
2025 MLB All-Star Game: Building Our All-Time American League Dream Team
But while the Yankees are a big part of the AL's history, they aren't the only powerhouse that produced Hall of Fame baseball players. Here's the full list: Manager: Connie Mack
Connie Mack is a rarity on this list, in more ways than one. A player, then a manager who doubled as an executive, but also as a manager with a career record of under .500. Part of that is an issue of volume, however: Mack ran the A's for 50 seasons, from their 1901 inception through 1950. He managed them for 7,466 games: a .484 win percentage only counts for so much when it's attached to eight World Series appearances and five World Series championships. No other A's manager has 1,000 wins — Mack boasts 3,582 of them. Catcher: Yogi Berra
Berra is among the figures who epitomize Yankees baseball. One of the best all-around catchers in MLB history, Berra was a three-time AL MVP, an 18-time All-Star and part of a whopping 10 World Series teams with the Yankees: 1947, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1956, 1958, 1961 and 1962. Berra is fifth in Yankees history with both 358 home runs and 1,430 RBIs, sixth with a 59.7 WAR and eighth with both 2,148 hits and 1,174 runs scored. He later managed the Yankees in 1964 and again from 1984-85. Reliever/closer: Mariano Rivera
Rivera was called "The Sandman" and came out to Metallica's "Enter Sandman" for a reason: He put teams to sleep. Spending his entire career in the Bronx (1995-2013), Rivera went on to be the best closer in MLB history, recording a record 652 saves and posting an ERA above three just once after becoming a full-time reliever in 1996 (he posted a 3.15 ERA in 2007). Rivera was part of five Yankees championship teams (1996, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2009) and primarily found success with his cut fastball. Starting pitcher: Cy Young
The Red Sox can lay claim to three of the greatest pitchers in MLB history. Roger Clemens and Pedro Martinez combined for 10 Cy Young awards, but that honor is named after Boston's first ace. Cy Young's greatest run came in Beantown: a franchise-record 192 wins over eight years, 2.00 ERA and 275 complete games, while leading them to the first World Series championship in 1903. Young was the top player on the team by wins above replacement in seven of his eight seasons in town, and is MLB's all-time leader in both pitcher WAR and traditional wins. 1B: Lou Gehrig
Lou Gehrig raked: plain and simple. A two-time AL MVP, Gehrig drove in 150-plus runs in a single season an absurd seven times and was an indispensable part of seven Yankees' championship teams (1927, 1928, 1932, 1936, 1937 and 1938), highlighted by a .731 career postseason slugging percentage. Gehrig is first in Yankees history with 163 triples, second with a .340 batting average, 2,721 hits and a 113.7 WAR and third with both 493 home runs and 1,888 runs scored. One of the best left-handed hitters of all time, Gehrig formed the most formidable one-two offensive punch baseball has ever witnessed with another player on this list. 3B: Alex Rodriguez
The Yankees acquired a superstar shortstop to play third base in 2004 because of the next player we'll discuss, but Rodriguez transitioned just fine. Rodriguez was an overwhelming force from the right side of the plate. In 2007, he led MLB with 54 home runs and would be a featured part of the Yankees' 2009 World Series championship, hitting six home runs and posting a combined .365/.500/.808 slash line in the postseason. Across his 12 seasons playing in the Bronx (2004-16, excluding 2014), Rodriguez stands sixth in Yankees history with 351 home runs, seventh with a .523 slugging percentage and 10th with both 1,012 runs scored and a 53.8 WAR. 2B: Rod Carew
How many other Twins second baseman were named dropped by the Beastie Boys? Exactly. To Carew's credit, he was more than just a name that rhymed, as he was about as sure of a shot as you could get for a base hit: in 12 seasons with the Twins, he second baseman won eight batting titles, and led all of MLB in average in four of those seasons. For his career in Minnesota, Carew batted .334, and produced a 137 OPS+, third-best among Twins, while his .393 on-base is tied for first — those weren't empty batting averages by any means. SS: Derek Jeter
Jeter spent his entire career with the Yankees (1995-2014) and became the most popular athlete in the history of New York sports. A five-time Silver Slugger, five-time Gold Glover and 14-time All-Star, Jeter is one of the best pure contact hitters the sport has ever seen, founded the signature jump-throw from shortstop and was the heart and soul of five title teams (1996, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2009). Jeter posted 200-plus hits in eight seasons and is sixth in MLB history with 3,465 career hits. As for Yankees context, Jeter is first in franchise history with both 3,465 hits and 358 stolen bases, second with 1,923 runs scored, fifth with a 71.3 WAR and eighth with a .310 batting average. Furthermore, he was a career .308 postseason hitter. OF: Mickey Mantle
Mickey Mouse opened Disneyland in July 1955, but Mickey Mantle was already up and running by then. When Mantle came to the plate, the opposing manager would yell "back up" to the outfield. A 20-time All-Star, Mantle imposed fear into pitchers from both sides of the plate, leading the AL in home runs in four seasons and totaling 536 home runs across his 18-year career, which ranks 18th in MLB history. Mantle, who won seven World Series with the Yankees (1951, 1952, 1953, 1956, 1958, 1961 and 1962), is second in franchise history with 536 home runs, third with a 110.2 WAR, fourth with both 2,415 hits and 1,509 RBIs and 10th with 153 stolen bases. OF: Babe Ruth
"The Babe" stands as arguably the best player to walk on a baseball field, and he spent the majority of his career in the Bronx (1920-34). Ruth led the AL in home runs in 10 of his 15 seasons with the Yankees, with whom he helped win four World Series (1923, 1927, 1928 and 1932). Ruth, who, of course, was primarily a starting pitcher for the Boston Red Sox before landing in New York, is first in Yankees history with 659 home runs, a .349 batting average, a .711 slugging percentage and a 142.8 WAR, second with 1,978 RBIs and third with 2,518 hits. And if that wasn't enough, Ruth blasted 15 home runs in 36 postseason games for the Yankees. When Ruth called his shot in the 1932 World Series, he knew exactly what he was doing.
