Where does Jeter rank all-time?

[OldYankeeFan]

From Pete Abe

Derek Jeter tied Lou Gehrig for the most hits in franchise history last night. This raises an interesting question: Where does Jeter rank on the list of greatest Yankees?
Here is my top 10:

1. Babe Ruth
2. Lou Gehrig
3. Joe DiMaggio
4. Mickey Mantle
5. Yogi Berra
6. Derek Jeter
7. Whitey Ford
8. Mariano Rivera
9. Bill Dickey
10. Lefty Gomez

I did 1-9 easy. The last spot is a tough call. You could say Bernie Williams based on where he stands on the career lists. Maybe Don Mattingly or even Andy Pettitte.
My criteria was years spent with the team, championships won and where the player stood in terms of the competition at the time. Reggie Jackson was a Yankee for five years, A-Rod for six. That’s not enough tenure in my book. A-Rod could get there, obviously.
So what’s your list?

I think Pete has Jeter placed about right.

[JavyVazquezIsSick]

It's hard to compare players of different eras.

[bcom33]

The only thing I might change is swapping Mantle and DiMaggio.

[DEADSOX]

Tim Kurkjian ranked the top 5 as:

1. Babe Ruth
2. Lou Gehrig
3. Joe Dimaggio
4. Mickey Mantle
5. Yogi Berra

he said Jeter was in the next tier around 7th.

[DaPip1998]

I know the big debate is the importance of a closer, but that seems a little low for Mariano. He is, by a pretty fair margin, the best at that position in MLB history (granted the role of the modern day reliever is a fairly recent one).

[Tifoso]

I think Pete has Jeter placed about right.

My list

1. Babe Ruth
2. Joe DiMaggio
3. Lou Gehrig
4. Mickey Mantle
5. Yogi Berra
6. Mo
7. Whitey
8. Jeter
9. Bill Dickey
10. Lefty Gomez


I would move Mo further up, if I could....the 4 WS Yank bumps into the 5 WS Yanks, though
(although I think it is much harder to do 4, than it was to do 5 back in the day)


I moved Joe D up, not just because he's Italian, honest , but he was a key part of the 4 in a row Yanks, and even a part of the 5 in a row group. His defense was stellar. (BTW, are there D stats for Joe D and Lou ? )

Also, Gehrig's record has already been broken (although maybe never again); the 56 game streak will never be broken (I hope).

[GordonGecko]

I don't think it makes sense to rank the yankee greats like that. The exception is Ruth who is obviously the greatest. I would then have a bucket for the 5 guys you put at 2 through 6, and a bucket for the next 5...

[BroadwayBomber55]

My Top 10 Yankees:

1. Babe Ruth
2. Lou Gehrig
3. Joe DiMaggio
4. Mickey Mantle
5. Yogi Berra
6. Mariano Rivera
7. Derek Jeter
8. Whitey Ford
9. Lefty Gomez
10. Bill Dickey

[Yankee Tripper]

1 - Ruth for what he meant for baseball
2 - Gehrig for what he meant to the Yankees
Then a bunch of guys who you could throw names in a hat a pick at random and justify.

[BronxYanks45]

It's hard to compare players of different eras.

very true, I'd have to agree

[DEADSOX]

very true, I'd have to agree

It's not that hard, look at all the people in this thread who just did it with ease.

[unfamous loser]

Abraham's list seems fair or will eventually be fair.

I don't understand how some are putting Rivera above Ford. as great as he is, at the end of day, he's a reliever and a reliever because he wasn't good enough to make it as a starter.

a legitimate HOF SP, that was as important as Whitey was, has to come before him every single time.

[Pinstripedbass]

I also have Jeter ranked 6th.

1. Babe Ruth
2. Lou Gehrig
3. Mickey Mantle
4. Joe DiMaggio
5. Yogi Berra
6. Derek Jeter

I place pitchers in a seperate category. If, however, you feel like all players should be ranked, then I'll drop Jeter down to 7th and place Whitey Ford 6th.

[GordonGecko]

... Rivera...he's a reliever and a reliever because he wasn't good enough to make it as a starter.

I disagree, Mariano isn't Joba, just because he's more useful as a closer doesn't mean he wouldn't have been successful as a starter

[penfold]

And just think of all the great players who don't make the top 10: Skowron, Bauer, Guidry, Righetti, O'Neill.....

[unfamous loser]

I disagree, Mariano isn't Joba, just because he's more useful as a closer doesn't mean he wouldn't have been successful as a starter

with what his repertoire and health history was, Mo, perhaps, if they pushed, could have been a back of the rotation starter. that's still not close to what Ford was.

I'm not exactly sure how to approach the Joba part of that response...

[GordonGecko]

with what his repertoire and health history was, Mo, perhaps, if they pushed, could have been a back of the rotation starter. that's still not close to what Ford was.

