The theme of today’s newsletter is the 2009 New York Yankees, who ranked 16th in the Best 50, and it’s my list of the greatest baseball clubs in history. Ranking from my new book The best team in baseball.
Here is a quick boilerplate note attached to each story I have in this series:
I compiled the best 50 by analyzing 2,544 major league teams from 1903 to 2024. (The historical percentile for a given club is the percentage of its other 2,543 teams.)
Please refer to my book to explain my TS calculations. The book also offers a separate breakdown of the best and worst clubs every decade, along with a comprehensive overview of the best 50 (including a position-by-position lineup and more information than you will find in this newsletter), and a similar summary of the 10 worst teams of all time.
Now enter today’s profile.
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Team: 2009 New York Yankees
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Team Score: 88.768 points
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Ranking History: 16 of 2,544
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Historical percentile: 99.41%
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Seasonal record: 103-59 (.636)
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Season position: No. 1 in the US Eastern League
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Final identity: World Champion
Yankees splashed in 2008 Joe GirardiFirst season as a manager. They ranked third in the American League in the Eastern Conference, the worst result since 1992. Another failure in 2009 could cost Girardi his job, one journalist suggested. The manager answered cautiously: “I don’t necessarily think about these things, but when you ask questions, you may be right.”
The front desk in New York scrambled to stop such a disaster. It took advantage of the franchise’s huge Treasury Department and invested $441 million. Bulk first baseman Mark Teixeira and pitcher CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett.
The blood transfusion of talents has no immediate effect. In the first five weeks, the Yankees stumbled to the 15-17 mark, 6.5 games behind the Toronto Division. Then, they suddenly turned the process and then roared with a record of 88-42. Teixeira’s 39 home runs and Sabathia’s 19 wins won the club’s division title. Girardi said gratefully: “They have basically had a few years that we know they have the ability to have.”
Get a complete low in 50 greatest (and 10 weakest) clubs of all time
The Yankees were relatively easy to advance to the final level of the playoffs. They swept the twins in the American League Division Series and then succumbed to the Angels in the six AL Championship Series. Total scores in the first two rounds: Yankees 48, opponents 25.
The World Series lost to Philadelphia with an ominous 6-1, but New York rallyed well for three straight wins. The Yankees secured the championship with a 7-3 victory in Game 6.
Andy Pettittea 37-year-old pitcher is no longer the club’s ace, which is the difference between CC Sabathia. However, Pettitte stepped up the game in the playoffs, winning decisive games in all three series. “Andy has been that guy for years,” close-up Mariano Rivera Pettitte said after his World Series win. “Today, he showed it again.”
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The 2009 world championship was the fifth time the Yankees won since 1996. Only four players (the so-called core four) were in trouble throughout the 14-season winning streak.
Shortstop Derek JeterHe was a 22-year-old rookie in 1996 and is now the third-largest player in New York’s daily lineup when he was 35 years old. His .334 batting average ranks third in the American League. catcher Jorge Posada The 38-year-old core four members tortured at the age of 38 with a solid 0.285. Andy Pettitte (37) became the starter with a 14-8 record, with reliefist Mariano Rivera (39) earning 44 saves.
But the driving force for New York is young free agents. First baseman Mark Teixeira ranked in the league (39) in home runs and ran in (122), and he expects a long tweak to his new environment. “I’ve never been in my wildest dreams, and I think that’s going to happen in the first year,” he said. Pitcher CC Sabathia led the Grand Slam with 19 wins, fusing sliders and sinkers with a booming fastball. Analyst (and former outfielder) “He became an electric pitcher who learns skills.” Doug Glanville Speak seriously.
Third baseman Alex Rodriguez Missed the first month of the 2009 season, and the lip bones were torn. He recovered 30 home runs, and although he was the lowest since 1997, his total was pretty good. But Rodriguez was mainly the source of controversy in 2009. Sports Illustrated He revealed in February that he conducted a private test on steroids in 2003. “I’m still young. I’m stupid,” he said, although he’s not completely regretful. “To be honest, I don’t know exactly what I use,” Rodriguez said.
