The worst college drafts in Minnesota Vikings history

Through the annual college draft the Minnesota Vikings selected some great players who went on to be selected to the NFL Hall of Fame (Fran Tarkenton, Carl Eller, Ron Yary, Alan Page, Chris Doleman, Randall McDaniel) as well as many other players in both the early and late rounds of the draft who made major contributions to the team's success through the years.

However, there were many drafts where the Vikings selected mediocre players who contributed little, and led to losing seasons. Many of these drafts came under head coaches Dennis Green and Brad Childress, neither of whom was skilled in evaluating talent.

There were other drafts where Minnesota got virtually nothing from their picks. These are the worst drafts in team history, and are listed below.

10) 1990 - Running back Terry Allen had a couple of good seasons. The other players didn't make the team or were around only for a year or two. The team's scouts and coaches at this time had no idea what they were doing.

9) 1996 - Running back Moe Williams contributed a little bit. The remaining picks were total busts. Head coach Dennis Green was clueless.

8) 2000 - Pretty much a waste. Does anyone know what was going on in Coach Dennis Green's mind? An executive from a rival team commented, "I think the Vikings were drunk" while conducting this draft.

7) 2001 - Another Dennis Green disaster. Running back Michael Bennett had one good year, other than that, most draftees didn't even make the team.

6) 1963 - Wide receiver Paul Flatley had a few good seasons. None of the others made any impact, if they made the team at all.

5) 1971 - Safety Jeff Wright, taken in the 15th round, turned out to be a good player. The others were never heard from again.

4) 1966 - Running back Jim Lindsey stuck as a backup for seven years. Other than that, zero contributions from this group.

3) 2004 - Pretty much zero contributions from this draft class. Not sure what the Vikings scouts were thinking. I would imagine most are now in a different profession.

2) 2005 - Literally nothing from this group. Troy Williamson at number one was one of the team's worst first round picks ever, along with defensive end Erasmus James. Both are examples of scouts falling in love with athletic ability and ignoring whether or not the guy can play football.

1) 1989 - What a disaster. Not one player was with the team for longer than a year. Then Vikings executive Mike Lynn was a total moron when it came to football.

The best college drafts in Minnesota Vikings history

The Minnesota Vikings have had more bad drafts than good ones. Looking at some of the players they've selected, it's hard to believe they actually were a contending team during some seasons.

A review of the Vikings' college drafts in past years did show some good ones, that resulted in players who made significant contributions to the team's success.

Here are the best ten drafts:

 

10) 2015 - So far it looks like a good haul from this draft, as defensive end Danielle Hunter, wide Receiver Stefon Diggs, and linebacker Eric Kendricks have played well and contributed, with linebacker Edmond Robinson and cornerback Trae Waynes showing potential to be good players.

9) 1976 - This one netted wide receiver Sammy White, who was a key player on offense during the late '70's and early '80's. Also nabbed was guard Wes Hamilton, who was a starter and serviceable player during the same time period.

8) 1977 - Quarterback Tommy Kramer and linebacker Scott Studwell played well for years. Center Dennis Swilley and safety Tommy Hannon also contributed during the late '70's and early '80's.

7) 1964 - Defensive end Carl Eller was selected; he became one of the best Vikings of all time and a Hall of Fame member. Guard Milt Sunde was also picked, and he was a starter during the late '60's and early '70's.

6) 1961 - Quarterback Fran Tarkenton began a Hall of Fame career; running back Tommy Mason was a good player during the team's early years. Cornerback Ed Sharockman was a steady defender in the 1960's and early '70's.

5) 1968 - Offensive tackle Ron Yary became one of the best players in franchise history and a member of the Hall of Fame. Running back Oscar Reed, cornerback Charlie West, and quarterback Bob Lee also made contributions from the late '60's through the mid '70's.

4) 1998 - Wide receiver Randy Moss and center Matt Birk were selected; both became important players and Pro Bowlers.

3) 1983 - Safety Joey Browner and cornerback Carl Lee were drafted, and both were key players and Pro Bowlers on dominant defenses in the late '80's.

2) 1974 - Linebacker Matt Blair became one of the best players in Vikings history, and a perennial Pro Bowler. Offensive tackle Steve Riley started and played well for ten years. Linebacker Fred McNeil was a starter and good defensive player in the late '70's and early '80's.

