Second Base: Alfonso Soriano — 2002
Soriano left the Yankees via trade to Texas after the 2003 season — due largely to his constant futility at the plate in the postseason—but his 2002 season beats out Hall of Famer Tony Lazzeri's 1933, Bobby Richardson's 1962 and Willie Randolph's 1980 campaigns, for the best All Star season by a Yankees' second baseman.
In that 2002 season Soriano displayed a rare combination of power and speed, jacking 39 home runs while stealing an AL-leading 41 bases. His .332 OBP is lower than one would like (illustrating a continuing problem in Soriano's game as a lead-off hitter) but his .302 batting average is very good for a power hitter and his .880 OPS is outstanding when compared to the traditional profile for a second baseman. Soriano also led the AL in hits that season with 209, runs with 128 and collected a career best 381 total bases. Alfonso never truly fit the mold of a leadoff hitter but in 2002 he was an absolute offensive force. Soriano even flashed his power in the All Star game that season, going 1 for 2 with a home run in the mid-summer classic.
Third Base: Red Rolfe — 1939
One of many selections from the dominant Joe McCarthy Yankee teams of the 30s that won an astonishing five championships in six years, Rolfe was a four-time All-Star but his 1939 season was easily his best.
This was a very hard selection. Graig Nettles had five great All-Star seasons in his time with the Yankees and Wade Boggs was a four-time selection in during his run in the Bronx. By many measures Boggs' 1994 season could easily have
given him this spot on the team but the strike-shortened season limited his totals enough to give Rolfe the edge.
In 1939 Red Rolfe had a career year, leading the league in runs (139), hits (213), and doubles (46). His .329 batting average was a career best for Red, and his very good .404 OBP marked the only time Rolfe would break the .400 plateau in his career. And while Red was never the power source in a lineup anchored by Joe DiMaggio, Charlie Keller, and Tommy Henrich, he did contribute 14 home runs and 80 RBIs to help push his OPS to another career best .899, helping the Yankees to their fourth consecutive World Series title.
SS: Derek Jeter — 1999
Article comments
1 - tink
While I'm not up on the older guys, the stats made your choices clear.
Great line-up. Dug that you included Mariano Rivera, he definitely rates up there.
Thank god for your no a-rod zone, although in our house we call him a-something else!!
Reading this took a bit of the sting away from not catching them while they were playing 10 miles from here this past weekend.
Thanks for a great piece on the best baseball team ever!!
2 - Tony
Thanks Tink. It was a lot of fun digging back through the history of the team.
3 - Aaron Whitehead
Nice piece. The one guy I'm surprised you didn't mention was Joe Gordon. He was great in his MVP year of '42, and he gets a clear edge over Soriano in defense.
A lot of tough choices here; I really like Graig Nettles, but was surprised to see that he wasn't an All-Star in '76.
I love that you mention Charlie Keller; he was on the fast track to Cooperstown before he turned 30. But Rickey Henderson was pretty darn good in '85. I think he should have won the MVP, and that was a good Yankee team in the midst of some poor ones.
4 - Tony
Gordon was very good in 42 but can't match Sorianos power or speed production. Also, the only thing he did lead the league in that year was strikeouts.
Henderson definately makes a case with his '85 season for sure.
5 - fred
arod third base what about dh murcer 71 ops 182