The all-time New York Yankees World Series roster

Okay, this one will surely ruffle a few feathers. Then again, it would be almost impossible not to, especially after the New York Yankees flopped this postseason. If you had to construct your all-time Yankees World Series roster, which players would make the cut and which ones are chomping on hot dogs in the stands watching the game? It might seem easy at first glance, but the more you think about it, the tougher it gets.  

With 41 World Series appearances and 27 titles, the Yankees have the most experience in the Fall Classic out of any other franchise in MLB history. The Bronx Bombers have played in 230 World Series games throughout their 124-year history. Because of that, the Yankees have a seemingly endless roster of players to choose from to construct their all-time World Series roster. 

The Yankees offer a who’s who of World Series greats for their all-time roster  

While some of the greatest players in the history of baseball have had the chance to suit up for the Yankees during their careers, not all of them were able to shine in the World Series. Players like Don Mattingly never even got close to playing in a single Fall Classic game (blame Edgar Martinez). Unfortunately, that means that Mattingly and players of his ilk/numerous '80s stars are automatically left out of consideration for this roster.

Catcher: Yogi Berra 

When you own enough World Series rings to plop one on each finger, you don’t really need anyone to make a case for you to be on this roster. Yogi Berra will likely never be ousted as the player with the most World Series titles at 10. He was an instrumental figure in the greatest championship run in Yankees history. Not only did Berra expertly handle the pitching staff during his 14 World Series appearances, but he brought his bat along with him too, sporting an .811 OPS in 259 at-bats.    

Bench: Jorge Posada 

1B: Lou Gehrig 

After losing to the St. Louis Cardinals in his first World Series appearance in 1926, Lou Gehrig decided to take it personally and never lose a ring again. As a seven-time champion, Gehrig cemented himself as not only an all-time great Yankees player, but one of the greatest to ever play the game period. In 34 career World Series games, Gehrig smacked 10 home runs and drove in 35 RBI. His .731 slugging percentage in the Fall Classic is nearly as high as some players’ career postseason OPS.  

Bench: Tino Martinez

2B: Bobby Richardson 

The Yankees may have lost the 1960 World Series to the Pittsburgh Pirates, but you can’t put the blame on Bobby Richardson. With 11 hits and 12 RBI in 30 at-bats in that matchup, Richardson became the first and only player on the losing team to be named World Series MVP in MLB history. While he never came close to ever matching that type of performance again, it’s hard to pencil anyone else in at the second base position for this roster.  

Bench: Tony Lazzeri

SS: Derek Jeter 

Simply put, the Yankees probably don't win their last five World Series titles without Derek Jeter at shortstop. Like most of Jeter’s career, his World Series performance was the glue that held everything together. His career .321 batting average in 156 at-bats highlights that fact. When the Yankees needed a big hit to spark a rally or a player to make a game-saving play in the field, Jeter always seemed to be the guy to do it. 

Bench: Phil Rizzuto

3B: Scott Brosius 

This one may be surprising, but in 70 career World Series at-bats, Scott Brosius posted a .314/.333/.529 slash line, becoming a key addition to the Yankees dynasty in the late '90s. He also played some very solid defense on top of his clutch production at the plate. Brosius won’t be remembered as an all-time Yankees great or memorialized in Monument Park, but his three rings prove that he showed up when it mattered the most. He was just consistently better than any other Yankees third baseman in the World Series. And who could forget his heroics in Game 5 of the 2001 Fall Classic? He and Alfonso Soriano should've been enshrined together forever ... if not for that ill-fated trip to the desert.

Bench: Graig Nettles

OF: Mickey Mantle 

Mickey Mantle was about as explosive of a player as we've ever seen in the big leagues. We've rarely seen a player match Mantle's level of play since his retirement. Not only was he one of the game's all-time greats during the regular season, but he also put up a record-setting performance in October as well. His 18 home runs and 40 RBI in his World Series career each remain the top mark in their category in MLB history. Both records feel pretty safe from being broken any time soon. 

Bench: Bernie Williams 

OF: Joe DiMaggio 

Posting over 78 bWAR in just 13 career seasons is already impressive, but Joe DiMaggio’s nine World Series rings only added to his airtight Hall of Fame resume. Not too shabby at all. However, with a .760 career OPS in 199 at-bats in the Fall Classic, he wasn't quite the same hitter as he was in the regular season. That doesn't mean that he still didn't offer value to the Yankees, though. His eight home runs and 30 RBI in the World Series certainly make up for his slight struggles to get consistent hits.

Bench: Aaron Judge 

OF: Reggie Jackson

With video game numbers across his 27 World Series games, Reggie Jackson is the epitome of a player showing up when it matters the most. Obviously, his three-home run game in the 1977 World Series is what fans might remember most about Jackson’s postseason career, but beyond that, Jackson was truly made to play October baseball. He boasts a ridiculous .357/.457/.755 slash line in 98 career World Series at-bats to go alongside his 10 home runs and 24 RBI. That's the elite of the elite.

Bench: Paul O’Neill

DH: Babe Ruth 

It almost seems impossible to top Jackson’s eye-popping numbers, but Babe Ruth did just that in his 41 career games in the World Series. His .326/.470/.744 slash in 129 at-bats is obviously elite as it is, but his absurd performance in the 1928 World Series is something that kids dream about when first falling in love with the game. Ruth went 10-for-16 with six extra-base hits during the Yankees four-game sweep of the St.Louis Cardinals, good for a 2.022 OPS. There’s a reason why he’s still considered the greatest to ever play the game. 

Bench: Giancarlo Stanton 

SP: Whitey Ford 

With 10 wins, Whitey Ford is the most-accomplished World Series pitcher in MLB history. His 2.61 ERA and 2.69 FIP offer enough supporting evidence to prove that those wins were definitely not flukes as well. Ford never had to overpower hitters in order to find success. Even decades after his retirement, his ability to command the strike zone can be seen as a blueprint for young pitchers, especially those looking to excel in the clutch.   

 Bench: Allie Reynolds

RP: Goose Gossage 

Even though Goose Gossage won just a single World Series title during his Yankees career, he pitched about as well as you could expect from a reliever. In six games for the team, Gossage allowed just three hits and three walks in 11 scoreless innings of work. He even pitched in multiple innings in five of those six games. There’s only one other reliever who you’d want jogging out of the bullpen in a tight spot over Gossage. 

Bench: Sparky Lyle

CP: Mariano Rivera 

Much like Jeter, the Yankees probably don’t come close to building their '90s dynasty without the arm of Mariano Rivera. In 24 World Series games, Rivera boasted a ridiculous 0.99 ERA on his way to notching 11 saves for the Yankees. He allowed just one home run in 36.1 innings during that stretch. Outside of the Subway Series against the New York Mets in 2000, Rivera didn’t surrender multiple runs in another World Series. Pure ice in his veins.  

Bench: John Wetteland

Manager: Joe Torre 

If you had to pick between Joe Torre, Joe McCarthy, and Casey Stengel to manage the all-time roster, you really couldn’t go wrong. The trio guided their teams to 18 collective World Series titles during their tenures. Each of these managers put their teams in the best position to win and were able to get their respective clubs over the final obstacle. But for any other millennial Yankees fans out there, Torre just has a special place in their heart.  

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