I'm not exactly sure how to approach the Joba part of that response...

The point is we'll never know, but what we do know is he's been one of the all-time greats at his role which is a very significant one

[ymike673]

Its interesting how Lefty Gomez makes everyones list but not Red Ruffing. Red won the second most games in Yankees history, only a few less than Ford. Red would be on my list.

[b_joseph]

I disagree, Mariano isn't Joba, just because he's more useful as a closer doesn't mean he wouldn't have been successful as a starter

Nice dig at Joba I see

Erm, I would have Jeter below Joe D, Babe, Mickey and Lou. 10 years from now, if Jeter is at 4000+ hits, you can put him in the top 3 IMO.

[JL25and3]

I disagree, Mariano isn't Joba, just because he's more useful as a closer doesn't mean he wouldn't have been successful as a starter

No, the earlier statement was absolutely correct. Mariano became a reliever because he didn't make it as a starter. He just didn't have enough stuff.

To me, though, a closer isn't necessarily a lesser role, it's a different one. In some ways, describing Mariano as a failed starter is like describing Mickey Mantle as a failed shortstop.

[Hooligan Tavarez]

Nice dig at Joba I see

Erm, I would have Jeter below Joe D, Babe, Mickey and Lou. 10 years from now, if Jeter is at 4000+ hits, you can put him in the top 3 IMO.

I don't think you could ever justify putting Jeter in the top 3 just because of hits. Ruth, Gehrig, and Mantle would be pretty tough to top, maybe if Pujols played his entire career with the Yankees he could crack it.

[Sixty one]

The fact that 98% of the fans on this forum did not see Ruth, Gehrig and probably DiMaggio, I think it is impossible to rank these great players with players from Mantle/Berra to the presant. I think you just have to put most of them in the same category......all great without a ranking number next to their name.

[NYYfan132023]

IMO im not high on ruth. I just never really liked him, for now jeter is 6th but if he hits 4000 and breaks the stolen break record i put him 2nd behind gehrig

[sweet_lou_14]

I think 3, 4, 5, and 7 will always be the top tier of Yankee greats. It's extremely hard to imagine anyone, even Jeter, cracking that list. But I think he and Yogi head up the second tier of Yankees legends, and that group is certainly impressive enough.

[Lifelong Fan]

One thing is very clear - hardly anyone disputes Ruth at #1. If the Yankees hadn't purchased him from Boston he may well have been the best pitcher of all time. If that hadn't happened, then Lou Gehrig would likely top this list.
We should all stop everyday and thank Boston for the Babe and what he has meant to the Yankees. The Yankees have always tried to sign, draft, develop, or trade for players that played to Babe's standards. He is the benchmark and the cornerstone of the Yankees and the famed Yankee tradition. In my opinion, he is without question the most important Yankee ever. The first Yankee on my list from the newer era - just before Jeter, would likely be George Steinbrenner for using Babe and the earlier Yankees as the benchmark to return the Yankees to the best franchise in all of professional sports!

1. Babe Ruth
2. Lou Gehrig
3. Mickey Mantle
4. Joe DiMaggio
5. Yogi Berra
6. George Steinbrenner
7. Derek Jeter

[freebubba]

How about an all - Yankee team of the modern era (say 1976 through 2009)?

1. Derek Jeter
2. Mo
3. Thurman Munson
4. Don Mattingly
5. Ron Guidry
6. Reggie Jackson
7. Bernie Williams
8. Posada
9. Paul O'Neill
10. Andy Pettitte
HM: Willie? Nettles? Chambliss? Pinella?

[KLJ]

i would put jeter 8 or 9 of all time yankees..

[ajra21]

i am so glad we have another jeter thread. i don't feel we have enough places to discuss how good he is.

[KLJ]

i am so glad we have another jeter thread. i don't feel we have enough places to discuss how good he is.

just wait until he gets 3000 hits!!!

[ajra21]

just wait until he gets 3000 hits!!!

this thread is gonna have 300 hits?

jeez ...

[GordonGecko]

just wait until he gets 3000 hits!!!

Aim higher, no stopping until 4,000...

[Bub]

I'm going to buck the trend. Ruth, Gehrig and DiMaggio clearly are in the top 3. I see Mantle and Jeter battling for 4th, but that battle isn't over. Even without seeing Berra, the stats give Jeter an edge in nearly every category, some by great margins.

[bobbymagee]

1. Lou Gehrig
2. Babe Ruth
3. Joe DiMaggio
4. Mickey Mantle
5. Mariano Rivera
6. Whitey Ford
7. Yogi Berra
8. Lefty Gomez
9. Bill Dickey
10.Derek Jeter

[BillBuckner]

1. Babe Ruth
2. Lou Gehrig
3. Joe DiMaggio
4. Mickey Mantle
5. Derek Jeter
6. Whitey Ford
7. Yogi Berra
8. Mariano Rivera
9. Don Mattingly
10. Phil Rizzutto

I thought long and hard for a place for Red Ruffing, but there is just too much talent already.

