The 1927 Yankees are considered the best baseball team of all-time, with 7 HOFers in the dugout. Using the WIS salary for the team of $111M, and only 7 HOF / All-star seasons can you build a better team?

TWIST: The ACTUAL 1927 Yankees will play in the league with Sparky at the helm; I wonder who will finish ahead (and behind) them!

Years: 1933-2019
All-star game started in 1933 and no ASG in 2020, so that helps define the years.

Salary Cap: $111M
Exact same cap as 1927 Yankees as determined by WhatIfSports.

Team Restrictions:
All player seasons of the team are NO AWARDS, with 7 exceptions where you can use a HOF player or an award winning season. You are not required to use any exceptions if you do not wish.

No AAA, No trades, No waivers.

Six spots left.

Post here if interested and I'll sitemail you the league number. :)

Post moved to the correct spot here - https://www.whatifsports.com/forums/Posts.aspx?topicID=528703

FYI - if you're not part of the WhatsApp group, Ethan (one of the owners & a spreadsheet whiz) is going to do a season preview shortly. Just join the WhatsApp group via link in the sitemail I sent to everyone to see it.

Ethan goes over cool things like the most commonly used players across the league, MVP and Cy Young favourites, etc.

If you don't have WhatsApp, I'll try to post some of the highlights here. :D

PRE-SEASON PREVIEW

The 1927 Yankees were an offensive powerhouse as we know, and this league will be no different. Their offense is by far the highest paid at 71.9 million (65% of payroll). the league average is 52%.

They actually do not rank first in most of the offensive stats except for runs and triples, but they do rank last in OAV, WHIP, ERA, K, $/IP, K/BB. There will be some fireworks in Yankee Stadium this season.

They actually do not rank first in most of the offensive stats except for runs and triples, but they do rank last in OAV, WHIP, ERA, K, $/IP, K/BB. There will be some fireworks in Yankee Stadium this season.

They are also last in fielding % at a number of positions and last in CS%. We might prove quite quickly that it is not difficult to beat "the best team of all-time".

Bill_James47 bravely replies:

”I would put the Yankees over/under win total at around 50.”

Bold statement indeed!!

They have the 2 highest paid players in this league in Gehrig (22.6 mil) and Ruth (15.3 mil). There is no other hitter over 11 mil.

Here are the batting “leaders”

HIGHEST PAID:

Player	SN	Team	Salary
Gehrig, Lou	1927	1927 New YorkA	$22,558,810
Gehrig, Lou	1927	1927 New YorkN	$22,558,810
Ruth, Babe	1927	1927 New YorkA	$15,360,384
Ruth, Babe	1927	1927 New YorkN	$15,360,384
Carew, Rod	1977	Rod Richie F	$10,873,355
Carew, Rod	1977	Snow Eisenre	$10,873,355
Lofton, Kenny	1994	Scared to Lo	$10,437,957
Mantle, Mickey	1955	Babe Busters	$10,121,918
Williams, Ted	1948	Franz is the	$9,711,811
Brett, George	1985	BBill Must B	$9,340,540
Mays, Willie	1965	Babe Busters	$9,334,158
Rose, Pete	1969	BIG RED MACH	$9,272,686
Puckett, Kirby	1988	Scared to Lo	$9,265,113
Foster, George	1977	BIG RED MACH	$9,215,246
Greenberg, Hank	1938	Dobry Tigers	$8,969,245
Griffey Jr., Ken	1997	Junior and t	$8,945,705
Griffey Jr., Ken	1997	Scared to Lo	$8,945,705
Gwynn, Tony	1994	Snow Eisenre	$8,781,903
Gwynn, Tony	1987	Dobry Tigers	$8,753,515
Gwynn, Tony	1987	Franz is the	$8,753,515
Holmes, Tommy	1945	MyFavoriteYe	$8,704,192
Rodriguez, Alex	2000	Junior and t	$8,677,332
Bonds, Barry	1992	The Real Bom	$8,675,894
Olerud, John	1993	BBill Must B	$8,582,259
Morgan, Joe	1976	BIG RED MACH	$8,487,445
Griffey Jr., Ken	1993	BIG RED MACH	$8,479,156

$/PA:

Player	SN	Team	$/PA
Gehrig, Lou	1927	1927 New YorkA	29,879.22
Gehrig, Lou	1927	1927 New YorkN	29,879.22
Ruth, Babe	1927	1927 New YorkA	21,099.43
Ruth, Babe	1927	1927 New YorkN	21,099.43
Loretta, Mark	2002	Dobry Tigers	20,310.22
Tenace, Gene	1970	Primetime Ba	19,364.77
Carew, Rod	1977	Rod Richie F	15,555.59
Carew, Rod	1977	Snow Eisenre	15,555.59
Napoli, Mike	2011	Alsatian Cru	15,333.32
Napoli, Mike	2011	BBill Must B	15,333.32
Walker, Larry	1999	Jake and the	15,163.61
Mantle, Mickey	1955	Babe Busters	15,062.38
Teixeira, Mark	2008	Freddy Beach	14,997.00
Cullenbine, Roy	1942	Freddy Beach	14,888.25
Williams, Ted	1954	Jake and the	14,748.08
Mays, Willie	1965	Babe Busters	14,630.34
Williams, Ted	1948	Franz is the	14,560.44
Trout, Mike	2017	BBill Must B	14,509.44
Bengough, Benny	1927	1927 New YorkA	14,296.77
Bengough, Benny	1927	1927 New YorkN	14,296.77
Bonds, Barry	1992	The Real Bom	14,176.30
Morgan, Joe	1976	BIG RED MACH	14,169.36
Brett, George	1985	BBill Must B	14,045.92

