Yankees' Franchise Four: Fans Choose Past Legends Over Jeter, Mo
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Derek Jeter has the most hits in Yankees history. Mariano Rivera is undoubtedly the greatest closer Major League Baseball has ever seen. Both retired as beloved in the Bronx as any of the greats in Monument Park.
But neither landed on the Yankees' "Franchise Four," an MLB promotion celebrating the best players in baseball history.
Fans voted Hall of Famers Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle and Joe DiMaggio to represent the Bombers, MLB announced before Tuesday night's All-Star Game.
Congrats to Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle and Babe Ruth for being voted as the @Yankees #FranchiseFour! pic.twitter.com/5rRjyJg99e
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) July 15, 2015
Eight nominees from each team were selected by a committee composed of MLB historians, statisticians and others. Jeter, Rivera, Yogi Berra and Whitey Ford all fell short of the Yankees' Mount Rushmore.
"The idea behind Franchise Four was to make the All-Star Game not only a celebration of the current All-Stars, but also a celebration of the game and the greatest players in the game," MLB chief operating officer Tony Petitti said, according to the league's official website. "We wanted to give fans a chance to recognize players they care the most about, and fans really responded."
What do you think? Did Jeter or Rivera deserve to make the Franchise Four?