The votes have been tallied, and the WFAN staff has decided on the MLB Quarter Century Team, which includes pillars of the last dynasty in baseball, record-setting home run hitters, and one of the most dominant aces the city has ever seen.
There were unanimous inductees, some that came oh-so-close to that honor, and tight races at certain positions, with plenty of all-time greats to choose from dating back to the turn of the millennium.
Let’s go around the horn and take a look at the winners. Here is the WFAN Quarter Century Baseball Team, presented by Cash App!
First base: Pete Alonso, Mets (65.9 percent of votes)
The Mets slugger won by a bit of a landslide, with other competition including Mark Teixeira, Tino Martinez, and Jason Giambi. But Alonso set the rookie home run record in 2019 and has been one of the best home run hitters in baseball ever since. He has earned five All-Star selections, holds a career .860 OPS with 247 home runs at the time of voting, and is closing in on the franchise home run record. He also has one of the most famous home runs in recent Mets history, taking Devin Williams deep in the ninth inning of the deciding game of the Wild Card Series last year.
Second base: Robinson Cano, Yankees (75.6 percent of votes)
Another homegrown New York star, Cano was another entry to the Quarter Century Team that won rather comfortably, beating out Daniel Murphy and Alfonso Soriano. Cano was the Rookie of the Year runner up in 2005, won a Silver Slugger in his sophomore season, and never looked back. By the time he left New York after the 2013 season, Cano had five All-Star nods, five Silver Sluggers, two Gold Gloves, and a World Series championship. The latter half of his career was tainted due to PED use, but with the Yanks, he was one of the best second baseman in franchise history.
Shortstop: Derek Jeter, Yankees (95.1 percent of votes)
One of the biggest no-brainer picks, The Captain just missed a unanimous vote, as Jose Reyes somehow stole a vote, as did Francisco Lindor. But Jeter needs to explanation for his place on this elite team, as he hit .307 with a 47.9 WAR from 2000-2014, winning two World Series and four pennants along the way. He also hit his famous Mr. November home run, which never would have happened had he not pulled off the miraculous flip play in the ALDS earlier that postseason. Oh, and he kicked off the 21st century by winning World Series MVP in the Subway Series.
Third base: Alex Rodriguez (51.2 percent of votes)
This was easily the tightest race, as Rodriguez and David Wright were tied going into the final vote, and Boomer broke the tie by giving the nod to Rodriguez. Wright had an unforgettable career, but Rodriguez did win two MVPs and carried the Yankees to their last World Series title in 2009, so he is the starter at the hot corner.
Catcher: Mike Piazza, Mets (65.9 percent of votes)
Like Wright, Piazza surprisingly won overwhelmingly against his top competition in Jorge Posada (and one vote for Travis d'Arnaud!). The future Hall of Famer was moving past his prime by the year 2000, but he still managed to win three straight Silver Slugger awards while logging five All-Star selections. Piazza eclipsed 30 home runs three straight times to begin the new millennium, and helped the Mets to a pennant in 2000.
Left field: Hideki Matsui, Yankees (80.5 percent of votes)
Godzilla!! Matsui blew out Yoenis Cespedes in the voting process (while Brett Gardner and Giancarlo Stanton each received one vote), and his credentials show why he was such an easy vote. The Japanese star broke onto the scene with back-to-back All-Star selections in his first two seasons in the big leagues, including a clutch double in the eighth inning of the Yankees’ iconic rally against Pedro Martinez and the Red Sox in game seven. His October heroics reached a fever pitch in the 2009 Fall Classic, when he torched Martinez again in a clinching game six to secure World Series MVP.
Center Field: Carlos Beltran, Mets (51.2 percent of votes)
There was some stiff competition for Beltran in center, as Bernie Williams and Curtis Granderson had splendid seasons for the Yankees from 2000 on (with one vote also going to Brandon Nimmo). But Beltran was the clear choice. In seven seasons with the Mets, Beltran posted an .869 OPS with five All-Star selections, won three Gold Gloves, and had a three-year stretch in which he hit 101 home runs from 2006-2008.
Right field: Aaron Judge, Yankees (100 percent of votes)
There is no competitor in right field in this millennium, and maybe even the previous millennium. Judge is the best hitter in baseball right now, and will go down as one of the greatest Yankees of all time from a production standpoint. He is on his way to a third MVP award, broke the American League home run record in 2022, and could become just the third player ever to log multiple 60-homer seasons. The trophy case is getting crowded, from the MVPs to the Rookie of the Year award and the four Silver Sluggers. He also won a Home Run Derby and the award that he would likely tell you he’s most proud of, the Roberto Clemente Humanitarian Award.
Designated hitter: David Wright, Mets
The DH spot went to the position player with the most votes that did not win at their respective position, so that goes to Wright, who just had his number retired by the Mets. The former captain was a perennial All-Star who broke the Mets all-time hits record before back issues robbed him of what could have been a Hall of Fame career. Still, he was without a doubt one of the best Mets of the last quarter century, and one of the best the franchise has ever produced. The top competition for the DH spot included Williams and Posada.
Starting rotation: Jacob deGrom (Mets, leading vote getter with 95.1 percent of votes), CC Sabathia (Yankees), Gerrit Cole (Yankees), Andy Pettitte (Yankees), Johan Santana (Mets)
This rotation is absolutely stacked, from all-time aces to Hall of Famers and playoff heroes. Jacob deGrom at his peak with the Mets is arguably better than any pitcher we’ve ever seen in New York, while Sabathia won an ALCS MVP, a World Series, and reinvented himself to have a very solid back end of his career. Cole has been an unquestionable ace for the Yankees, winning a Cy Young, while Pettitte won two championships and four pennants en route to Monument Park. Santana has his famous no-hitter, led the league in ERA in 2008, and was an All-Star in 2009 before injuries took over. He beat out Roger Clemens by one vote for the final rotation spot.
Bullpen: Mariano Rivera (Yankees, leading vote getter with 100 percent of votes), Edwin Diaz (Mets), John Franco (Mets)
Like his Hall of Fame results, Rivera was a unanimous choice from our staff, an easy assignment when dealing with the greatest closer of all time. The all-time saves leader, Rivera was on the mound for the final out of two World Series titles from 2000 to the end of his career, and was absolutely heroic in the 2003 ALCS. Diaz has been one of the best closers in baseball since his rough debut season with the Mets, and Franco had a late rally in the voting to sneak past Aroldis Chapman in a tiebreaker vote. Most of Franco's best years came before the year 2000, but he did still post a solid 3.40 ERA in 2000 to help the Mets to a pennant. Other relievers that were in contention for a spot in the top three included Jeurys Familia, Billy Wagner, and David Robertson. The surprising snub was Dellin Betances, who received just four votes.
Manager: Joe Torre, Yankees (84.6 percent of votes)
Torre was the overwhelming winner, though Terry Collins and Joe Girardi got some love from our voters. But Torre won two titles in the last quarter century, made the playoffs every year, and ended his career with his No. 6 in Monument Park. One of the most accomplished managers in the history of the most accomplished franchise in sports history, Torre will always be beloved in the Bronx.