BATTING TITLE CONTENDERS:

Player	SN	Team	AVG
Gwynn, Tony	1994	Snow Eisenre	0.394
Carew, Rod	1977	Rod Richie F	0.388
Carew, Rod	1977	Snow Eisenre	0.388
Walker, Larry	1999	Jake and the	0.379
Gehrig, Lou	1927	1927 New YorkA	0.373
Gehrig, Lou	1927	1927 New YorkN	0.373
Gwynn, Tony	1987	Dobry Tigers	0.370
Gwynn, Tony	1987	Franz is the	0.370
Williams, Ted	1948	Franz is the	0.369
Olerud, John	1993	BBill Must B	0.363
Boggs, Wade	1983	Freddy Beach	0.361
Boggs, Wade	1983	Snow Eisenre	0.361
Ruth, Babe	1927	1927 New YorkA	0.356
Ruth, Babe	1927	1927 New YorkN	0.356
Puckett, Kirby	1988	Scared to Lo	0.356
Combs, Earle	1927	1927 New YorkA	0.356
Combs, Earle	1927	1927 New YorkN	0.356
Walker, Gee	1936	Babe Busters	0.353
Holmes, Tommy	1945	MyFavoriteYe	0.352
Suzuki, Ichiro	2001	MyFavoriteYe	0.350
Lofton, Kenny	1994	Scared to Lo	0.349
Rose, Pete	1969	BIG RED MACH	0.348
LeMahieu, DJ	2016	Alsatian Cru	0.348
LeMahieu, DJ	2016	Primetime Ba	0.348
Williams, Ted	1954	Jake and the	0.345
Ashburn, Richie	1951	Rod Richie F	0.344
Bell, Beau	1936	Beating the	0.344

HOME RUN TITLE: (Can anyone out homer the Babe?)

Player	SN	ST	Team	HR
Ruth, Babe	1927	F	1927 New YorkA	63
Ruth, Babe	1927	F	1927 New YorkN	63
Greenberg, Hank	1938	F	Dobry Tigers	61
Griffey Jr., Ken	1997	F	Junior and t	56
Griffey Jr., Ken	1997	F	Scared to Lo	56
Mays, Willie	1965	F	Babe Busters	52
Foster, George	1977	F	BIG RED MACH	52
Robinson, Frank	1966	F	Big Bad Bird	50
Gehrig, Lou	1927	F	1927 New YorkA	49
Gehrig, Lou	1927	F	1927 New YorkN	49
Castilla, Vinny	1998	F	Dobry Tigers	46
Griffey Jr., Ken	1993	F	BIG RED MACH	45
Bench, Johnny	1970	F	BIG RED MACH	45
Hidalgo, Richard	2000	F	MyFavoriteYe	44
Colavito, Rocky	1958	F	Triple Threa	43
Johnson, Davey	1973	F	Big Bad Bird	43
Rodriguez, Alex	2000	F	Junior and t	41
Perez, Tony	1970	F	BIG RED MACH	40
Walker, Larry	1995	F	Alsatian Cru	40
Aaron, Hank	1973	F	The Real Bom	40

SB TITLE CONTENDERS: (Some teams will be hoping to beat the Yanks with small ball)

Player	SN	ST	Team	SB
Brock, Lou	1974	F	Dobry Tigers	119
Lofton, Kenny	1994	F	Scared to Lo	86
Raines, Tim	1984	F	Dobry Tigers	75
Raines, Tim	1986	F	Stars and Sn	70
Lofton, Kenny	1993	F	Stars and Sn	70
Henderson, Rickey	1990	F	BBill Must B	65
Henderson, Rickey	1990	F	The Real Bom	65
Veras, Quilvio	1995	F	Dobry Tigers	63
Castillo, Luis	2000	F	The Real Bom	62
Morgan, Joe	1976	F	BIG RED MACH	60
Gordon, Dee	2015	F	Gibson Rules	58
Suzuki, Ichiro	2001	F	MyFavoriteYe	56
Gwynn, Tony	1987	F	Dobry Tigers	56
Gwynn, Tony	1987	F	Franz is the	56
Knoblauch, Chuck	1995	F	Beating the	52
Ramirez, Hanley	2007	F	MyFavoriteYe	51
Morgan, Joe	1977	F	Junior and t	49
Alomar, Roberto	1992	F	Franz is the	49
Alomar, Roberto	1992	F	Scared to Lo	49
Werber, Billy	1934	F	Babe Busters	43
Mondesi, Adalberto	2019	F	Dobry Tigers	43
Beltran, Carlos	2003	F	Stars and Sn	41
Beltran, Carlos	2003	F	The Ingloriu	41
Henderson, Rickey	1987	F	Freddy Beach	41

The most common hitter is George Brett - 5 teams, Larry Walker and Dolph Camili with 4.

