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The NY Yankees currently have Teixeira, Cano, Jeter and Rodriguez..and I was thinking that if they aren't the best infield ever, they certainly must be contenders for that title.
If drawing up a list of nominees...
We would start of course with the 1906 Cubs with their Tinkers to Evers to Chance trio...Harry Steinfeldt was the thirdbaseman.
There was the famous "100,000 Dollar Infield" of the 1910-1913 Philadelphia A's, composed of Stuffy McInnis, Eddie Collins, Jack Barry and Home Run Baker. But I do not really know doo dap diddly about McInnis or Barry.
The 1950's Dodgers had Gil Hodges, Jackie Robinson, Pee Wee Reese and Billy Cox....with Cox being the obvious weaker link in that group.
The best defensive infield of all time may have been the late '60's Orioles who featured Boog Powell, Davey Johnson, Mark Bellanger and Brooks Robinson....
...or maybe it was the 2000 Cleveland Indians with Jim Thome, Roberto Alomar, Omar Vizquel and Travis Fryman.....
In Los Angeles in the '70's, the Dodgers had their longevity champions..Steve Garvey, Davey Lopes, Bill Russell and Ron Cey. There has to be something said for four guys who solve your infield problems for an entire decade.
At the same time, The Big Red Machine was trotting out Tony Perez, Joe Morgan, Davey Concepcion and Pete Rose.
Then there was was the early '80's Brewers who had Cecil Cooper, Jim Gantner, Robin Yount and Paul Molitor.
I don't claim that they belong in this competition, but my personal favorites were the late '80'/early '90's Giants who ran out Will Clark, Robby Thompson, Jose Uribe and Matt Williams.
I'm doing this by memory and may well be overlooking some viable nominees.
1B Hank Greenberg, 2B Charlie Gheringer, SS Billy Rogell, and 3B Marv Owen missed 1 game all season (Greenberg sat out on Yom Kipper). Each of them had a wRC+ over 100 (better offense than league average) and their combind offense was about 30% better than the average hitter. The foursome combined for over 25 WAR
The Yankees' infield this season combined for 16.3 WAR
The 34-37 Tigers infield averaged 21 WAR. But Hank Greenberg only played 12 games in 1936. If he managed 8.2 WAR in 1936 (his average of 34,35 and 37) the Tigers' number goes up to 23 WAR
The Dodgers' infield averaged about 20 WAR from 51-54
Maybe the Cardinals infield in the mid 1960s with Bill White, Julian Javier, Dal Maxvill, and Ken Boyer. Offensively maybe not the most potent sticks ever, but these guys were awesome defensively and made the pitching staff pretty good.
Maybe the Cardinals infield in the mid 1960s with Bill White, Julian Javier, Dal Maxvill, and Ken Boyer. Offensively maybe not the most potent sticks ever, but these guys were awesome defensively and made the pitching staff pretty good.
From 62-64 White, Javier, Boyer and Groat averaged 16 WAR per year.
Maxvil didn't play full time until '66. White moved to Philadelphia in 66 and Boyer went to the Mets.
Maybe the Cardinals infield in the mid 1960s with Bill White, Julian Javier, Dal Maxvill, and Ken Boyer. Offensively maybe not the most potent sticks ever, but these guys were awesome defensively and made the pitching staff pretty good.
In 1963, the Cardinals formed the entire NL starting infield in the All Star Game:
White, Javier, Groat and Boyer. None are in the HoF, but they were the best of their contemporaries, which some would hold to be a better yardstick. The AL infield was Pepitone, Fox, Versalles and Malzone, who were certainly no better. Mazeroski had been voted in, but was injured and Javier started.
As an aside, maybe it would be worth mentioning the 1954 Pirates, for the worst infield ever. Bob Skinner, Curt Roberts, Gair Allie and Dick Cole hit a total of 13 homers between them, and nobody had an OPS above .686. Together, they made 94 errors. Skinner turned out to have a tolerably decent career.
"The 1961 New York Yankee certainly merits consideration; Clete Boyer-third base, Tony Kubek-shortstop, Bobby Richardson-second base, "Moose" Skowron-first base.
For Aardvarks-Elston Howard behind the plate
For Filihok-Whitey Ford on the mound
In 1963, the Cardinals formed the entire NL starting infield in the All Star Game:
White, Javier, Groat and Boyer. None are in the HoF, but they were the best of their contemporaries, which some would hold to be a better yardstick.
1963 WAR
1B: Cepeda 5.7, White 5.5
2B: Tayolr 4.7, Gillam 4.3, Maz 3.7, Rose 2.4, Hunt 2.2, Bolling 1.6, Javier 1.5
3B: Matthews 8.2, Santo 6.7, Boyer 5.3
SS: Groat 7.6
1962 WAR
1B: White 5.0, Cepeda 3.9
2B: Gillam 4.1, Blasingame 2.9, Max 2.8, Hiller 2.1, Javier 2.0
3B: Matthews 6.2, Boyer 5.8
SS: Wills 6.0, Cardenas 4.7, Groat 3.3
White, Boyer, and Groat can make a case that they were the best of their contemporaries. Javier can't.
Quote:
As an aside, maybe it would be worth mentioning the 1954 Pirates, for the worst infield ever. Bob Skinner, Curt Roberts, Gair Allie and Dick Cole hit a total of 13 homers between them, and nobody had an OPS above .686. Together, they made 94 errors.
They combined for 0.2 WAR in 1954.
Only Bob Skinner had any type of career. He played 12 seasons with the Pirates, Reds and Cardinals. He hit .351/.421 in his career. That was 9% better than the average player. He was worth 18 career war and was a pretty consistent 3+ WAR player between 57 and 62
Allie was worth -.6 WAR in 54 and never played in the majors again. His bat was half as productive as an average player.
54 was the only year that Cole was a regular player. He had 540 of his 1380 career plate appearances.
Similar for Roberts who had 90 PA's after '54.
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