Now that the Yankees have added another flag–No. 24–to their World Series collection, the question is: Are they the best team in baseball history?
That was a big part of the talk in the press box Wednesday night as the Yankees swept the San Diego Padres in four games, the first sweep since 1990.
Like it or not, most of baseball history and some of the serious stuff too is written for a deadline. This doesn’t leave much room for contemplation.
When asked such weighty questions, my usual response is that the current generation is not qualified to judge the events of the day. Perspective is required. This is a task for the next generation and the generation after that. But the man from The Associated Press–or was it USA Today?–insisted on a reply.
And so I contributed my portion.
No, the 1998 Yankees are not the best team.
Including the postseason they have won 125 games, a record for the most victories in one year. That, in itself, is a considerable achievement. But the question is the best team, not the team with the best record.
In my opinion, the 1927 Yankees of Ruth and Gehrig, known in baseball lore as “The Window Breakers,” had the best team. This was the year Babe Ruth hit his record 60 home runs. Lou Gehrig added 47, a combined two-man total of 107.
The Yankees won the pennant in a runaway. According to on-the-scene reports, they took the Series during Game 1 pregame batting practice by frightening the Pirates (who made the mistake of watching) with a barrage of long balls. The Pirates lost in four straight.
The 1961 Mantle-and-Maris Yankees. Roger Maris broke Ruth’s record with 61 home runs. Mickey Mantle had 54. The Yankees also had Yogi Berra, Moose Skowron, Elston Howard, Tony Kubek and Whitey Ford. Mantle, Berra and Ford have been elected to the Hall of Fame.
Some of the other outstanding teams, not necessarily in order, were Cincinnati’s 1975 Big Red Machine; the crooked 1919 White Sox, who were so good they had trouble dumping the World Series; the 1906 Cubs, who still hold the major-league record for most victories in a season, 116; and perhaps one of Charlie Finley’s championship Oakland teams in the mid-’70s.
“I really don’t know how we measure up,” Yankees manager Joe Torre said before and after Wednesday night’s game.
The Yankees don’t quite measure up. They have a lineup of above-average players at almost every position. But with the possible exception of shortstop Derek Jeter, they don’t seem to have any future Hall of Famers. And even Jeter, at best, only has a 50-50 chance to make it.
From top to bottom the Yankees have a strong lineup, but they don’t have a dominant hitter. Sluggers with 30 or more home runs abound. The Yankees’ regular-season leader was Tino Martinez, with 28 homers, followed by Bernie Williams, 26, and Paul O’Neill and Darryl Strawberry, 24 each. Their team total of 207 homers was fourth best in the American League.
Still it could be argued with some success that 10 players hitting home runs in double figures, which the Yankees have, is better than two players with 40.
In addition to good balance, the Yankees have excellent speed. They led the league in stolen bases in the first half and in home runs in the second half.
“Overall, the Yankees led both leagues in runs scored, which is the most underrated statistic. That should tell you something,” said Gene Michael, the former Cubs manager who is among the Yankees’ executives.
What it tells you is the Yankees are constantly peppering away. Their defense, especially in the middle of the infield, also has been much better than average.
In all a very good team, but only time will judge if it’s the best ever.
