1928 New York Yankees
Life is hard for a defending champion. No matter how you got there last year, you are the toast of the town and the last team standing as you hold your championship trophy high...but now there's no escaping the fate for next year. Everyone is gunning for you, and you have the biggest of targets on your back. And the only question anyone has for you next year is the timeless: think you can repeat?
And if the pressure of defending a championship wasn't bad enough, try defending a championship after having an all-time great season. After sweeping their way to the title in '27, Miller Huggins and the Murderers Row Yankees were for the most part back in 1928. On the American League side, the only hope of resistance was coming from the Philadelphia Athletics, and while they put up quite a fight and the Yankees did regress from their legendary win total, the 101-53 record was sufficient enough to claim their third straight AL flag.
In the World Series, the last hope left to stop the Yankees just so happened to be the last team to actually conquer them. The St. Louis Cardinals had beaten the Yankees in the 1926 World Series, but this time their luck wouldn't just run out, it be non-existent. The Yankees swept the Cards 4-0, giving them 8 straight WS victories, and their second straight title.
The difference between 1927 Ruth and Gehrig and cards like their 1928 versions are like trying to pick between the pre-steroids Barry Bonds and the post-steroids Barry Bonds. Sure, nothing is better than the steroid-Bonds or Murderers Row Yankee cards, but the alternatives are still among the most elite cards you can make a lineup with.
Ruth powered his way to a league leading 54 homers to go along with his 163 runs and 137 walks which also were top stats.
Gehrig once again led baseball with 47 doubles and 147 RBI.
The only thing keeping both men from being MVP was the silly rule back then that said you weren't allowed to win the award more than once.
Ruth powered his way to a league leading 54 homers to go along with his 163 runs and 137 walks which also were top stats.
Gehrig once again led baseball with 47 doubles and 147 RBI.
The only thing keeping both men from being MVP was the silly rule back then that said you weren't allowed to win the award more than once.
Combs and Lazzeri are the other two HoF starters in the '28 lineup that also deserve to be highlighted.
Combs wasn't hitting homers, but he did eclipse 100 runs scored with the power hitters batting behind him. He didn't quite hit the team record of triples like he did the year prior, but he still had the AL lead with 21.
Lazzeri didn't bring in a terribly high amount of runners, but what can you do when Ruth and Gehrig are regularly clearing the bases ahead of you. His chart is still outstanding.
With both Ruth and Gehrig unable to qualify for AL MVP, both these men along with pitcher Wait Hoyt comprised 3 of the top 10 spots in the 1928 voting, with Lazzeri coming the closest at 4th place.
Combs wasn't hitting homers, but he did eclipse 100 runs scored with the power hitters batting behind him. He didn't quite hit the team record of triples like he did the year prior, but he still had the AL lead with 21.
Lazzeri didn't bring in a terribly high amount of runners, but what can you do when Ruth and Gehrig are regularly clearing the bases ahead of you. His chart is still outstanding.
With both Ruth and Gehrig unable to qualify for AL MVP, both these men along with pitcher Wait Hoyt comprised 3 of the top 10 spots in the 1928 voting, with Lazzeri coming the closest at 4th place.
The other regulars in '28. Yankees platooned 3 different Catchers, but Grabowski got the majority of starts this year. Meusel had some respectable stats that year to go with his solid chart, Dugans woeful offense was countered by his still very reliable defense at the hot corner, and Koenig brought in a great 11 on-base which was ideal when most Shortstops in baseball were automatic outs back then.
The bench of champions. Many familiar faces from the '27 iteration so it can be fun to gauge their progression (or regression) from one title year to the next. Notable standout is Leo Durocher, who Ruth disliked so much as a player that he nicknamed the rookie "The All-American Out" Hard to argue the logic with that chart, but Leo and Babe ended up as the best of friends in due time.
Great control and/or great charts are why the Yankees starters in 1928 were able to claim the pennant. Leading the charge was Pipgras who had a career year, leading the team with 139 Ks and led the league with 300.2 innings and 24 wins. He never again reached any of those numbers in his career.
Hoyt also followed up his (league leading) 22 wins in '27 with another 23 in '28, the only times he would hit the 20 level. For what it's worth, he also led the league with 8 saves (not a stat back then). His reliability at either the beginning or end of a game was why he got some MVP votes. How many pitchers have you seen that can pull off the 20 win and the RP icons on their cards?
Hoyt also followed up his (league leading) 22 wins in '27 with another 23 in '28, the only times he would hit the 20 level. For what it's worth, he also led the league with 8 saves (not a stat back then). His reliability at either the beginning or end of a game was why he got some MVP votes. How many pitchers have you seen that can pull off the 20 win and the RP icons on their cards?
Other reliable arms in the Yankee rotation. Shealy would put in equal time starting or relieving. Moore didn't get so lucky this year to get the "Closer" distinction on his card, but he still managed 3 "saves" to tie for 2nd on the team.
Fun fact: I finally got around to fixing Myles Thomas' 1927 card to show an accurate uniform. Made very sure that his '28 card would need no future corrections.
Fun fact: I finally got around to fixing Myles Thomas' 1927 card to show an accurate uniform. Made very sure that his '28 card would need no future corrections.
These three men didn't start '28 with the team but ultimately found their way to the Bronx to contribute.
Covelesky was at the end of his HoF career, a case of the boils delayed his anticipated debut for the team. Despite his 5-1 record, his over 5.00 ERA signaled that he was unable to regain the HoF form that had defined his career, and his usefulness to the team came to an end when they signed Zachary.
Yankees acquired Heimach in an August trade where they sent the ever popular "cash and a player to be named later" to St. Paul of the American Association.
Covelesky was at the end of his HoF career, a case of the boils delayed his anticipated debut for the team. Despite his 5-1 record, his over 5.00 ERA signaled that he was unable to regain the HoF form that had defined his career, and his usefulness to the team came to an end when they signed Zachary.
Yankees acquired Heimach in an August trade where they sent the ever popular "cash and a player to be named later" to St. Paul of the American Association.
