech, and sadly his death, but what I think eludes many members of my generation is how great of a player he truly was. 493 HR, .340 BA, 2x MVP (finished 2nd twice) all while sharing the Babe's spotlight for most of his career. Following his death, the distinction of Captain would not be issued for 35 years to honor his memory.
2B	Willie Randolph
	Upon researching this article, I couldn't help but notice that this was a somewhat weak position for the Bombers over the years. However for 13 years the Yankees did have a great one in Willie Randolph. A five-time All-Star while wearing pinstripes, Randolph started 1688 games at second base for the Yankees. He later joined the team's coaching staff and during his 11 years as a base and bench coach helped oversee the most recent Yankee dynasty.
3B	Alex Rodriguez
	Perhaps one of the more controversial picks on this list, it should be noted that at the end of next season A-Rod could be third amongst Yankees for games started at 3rd base. Despite putting up a majority of his gaudy personal statistics in Seattle and Texas, Rodriguez has the potential to shatter every major hitting record in baseball. Thanks to his massive contract, it looks like he will finish his historic career in pinstripes. He has already won two MVPs while in New York (the first since Mattingly in '85) and could easily win a couple more. Currently he has hit 553 HR, and he's only 32 years old.
SS	Derek Jeter
	One of only 4 players to play on all of the most recent dynasty's championship teams and still wear pinstripes. On a team that is often criticized for its lack of a farm system, Jeter is one of the glaring exceptions. Drafted by the Yankees in 1992, he played 15 games in '95 but '96 was his true rookie season. He won the ROY, and in 2006 was narrowly beat out for the MVP. A 4-time world champion and 8-time All-Star, he has risen to not only be the Yankee's captain and leader but has positioned himself as one of the faces of MLB.
OF	Joe DiMaggio
	When Paul Simon and Ernest Hemmingway allude to you in their art, chances are you have transcended your sport and you are a national treasure. When he wasn't busy marrying possibly the most famous actress of all time, and despite missing 3 years because of WWII, Joltin' Joe compiled a 56-game hit streak, won 3 MVPs, and 9 world titles. The epitome of grace on the field, it was once said that the only way to get a hit against the Yankees was to "hit 'em where Joe wasn't".
OF	Mickey Mantle
	For anyone who had any doubts about his inclusion on this list, I believe that Mickey's wikipedia page says it best:"He played his entire 18-year major-league professional career for the New York Yankees, winning 3 American League MVP titles and playing for 16 All-Star teams. Mantle played on 12 pennant winners and 7 World Championship clubs. He still holds the records for most World Series home runs (18), RBIs (40), runs (42), walks (43), extra-base hits (26), and total bases (123)."
OF	Bernie Williams
	His statistical accomplishments speak for themselves, but Bernie's reception at the final game speaks volumes for what he meant to the team during the 90s and into the new millennium. Another home-grown player, Bernie played in 2076 regular season games and 121 playoff games, all of them for the Yankees. He currently hold the record for most postseason games (121), doubles (29), RBI (80) and extra base hits (51). He also is in the top 6 in Yankee all-time categories, such as hits, HR, and RBI. 4 world titles and 5 All-Star selections round out his phenomenal list of accomplishments.
DH	Babe Ruth
	I realize that the Babe played pitcher and outfield (with a little 1B), but I have extrapolated this anniversary team to play in the modern era. With that concession, I think everyone knows what position the Bambino would be filling in a modern roster: DH. Since that's clarified, I think the fact that Ruth is the greatest player of all-time is reason enough for inclusion on this list.
SP	Whitey Ford
	The best Yankee pitcher of all-time. He recorded 236 wins for New York, a team record that still stands. The Chairman of the Board won six World Series (he was the MVP of the 1961 WS), was selected to 8 All-Star teams, and won the Cy Young Award in 1961 (25-4 record).
SP	Ron Guidry
	Louisiana Lightning not only pitched for the World Championship teams in '77 and '78, but won the Cy Young Award in 1978 (he finished second in the MVP ballot). He won 170 games with a 3.29 ERA, playing his entire career in the Bronx.
SP	Lefty Gomez
	Lefty was a 7-time All-Star, won the World Series 5 times, and played for the Yankees for 13 seasons. He pitched in seven World Series games, with a 2.86 ERA, 31K, and 6 Wins. He won the pitching Triple Crown in '34 and '37. The Yankee sluggers may have gotten most of the attention during the 30s and 40s, but together with Red Ruffing, Lefty Gomez supplied the high-caliber pitching needed to win championships.
SP	Red Ruffing
	Charles Ruffing played 14.5 seasons with the Yankees, and recorded 216 wins while wearing pinstripes. He was a six-time All-Star, six-time World Champion, and led the league in strikeouts in 1932. He won 20+ games 4 times during his career and recorded a 2.63 ERA in World Series play.
RP	Mariano Rivera
	481 career saves. 2.29 ERA over 1022+ IP. All while with the Yankees. No one has done so much with only one pitch in the history of the game. His cutter has a legend of its own, rivaling the likes of Nolan Ryan's fastball and Randy Johnson's slider. Arguably the greatest relief pitcher ever.

