New York Yankees: Creating an all-time starting lineup

NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 12: Alex Rodriguez #13 of the New York Yankees grounds out to the shortstop to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays on August 12, 2016 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Christopher Pasatieri/Getty Images) /

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If only athletes of today had the humility of Lou Gehrig. He understood how lucky he was to get to play a child’s game for a living, and he did so every day like it was his last. When Gehrig took over for Wally Pipp on June 2, 1925, he began a legendary streak. He ended up playing in 2,130 consecutive games, a record that lasted from April 30, 1939, until June 28, 1995.

Gehrig hit at least .300 for 13 consecutive seasons while playing in those 2,130 straight games. On top of that, he won two MVP awards and made seven straight All-Star Games — that would’ve been higher if the game existed before 1933. In 1924, he led not only the American League but all of baseball in home runs, RBI, and batting average, becoming the third player to win the MLB Triple Crown — the most amazing offensive feat in all of baseball.

There’s really no other first basemen that could compare to Gehrig. Don Mattingly was slightly better defensively, but Gehrig hit nearly 500 home runs and his fielding percentage was over .990. The combination of defense and offense is impeccable and must be on the team.

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