THE RICH GET EVEN RICHER
Giancarlo Stanton’s arrival in The Bronx would make him just the latest star to join an already potent Yankees team that finished last season one win away from the World Series, led the majors in homers and finished second only to the Astros in runs. The history of previous “superteams” has been mixed, though. Here’s a look:
MIAMI HEAT, 2010: LeBron James took his “talents to South Beach,” along with Chris Bosh, where they joined Dwyane Wade. The Heat reached the NBA Finals each of the next four seasons, winning backto-back titles in 2012-13.
GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS, 2016: Kevin Durant bolted Oklahoma City after the Thunder lost to the Warriors in the Western Conference finals. He drew some criticism when he joined a Golden State team that included Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson, but they won the NBA championship last season.
YANKEES, 2004: After losing to the Marlins in the 2003 World Series, the Yankees acquired Alex Rodriguez (right) from Texas after Aaron Boone suffered a knee injury during the offseason. Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, Jason Giambi, Roger Clemens and Mariano Rivera blew a 3-0 lead in the ALCS to Boston that season, but Rodriguez won a title in 2009.
KNICKS, 1971: Earl “The Pearl” Monroe was traded to the Knicks from the Bullets. After initial concerns about how he and Walt Frazier would coexist in the backcourt, the pair helped lead the Knicks to their last NBA title in 1973.
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES, 2011: Cliff Lee went back to Philadelphia to join a rotation that included Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels and Roy Oswalt. They won 102 games in the regular season, but the Phillies lost in the
NLDS. LOS ANGELES LAKERS, 1968: Like Stanton, Wilt Chamberlain was a reigning MVP when he was sent to the Lakers by the 76ers. Los Angeles already had Jerry West and Elgin Baylor and lost in the finals the previous season. The Lakers went on to drop the finals each of the next two years and won the title in 1972.
ATLANTA BRAVES, 1993: Greg Maddux left the Cubs to go to Atlanta, joining Tom Glavine and John Smoltz on a team that had lost the prior two World Series. They won the Series in 1995.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS 1994, DALLAS COWBOYS 1995: Deion Sanders left the Falcons for the Steve Young-led 49ers, where they won the Super Bowl. Sanders moved on to Dallas a year later and captured another Super Bowl title.