147-622: The San Jose Red Sox were a Boston Red Sox affiliate from 1947 to 1955, located in San Jose, California . They competed in the California League and they played at San Jose Municipal Stadium and won league championships in 1949 and 1953. After the end of their Red Sox affiliation, they changed the team name to the San Jose JoSox for two seasons before becoming the San Jose Pirates as
294-627: A Pittsburgh Pirates affiliate in 1958. They moved to Las Vegas, Nevada on May 26, 1958 to become the Las Vegas Wranglers . San Jose would return to baseball when the San Jose Bees began operations in 1962. Boston Red Sox The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston . The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of
441-551: A no-hitter on July 4, 1983, but he was moved to the bullpen the next year where he helped to define the closer role. Despite the Yankees' lack of pitching success during the 1980s, they had three of the premier pitchers of the early 1990s on their roster during these years in Al Leiter , Doug Drabek and José Rijo . All were mismanaged and dealt away before they could reach their full potential, with only Rijo returning much value – he
588-426: A .200 average. The Cardinals won the 1946 Series when Enos Slaughter scored the go-ahead run all the way from first base on a base hit to left field. The throw from Leon Culberson was cut off by shortstop Johnny Pesky , who relayed the ball to the plate just a hair too late. Some say Pesky hesitated or "held the ball" before he turned to throw the ball, but this has been disputed. Along with Williams and Pesky,
735-479: A 162-game season, and Ruth (in 1927) had played in a 154-game season. They were considered two separate records for 30 years, until MLB reversed course and stated Maris held the record alone. His record would be broken by Mark McGwire , who hit 70 home runs in 1998. Maris held the American League record until 2022 when Aaron Judge hit 62. The Yankees won the pennant with a 109–53 record and went on to defeat
882-740: A club record for 68 years. That year Foxx also set a club-record of 175 runs. In 1939, the Red Sox purchased the contract of outfielder Ted Williams from the minor league San Diego Padres of the Pacific Coast League , ushering in an era of the team sometimes called the "Ted Sox". Williams consistently hit for both high power and high average, and is generally considered one of the greatest hitters of all time. The right-field bullpens in Fenway were built in part for Williams' left-handed swing, and are sometimes called "Williamsburg". Before this addition, it
1029-448: A fifth straight World Series , but were beaten 4–3 by the St. Louis Cardinals . It would be the Yankees' last World Series appearance until 1976. After the 1964 season, broadcasting company CBS purchased 80% of the Yankees from Topping and Webb for $ 11.2 million (equivalent to $ 110 million in 2023). With the new ownership, the team began to decline. The 1965 edition of the team posted
1176-505: A half-game lead for the final series of the season, but lost the first two of those three and were eliminated from the pennant race. The Red Sox won the AL pennant in 1975. The 1975 Red Sox were as colorful as they were talented, with Yastrzemski and rookie outfielders Jim Rice and Fred Lynn , veteran outfielder Dwight Evans , catcher Carlton Fisk , and pitchers Luis Tiant and eccentric junkballer Bill "The Spaceman" Lee . Fred Lynn won both
1323-518: A home run and six RBI in the only postseason series of his career, his back problems led him to retire after the 1997 season after sitting out the 1996 season. Joe Torre had a mediocre run as a manager in the National League, and the choice was initially derided ("Clueless Joe" was a headline in the New York Daily News ). However, his calm demeanor proved to be a good fit, and his tenure
1470-637: A jail complex in Lower Manhattan that had specific cell block for murderers . That season, the Yankees became the first team in baseball to occupy first place every day of the season, winning 110 games. The team also swept the Pittsburgh Pirates in the World Series . Ruth's home run total of 60 in 1927 set a single-season home run record that stood until it was broken by Roger Maris in 1961, although Maris had eight additional games in which to break
1617-497: A major professional sports record. Both Neil Diamond 's " Sweet Caroline " and the Standells ' " Dirty Water " have become anthems for the Red Sox. As of the end of the 2024 season, the franchise's all-time regular-season record is 9,955–9,263–83 (.518). The name Red Sox , chosen by owner John I. Taylor after the 1907 season, refers to the red hose in the team uniform beginning in 1908. Sox had been previously adopted for