1) 1967 - The Vikings were smart in selecting defensive tackle Alan Page, who became a Hall of Famer and one of the best players in NFL history. Cornerback Bobby Bryant also had a great career; he was a key piece on dominant defenses of the late '60's and early '70's. Wide receiver Gene Washington became a Pro Bowler. Running back Clint Jones, wide receiver Bob Grim, and tight end John Beasley also made contributions.

The best Left Fielders in New York Yankee history

The Yankees have had a number of good outfielders in franchise history, with many playing more than one spot. But who are the best left fielders? I took a look at who played the most games at the position, and put up good offensive as well as defensive numbers. Contribution to championship teams was also taken into consideration when ranking the players. Here are the top five Yankee Left Fielders of all time:

5) Lou Piniella: Playing in over 450 games in left field during his eleven seasons from 1974-1984, Piniella was a decent fielder with a strong arm. He was a .295 hitter during his time with the Yankees and produced a number of key hits in crucial games while contributing to World Series titles in 1977 and 1978.

4) Hideki Matsui: Matsui manned left field in over 550 games for New York from 2003-2009. He was steady defensively, and averaged .284 while driving in over 100 runs in four seasons during his seven years with the Yanks. Matsui was named the MVP of the 2009 World Series.

3) Bob Meusel: Playing 626 games in left field from 1920 to 1929 (he also played right field and third base for a total of 1,294 games in his Yankee career), Meusel contributed to three World Series titles. He ranks eighth all time on the Yankees with a .311 batting average; is tenth with 338 doubles; and twelfth 1,005 RBI.

2) Charlie Keller: Keller played in 870 games in left field during eleven seasons with the Yankees, from 1939-1949. His on-base percentage of .410 ranks fourth in team history, behind only Ruth, Gehrig, and Mantle. He is also eighth in slugging percentage with a .518 average, and his .982 fielding percentage in left is higher than the league average of .974 at the time. Keller also drove in 18 runs in 19 World Series games, contributing to three titles.

1) Roy White: Appearing in 1,521 games in left field during his fifteen years with the team from 1965-1979, White delivered a number of key hits throughout his career and was an important contributor to the Yankees' championship teams of 1976, 1977, and 1978. While he didn't have a great arm his .987 fielding percentage was higher than the American League left fielders average of .978 at the time. On the all-time records' lists for the Yankees White ranks seventh in games played with 1,881, eighth in walks with 934, fifth in stolen bases with 233, second in sacrifice flies with 69, and fourth in the power-speed category with a number of 189.7, behind only Jeter, Mantle, and Williams. White's steady play makes him the best Left Fielder in Yankees history.

The best Third Basemen in New York Yankee history

The third base position in baseball is called the 'hot corner' because when a right handed batter pulls the ball he's got a lot of power behind it, and the ball gets to the third baseman very fast. A player who is great defensively will stand out at third base, and the Yankees have had several at the position. Here are the top five:

5) Scott Brosius: Appearing in 540 games during four years with the team, his .956 fielding percentage was better than the league average of .950 during his playing career. He was a decent hitter, with a .267 average and driving in about 70 runs a year. Brosius held down third base during the Yankees three consecutive World Series championships from 1998-2000.

4) Clete Boyer: An excellent fielder who led the American League's third basemen in range factor each season from 1961-66, Boyer appeared in 1,068 games during eight years with the Yankees. He was a steady player on championship teams in the early 1960's.

3) Red Rolfe: Playing his entire ten years, 1,175 games, in the majors with the Yankees, Rolfe was a fixture at third during the team's championship seasons in the 1930's. He batted a respectable .289 with an on-base percentage of .360 during his career. Rolfe's fielding average of .956 was higher than the league average of .943.

2) Alex Rodriguez:  Rodriguez has put up big numbers even during what were considered down years for him. Winner of three MVP awards during ten seasons and 1,293 games with the Yankees, he has a .291 batting average, 309 home runs, and 979 RBI’s.  His .965 fielding average is above the .956 league average for the same time period.

1) Graig Nettles: Playing in 1,535 games during his eleven years with the Yankees, Nettles won two Gold Gloves for his defensive excellence, and his fielding average of .961 is higher than the league average of .953. Practically single handedly saving the 1978 World Series for the Yanks with his outstanding play at third base, Nettles also hit for power, belting 37 home runs in 1977 and driving in more than 90 runs for four consecutive seasons. Somewhat of a comedian, known for his funny one-liners, Nettles is the best third baseman in Yankees' history.



