10 Forgotten New York Yankees All-Stars

For a team with as much history, tradition, and star-studded rosters as the New York Yankees, it should be no surprise that the MLB All-Star Game has been littered with Yankee players since its inception in 1933. As the winningest North American professional sports franchise, the Yankees have employed some of the most important legends of the game, from Babe Ruth and Joe DiMaggio to modern-day icons like Derek Jeter and Aaron Judge.

With so many stars, it seems unlikely that the club would have been home to players with All-Star honors you'd forgotten about or never heard of. And while it's true, Yankee All-Stars certainly have more name recognition than most, but some of the franchise's entries in the Midsummer Classic are real head scratchers.

Some of these players you might not remember as All-Stars, and some you might not remember at all. Some were deserving, whereas others' inclusion may have been questionable.

10 Most forgotten Yankee All-Stars of all time

Reliever Mike Stanton - 2001

When you think of All-Star game relievers, you're likely remembering closers or mind-boggling dominant setup men like former Yankee Dellin Betances. What you normally don't think of are left-handed middle relievers.

However, in 2001, lefty Mike Stanton emerged as one of the key bridges to Mariano Rivera, putting together a downright dominant season. In total, he'd make 76 appearances and toss 80 1/3 innings, recording a 2.58 ERA while posting a 9-4 record.

Stanton had a long 19-year career and certainly had his moments of success. None of those matched his 2001 dominance, however, for which he was rightfully recognized with the only All-Star appearance of his career.

Starting pitcher Javier Vazquez - 2004

Javier Vazquez is remembered mostly for his inability to handle the pressure of playing in New York. He's also remembered as one of the biggest mistakes of the Brian Cashman era, as the longtime Yankee general manager acquired him not once, but twice, even though things went so poorly the first time around.

The scars we've all suffered from the experience then make it hard to remember that Vazquez was actually an All-Star in 2004, his inaugural season in pinstripes. The final line that season — 14-10 with a 4.91 ERA over 198 innings — might make you gasp, but Vazquez was legitimately good in the first half, posting a 3.56 ERA in 118 2/3 innings pitched and filled Yankee fans with hope.

That, of course, all came crashing down in the second half, as Vazquez posted a ghastly 6.92 ERA down the stretch, cementing his reputation as one of the biggest busts in franchise history.

Starting pitcher Scott Sanderson - 1991

The early 90s were a bleak time for the New York Yankees. The key pieces of the late 90s dynasty were marinating in the minor leagues while the big league club floundered due to injuries and ineffective acquisitions.

One such player who is more or less a footnote from that era is starting pitcher Scott Sanderson, who made his way to the Bronx while on the back nine of his career. The 34-year-old would make his lone All-Star appearance with the Yankees in 1991, his first year with the club, posting a 16-10 record and a 3.81 ERA over 208 innings.

He'd follow that up with a disappointing 1992 campaign that saw his ERA balloon to 4.93 before moving on and bouncing around the league for the final few years of his career.

Third baseman Robin Ventura - 2002

The longtime Chicago White Sox third baseman had established himself as a two-way force in his early days, winning six Gold Gloves and posting two 30-plus homer seasons before finding his way from Chicago to Queens and then the Bronx.

Robin Ventura seemed to be on the decline upon his arrival. His last two seasons with the Mets in 2000 and 2001 saw a precipitous drop in his batting average (.232 and .237) after a .301 performance in 1999.

As a 34-year-old in 2002 with the Yankees, his batting average didn't completely return, but his .263/.367/.511 line and 19-homer performance in the first half made him a deserving All-Star. He'd crater down the stretch, hitting just .227/.371/.389 after the All-Star festivities and would be traded to the Dodgers the following year at the deadline for Scott Proctor and rumored center fielder of the future (which no one actually believed), Bubba Crosby.

Reliever Luis Arroyo - 1961

A diminutive Puerto Rican southpaw who began his career at the age of 28 by touring the Midwest — beginning with the St. Louis Cardinals before moving on to the Pittsburgh Pirates and finally the Cincinnati Reds, before settling in New York in 1960 where he'd finish out his career — Luis Arroyo is an easy name to forget.

After his initial season in pinstripes, where he was effective but seldom used, Arroyo burst out of nowhere to put together by far the best year of his career and make his second All-Star team in 1961.

