The All-Time Yankee All-Star Team - Page 4

Leftfield: Charlie Keller — 1941

"King Kong" Charlie Keller is one of baseball's greatest examples of an extremely talented player who was robbed of their place in the pantheon of legends by either inures, war time service, or in Keller's case, both. Due to his lack of notoriety — especially among casual fans — Keller's peripherals can seem astonishing. Consider the comparison to the man generally regarded as the greatest Yankee leftfielder, Bob Meusel:

Keller: .410/.518/.928, 152 OPS+
Meusel: .356/.497/.852, 118 OPS+

Unfortunately for Keller and his historical significance he was only to play five relatively full seasons. But in 1941, the man named after one of the most famously destructive monsters in cinematic history displayed the devastating potential his abilities allotted him. In 1941 season Keller hit .298/33/122 and .416/.580/.996.

In addition, he walked 106 times while striking out 65. In other seasons strikeouts would prove to be more of an issue for Keller but his ability to draw walks, even in the loaded Yankee lineups of the era, made him an invaluable asset to manager Joe McCarthy through his championship run with the team. Keller would play in five All-Star Games in his 13-year career but his 1941 season was the best total illustration of what might have been. He was the prototype for players like Adam Dunn today.

Right Field: Paul O'Neill — 1994

The first All-Star game was played in 1933. Babe Ruth was 38 years old, in his second to last season with the team he had put on the map, and his skills had eroded considerably. But even with his degenerating condition Ruth posted one last great season, garnering him selection to the first ever official All Star Game, the first of two such selections (the second in 1934 was largely ceremonial although his season was still good by mortal standards).

In the 1961 season Roger Maris — manning right field for New York — broke Babe Ruth's single season home run record by blasting 61 dingers. This alone would seem to warrant the distinction of a starting nod on this fictitious team. But when comparing Ruth, Maris, and O'Neill's best All Star season head-to-head, the results speak for themselves:

Babe Ruth (1933): .301/34/103, .442/.582/1.023
Roger Maris (1961): .269/61/142, .372/.620/.993
Paul O'Neill (1994): .359/21/83, .460/.603/1.064

While O'Neill's season was cut short by the strike, his 368 at bats were enough to qualify him for the batting title (which he won) therefore qualify him for this team. With a higher OBP and batting average than both men, and a higher slugging percentage and OPS than Ruth, it is clear that, while O'Neil is obviously not the greatest Yankee right fielder of all-time, in 1994 he had the greatest season of any All-Star to play that position for the Yankees

Article Author: Anthony Tobis

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