Left field: 1937 Joe Medwick (.374, 237 hits (56 doubles), 154 RBI, 406 total bases, MVP)
Hall of Famer Medwick began his career with the Gashouse Gang in the early 30's, winning a World Series with the team in 1934. Medwick made his first All-Star team that year and went on to finish with a .319 average. Fast forward three years and Medwick had the best year of his career and arguably one of the best seasons of the 1930s with a .374 average, making him an easy choice for the MVP award. Medwick slugged 31 home runs, scored 111 runs, and had an OPS of 1.056 - to put that in perspective, Barry Bonds had a career OPS of 1.051. Medwick finished with a career average of .324, but I will take his 1937 campaign to put him in left.
Centerfield: Rookie Mike Trout (2012: 49 steals, 129 runs, .326 avg, .963 OPS, .993 field%)
Future Hall of Famer Mike Trout stole the stage of the baseball world in his rookie season two years ago. No one played the game with a combination such hustle and production on both sides of the ball as he did that entire year (and probably still now). He won the Silver Slugger, Rookie of the Year, an All-Star selection, and was the MVP runner-up to Miguel Cabrera's Triple Crown season. Trout's ability to steal bases, hit the ball out of the park, and track down nearly any ball in the gaps in center make him a lethal addition to the Jersey team.
Right field: 2010 Jason Heyward (.277 avg. ROY runner up, 18 HR, 72 RBI)
When I was a junior in high school, our baseball team took a spring break trip to Myrtle Beach to play some games at the Ripken Baseball complex. On one of our off nights, we went to see a Myrtle Beach Pelicans game, and at that time, the Braves' High A club boasted Baseball America's #5 prospect in Jason Heyward. Heyward, a 6'5", 245 lb hulk of a man, carried a lot of expectations on his shoulders, and boy did he deliver. He hit the biggest home run that I have ever seen. TicketReturn.com Field's right field wall sits a comfy 308' away, and when the ball cleared the fence, it was still rising. Maybe I romanticize it a little, like "the fish was this big," but still. The ball was sailing hundreds of feet away into the warm and sticky South Carolina night as a bevy of young baseball players erupted from their seats in awe. Since his time in the majors, Heyward has underperformed in my opinion with a career average of .260 and respectable power, but he always takes good at-bats and usually strikes out at a low(ish) rate.
Fourth outfielder/pinch runner: 1891 Billy Hamilton (111 steals, .340 avg, 141 runs)
I know baseball was a different game before the turn of the century, but you can't refuse numbers like this. Hamilton was a career .344 hitter and even hit above .400 in 1893, but as a pinch runner, I just want his best speed available. They always say you can't teach speed - that's fine, but I can have it on my team. Can you imagine Trout and Hamilton on the basepaths togethers? I don't care who is catching, that is a nightmare. Or - can you imagine Billy Hamilton and current Billy Hamilton? Dear God.
Third basemen: 2008 Mark DeRosa (.285 avg., 103 runs, 21 HR, .857 OPS)
DeRosa is a great role player that every team needs. Currently, of our four outfielders, 2 are Hall of Famers and a third will probably be in once all is said and done - a role player here and there is okay. DeRosa never won any awards, never went to an All Star game, but when you play 16 years in the MLB, you're doing something right. 2008 DeRosa was a veteran power hitter for the NLCS bound Cubbies, and the best thing is, you know exactly what you're going to get from him - he hit 2 grand slams that year! He also hit .091 on turf. As long as the stadium is natural grass, we're good.
Shortstop: 1999 Derek Jeter (.349 avg., 219 hits, 134 runs, .989 OPS)
You can't go wrong with Derek Jeter, you really can't (you all know how I feel about Jeter), but it was just a matter of which year. 1999 was a great year all around, not only did he have his most hits and best average of his career, but he was an All-Star and the Yankees won the World Series - he also did not miss a game. As a young 25 year-old patrolling the middle of the diamond, I think the All NJ team will be more than happy.
Second basemen: 1996 Eric Young (All-Star, 53 steals, .324 avg., 184 hits)
EY is a steal at this position. As a career .283 hitter and base stealer, he'll make a great double play partner with Derek Jeter across second base. He'll also provide a number of distractions on the basepaths with his speed and clutch hitting (.299 avg. in one run games). This was his career year - we'd love to have it.
First basemen: 1959 Joe Cunningham (.345 avg., .453 OBP, All Star)
Cunningham's lone All-Star selection was this year (obviously, with an average that high). Like DeRosa, Cunningham is a sturdy, solid all-around player. With a .291 career average for the White Sox, Cardinals, and Senators, he'll most likely have to be a defensive convert. Cunningham played the majority of his games in right field in his career, though he did become a full time first basemen late in his career.
Catcher: 1940 Frankie Hayes (.308 avg., 16 home runs)
Frankie Hayes was never an amazing offensive catcher (career .259 average), but those are rare. That's why we are taking his best offensive year of 1940 (typically you want a catcher for defense, but he allowed the most stolen bases and committed the most errors among catchers that year). Hayes played for numerous teams in his career, and the NJ team will gladly take him along.
Pitching staff:
- 1956 Don Newcombe: CYA, MVP, 27-7, 3.06 ERA, .989 WHIP
- 1998 Al Leiter: 17-6, 2.47 ERA, 1.150 ERA
- 1971 Al Downing: 20-9, 5 shutouts, 2.68 ERA, 262 IP
- 1938 Johnny Vander Meer: 15-10, 3 shutouts, 2 no hitters, 3.12 ERA
- 2009 Andrew Bailey (closer): ROY, 26 saves, .876 WHIP, 1.84 ERA
Manager: Jack McKeon
McKeon won the World Series with the 2003 Marlins and also won Manager of the Year in 1999 and 2003. At a 1051-990 record, he'll be a great leader for our talented roster.
Now for the batting order. This is tough. Trout, Jeter, Heyward, Hamilton, and Eric Young theoretically could lead off, and we also have a lot of right handed hitters. Here's my best shot at it:
1. Jeter
2. Young
3. Trout
4. Medwick
5. Heyward
6. Cunningham
7. DeRosa
8. Cunningham
9. Pitcher spot
Heck, Jack McKeon, I could manage this team, look at that batting order (just kidding). And the name of the team....the Jersey Boys.
Thanks for reading.
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