 

The best Second Basemen in New York Yankee history

One of the keys to championship baseball in the major leagues is the double play. Since the second baseman is involved in more double plays than anyone else, this is a pretty important position.

A second baseman who can play great defense as well as hit for power and/or average can make a good team great, since the best hitters tend to play other positions. The Yankees have had their share of second basemen who were excellent hitters as well as top-notch fielders.

Based on factors such as longevity with the team, contributions to championships, offensive statistics, and defensive statistics, here are the top five in franchise history:

5) Robinson Cano: During nine years and 1,374 games in pinstripes Cano hit .309 with  204 homers and 822 RBI's. He was five time All Star and a Gold Glove winner in 2010.

4) Bobby Richardson: Winner of five Gold Gloves and named to seven all star teams, Richardson played in 1,412 games during his 12 seasons with the team, contributing to Yankee championship teams in the early 1960's. His .266 lifetime batting average is respectable, but his real value was as a consistent defender (.979 fielding average, slightly higher than the league average of .978) who rarely missed a game.

3) Joe Gordon: Selected to the Hall of Fame in 2009 by the Veterans Committee, Gordon played 1,000 games at second base during his seven seasons with the Yanks, from 1938-1946 (missing two seasons while serving in the military during World War II). Named an all star for six consecutive years, Gordon won the MVP award in 1942 when he batted .322 with 18 home runs and 103 runs batted in. Gordon's fielding average was .970, about the same as the league average at the time of .971.

2) Willie Randolph: Appearing in 1,694 games during his 13 seasons with the team, Randolph's batting average was .275 and his on-base percentage was an excellent .374. He ranks fifth in team history with 1,005 walks and third in stolen bases with 251. Contributing to the team's championship years in the late 1970's and early 1980's and a five time All Star, Randolph was a steady defender, with his .980 fielding percentage and range factor of 5.40 comparing favorably with the league averages of the time, which were .980 and 5.31.

1) Tony Lazzeri: Inducted into the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee in 1991, Lazzeri appeared in 1,659 games during his 12 seasons with the Yanks. From 1926-1937 he averaged .293 with an on base percentage of .379, and had more than 100 RBI's in seven seasons. His fielding percentage of .967 is close to the league average of .968 - a time period when gloves weren't as sophisticated as today. Lazzeri was a key player on five World Championship teams and the best second baseman in Yankees' history.

Crazy job search stories: Goldman Sachs

I’m sure lots of people have had strange experiences while searching for and interviewing for jobs. People who do the recruiting and interviewing of job candidates often have funny stories to tell. Sometimes I wonder though, if other people looking for a job have had anything similar to mine.

 Once I went on an interview for a job as a college recruiter, with Goldman Sachs. This particular office was in lower Manhattan. The director of college recruiting was a guy named Mike Lowenthal. At the start of the interview he mused, “There’s mostly women working in college recruiting.” Hmm, maybe this gives me an edge, I thought. He didn’t ask me any questions though. He just rambled on for a couple of minutes about Goldman Sachs. Suddenly, he looked past me (his office was surrounded by windows).  He stood up, grabbed a stack of what look to be like tickets to a game or concert wrapped with elastic bands, and raced out the door. I turned around, but he had already fled down one of the hallways, disappearing from sight.

So I sat there for a few minutes, wondering what I should do. Wait until he comes back? Leave now? It started to dawn on me that I wasn’t going to get this job even if I stayed, so I was about to go when a girl named Kim walked in.

“Mike had to go, but I’ll finish the interview,” she said brightly. Then she proceeded to talk a little about the job. She didn’t ask me any questions, or ask if I had any questions about th position. She did talk at length about the bars in the area and how everyone in the department liked to go out for drinks after work.

After a few minutes she stood up and held out her hand. “It was nice to meet you,” she said.  For some reason I said thank you, nice to meet you too, instead of saying what I really felt, which was, why did you even bother to call me in….

I’ve thought that maybe they didn’t like the way I looked. If that’s the case, and I’m sure some interviewers consider that above all else (although they would never admit it), why not ask for a picture? A photograph with the resume on the back. It would save us all a lot of time and money. By looks, I mean beyond the blue suit/white shirt/red tie/polished shoes/clean shaven appearance.

