Jason Burgos
This weekend, the New York Yankees and New York Mets will restart the No. 1 rivalry in the history of interleague play, the Subway Series.
The 2026 edition features a pair of teams in very different positions. The squad from the Bronx has one of the better records in baseball and is an elite team in the American League, while the club from Queens has been the biggest disappointment in MLB this year. Yet, the Yanks have lost six of their last eight, and the Mets are feeling very good after three straight come-from-behind wins.
The pair of New York teams is sure to deliver an exciting new installment to the series that began in 1997. Since it began, many elite players have taken part in the rivalry, while unexpected guys have excelled. The stars of the Subway Series could create an amazing New York baseball dream time. That thought offers a fun idea.
In a time of so much tribalism, what if we created the ultimate team of Subway Series participants? Scroll down and feast your eyes on our Yankees-Mets Subway Series super team.
Catcher: Mike Piazza, Mets
This was an easy choice. Mike Piazza is the greatest-hitting catcher of all-time and had some big moments in the Subway Series. The 10-time All-Star and Hall of Famer was also a rock-solid defensive catcher. Sure, he didn’t have a strong arm, but he called a good game and was always durable. There is no better option to play catcher for an ultimate New York Subway Series team.
First Base: Mark Teixeira, Yankees
Three-time All-Star Mark Texiera played most of his MLB career in pinstripes and made a notable impact during his eight years in the Bronx. He was a threat in the order because of the big power bat he brought to the plate. But what made Texiera a star throughout his career was a defensive game that earned him five gold gloves. He also slugged 11 homers in his Subway Series games.
Texiera is one of the most well-rounded players on our super team.
Second Base: Jeff McNeil, Mets
There were a lot of options for second base on our super team, including Alfonso Soriano and Robinson Cano. But every team needs a little grit and versatility. That’s why two-time All-Star Jeff McNeil gets the 2B spot on our Yankees-Mets super team.
He can play multiple positions, brings a little bit of crazy, and, outside of Derek Jeter, is one of the greatest performers in Subway Series history. Posting a .336 average and 20 RBIs in 34 games.
Shortstop: Derek Jeter, Yankees
Like Piazza, this was a very easy choice. Jeter is an icon of New York sports, having won five World Series titles during his 20 seasons in the Bronx. Yet, what makes the 14-time All-Star and an absolute must for our team is his ability to come up big in the clutch. Furthermore, to the chagrin of Mets fans, the Yankees legend was a Subway Series beast, posting a .364/.419/.536 slash line in 87 games.
Third Base: Alex Rodriguez, Yankees
Mets legend David Wright certainly got a lot of consideration for this spot, but in the end, three-time MVP Alex Rodriguez gets the nod. Hate him or love him, Rodriguez was one of the greatest players of his era for playing strong defense at shortstop and the hot corner and having one of the most feared bats in the sport. A-Rod was just too good not to add to our super team.
Outfield: Juan Soto, Mets & Aaron Judge, Yankees & Bernie Williams, Yankees
When it comes to the outfield, Aaron Judge was an absolute no-brainer for our Subway Series super team. He is the scariest hitter in MLB today, and will go down as one of the greatest players that the Yankees have ever had, and the franchise has had some icons wear the pinstripes.
While he hasn’t played in a lot of Subway Series games, Mets superstar Juan Soto was also a must for our super team. Especially to have him hit in front of Soto again. He is a two-time MVP candidate. Is one of the best hitters on the planet, and most importantly, as Yankees fans saw in 2024, he is a big-game player.
For our last outfield spot, we went with four-time Gold Glove center fielder Bernie Williams. He was an outstanding fielder at a premium spot, but he was also another player who excelled in big games.
Starting Pitchers: Jacob DeGrom, Mets & CC Sabathia, Yankees
For our Subway Series super team, we chose to go with two starting pitchers. While there have been many great arms that have appeared in this series, the ones we trusted the most were Jacob DeGrom and CC Sabathia.
The pair of New York greats combine for 11 All-Star appearances and three Cy Young awards. In a big game, like the Subway Series, there are no other players you would rather give the ball to than DeGrom and Sabathia.
Closer: Mariano Rivera, Yankees
Our last spot — and another easy choice– is to have the Sandman himself, Marino Rivera, as our super team closer. Simply put, there was no better closer in MLB history than the Yankees legend. The 13-time All-Star was a monster in big games. Posting a ridiculous 0.70 ERA in 32 playoff series during his incomparable career. With the game on the line, no one was better than “Mo.”
