Quote:
Originally Posted by NYY #23
Finally some hope for the Yankees!  I'm hoping they can hold on for the rest of the season though. |
It took a while, but the good players the Yankees drafted while they were struggling have begun to develop, and as they have, the team has become a contender.
Unlike the Beavers, whose draft day struggles I outlined earlier, the Yankees have come up with at least one big league regular in every draft. Their first round choices include players like
Al Simmons (1923),
Buck Leonard (1925), and
Bill Swift (1931), who are among the most productive players in the game.
Fred Frankhouse (1926) went 58-24 for the Yankees in 1928-30, before injuries took their toll.
George Earnshaw (1927) looks like he's about to put it together, and
George Puccinelli (1929) has made the roster as a "super-utility" player.
Dixie Walker (1930) and
Bill Dietrich (1932) have very bright futures, and Dietrich is already making his presence felt at the big league level.
It seems like Simmons has been around forever, but he's still only 31. He should have some very productive seasons left. Leonard, 25, is just entering their prime. As their talented young teammates continue to mature, the Yankees should remain a team to be reckoned with.