Who knows. Maybe this isn’t as ridiculous as some others’ experiences. It feels like it was a waste of time and energy. On the other hand it’s given me something to write about, so maybe it wasn’t a total loss. Stay tuned for upcoming stories about job search…

The best 50 New York Yankees in history

The best 50 New York Yankees in history

Trying to rank the best Yankee players in franchise history isn't easy. The top four are pretty obvious, but placing the others is not. There are a number of variables to look at, including length of service, career statistics, single season records, individual awards, and contributions to championship teams.

Taking all those factors in account, below are the best fifty players to wear the pinstripes:

50) Allie Reynolds, P: "SuperChief" had a 131-60 record, a .686 winning percentage, with a 3.30 ERA and 27 shutouts during his eight years with the team, 1947-1954.

49) Frank Crosetti, SS: Crosetti played 1,516 games at shortstop in 17 years. A member of six World Championship teams in the 1930's and early 1940's, he led American League shortstops with .968 fielding percentage in 1939. His 792 walks rank tenth all-time on the Yankees.

48) Clete Boyer, 3B: An excellent fielder who led the American League's third basemen in range factor each season from 1961-66, Boyer appeared in 1,068 games during eight years with the Yankees.

47) Waite Hoyt, SP: A 157-98 record - a .616 winning percentage - and 15 shutouts as a starter from 1921-1930 lands Hoyt among the best Yankees of all time.

46) Bob Shawkey, P: A 168-131 record with a 3.12 ERA and 26 shutouts from 1915-1927 places Shawkey among the best Yankee starting pitchers in their history.

45) Herb Pennock, SP: From 1923-1933 Pennock posted a 162-90 record, a .643 winning percentage, along with 19 shutouts as a starting pitcher. He also had a 5-0 record with a 1.95 ERA in five World Series games.

44) Reggie Jackson, OF: In 653 games in his five years with the team Jackson batted .281 with 144 home runs and 461 RBI's, although his true value was in October when he batted .328 with 12 homers and 29 RBI's in 34 post season games, contributing to world championships in 1977 and 1978.

43) Robinson Cano, 2B: During nine years and 1,374 games in pinstripes Cano hit .309 with  204 homers and 822 RBI's. He was five time All Star and a Gold Glove winner in 2010.

42) Red Rolfe, 3B: Playing his entire ten years, 1,175 games, in the majors with the Yankees, Rolfe was a member of five world championship teams in the 1930's and batted .289 with an on-base percentage of .360 during his career. His fielding average of .956 was higher than the league average of .943.

41) Mel Stottlemyre, P: In eleven years Stottlemyre tossed 40 shutouts, good for second in team history. A five time All Star, he compiled a 164-139 record with an outstanding 2.97 ERA while pitching for some not so good teams.

40) Dave Righetti, P: The American League Rookie of the Year in 1981 and two time All Star during eleven seasons, Righetti tossed a no-hitter in 1983 but was then converted into a closer. He ended up second in team history in saves with 224.

39): Bobby Richardson, 2B: Winner of five Gold Gloves and named to seven All Star teams, Richardson played in 1,412 games during his 12 seasons, contributing to three world championships in the late '50's and early '60's.

38) Roger Maris, OF: A three time All Star and a Gold Glove winner in 1960, in 850 games during seven years with the Yanks Maris batted .265 with 203 home runs and 547 RBI's. He won two American League MVP awards and contributed to two World Championships.

37) Joe Gordon, 2B: Gordon played 1,000 games at second base from 1938-1946, contributing to four World Championships. Named an All Star for six consecutive years, Gordon won the MVP award in 1942. He averaged .271 and hit 153 home runs and drove in 617 runs during seven seasons with the Yanks.

36) Hank Bauer, OF: Appearing in 1,196 games in right field during his 12 years with the team, Bauer hit .277 with 158 home runs and 654 RBI's in his Yankee career. He was a three time All Star, and contributed to seven World Series titles in the 1950's.

35) Bill Skowron, 1B: A five time All Star, Skowron appeared in 1,087 games during nine years with the Yankees, contributing to four championship titles in the 1950's and 1960's. He batted .294 with 165 homers and 672 RBI's.

34) Bobby Murcer, OF: Playing in 1,256 games during 13 seasons with the team, Murcer won a Gold Glove as a centerfielder in 1972, and was named to four All Star teams. He batted .278 with 175 home runs and 687 RBI's in his Yankee career.

