The Dodgers Franchise Deep Six

And the last of the classic eight National League franchises is off the board! And there's only one classic AL team to do after this one! So how do the boys from Brooklyn and L.A. look?

	P	C	1B	2B	3B	SS	LF	CF	RF
1st	Dazzy Vance	Mike Piazza	Gil Hodges	Jackie Robinson	Ron Cey	Pee Wee Reese	Zack Wheat	Duke Snider	Carl Furillo
2nd	Sandy Koufax	Roy Campanella	Dolph Camilli	Davey Lopes	Adrian Beltre	Bill Dahlen	Jimmy Sheckard	Willie Davis	Dixie Walker
3rd	Don Drysdale	Mike Scioscia	Jack Fournier	Jim Gilliam	George Pinkney	Maury Wills	Gary Sheffield	Mike Griffin	Reggie Smith
4th	Clayton Kershaw	John Roseboro	Steve Garvey	Tom Daly	Joe Stripp	Bill Russell	Dusty Baker	Matt Kemp	Shawn Green
5th	Nap Rucker	Paul Lo Duca	Jake Daubert	Eddie Stanky	Red Smith	Rafael Furcal	Pedro Guerrero	Pete Reiser	Babe Herman
6th	Jeff Pfeffer	Russell Martin	Wes Parker	Steve Sax	Cookie Lavagetto	Germany Smith	Wally Moon	Brett Butler	Willie Keeler

Pretty good indeed! Three of their four infield spots on the 1st Team are from the Boys of Summer era, as are two of the three outfield spots. Is it safe to say that was the greatest period in Dodger history?

Some people might be upset that I named Dazzy Vance starting pitcher for the 1st Team over Sandy Koufax, but I thought the numbers merited it. Koufax had an incredible peak, but Vance's was plenty dominant as well. The main difference is that Koufax is a legend of living memory, while Vance played in the 1920's for the Daffiness Boys. Clayton Kershaw is making his way up the list too, so this generation may have its own immortal Dodger hurler to tell their grandchildren about.

Third base was definitely the weakest position here. I never realized how few great third basemen the Dodgers have had. I wasn't familiar with George Pinkney, the 3rd Team third sacker, until I compiled this list. And to think he was the greatest Dodger third baseman until the 1970s.

The Indians Franchise Deep Six

After doing these pretty steadily for a while, I guess I got preoccupied in the last month. But I'm back, and I have a new Deep Six for you, my beloved audience! Today we shall look at the Cleveland Indians!

	P	C	1B	2B	3B	SS	LF	CF	RF
1st	Bob Feller	Victor Martinez	Jim Thome	Nap Lajoie	Al Rosen	Lou Boudreau	Albert Belle	Tris Speaker	Joe Jackson
2nd	Stan Coveleski	Steve O'Neill	Hal Trosky	Roberto Alomar	Bill Bradley	Joe Sewell	Charlie Jamieson	Kenny Lofton	Manny Ramirez
3rd	Addie Joss	Carlos Santana	Andre Thornton	Joe Gordon	Ken Keltner	Terry Turner	Jeff Heath	Larry Doby	Elmer Flick
4th	Sam McDowell	John Romano	Ed Morgan	Bobby Avila	Buddy Bell	Ray Chapman	Joe Vosmik	Earl Averill	Rocky Colavito
5th	Gaylord Perry	Ray Fosse	George Burns	Carlos Baerga	Graig Nettles	Omar Vizquel	Dale Mitchell	Grady Sizemore	Shin-Soo Choo
6th	Mel Harder	Joe Azcue	Mike Hargrove	Jason Kipnis	Toby Harrah	Asdrubal Cabrera	Michael Brantley	Brett Butler	Braggo Roth

The Indians are pretty darn good at starting pitcher. Gaylord Perry wasn't an Indian for very long, but he wore the uniform long enough, and was dominant enough to make it.

Center field and shortstop were probably the deepest fielding positions, and third base was a lot stronger than I expected it would be. Right field ain't too shabby neither.

Catcher and first base were weaker than perhaps you realized. Victor Martinez and Carlos Santana, both current-day players who were pretty good for a while crack the Top 3 catchers. Hal Trosky was a fine first baseman who had the misfortune of playing in the American League at the same time as Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx, and Hank Greenberg. He's a solid 2nd Teamer behind the great Jim Thome. After those two, there's not a lot to write home about.

Second base was the position where stars burnt briefly but brightly. Lajoie was an easy choice for the 1st Team, but the two Hall of Famers who follow him down the column, Roberto Alomar and Joe Gordon, played only three and four years, respectively, with the Tribe. But oh, how great they were. I wanted to give Bobby Avila some extra credit for his longevity, but in the end, I just thought those two deserved to be ahead of him. Jason Kipnis has been impressive so far, and is already close to passing up Baerga. Can he continue his ascent?