The most common versions of any batter is a 3 way tie: 1937 Dolph Camili, 1980 Garry Templeton, 2006 Carlos Guillen

From emanes10, author of the preseason preview:

”The Yankees [lousy] staff is lead by Wilcy Moore. 225 IP for 7.7 million (34K/IP). He will get ripped.”

Ouch. Not a lot of reverie for the Bronx Bombers.

MOST EXPENSIVE PITCHERS -- No Yankees come close to this list of highest paid pitchers in the league. We will see how they fair against Murderers Row.

Player	SN	Team	Salary
Gibson, Bob	1968	Gibson Rules	$16,868,664
Maddux, Greg	1994	Rod Richie F	$16,320,783
Maddux, Greg	1994	The Real Bom	$16,320,783
Koufax, Sandy	1965	Freddy Beach	$16,141,140
Guidry, Ron	1978	Gibson Rules	$12,865,041
Hubbell, Carl	1933	Beating the	$12,114,190
Arrieta, Jake	2015	Gibson Rules	$12,022,044
Arrieta, Jake	2015	Jake and the	$12,022,044
Tudor, John	1985	BBill Must B	$11,433,529
Tudor, John	1985	Jake and the	$11,433,529
Martinez, Pedro	1999	BBill Must B	$11,327,847
Martinez, Pedro	1999	Rod Richie F	$11,327,847
Greinke, Zack	2015	Freddy Beach	$11,237,635
Seaver, Tom	1971	BIG RED MACH	$11,183,361
McNally, Dave	1968	Alsatian Cru	$10,904,138
McNally, Dave	1968	Big Bad Bird	$10,904,138
McNally, Dave	1968	Dobry Tigers	$10,904,138
Kershaw, Clayton	2013	Beating the	$10,879,700
Palmer, Jim	1975	Big Bad Bird	$10,766,320
Chandler, Spud	1943	Beating the	$10,648,656
Spahn, Warren	1953	Beating the	$10,404,452
Blanton, Cy	1935	Murderer’s R	$10,329,645
Gomez, Lefty	1937	The Real Bom	$10,292,249
Cuellar, Mike	1969	Big Bad Bird	$10,250,570
Richard, J.R.	1979	The Real Bom	$10,160,746
Johnson, Randy	1995	Scared to Lo	$10,096,630

$/IP -- here the high quality arms to watch out for.

Player	SN	Team	$/IP
Uehara, Koji	2013	Primetime Ba	91,843.70
Kuo, Hong-Chih	2010	Beating the	87,165.22
Nathan, Joe	2006	Stars and Sn	62,801.78
Blue, Vida	1970	Beating the	62,185.74
Davis, Wade	2014	Beating the	60,973.81
Maddux, Greg	1994	Rod Richie F	56,669.39
Maddux, Greg	1994	The Real Bom	56,669.39
Romo, Sergio	2011	Freddy Beach	56,092.52
Romo, Sergio	2011	Triple Threa	56,092.52
Putz, J.J.	2007	Jake and the	55,886.30
Niggeling, Johnny	1943	Babe Busters	55,417.41
Niggeling, Johnny	1943	MyFavoriteYe	55,417.41
Gibson, Bob	1968	Gibson Rules	55,307.10
Soriano, Rafael	2003	Triple Threa	55,045.57
Britton, Zach	2016	Beating the	54,735.73
Betancourt, Rafael	2007	Stars and Sn	54,086.95
Hill, Rich	2015	The Ingloriu	53,200.93
Green, Chad	2017	BBill Must B	53,161.29
Green, Chad	2017	Gibson Rules	53,161.29
Martinez, Pedro	1999	BBill Must B	52,933.86
Martinez, Pedro	1999	Rod Richie F	52,933.86
Rasmussen, Dennis	1992	Beating the	52,930.34
Rasmussen, Dennis	1992	Rod Richie F	52,930.34
Arrieta, Jake	2015	Gibson Rules	52,498.01
Arrieta, Jake	2015	Jake and the	52,498.01
Rivera, Mariano	2005	Junior and t	52,215.41

Note that no one drafted Adam Ottavino, so that debate will not be settled in this league.

The most used pitcher was Pedro Martinez - he appears on 7 teams.

You will also find Kershaw, Madson, Degrom, and Milone on 5 teams.

Milone 2018 is the most used version of any player (again).

Kershaw 16, Degrom 18, and Madson 17 were all taken 4 times.

For the full transcript of all the back and forth as well as team strategies - head over to the WhatsApp conversation.

Season kicks off tonight, so PLAY BALL!!