Lineup of the Best MLB Players Whose Last Names Start with W

The most important letter in the world of baseball is W. Pitchers, as well as managers and coaches, are paid based on the number of Ws they accumulate. Their pay gets even better when they get Ws in the WS, or World Series, just as the Yankees did this year.

Even though the Yankees were loaded with stars in their lineup, they would have been hard pressed to claim a W had they played a team made up of players whose last names start with W.

First Base - Larry Walker: The popular Expo and Rockie was the dominant player in the 90s. He hammered 383 home runs, drove in 1311, and averaged .313 in his career. He even earned the NL MVP award in 1997.

Second Base - Lou Whitaker: The perennial All-Star helped Detroit capture the 1984 World Series championship, and he enjoyed an impressive career beyond that. He hit over 200 career homers and 1000 RBI, remarkable numbers for a second baseman during that era.

Shortstop - Honus Wagner: The Hall of Famer's .327 lifetime batting average and 722 steals for the Pirates made him one of the most exciting players during the first two decades of 20^th century

Third Base - Matt Williams: He quietly accumulated 378 homers and 1215 RBI for the Giants and Diamondbacks. He hit 43 homers, and was on pace for over 60, when the strike cancelled 1994 season.

Catcher - Ernie Whitt: This popular backstop helped lead the contending Blue Jays teams of the 80s. He averaged double figures in Homers for his entire career.

Outfield 1 - Ted Williams: Check out Teddy Ballgame's numbers for the BoSox: 521 homers, .344 batting average, 1839 RBI, 20 all-star selections., and 2 MVPs. He should have a third after winning the triple crown in '42 but finishing second in the MVP race.

Outfield 2 - Billy Williams: Only the luckless Cubs could not win a championship with both Williams and Ernie Banks in the same lineup. Williams hit 426 home runs, drove in 1475, and batted .290 for his career.

Outfield 3 - Paul Waner: His lifetime .333 batting average made him a sure Hall of Famer, and his MVP season for the Pirates in 1927 was just icing on the proverbial cake.

Designated Hitter - Dave Winfield: Winfield was much too good an athlete to be limited to DH, but there is a crowded outfield among this group. The Hall of Famer amassed 465 homers, 1833 RBI, and a .283 batting average in his career. He was also selected as an All-Star each year between 1977-1990.

Pitcher 1 - Wilbur Wood: The durable White Sox hurler nailed 164 wins and a 3.24 ERA in his career, as well as fanning 1411 hitters.

Pitcher 2 - Mickey Welch: The Hall of Famer earned 307 wins, including 44 in 1885 for the Giants. He also retired with 1850 Ks.

Pitcher 3 - Early Wynn: One of the few pitchers to ever nab 300 wins and nearly 2500 strikeouts, and the only pitcher to actually be Wynn in the box score even when he lost.

Relief Pitcher - Hoyt Wilhelm: The first player to pitch in four consecutive decades, Wilhelm took the mound every season from 1939 to 1963 for the Senators, Indians, and Chisox. Over that span he notched 143 wins, 227 saves, and 1610 Ks.