I was ten years
old when the Yankees did the unthinkable – finished 26.5 games out of first
place, with a 70-89 record. Ah, those were the days. Now, of course, the
Yankees win. Pretty much every day and night. The season is winding
down and they are in the playoffs, as per usual.
Time to dream a
little. By offering up a Yankee Haters Dream Team. Let’s call them the lovable
ones … Some unsung, some associated more with losing (think every other MLB club,
with the exception of the Cardinals) than winning. Here’s my version of, yes,
the Yankee Haters Dream Team.
Pitcher
Catfish Hunter
Color me
nostalgic for the 1970s, and names like Catfish stedda letters
Catcher
Jake Gibbs
Because I’m a
believer in strength of character down the middle … And Jake was a member of that losing 1966
Yankees squad that went 70-89. Losing builds character. Good times, times
First Baseman
Marv Thorneberry
Marv broke in
with the Yanks in 1955, then proceeded to spur even the most humorless fan into uncontrollable laughter as the starting first baseman for the
expansion 40-120 New York Mets, 60.5 games outta first place. Errors that year
(1962): 17!
Second Baseman
Horace Clarke
How can you not
find lovable someone by the name of Horace? Yes, 1966! Strength down the middle!
(70-89!)
Third Baseman
Charlie Hayes
He WAS the unsung
hero of the 1996 Yankees, the only iteration of pinstripes except for that unforgettable 1966 squad that actually didn’t/doesn't revolt me. Why? Because of Charlie Hayes, without whom the Yanks would not have
won, yet all we heard (and still hear about) were/are Jeter, O’Neill, Williams,
Strawberry …
Shortstop
Tony Kubek
Because he had a
cool broadcast voice. And he seemed like a relatively nice guy.
Right Fielder
Jesse Barfield
Because he was
drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays. (One of the myriad reasons I identify as a
Yankee Hater is that my folks at home in Canada cheer for the Blue Jays)
Left Fielder
Tim Raines
Because I am a
die-hard Expos fan. (No, I don’t cheer for the Nationals -- did true-blue Brooklyn Dodgers fans pick up and cheer for the LA team … I don’t think so)
Center Fielder
Roger Repoz
He didn’t patrol
center field for long for the Yankees. But man, those were the days. (Yes, 1966
rules as the year of years for Yankee Haters … when they languished with that
70-89 record !
Next:
Running for Your Life: If the Greats Were With Us Thursday
