Growing up in central California, I have fond memories of lying on the floor of my dad’s bedroom as he read, The Sporting News and we listened to the Giants game on my transistor radio. I can still hear Russ Hodges and Lon Simmons getting excited over a triple by Felipe Alou or a home run by Orlando Cepeda. And…”There’s a drive to straightaway centerfield, Mays is under it, puts it away in his basket for out number three. At the end of seven innings, Giants 7 and the Dodgers 1…” Ah, what great voices they had as I grew up with them.

I was thinking the other day about the greatest players in my lifetime at each position. An All-Star team from 1948 until today. If I could be the owner of that team who would I chose and why. Here is my Dream Team…
Leading off is Pete Rose. Second base. This was his original position when he came to the major leagues in 1961. I want him up as many times as possible since he was the hits leader of all-time. Plus, he was a spark plug. He got the entire team going with his energy and enthusiasm. What a great way to start off my powerful lineup! Batting second would be Derek Jeter. Shortstop. I always liked Ozzie Smith but over time, Jeter passed him in my book. He has more power than Smith and is a clubhouse leader. He also is a great team player and won several World Series with the Yankees. Like Rose, he is a winner. My first two batters are the one who set the plate for the big boys coming up.

In the third position, I want Willie Mays. Centerfield. Maybe the all-around greatest player of all time. Speed. Power. Average. Fielding. Arm. I like him here in the batting order. My team could be up 3-0 without blinking an eye with the guys getting on base ahead of him. My cleanup hitter would be Albert Pujols. First base. He is a monster at the plate. Power personified yet he still hits for average. Consistent, too. When he plays well, the Cardinals are in first place. My team will be, too. I need a good fifth hitter so they will have to pitch to Pujols. Hmm…give me Johnny Bench. Catcher. He edges out Yogi Berra because of his ability to throw out baserunners. Plus, he has more power and is a team player and leader. I actually thought the Oakland A’s of the 70’s were better than the Big Red Machine because they won one more World Series and beat them head to head in one, but I don’t feel bad about putting two of their players on my team. I think Bench is the greatest catcher who ever played the game.

My sixth and seventh hitters both come from the outfield. There are so many deserving players. How do you pick between Aaron, Kaline,  Snider, Bonds, Sosa, Musial, Cepeda, McCovey, Mantle, Maris…but, it is my team so here are my two choices. Batting sixth will be Reggie Jackson. Right field. Why? Simply put, he was a winner. Wherever he went his teams won championships and pennants. He was not the best fielder. He struck out a lot. But, when the pressure was on, Reggie ignited his bat. He dominated two World Series Championship teams: The A’s in 1973 and the Yankees in 1977. He also was a major influence in 1974 and 1978 in those championship years, too. I like winners. My other player is Roberto Clemente. Left field. He was a career right fielder, yes. But, he was so good I would not worry about him in left field. He had an arm like a howitzer and he ran like a deer. He also stole bases and could hit for power and average. One of the best players ever. He also inspired his team more than Aaron, Bonds and Mantle. His average Pirates won two world championships with him leading them.
Third base gives me a problem. There are so many great players here. George Brett hit .390 one season and was an incredible hit machine. Mike Schmidt was a Hall of Famer and the power guy of those great Phillies teams in the 70’s and 80’s. Jackie Robinson. Eddie Matthews. A-Rod.
But, I am going with a guy who was known for his glove, the most incredible fielder at his position of all-time and a pretty fair hitter, too. Brooks Robinson. Third base. The human vacuum cleaner. That bolsters Jeter at short over Ozzie, too. I like my infield. I don’t need great hitters all the way through the lineup. I need great players. I like Brooksie, even though I was never a big fan of the Orioles.
 

My DH? It has to be Teddy Ballgame. Mr. Williams was the best pure hitter the game has ever seen. He could see the seams on the ball at 90 mph. What a gift of eyesight he had at the plate! Round bat. Round ball. Ted Williams hit anywhere he wanted. It was like playing slow pitch softball with him at the plate and he played in an era of great starting pitchers, too.
I will be brief with my pitchers. I chose them for clutch performances, winning percentage, leadership, guts and how they thrived under pressure in the World Series. My starting lefthanders would be Sandy Koufax and Whitey Ford. Look up their records in the postseason and how they came through for their teams. Bob Gibson and Catfish Hunter would be my righthanders when I needed a victory. Carlton, Clemens, Maddux, Spahn, Marichal, Jenkins, Drysdale and Roberts may have been better pitchers than Ford or Hunter, but not for my team. I want winners in the postseason, not just in May or June. My long relievers would be…well, I wouldn’t need long relievers with these starters, so let’s just go to the firemen. My two ninth inning guys? Bruce Sutter and Mariano Rivera. No question about these two closers as long as Ryne Sandburg or Luis Gonzales were not around, they would never lose a game. My manager? With this collection of talent, I need a calm, guiding influence, not a Tony LaRussa. I am going with Joe Torre. He proved to me he can win after all those years of blowing second halves of the seasons.

I will be brief with my pitchers. I chose them for clutch performances, winning percentage, leadership, guts and how they thrived under pressure in the World Series. My starting lefthanders would be Sandy Koufax and Whitey Ford. Look up their records in the postseason and how they came through for their teams. Bob Gibson and Catfish Hunter would be my righthanders when I needed a victory. Carlton, Clemens, Maddux, Spahn, Marichal, Jenkins, Drysdale and Roberts may have been better pitchers than Ford or Hunter, but not for my team. I want winners in the postseason, not just in May or June. My long relievers would be…well, I wouldn’t need long relievers with these starters, so let’s just go to the firemen. My two ninth inning guys? Bruce Sutter and Mariano Rivera. No question about these two closers as long as Ryne Sandburg or Luis Gonzales were not around, they would never lose a game. My manager? With this collection of talent, I need a calm, guiding influence, not a Tony LaRussa. I am going with Joe Torre. He proved to me he can win after all those years of blowing second halves of the seasons.
Now, it’s your turn. Take your shots at my team. I know you have favorite players, stats and lifetime highlights to challenge my selections. That is what makes baseball so delicious. No one is right and no one is wrong with lists like these. But, I have stated my case for my team. I look forward to your reasoning why your team might be better. Thanks for listening and PLAY BALL!

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