33) Alex Rodriguez, 3B: Rodriguez has put up big numbers even during what were considered down years for him. Winner of three MVP awards during ten seasons and 1,293 games with the Yankees, he has a .291 batting average, 309 home runs, and 979 RBI’s.

32) Tino Martinez, 1B: Playing in 1,054 games in seven years, Martinez drove in over 100 runs in five of those seasons. A key member of four World Championship teams, he averaged .276, hit 192 home runs, and drove in 739 runs in his Yankee career.

31) Dave Winfield, OF: Playing in 1,172 games during nine years in New York, Winfield was named to eight All Star games and won five Gold Gloves. He batted .290 with 205 home runs and 818 RBI's in his Yankee career.

30) Rich Gossage, P: In seven years with the Yanks Gossage had a 42-28 record with 151 saves and a 2.14 ERA. A four time All Star, he struck out 512 batters in 533 innings and held opponents to a .207 batting average.

29) Sparky Lyle, P: Winner of the 1977 Cy Young award, Lyle saved 141 games and had a 2.41 ERA in his seven years with the team. A three time All Star, he was an important contributor to the team's championship seasons in the 1970's.

28) Tommy Heinrich, OF: A five time All Star, contributing to four World Series championships in the late 1930's and 1940's, Heinrich batted .282 with 183 homers and 795 RBI's in 1,284 games during his eleven year Yankee career.

27) Charlie Keller, OF: A five time All Star, Keller played in 1,066 games during eleven seasons with the Yankees, from 1939-1949. Batted .286 with 184 homers and 723 RBI's. His on-base percentage of .410 ranks fourth in team history, and he is eighth with a .518 slugging percentage. Keller also drove in 18 runs in 19 World Series games, contributing to three titles.

26) Paul O'Neill, OF: Playing in 1,254 games during his nine years with the Yankees, O'Neill batted .303 with 185 home runs and 858 runs batted in. A four time All Star, he was a key member of four World Championship teams.

25) Lefty Gomez, P: A seven time All Star, Gomez had a 189-101 record in 13 years with the Yankees, for a winning percentage of .652. He is fourth among pitchers with 28 shutouts. Gomez shined in the World Series, with a 6-0 record and 2.86 ERA., contributing to five World Championships in the 1930's.

24) Elston Howard, C: A nine time All Star and winner of the 1963 American League MVP award, Howard played in 1,492 games in 13 years with the Yanks. He batted .279, hitting 161 home runs and driving in 733 runs while contributing to four World Championships in the 1950's and 1960's.

23) Bob Meusel, OF: Playing in a total of 1,294 games in ten years Meusel contributed to three World Series titles in the 1920's. He ranks eighth all time on the Yankees with a .311 batting average; is tenth with 338 doubles; and twelfth with 1,005 RBI.

22) Andy Pettitte, P: Ranking first in team history among pitchers with 2,020 strikeouts, Petitte's Yankee career record of 219-115 gives him a winning percentage of .633. A three time All Star in 15 seasons, he was a member of five world championship teams.

21) Ron Guidry, P: A four time All Star, winner of the 1978 Cy Young Award, and recipient of five Gold Gloves, Guidry is third among Yankee pitchers in strikeouts with 1,778 and sixth in shutouts with 26. In 14 seasons he compiled a 170-91 career record for a winning percentage of .651 and was a key member of two World Championship teams.

20) Willie Randolph, 2B: Appearing in 1,694 games during his 13 seasons with the team, Randolph's batting average was .275 and his on-base percentage was .374. He ranks fifth in team history with 1,005 walks and third in stolen bases with 251. Contributing to the team's championship years in the late 1970's and early 1980's and a five time All Star, Randolph was also a steady defender.

19) Roy White, OF: A two time All Star, during his fifteen years with the team White delivered a number of key hits and was an important contributor to the Yankees' championship teams of 1976, 1977, and 1978. On the all-time records' lists for the Yankees White ranks seventh in games played with 1,881, eighth in walks with 934, fifth in stolen bases with 233, second in sacrifice flies with 69, and fourth in the power-speed category with a number of 189.7, behind only Jeter, Mantle, and Williams.

18) Jorge Posada, C: A five time All Star, Posada played in 1,829 games while contributing to four Yankee World Championships. In a 16 year career he batted .273 with 275 homers and 1,065 RBI's, and is seventh in Yankee history with 379 doubles.