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#17330930027481764-571: A man on third in the top of the ninth, a spitball got away from Chesbro and Lou Criger scored the go-ahead run and the Americans won their second pennant. However, the NL champion New York Giants declined to play any postseason series , but a sharp public reaction led the two leagues to make the World Series a permanent championship, starting in 1905. In 1906 , Boston lost 105 games and finished last in
1911-576: A move that started the modern era of free agency , signing star pitcher Catfish Hunter away from Oakland. Midway through the 1975 season , the team hired former second baseman Billy Martin as manager. With Martin at the helm, the Yankees reached the 1976 World Series , but were swept by the Cincinnati Reds and their famed " Big Red Machine ." After the 1976 campaign, Steinbrenner added star Oakland outfielder Reggie Jackson —who had spent 1976 with
2058-406: A nationally televised and emotional game, Murcer used Munson's bat (which he gave to Munson's wife after the game), and drove in all five of the team's runs in a dramatic 5–4 walk-off victory. Before the game, Munson's locker sat empty except for his catching gear, a sad reminder for his teammates. His locker, labeled with his number 15, has remained empty in the Yankees clubhouse as a memorial. When
2205-548: A non-musical stage play called My Lady Friends , which opened on Broadway in December 1919. According to the book, My Lady Friends had been financed by Ruth's sale to the Yankees. The sale of Babe Ruth came to be viewed as the beginning of the Yankees–Red Sox rivalry , considered the "best rivalry" by American sports journalists. In the December 1920, Wally Schang , Waite Hoyt , Harry Harper and Mike McNally were traded to
2352-532: A pennant race against the New York Highlanders . A predecessor to what became a storied rivalry, this race featured the trade of Patsy Dougherty to the Highlanders for Bob Unglaub . In order to win the pennant, the Highlanders needed to win both games of their final doubleheader with the Americans at the Highlanders' home stadium, Hilltop Park . With Jack Chesbro on the mound, and the score tied 2–2 with
2499-689: A record of 77–85 — the Yankees' first losing record in 40 years. In 1966, the Yankees finished in last place in the AL for the first time since 1912. It also marked their first consecutive losing seasons since 1917 and 1918. The 1967 season was not much better; they finished only ahead of the Kansas City Athletics in the American League. While their fortunes improved somewhat in the late 1960s and early 1970s, they finished higher than fourth only once during CBS' ownership, in 1970 . The Yankees were not able to replace their aging superstars with promising young talent, as they had consistently done in
2646-591: A roster of players loaned from the rest of the AL clubs. The Orioles were disbanded at the end of the season. In early 1903, the two leagues decided to settle their disputes and try to coexist. At a conference, Johnson requested that an AL team be put in New York, to play alongside the NL's Giants. It was put to a vote, and 15 of the 16 major league owners agreed on it. The franchise was awarded to Frank J. Farrell and William S. Devery . The team's new ballpark, Hilltop Park (formally known as "American League Park"),
2793-456: A single. It was followed by singles by Kevin Mitchell and Ray Knight . With Mookie Wilson batting, a wild pitch by Bob Stanley tied the game at 5. Wilson then hit a slow ground ball to first; the ball rolled through Bill Buckner 's legs, allowing Knight to score the winning run from second. New York Yankees The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in
2940-510: A spectacular catch of a Joe Morgan line drive and doubled off Ken Griffey at first base to preserve the tie. In the bottom of the 12th inning, Carlton Fisk hit a deep fly ball that sliced towards the left-field foul pole above the Green Monster . As the ball sailed into the night, Fisk waved his arms frantically towards fair territory, seemingly pleading with the ball not to go foul. The ball complied, and bedlam ensued at Fenway as Fisk rounded
3087-516: A strike, making references to the day's games in the postseason would have been played. A year later, the team qualified for the playoffs in the new wild card slot in the strike-shortened 1995 season. In the memorable 1995 American League Division Series against the Seattle Mariners , the Yankees won the first two games at home and lost the next three in Seattle. Although Mattingly batted .417 with