Honorable Mentions: Joe Torre (manager)
Casey Stengel (manager)
Walter Johnson (starting pitcher)
Roger Clemens (starting pitcher)
Ivan Rodriguez (catcher)
Jeff Bagwell (1B)
Eddie Collins (2B)
Roberto Alomar (2B)
Lou Whitaker (2B)
Nellie Fox (2B)
Nap Lajoie (2B)
George Brett (3B)
Wade Boggs (3B)
Brooks Robinson (3B)
Cal Ripken Jr. (SS)
Ty Cobb (OF)
Ken Griffey Jr. (DH/OF)
Al Kaline (DH/OF)
Carl Yastrzemski (DH/OF)
Joe DiMaggio (DH/OF)
Edgar Martinez (DH)
Tris Speaker (OF)
Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account , and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!
recommended
Item 1 of 3 Get more from the Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Associated Press
a minute ago
- Associated Press
The Kansas City Royals and pitcher Seth Lugo agree to 2-year extension, AP source says
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Royals and right-hander Seth Lugo have agreed to a two-year extension that includes a vesting option for the 2028 season, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Sunday night. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal, which presumably takes one of the most talked-about names on the trade market off the table ahead of this week's deadline, had not been officially announced. The 35-year-old Lugo made his first All-Star Game and won his first Gold Glove last season, when he went 16-9 with a 3.00 ERA in the first year of a two-year, $30 million deal that included a player option for next season. Lugo has followed that up with an even better start to this season, going 7-5 with a 2.95 ERA through 19 outings for Kansas City. Rumors surfaced of several contenders interested in trading for Lugo ahead of Thursday's deadline, and the fact that the Royals have been hanging on the fringe of contention themselves left many wondering whether they would be buyers or sellers. It appears that they are going to make a push for a second consecutive playoff appearance. The Royals acquired outfielder Randal Grichuk from the Diamondbacks for reliever Andrew Hoffmann late Saturday, shoring up a weakness in the lineup by adding a right-handed bat. Now, they have indicated that Lugo remains big a part of their future with his extension — an especially timely one given it came the same day that All-Star pitcher Kris Bubic went on the injured list. Kansas City also is missing starters Cole Ragans and Michael Lorenzen due to injuries. Both are expected back at some point in August, and the Royals are hopeful that their return to the rotation will propel them down the stretch run. After beating the Guardians on Sunday, the Royals were four games back of the final American League wild-card spot. ___ AP MLB:
Yahoo
29 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Royals and former All-Star pitcher Seth Lugo finalizing contract extension
One of Major League Baseball's top trade candidates is officially off the table. The Kansas City Royals are finalizing a multi-year contract extension with former All-Star right-hander Seth Lugo, per Jeff Passan. Lugo, 35, was set to hit the open market in the offseason and was heavily involved in trade rumors. The big veteran has put together another quality season for the Royals, posting a 7-5 record with a 2.95 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP in 19 starts. Teams that have had interest in Lugo, like the Toronto Blue Jays and Chicago Cubs, will have to shift their attention elsewhere. The 2024 All-Star was dominant last season, going 16-9 with a 3.00 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP in 206.2 innings. Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp Lugo led the Royals to the postseason for the first time since 2015, when the franchise won its second World Series championship. Kansas City is eight-and-a-half games behind the Detroit Tigers for first place in the American League Central and four games back from the third AL Wild Card spot. Even if the Royals miss the postseason, they've extended one of the most consistent starting pitchers over the past three seasons. Though on the outside looking in, this move may spark the Royals. Kansas City has had a disappointing season thus far, but there is plenty of baseball to be played. While this move indicates Lugo is safe from being traded, it remains to be seen if the Royals will be buyers or sellers at the trade deadline. More MLB:


CBS News
31 minutes ago
- CBS News
Twins lose third consecutive series after 7-2 loss to Nationals
CJ Abrams hit a leadoff homer, stole three bases and scored three runs as the Washington Nationals beat the Minnesota Twins 7-2 on Sunday. Nationals starter Jake Irvin (8-5), a Twin Cities native pitching at Target Field for the first time, gave up two runs on five hits over seven innings. Josh Bell went 3 for 4 with an RBI. Matt Wallner homered and Harrison Bader had two hits for Minnesota, which has lost six of nine since the All-Star break. Daylen Lile tripled and scored on Paul DeJong's sacrifice fly in the fourth to put the Nationals on top 3-2. Washington broke it open with four runs in the fifth off Travis Adams (1-1), keyed by Alex Call's two-run single. Abrams hit the first pitch of the game from Twins opener Cole Sands for his 14th home run of the season. After the Twins tied it on Wallner's second-inning homer, Abrams manufactured a run for the Nationals. He led off the third inning with a single, stole second and third and scored on Luis García Jr.'s sacrifice fly. Minnesota tied it again on Trevor Larnach's sacrifice fly in the bottom half. Leading 4-2, the Nationals loaded the bases with one out in the fifth. Call hit a grounder up the middle that second baseman Brooks Lee was ready to turn into an inning-ending double play. Instead, the ball skipped off the side of the mound and caromed over Lee's head for a two-run single. Abrams has five leadoff homers this year and 12 in 470 career games. Simeon Woods Richardson (5-4, 4.14 ERA) will take the mound for the Twins on Monday as they open a three-game series against visiting Boston. The Nationals travel to Houston, where Brad Lord (2-5, 3.39) will start on Monday.