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Yankees: Ranking their five best all-time utility players

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#1 Luis Sojo

As an opening statement, Luis Sojo has as many World Championship rings as Derek Jerek. His highest salary with the Yankees was $800,000, and he earned every penny of it.

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The only time his name appears on the leaderboards, awards, or honors was in 1991 when he led the league in sacrifice hits with 19. Sojo never made an All-Star team, but his value to the Yankees is best seen by the fact they traded for or signed him as a free agent six different times during his years with the team.

The role player, the last one selected to the 25-man roster when the team headed north, that was Luis Sojo.

His game winning hit in Game 5 of the 2000 World Series propelled the Yankees to a win over the New York Mets in the first ever Subway World Series (below).

Following his retirement from baseball as a player, Sojo remained with the Yankees organization as a manager in their minor league system. In a report by the YES Network, Sojo “has been categorized as a good “players’ manager,” and that also helps him build a quick rapport with players who are nearly three decades his junior.”

As someone for whom the game never came easy, Sojo is a natural born teacher who reminds his players daily of the need to work hard and play harder.

Next: The Yankees may have found a new version of Luis Sojo

If the Yankees decide to look internally when Joe Girardi leaves his position, there is a good chance Sojo will at least be called in for an interview.

It’s been fun writing this, and I hope you’ve enjoyed recalling these players from yesteryear. And don’t forget, I invite you to share your thoughts and comments about this story or anything Yankees on the Yanks Go Yard Facebook page.

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