All-Time One Uniform Team

Over the off-season there was plenty of discussion regarding the impact on Albert Pujols’ “legacy” by moving to the Los Angeles Angels and ending his eleven-year career with the St. Louis Cardinals.  Ever since Andy Messersmith and Dave McNally won their arbitration case in 1975, the days of playing an entire career in one uniform effectively ended.  Like it or not, players have earned the right to play where they choose and for every Stan Musial and Joe DiMaggio there are dozens of guys that have had long careers and played with multiple teams.  Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate the fact that Chipper Jones will end his career having only played for the Atlanta Braves and believe the same will be true of Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees.  But Albert’s legacy as a player is intact, though his standing in the city of St. Louis will never be what it would have been had he stayed.  But all the discussion made me think about all the great players that did play for one team so I created my All-Time One Uniform Team. 

This wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be.  Only retired players were considered and the players had to play the majority of their games at the position for which they were selected.  Below is my team, let the debate begin. 

Leading off and playing second base, number 42 of the Brooklyn Dodgers, Jackie Robinson.  Twenty-eight years old when he became the first African-American player in the majors, Robinson played in six World Series, winning in 1955, and participated in six All-Star games during his ten-year career.  The 1947 Rookie of the Year (ROY) and 1949 National League Most Valuable Player (MVP), Robinson finished his career with a life-time batting average of .311 and was elected to the Hall of Fame (HOF) in 1962. 

Batting second and playing right field, number 21 of the Pittsburg Pirates, Roberto Clemente.  A five-tool player, he and the Pirates won the World Series in 1960 and again in 1971 in which Clemente was the MVP.  The 12-time All-Star and Gold Glove winner, Clemente won the 1966 National League MVP award and led all right fielders in assists six times during his eighteen-year career.  His career ended when he died in a plane crash attempting to deliver relief supplies after an earthquake in Nicaragua following the 1972 season.  A hit in his final regular-season at bat gave him an even 3,000 for his career to go along with a .317 life-time batting average.  Clemente was elected to the HOF in 1973. 

Batting third and playing left field, number 9 of the Boston Red Sox, Ted Williams.  Arguably the greatest hitter of all-time, The Splendid Splinter ended his nineteen-year career with a .344 batting average, 521 home runs and .482 on-base-percentage, the highest all-time.  He was a two-time American League MVP (1946 and 1949), won the American League Triple Crown twice (1942 and 1947) and was the last player to hit over .400 for a season (.406 in 1941).  The seventeen-time All-Star, who missed nearly five years due to military service, was elected to the HOF in 1966.

Batting cleanup and playing first base, number 4 of the New York Yankees, Lou Gehrig.  He anchored the middle of the Yankee line-up for fourteen years and played in seven World Series championships, winning six titles (1927, 1928, 1932, 1936, 1937 and 1938).  A two-time American League MVP (1927 and 1936), Gehrig won the Triple Crown in 1934 and compiled a career .340 batting average and hit 493 home runs and is the only player in MLB history to have 400 total bases in five seasons.  Though his career was cut short as a result of contracting amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) at the age of 36, Gehrig was a member of the first seven All-Star teams, hit 23 grand-slams (still most all-time) and his 2,130 consecutive games played record stood for nearly sixty years.  The Iron Horse was elected to the HOF in 1939. 

Batting fifth and playing center field, number 7 of the New York Yankees, Mickey Mantle.  His eighteen year career produced twelve trips to the World Series where his Yankees won seven titles (1951, 1952, 1953, 1956, 1958, 1961 and 1962) and allowed The Mick to hit an all-time World Series record eighteen home runs.  A three-time American League MVP (1956, 1957 and 1962), Mantle won the Triple Crown in 1956, a Gold Glove in 1962 and his 536 career home-runs are the most ever by a switch-hitter.  The Commerce Comet was an all-star in sixteen of his eighteen years and was elected to the HOF in 1974. 

Batting sixth and playing third base, number 20 of the Philadelphia Phillies, Mike Schmidt.  A three-time National League MVP (1980, 1981 and 1986), Schmidt played in two World Series, winning the title in 1980 when he was named the series MVP.  During his eighteen year career, he was a twelve-time All-Star, received ten Gold Glove Awards and led the National League in home runs eight times finishing his career with 548 round-trippers, the most ever by a player spending his entire career with one team.  Schmidt was elected to the HOF in 1995. 

Batting seventh and catching, number 5 of the Cincinnati Reds, Johnny Bench.  Before becoming a big cog in the middle of the Big Red Machine of the 1970’s, Bench was the National League ROY in 1968.  A two-time MVP (1970 and 1972), Bench appeared in four World Series, winning back-to-back 1975 and 1976 when he was named the series MVP.  Known as much for his defense as offense, the Binger Banger won ten Gold Glove Awards and was a fourteen time All-Star.  Bench was elected to the HOF in 1989. 

Batting eighth, the shortstop, number 8 of the Baltimore Orioles, Cal Ripken, Jr.  The 1982 American League ROY, Ripken was a two-time American League MVP (1983 and 1991) and won the World Series in 1983.  During his twenty-one year career, Iron Man played in a record 2,632 consecutive games, had 3,184 career hits and 431 home runs.  The two-time Gold Glove Award winner was a nineteen-time All-Star.  Ripken was elected to the HOF in 2007 with the highest voting percentage (98.53%) for a player spending his entire career with one team. 

Batting ninth and pitching, from the Washington Senators, Walter Johnson.  A two-time American League MVP (1913 and 1924), Johnson also won the pitching Triple Crown three times (1913, 1918 and 1924).  He played in two World Series championships, winning the title in 1924.  During his twenty-one year career, he led the league in wins six-times, shutouts seven times and strikeouts twelve times.  His career win total of 417 games is the most ever for a right-handed pitcher, second all-time.  The Big Train still holds the record for most shutout of all time (110), threw a remarkable 531 complete games, had a life-time earned-run-average of 2.17 and ended his career with 3,509 strikeouts which stood as the highest total ever for fifty-five years.  He was elected to the HOF with the first class ever inducted in 1936. 

Even though my team doesn’t have a twenty-five man roster, they still need a manager.  Handling the line-up card is Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodger skipper Walter Alston.  He led the Dodgers to seven World Series appearances and four titles (1955, 1959, 1963 and 1965).  Smokey ended his twenty-three year career with 2,040 regular season wins and was elected to the HOF in 1983. 

 

Obviously many great players who spent their entire career with one team didn’t make my list.  That’s what makes the endless debates of “the best” so interesting.