Second Team

C	Elston Howard
	This spot on the roster was without a doubt my hardest decision. Bill Dickey and Thurman Munson deserve to be considered, though I chose to go with the player that combined Munson's explosive statistics with Dickey's longevity. Howard was the 1963 MVP, won 2 Gold Gloves, was named to 9 All-Star teams, and won 4 titles. He broke the Yankee's color barrier and would go on to notch a career fielding percentage .993. Howard still ranks amongst the top 25 all-time for catchers in OPS.
1B	Don Mattingly
	1985 MVP. 1984 batting title. 9 Gold Gloves. 14 seasons with the Bombers. Sadly he never played in a World Series, but was the leader of the squad for a decade and a half.
2B	Tony Lazzeri
	An All-Star and a 5X World Champion, Lazzeri had seven seasons with 100+ RBI and batted .300+ five different seasons. He started 1441 games for the Bombers at 2B, second to only Willie Randolph.
3B	Graig Nettles
	Nettles started 1509 games at 3B for the Yankees, the most in franchise history. He made 5 All-Star teams while with the Yankees and was the 1981 ALCS MVP. He won 2 Gold Gloves and 2 World Series (both in '77 and '78).
SS	Phil Rizzuto
	1950 AL MVP, 5x All-Star, he started 1647 games for the Yankees at SS (second only to Jeter). After his stellar playing career, he would continue to be a part of the Yankee family by being a broadcaster for 40 years.
OF	Paul O'Neill
	4x All-Star with the Yankees, won 4 rings with the Bombers, and won the 1994 AL batting title. More than his stats, Paulie was one of the leaders and veterans that helped turn the Yankees from mediocre to legendary in the 90s.
OF	Dave Winfield
	One of the greatest athletes to ever live, Winfield chose baseball over basketball and football for his career. He played 8.5 years for the Bombers (mostly in RF), making 8 All-Star teams. He batted .340 in 1984 and tallied 226 HR during his time in New York.
OF	Roger Maris
	2x MVP, 3x All-Star with the Yankees, and 61 HR in '61. Forever overshadowed by Mantle, but a solid player in his own right.
DH	Reggie Jackson
	He was notoriously bad in right, which is why Mr. October would be a perfect fit for a DH spot. His powerful swing helped lead to world titles in '77 and '78. While with the Yankees he hit 144 HR, 461 RBI, and finished 2nd in the 1980 MVP race.
SP	Catfish Hunter
	Though he only played 5 seasons in New York, Catfish made the most of them. His record-setting contract ushered in an entirely new era of free agency that has come to be the Yankees' hallmark. On the field he lived up to his hyped billing. With the Yankees, he won 23 games in 1975 (finishing second in the Cy Young race) and won two World Series titles.
SP	Don Larsen
	He only played 5 years for the Yankees, but he was able to cement his legacy. He pitched on two World Series championship squads and threw the only perfect game in World Series history.
SP	Andy Pettitte
	Pettitte was oh-so-close to making my first team. The only starting pitcher to play on all four of the most recent championship teams, he went on to be known as one of the best lefties to ever play and one of the most feared pickoff men to ever set foot on the mound. ROY, 2nd in Cy Young voting, and ALCS MVP are just some of his career accolades. If not for his stint in Houston, he might not only be a member of my first team, but go down as the greatest pitcher in Yankee history.
SP	Roger Clemens
	Won 2001 Cy Young (first Yankee to win Cy Young since Ron Guidry in '78). Key part of pitching rotation for two world championship teams.
RP	Goose Gossage
	151 saves while with the Yankees. 4-time All-Star. HOFer. 33 saves in 1980.

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