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#17330930027483234-636: Is now playing in Atlanta . In 1901, the upstart American League established a competing club in Boston. (Originally, a team was supposed to be started in Buffalo , but league ownership at the last minute removed that city from their plans in favor of the expansion Boston franchise.) For seven seasons, the AL team wore dark blue stockings and had no official nickname. They were simply "Boston", "Bostonians" or "the Bostons"; or
3381-619: Is often shortened to "Bosox" or "BoSox", a combination of "Boston" and "Sox" (similar to the "ChiSox" in Chicago or the minor league "WooSox" of Worcester, a minor league affiliate of Boston). Sportswriters sometimes refer to the Red Sox as the Crimson Hose and the Olde Towne Team . Recently, media have begun to call them the "Sawx" casually, reflecting how the word is pronounced with a New England accent . However, most fans simply refer to
3528-618: Is the team's general manager, Aaron Boone is the team's field manager , and Aaron Judge is the team captain . The team's home games were played at the original Yankee Stadium in the Bronx from 1923 to 1973 and from 1976 to 2008. In 1974 and 1975, the Yankees shared Shea Stadium with the Mets, in addition to the New York Jets and the New York Giants . In 2009, they moved into a new ballpark of
3675-649: The American League (AL) East Division . Founded in 1901 as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the team's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since 1912 . The "Red Sox" name was chosen by the team owner, John I. Taylor , c. 1908 , following the lead of previous teams that had been known as the " Boston Red Stockings ", including the Boston Braves (now the Atlanta Braves ). The team has won nine World Series championships , tied for
3822-559: The Baltimore Orioles —to his roster. During spring training of 1977, Jackson alienated his teammates with controversial remarks about the Yankees captain, catcher Thurman Munson . He had bad blood with manager Billy Martin, who had managed the Detroit Tigers when Jackson's Athletics defeated them in the 1972 playoffs . Jackson, Martin, and Steinbrenner repeatedly feuded with each other throughout Jackson's 5-year contract. Martin
3969-568: The Boston Red Sox is one of the most well-known rivalries in North American sports. The team's logo is internationally known as a fashion item and an icon of New York City and the United States. From 1903 through the 2024 season, the Yankees' overall win–loss record is 10,778–8,148–88 (a .569 winning percentage ). In 1900, Ban Johnson , the president of a minor league known as
4116-459: The Chicago White Sox by newspapers needing a headline-friendly form of Stockings , as "Stockings Win!" in large type did not fit in a column. The team name "Red Sox" had previously been used as early as 1888 by a 'colored' team from Norfolk, Virginia. The Spanish language media sometimes refers to the team as Medias Rojas , a translation of "red socks". The official Spanish site uses
4263-570: The Cincinnati Reds in the 1961 World Series . The team finished the year with 240 home runs, which was an MLB record until surpassed by the 1996 Baltimore Orioles team with 257 home runs. In 1962, the sports scene in New York changed when the National League added an expansion team, the New York Mets . The Mets played at the Giants' former home, the Polo Grounds , for two seasons while Shea Stadium
4410-564: The Harlem River from the Polo Grounds. In 1922, the Yankees returned to the World Series again and were dealt a second defeat at the hands of the Giants . Manager Miller Huggins and general manager Ed Barrow were important newcomers in this period. The hiring of Huggins by Ruppert in 1918 caused a rift between the owners that eventually led to Ruppert buying Huston out in 1923. In 1923,
4557-522: The National Hockey League 's Pittsburgh Penguins and partially owns RFK Racing of the NASCAR Cup Series . They are consistently one of the top MLB teams in average road attendance, while the small capacity of Fenway Park prevents them from leading in overall attendance. From May 15, 2003, to April 10, 2013, the Red Sox sold out every home game—a total of 820 games (794 regular season) for
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4704-496: The National League , then the only major league in baseball. Johnson had changed the name of the league to the American League prior to the 1900 season. In 1901, the league created a franchise in Boston, called the "Boston Americans", to compete with the National League team there. Playing their home games at Huntington Avenue Grounds , the Boston franchise finished second in the league in 1901 and third in 1902. The team