That season, he'd become the Yankees' primary "closer," making 65 appearances and finishing 54 games, both of which were marks that led the league. He'd also log 119 innings, post a sparkling 2.19 ERA while going 15-5, leading the league with 29 saves. Man, relievers were weird back then.

Arroyo would pitch two more seasons in the Bronx before ending his career, and the drop-off was steep. In 1962, he threw only 33 2/3 innings with a 4.81 ERA, and in 1963, he was an afterthought with just six innings pitched and a putrid 13.50 ERA. Just as quickly as Arroyo had burst onto the scene, he flamed out.

Reliever Ron Davis - 1981

Ron Davis came up with the Yankees with a cup of coffee in 1978, before really breaking in with a spectacular 1979 season that saw him go 14-2 out of the bullpen with a 2.85 ERA and nine saves in 85 1/3 innings.

He'd become an All-Star in 1981, posting a 2.71 ERA in 73 innings, striking out 83 batters along the way in what would be his final season in pinstripes. Weirdly, 1981, despite it being his best season ERA-wise, may have been the worst of his brief Yankee tenure.

Davis would move on to the Minnesota Twins for the next several seasons before bouncing around the league in the twilight of his career. He'd never make another All-Star team and never reach the same heights he did with the Yankees.

Right fielder Nick Swisher - 2010

Nick Swisher was a divisive figure among Yankee fans when he was traded to New York ahead of the 2009 season. He'd come off a year in which he had hit just .219, and fans were worried that his three-true-outcome style would leave too many ducks on the pond. At the same time, his laid-back attitude clashed with the buttoned-up, intense, corporate culture that was prevalent in the Bronx at that time.

Of course, a World Series ring does wonders to gain acceptance, and by 2010, he was a beloved figure in the Bronx. On a star-studded team, Swisher wasn't tasked with carrying the offense, but rather augmenting it with his plate discipline and power.

What ended up happening is Swisher put up the best year of his career, hitting .288/.359/.511 with 29 dingers, earning him his first and only All-Star appearance. He'd ride out the rest of his prime with the Yankees, moving on to Cleveland in 2013, and called it a career after the 2015 season.

For his sterling Yankee tenure he deserves and emphatic "Swisher Salute."

Catcher Aaron Robinson - 1947

If you want to talk about late bloomers, look no further than Aaron Robinson. The predecessor to the legendary Yogi Berra, Robinson made his debut in 1943, logging one lone at-bat in which he struck out. He wouldn't play in the bigs in 1944 as he served in the U.S. Coast Guard, but finally emerged as a semi-regular in 1945 at the age of 30.

Robinson was never technically a starter as the Yankees opted for a catcher-by-committee approach in those days. Still, he possessed a relatively potent bat, recording an .849 OPS in 1945 and an .894 mark in 1946.

Ironically, it was 1947, his worst and final year in pinstripes, when he was bestowed with his lone All-Star selection. That year, Robinson recorded just 294 plate appearances in 82 games, hitting five homers and slashing .270/.370/.413. Somehow, that was enough to earn him the honors.

Starting Pitcher Johnny Kucks - 1956

Hoboken native Johnny Kucks' career lasted just five years, but he should be remembered fondly in Yankee lore. In 1956, Kucks was a member of a Yankee rotation that featured the Chairman of the Board, Whitey Ford, and a bunch of young question marks.

The 23-year-old Kucks was tabbed by legendary manager Casey Stengel to start Game 7 of the 1956 World Series against the reigning champs, the Brooklyn Dodgers. Kucks immortalized himself with a three-hit, complete game shutout to bring the crown back to the Bronx.

That season marked the first and only All-Star selection of his career. He went 18-9 with a 3.85 ERA over 224 1/3 innings. As you can see, he could pitch like a star when it counted the most.

Catcher Russell Martin - 2011

Beginning his career as a young, dynamic catcher with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Russell Martin made his way to the Bronx in 2011, taking the mantle from star catcher Jorge Posada, who was in the final year of his career and transitioned primarily to DH.

Martin arrived with two All-Star selections under his belt (both well-deserved) from his Dodgers' tenure. He'd earn a third with the Yankees, though his 2011 selection was more dubious. Martin hit an inconsistent .237/.324/.408 with 18 homers, at times looking like a force at the plate and other times looking lost.

The Yankees had hoped that Martin, who was only 28 at the time of his selection, could hold down the backstop position for years to come. However, he'd hit free agency after the 2012 campaign and rejected the Yankees' advances to retain him, moving on to Pittsburgh after two average years in the Bronx.