My All-Time Baseball Team

Relief Pitcher: Mariano Rivera

https://baseballhall.org/hall-of-famers/rivera-mariano

1995-2013 for the New York Yankees

652 career saves (most all time)

2.21 career earned run average (ERA)

13-time All Star

5-time World Series champion (closed out 4 different World Series)

1999 World Series MVP

2003 American League Championship Series MVP

5-time American League Rolaids Relief Man Award winner

3-time Delivery Man of the Year winner

3-time Major League Baseball saves leader

Elected to Baseball Hall of Fame in 2019 on the first ballot (first inductee ever to receive 100% of the vote)

Pitched in 1,115 regular season games, which is fourth most in MLB history, most in American League history, and most all-time by a right-handed pitcher

2.21 ERA and 1.00 WHIP (walks + hits per innings pitched) are the lowest of any pitcher in the live ball era with at least 1,000 innings pitched

8–1 win–loss record and a 0.76 WHIP in the postseason

Postseason record lowest career ERA (minimum 30 innings pitched) (0.70)

Postseason record 42 saves

Postseason record most consecutive scoreless innings pitched (33¹⁄₃)

Postseason record most consecutive save opportunities converted (23)

Postseason record most games pitched (96)

Almost exclusively threw a cut fastball, which hitters knew was coming, yet couldn’t do anything about

C: Yogi Berra

1B: Lou Gehrig

2B: Rogers Hornsby

SS: Honus Wagner

3B: Mike Schmidt

LF: Ted Williams

CF: Willie Mays

RF: Babe Ruth

SP: Walter Johnson

SP: Christy Mathewson

SP: Warren Spahn

SP: Grover Cleveland Alexander

SP: Lefty Grove

RP: Mariano Rivera

My All-Time Baseball Team

Starting Pitcher: Warren Spahn

https://baseballhall.org/hall-of-famers/spahn-warren

1942-1965, primarily for the Boston/Milwaukee Braves

363 career victories (most by a lefthanded pitcher and sixth all time)

Career victories is most by any pitcher whose career was beyond the 1920 live ball era

3.09 career earned run average (ERA)

2,583 career strikeouts

Pitched 382 lifetime complete games

63 career shutouts is sixth most all time and most by anyone from the live ball era

World Series champion in 1957

17-time National League All-Star

8-time NL win leader

3-time NL ERA leader

4-time NL strikeout leader

Pitched 2 career no-hitters

Major league Cy Young Award winner in 1957 (given to one pitcher, not separated by American League and National League, as it is today)

Inducted into Baseball hall of Fame in 1973

Warren Spahn Award is named for best lefthanded pitcher

Named to Major League Baseball’s all-century team in 1999

Ranked number 21 in The Sporting News’ list of Baseball’s Greatest Players

C: Yogi Berra

1B: Lou Gehrig

2B: Rogers Hornsby

SS: Honus Wagner

3B: Mike Schmidt

LF: Ted Williams

CF: Willie Mays

RF: Babe Ruth

SP: Walter Johnson

SP: Christy Mathewson

SP: Warren Spahn

My All-Time Baseball Team

Second Base: Rogers Hornsby

https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/2014/8/7/5971805/rogers-hornsby-the-greatest-season-in-cardinals-history

1915-1937 primarily for the St. Louis Cardinals, with stints playing for the New York Giants, Boston Braves, Chicago Cubs, and St. Louis Browns

Considered by many as the greatest right-handed hitter of all time

Lifetime batting average of .358 is third all-time behind Ty Cobb (.366) and Oscar Charleston (.364)

7 batting titles, exceeded only by Cobb, Tony Gwynn, and Honus Wagner

2 time NL home run leader

4 time NL runs batted in (rbi) leader

Led NL in slugging percentage a record nine times

2 time NL MVP

2 time triple crown winner

Led NL in batting average, home runs, and runs batted in (rbi) for the 1920’s (only Wagner, Ted Williams, and Albert Pujols have led an entire decade in all three triple crown statistics)

Led NL in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and total bases every year from 1920 to 1925

Manages several major league and minor league teams, often as a player/manager

In your face personality, sour disposition, and gambling problems all led to his wearing out his welcome with numerous teams

World champion with St. Louis Cardinals in 1926

Elected to Baseball Hall of Fame in 1942

Honorable Mention: Nap Lajoie, Eddie Collins, Charlie Gehringer, Tony Lazzeri, Rod Carew, Jackie Robinson, Joe Morgan, Ryne Sandberg, Roberto Alomar, Frankie Frisch, Craig Biggio

Catcher: Yogi Berra

First Base: Lou Gehrig

Second Base: Rogers Hornsby