MSG Network is selecting its All-Time New York Baseball Lineup with an online game and on-air panel show discussing their choices, one position per week, through May.

The panelists on the show are Fran Healy, Gary Carter, Sparky Lyle, Will Leitch and Steve Hirdt.

I just caught on to this today, so I missed out on voting on the catchers and first basemen.  The game has a complicated points system based on which players contestants select vs. those of the panel (you’re supposed to pick a top five).  The prizes include signed baseballs from legendary players, and Ford sponsors the contest.

They list the catchers, first basemen and second basemen that are considered, but not the other positions, I suppose to get users to have to come back each week, which I think most will forget to do.  So I’ll do those positions for now — and the ones the panel has picked so far.

CATCHER
Nominees: Mike Piazza, Gary Carter, Yogi Berra, Roy Campanella, Jorge Posada, Bill Dickey, Thurman Munson, Al Lopez, Elston Howard and Roger Bresnahan.

My Picks: Berra, Piazza, Carter, Dickey, Campanella
Note: It’s tough to compare eras, and as important as defense is to the position, it’s difficult to rate.  Berra has all those World Series titles, Piazza is the best offensive catcher of all time and Carter and Dickey combined both.  I went with Berra and the championships.
MSG Picks: Berra, Campanella, Piazza, Posada, Carter

FIRST BASE
Nominees: Lou Gehrig, Bill Terry, Keith Hernandez, Don Mattingly, Johnny Mize, Hal Chase, Gil Hodges, George Kelly, Ed Kranepool, Tino Martinez
My Picks: Gehrig, Mattingly, Hernandez, Terry, Hodges
Note: Surprisingly not as strong a field as you would think for such an offensive position.  Gehrig is so far and away ahead of this field that first place has no debate — he’s probably the most accomplished 1B in MLB history.  The rest are kind of a toss-up, but the fact that Kranepool and Chase are even on this list speak to the strange lack of 1B depth in NY.
MSG Picks: Gehrig, Hernandez, Mattingly, Mize, Terry

Frankie Frisch

SECOND BASE
Nominees: Tony Lazzeri, Joe Gordon, Jackie Robinson, Bobby Richardson, Frankie Frisch, Willie Randolph, Billy Martin, Jeff Kent, Felix Millan, Billy Herman
My Picks:  Robinson, Frisch, Gordon, Lazzeri, Richardson
Note:  Not much debate here.  Robinson is pretty clearly ahead of this field, which is kind of light (Felix Millan?  Jeff Kent?).

Tags: All-Time Team, Hall of Fame, Jackie Robinson, Lou Gehrig, MSG, MSG Network