17) Graig Nettles, 3B: A five time All Star who drove in more than 90 runs for four consecutive seasons, Nettles played in 1,535 games with the Yankees. He won two Gold Gloves for his defensive excellence, and also hit for power, belting 250 home runs with 834 RBI's during his eleven year Yankee career.

16) Phil Rizzuto, SS: The 1950 American League MVP was selected to five All Star teams. Rizzuto played in 1,647 games in 13 seasons with the Yankees. The shortstop on seven World Championship teams, he has a career batting average of .273 with an on base percentage of .351 and 149 stolen bases.

15) Tony Lazzeri, 2B: Lazzeri appeared in 1,659 games during his 12 seasons with the Yanks, averaging .293 with an on base percentage of .379. He drove in more than 100 runs in seven seasons and his total of 1,154 RBI's place him ninth on the Yankees all time list in that category. Lazzeri was a key player on five World Championship teams from 1926-1937.

14) Red Ruffing, P: A six time All Star, Ruffing's career record with the Yanks was 231-124 for a winning percentage of .651. He is second in team history with 40 shutouts, second with 3,168 innings pitched. and fourth with 1,526 strikeouts. In ten World Series games he was 7-2 with a 2.63 ERA, contributing to six World Championships in the 1930's.

13) Earle Combs, OF: Ranks third in Yankee history with a .325 batting average, and his outstanding .397 career on base percentage is eighth all time. Ranks second all time in team history with 154 triples as well as seventh in runs scored with 1,186. Combs led the American League in hits with 231 in 1927, which is second in team history for a single season. Batting .350 in 16 World Series games and a member of three world championship teams, he played in 1,455 games during his 12 year career.

12) Don Mattingly, 1B: A six time All Star, awarded nine Gold Gloves for defensive excellence, and winner of the 1985 American League MVP award, Mattingly played in 1,785 games in his 14 year career, all with the Yankees. His .307 batting average ranks ninth on the Yankees all time list. He holds the team record for sacrifice flies with 96, is fourth in doubles with 442, seventh in hits with 2,153, eighth in total bases with 3,301, tenth in runs scored with 1,007, and tenth in RBI's with 1,099.

11) Thurman Munson, C: Winner of the 1970 Rookie of the Year Award, and named the American League MVP in 1976, Munson led the Yankees to three pennants and two World Championships. A seven time All Star selection as a catcher and winner of three Gold Gloves, in his career Munson threw out 44% of baserunners attempting to steal (better than Johnny Bench's 43% and Carlton Fisk's 34%). He also hit .373 and drove in 12 runs in 16 World Series games. Munson had a .292 career batting average while playing in 1,423 games in eleven seasons, and was recognized by pitchers for his ability to call a great game.

10) Bill Dickey, C: An eleven time All Star, Dickey's .313 batting average places him seventh in Yankee history. His 1,209 RBI's rank eighth and 1,969 hits are good for ninth. In 17 years Dickey caught 1,708 games, the most in team history, while contributing to seven world championships in the 1930's and early 1940's.

9) Bernie Williams, OF: A five time All Star and winner of four Gold Gloves while playing 1,857 games in center field, Williams contributed to four World Championship titles. In Yankee history he ranks third in doubles with 449, fifth in hits with 2,336, sixth in runs scored with 1,366, sixth in RBI's with 1,257, and seventh in home runs with 287.

8) Mariano Rivera, P: The all time major league leader in saves with 652, Rivera was 82-60 with a 2.21 ERA during the regular season. A 13 time All Star and member of five World Championship teams, he pitched 141 innings in 96 post season games, with an 8-1 record, 42 saves and 0.70 ERA.

7) Yogi Berra, C: Selected to the All Star team 15 times in his 18 years with the Yankees, Berra contributed to 10 World Championships in the late 1940's, 1950's and early1960's. He caught 1,699 games, and his 358 home runs and 1,430 RBI's each rank fifth in team history. Berra also won three American League MVP awards.

6) Derek Jeter, SS: A fourteen time All Star, winner of five Gold Gloves, and a member of five World Championship teams, Jeter is the only Yankee with at least 3,000 hits, totaling 3,465.  He also holds Yankee records in games played with 2,747 and stolen bases with 358. Jeter's 544 doubles rank second in team history; 1,923 runs scored are third; 1,082 walks are fourth; 1,311 RBI’s are sixth; and .310 career batting average places him eighth.

