Yankees history, trivia, and nostalgia often focus on legendary hitting performances both on the team and individual level, and rightfully so. With nicknames like “Murderers’ Row” and “the Bronx Bombers,” and with staggering individual performances from the likes of Ruth, Gehrig, Mantle, and Maris, the accolades and their role in baseball folklore is well deserved.
Yet you don’t win 27 World Series without also assembling pitching staffs and defenses that perform at elite levels as well. Although the Yankees have had some defenders who are considered among the best fielders of all time at their respective positions, like Don Mattingly and Graig Nettles, as well as 20 Hall of Famers who’ve taken the mound for them, they’ve generally all taken a back seat to the guys holding the bats (several of whom were profiled yesterday).