[Bostonsfavson]

I'm going to buck the trend. Ruth, Gehrig and DiMaggio clearly are in the top 3. I see Mantle and Jeter battling for 4th, but that battle isn't over. Even without seeing Berra, the stats give Jeter an edge in nearly every category, some by great margins.

I'll agree that Ruth and Gehrig and clearly the top two, but I don't think that Joe D. is clearly ahead of Mantle. In fact, I firmly believe that Mantle should be third and Joe fourth.

[jimmykey2]

I'll agree that Ruth and Gehrig and clearly the top two, but I don't think that Joe D. is clearly ahead of Mantle. In fact, I firmly believe that Mantle should be third and Joe fourth.

I disagree.

As a RHH, Joe D was more affected by the park than any of the great Yankee hitters. Plus, you have to remember he missed 3 peaks years due to the war.

[Rocketman]

Derek Jeter is the second best career shortstop in history. I put him above Arky Vaughn and Cal Ripken Jr. That's pretty damn good.

[ymike673]

I disagree.

As a RHH, Joe D was more affected by the park than any of the great Yankee hitters. Plus, you have to remember he missed 3 peaks years due to the war.

Joe D hit 46 home runs one season. Had the Stadium had normal distances to left field he probably would have broke Ruth's HR record that season.

[sweet_lou_14]

Derek Jeter is the second best career shortstop in history. I put him above Arky Vaughn and Cal Ripken Jr. That's pretty damn good.

Behind Honus Wagner then?

[ppa79]

Derek Jeter is the second best career shortstop in history. I put him above Arky Vaughn and Cal Ripken Jr. That's pretty damn good.

I agree that Jeter is better than Ripken. Ripken just fell apart when he reached his 30s.

[Maynerd]

I thought long and hard for a place for Red Ruffing, but there is just too much talent already.

Yet, Scooter made your top ten? Curious.

[sweet_lou_14]

Yet, Scooter made your top ten? Curious.

Maybe he meant top guy who wore ten.

[kan_t]

1. Babe Ruth
2. Lou Gehrig
3. Mickey Mantle
4. Joe DiMaggio
5. Yogi Berra
6. Whitey Ford
7. Derek Jeter
8. Bill Dickey
9. Mariano Rivera
10. Red Ruffing

[Bub]

Looking at team stats, Jeter will probably lead the team in all these offensive categories when he's done:
Game Played
At-Bats
Runs
Hits
Doubles
Total Bases
Stolen Bases

He'll also finish in the top 6 in homers and RBIs.

[kan_t]

Derek Jeter is the second best career shortstop in history. I put him above Arky Vaughn and Cal Ripken Jr. That's pretty damn good.

I won't put Jeter above Arky Vaughn. Jeter has a big disadvantage on defence and defence is very important in SS. And Vaughn's peak is historical great as a SS.

[kan_t]

I'm going to buck the trend. Ruth, Gehrig and DiMaggio clearly are in the top 3. I see Mantle and Jeter battling for 4th, but that battle isn't over. Even without seeing Berra, the stats give Jeter an edge in nearly every category, some by great margins.

It depends on how you consider defence and the position adjustment.

[Maynerd]

Why is there never any love for Earle Combs?

Dude has the 3rd highest career Batting Average as a Yankee, top ten in OBP, Runs, Hits, second only to Gehrig in Triples. Hall of Famer.

Yet, he never comes up in a discussion of numbers to be retired, or greatest Yankees, or any of that. Combs should be out in Monument Park. He really should.

[montrealer]

Mo has to be in the top 5 guys.......Plain and simple.....I have to problem with Babe,Lou and Mikey ahead of him.

[kan_t]

Why is there never any love for Earle Combs?

Dude has the 3rd highest career Batting Average as a Yankee, top ten in OBP, Runs, Hits, second only to Gehrig in Triples. Hall of Famer.

Yet, he never comes up in a discussion of numbers to be retired, or greatest Yankees, or any of that. Combs should be out in Monument Park. He really should.

I like him, but he is not all-time top 10 good in Yankees history. Bernie Williams is a better CF.

[sweet_lou_14]

Why is there never any love for Earle Combs?

Dude has the 3rd highest career Batting Average as a Yankee, top ten in OBP, Runs, Hits, second only to Gehrig in Triples. Hall of Famer.

Yet, he never comes up in a discussion of numbers to be retired, or greatest Yankees, or any of that. Combs should be out in Monument Park. He really should.

It's so hard to educate yourself on the guy. There is almost no video or audio of him, he's never mentioned in all the Yankees' own propaganda, etc.

Maybe if they did a Yankeeography they could reawaken everyone's appreciation.