5) Whitey Ford, P: With a 236-106 record - a .690 winning percentage - Ford is not only the Yankees all time leader in wins, but also innings pitched with 3,170, games started with 438, and second in strikeouts with 1,956. An eight time All Star and winner of the 1961 Cy Young award, he had a 2.75 ERA in the regular season and 2.71 ERA in 22 World Series games, contributing to six World Championships.

4) Mickey Mantle, OF: A 16 time All Star selection, the American League Triple Crown winner in 1956, a three time league MVP, and winner of a Gold Glove in 1962, Mantle played 2,401 games. He led American League centerfielders in assists with 14 in 1952 and 20 in 1954, and his .995 fielding percentage led all centerfielders in 1955 and 1959. Mantle hit .298 with 536 home runs and 1,509 RBI's in 18 years with the Yankees, contributing to seven World Championships. The Hall of Famer holds a number of World Series batting records including the most home runs with 18, RBI's with 40, runs scored with 42, and walks with 43.

3) Joe DiMaggio, OF: Despite missing three seasons while serving in the military during World War II, DiMaggio still ranks in the Yankees' top ten in most batting categories. He is third with a .325 batting average, third in RBI's with 1,537, third in triples with 131, third in slugging percentage at .579, fourth in home runs with 361, fifth in runs scored with 1,390, and seventh in on base percentage at .398. Playing in 1,736 games, DiMaggio's .997 fielding percentage in 1947 led all American League centerfielders, and he also led in assists with 21 in 1937, 20 in 1938, and 15 in 1946. An All Star in each of his 13 seasons with the team, DiMaggio won three league MVP awards and contributed to nine Yankee World Championships.

2) Lou Gehrig, 1B: Named the American League MVP in 1927 and 1936, and winner of the Triple Crown in 1934, Gehrig played in 2,164 games during 17 years with the Yankees, leading the team to six World Championship titles in the 1920's and 1930's. In 34 World Series games he hit .361 with 10 homers and 35 RBI's. He is first in Yankee history with 534 doubles, first in triples with 163, first in RBI's with 1,995, and second in hits with 2,721. His .340 batting average, .447 on-base percentage, .632 slugging percentage, and 1,888 runs scored are second in team history.

1) Babe Ruth, OF: Playing in 2,084 games during 15 years with the Yankees (he played right field, left field, and pitcher) Ruth is first in Yankee history in a number of hitting categories, including: batting average, .349; on base percentage, .484; slugging percentage, .711; runs scored, 1,959; total bases, 5,131; home runs, 659; and walks, 1,852. He is second in RBI's with 1,971. In 36 World Series games with the team Ruth batted .348, hit 15 home runs, and had 30 RBI's. What else can you say about someone who may be the game's greatest player ever?

New baseball book available at Amazon.com

New baseball book available at Amazon.com


THE PERFECT GAME is a novel for middle grade readers. It is about a twelve year old boy’s roller coaster experience while playing one season of organized baseball.

It is available in Kindle at Amazon for 99 cents, as well as at Smashwords and Barnes & Noble.

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Joey Coltasanti, nicknamed “the professor” by his father, is ambivalent about playing his last year in summer league. A shortstop, he loves baseball and longs to realize his dream of making the town’s all-star team, and then winning enough games to advance to the state’s world series. However to reach this goal he must overcome his own anxiety that blocks his talent from shining through on the field.

Internal concerns are not the only obstacles in Joey’s path. He also has to deal with Mr. K, the coach of his team for the past two years. Mr. K uses sarcasm and intimidation with his players, as well as favoring his own son over Joey and his teammates. Added to the mix is Joey’s new neighbor and friend, twelve year old Mindi. A saxophone-playing member of Mensa, she is also a pitcher in the summer league who mows down opposing hitters with a blazing fastball and pinpoint control.

Joey decides to play, with events during early season contests testing his will to continue. Eventually a tumultuous game involving adults who can’t seem to grow up leads to changes in the league. A benevolent new coach arrives in town, and things begin to turn around for Joey and his underdog teammates. Eventually joining forces with Mindi on the all-star team, Joey moves closer to fulfilling his dream.

Advancing to the state’s world series means finding innovative ways to win pressure packed games, which leads to Joey confronting his fears on the field. Ultimately he learns more about winning, losing, and the exciting game that is baseball.