All-Time Triple-A All-Star Team
March 19, 2015 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release
In honor of the First National Bank 2015 Triple-A All-Star Game and festivities taking place July 12-15 at Werner Park, the Storm Chasers are compiling the starting lineup of the "All-Time Triple-A All-Star Team" who became Major League All-Stars (full list of players here). We've been presenting two worthy candidates at each position, and you the fans have decided the winners!
Only one position remains. Who will be the starting pitcher on the All-Time Triple-A All-Star Team? Stay tuned.
Best Outfielder (Third of Three): Alex Gordon
A 2010 Triple-A All-Star for your Omaha Royals, Alex Gordon is a two-time MLB All-Star in 2013-14 for the Kansas City Royals. Gordon has taken home four consecutive American League Gold Gloves for Outfield, the only player in the AL to win in each of the last four seasons and the only player besides Yadier Molina to do so in all of MLB (the only player with more Gold Gloves in Royals history is Frank White). He led the American League in doubles in 2012 with 51, and has ranked in the Top-10 in AL hits twice. In Royals all-time history, Gordon ranks in the Top-10 in games (9th), hits (9th), runs (8th), total bases (8th), doubles (7th) and home runs (10th). Gordon led the Royals in 2014 in home runs and RBI (as well as second most hits) as Kansas City reached the World Series for the first time since 1985. Gordon edges out Adam Jones to claim the 3rd Outfield spot on the All-Time Triple-A All-Star Team.
Best Outfielder (Second of Three): Kenny Lofton
A 1991 Triple-A All-Star with the Tucson, Kenny Lofton was a six-time All-Star with the Cleveland Indians in 1994-96 and 1998-99 and with the Atlanta Braves in 1997. Lofton led the American League in stolen bases every season from 1992-96, and ranks 15th All-Time in Major League Baseball history with 622 steals in his 17 seasons, and led the American League with 160 hits in 1994. He took home four straight Gold Gloves for Cleveland in 1993-96. He is the Indians All-Time Stolen Base leader with 452 in 10 years with the Tribe, while ranking in the Top-10 in Runs Scored and Hits. Lofton appeared in the 1995 World Series with Cleveland and the 2002 World Series with the San Francisco Giants. Lofton edges out Bernie Williams to claim the 2nd Outfield spot on the All-Time Triple-A All-Star Team.
Best Outfielder (First of Three): Andrew McCutchen
A 2008 Triple-A All-Star with Indianapolis, Andrew McCutchen has been a National League All-Star with the Pittsburgh Pirates 2011-14 (four of his six years in MLB). McCutchen was the 2013 National League Most Valuable Player, and has finished in the top three in NL MVP voting in each of the last three seasons. He was a Gold Glove outfielder in 2012, and has won NL Silver Slugger Awards in 2012-14 (while leading the National League in WAR in each of those seasons). He led the Majors in On-Base percentage last season, and led the National League in On-Base Plus Slugging, and has also led the NL in hits in 2012. McCutchen's MVP season led the Pirates to their first Playoff appearance in 21 years.
Best Third Baseman: Chipper Jones
A 1993 Triple-A All-Star with Richmond, Chipper Jones was an eight-time All-Star with the Atlanta Braves in 1996-98, 2000-01, 2008 and 2011-12. Jones was the 1999 National League Most Valuable Player, when he put up 45 homers/110 RBI and led Atlanta to the best record in Major League Baseball and to 1999 World Series against the Yankees. He won the 2008 National League batting title, and was a two-time Silver Slugger in 1999-2000, while batting at least .295 in 12 of his 18 seasons with significant time in the Majors. Chipper ranks second in virtually every offensive category in Braves history behind Hank Aaron, and appeared in three World Series for Atlanta winning it all in 1995 in his first full professional season.
Best Shortstop: Derek Jeter
One the greatest shortstops of all-time, no other Triple-A All-Star is comparable to "The Captain." A Triple-A All-Star with the Columbus Clippers in 1995, Jeter was a 14-time Major League All-Star with the New York Yankees. His 3,465 hits rank sixth all-time in MLB history, with a lifetime .310 batting average. He appeared in the most games ever in the Yankee pinstripes, totaling 2,747 games with 145+ appearances in 16 of his 20 career seasons, while also being the franchise leader in hits. Jeter led New York to five World Series titles, winning the 2000 World Series MVP. He was a five-time Gold Glove winner (2004-06, 2009-10) and a five-time Silver Slugger (2006-09, 2012). Jeter led the American League twice in his career in hits, in 1999 (219) and in 2012 (216), while finishing in the top ten in the league 12 of his 20 seasons (top five nine times).
Best Second Baseman: Chase Utley
A 2003 Triple-A All-Star with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Chase Utley is a six-time All-Star with the Philadelphia Phillies from 2006-10 and 2014. He has won the National League Silver Slugger for second baseman four times from 2006-09, tied for the third most in MLB history at the second base position. Utley ranks in the Top Ten All-Time in Philadelphia team history in hits, runs, total bases, doubles, home runs and RBI. He led the National League in runs scored in 2006 with 131 (while ranking second in hits in the league that season). He appeared in back-to-back World Series with the Phillies in 2008-09.
Best First Baseman: Todd Helton
A 1997 Triple-A All-Star with Colorado Springs, Todd Helton was a five-time Major League All-Star with the Colorado Rockies from 2000-04. He won three Gold Gloves in 2001-02 and 2004 seasons, won the National League Batting Title in 2000 and was the NL Silver Slugger First Baseman from 2000-03. Helton is unquestionably the greatest player in Rockies history, ranking at the top of every career major offensive category (except triples and stolen bases). He is a career .316 hitter in 2,247 games played, one of only 72 players in MLB history to finish a career with a .316 batting average or higher. Helton appeared in 2007 World Series with the Colorado Rockies.
Best Catcher: Mike Piazza
A 1992 Triple-A All-Star for the Albuquerque Dukes, Mike Piazza won the 1993 National League Rookie of the Year with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He appeared in 12 MLB All-Star Games, including ten straight years from 1993-2002, and won ten straight National League Silver Sluggers for Catchers from 1993-2002. Piazza is the all-time leader in Home Runs by a Catcher at 396, finished second in National League MVP in consecutive seasons in 1996-97 and led the New York Mets to the World Series in 2000.
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