4851-535: The New York City borough of the Bronx . The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East Division . They are one of two major league clubs based in New York City alongside the National League (NL)'s New York Mets . The team was founded in 1903 when Frank Farrell and Bill Devery purchased the franchise rights to the defunct Baltimore Orioles (no relation to
4998-494: The Pittsburgh Pirates in the first World Series in 1903 and winning four more championships by 1918. However, they then went into one of the longest championship droughts in baseball history, dubbed the " Curse of the Bambino " after its alleged inception due to the Red Sox' sale of star player Babe Ruth to the rival New York Yankees two years after their World Series championship in 1918. The Sox endured an 86-year wait before
5145-618: The Western League (1894–1899), changed the Western League name to the American League (AL) and asked the National League to classify it as a major league. Johnson held that his league would operate on friendly terms with the National League, but the National League demanded concessions which Johnson did not agree with and he declared major league status for the AL in 1901 anyway. Plans to add an AL team in New York City were blocked by
5292-554: The World Series , the Yankees won the first two games against the Los Angeles Dodgers. But the Dodgers fought back to win the next four games to claim the World Series title. This World Series would be the most recent between the Yankees and the Dodgers. Following the team's loss to the Dodgers in the 1981 World Series, the Yankees began their longest absence from the playoffs since 1921. Steinbrenner announced his plan to transform
5439-432: The Yankees had the worst record in the American League, and their fourth last-place finish in franchise history. During the 1990 season, Yankee fans started to chant " 1918! " to taunt the Red Sox, reminding them of the last time they won a World Series one weekend the Red Sox were there in 1990. Each time the Red Sox were at Yankee Stadium afterward, chants of "1918!" echoed through the stadium. Yankee fans also taunted
5586-403: The "Americans" or "Boston Americans" as in "American Leaguers", Boston being a two-team city. Their 1901–1907 jerseys, both home, and road, just read "Boston", except for 1902 when they sported large letters "B" and "A" denoting "Boston" and "American". Newspaper writers of the time used other nicknames for the club, including "Somersets" (for owner Charles Somers ), "Plymouth Rocks", "Beaneaters",
5733-462: The "Collinsites" (for manager Jimmy Collins )", and "Pilgrims". For years many sources have listed "Pilgrims" as the early Boston AL team's official nickname, but researcher Bill Nowlin has demonstrated that the name was barely used, if at all, during the team's early years. The origin of the nickname appears to be a poem entitled "The Pilgrims At Home" written by Edwin Fitzwilliam that was sung at
5880-406: The "swing" signal on. Upon Jackson's return, Martin made a famous statement against both Jackson and owner Steinbrenner: "They deserve each other. One's a born liar; the other's convicted." Martin was forced to resign the next day and was replaced by Bob Lemon . This came while the team was winning five games in a row and Boston was losing five in a row. The Yankees continued to win games, and by
6027-402: The 1870 season, Wright was hired by Boston businessman Ivers Whitney Adams to organize a new team in Boston, and he brought three teammates and the "Red Stockings" nickname along. (Most nicknames were then unofficial—neither club names nor registered trademarks—so the migration was informal.) The Boston Red Stockings won four championships in the five seasons of the new National Association ,
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6174-501: The 1907 home opener ("Rory O'More" melody). This nickname was commonly used during that season, perhaps because the team had a new manager and several rookie players. John I. Taylor had said in December 1907 that the Pilgrims "sounded too much like homeless wanderers." The National League club in Boston, though seldom called the "Red Stockings" anymore, still wore red trim. In 1907, the National League club adopted an all-white uniform, and
6321-576: The 1915 season, Tris Speaker was traded to the Cleveland Indians . The Red Sox went on to win the 1916 World Series , defeating the Brooklyn Robins . Harry Frazee bought the Red Sox from Joseph Lannin in 1916 for about $ 675,000. In 1918, Babe Ruth led the team to another World Series championship over the Chicago Cubs . Prior to the sale of Babe Ruth, multiple trades occurred between
6468-475: The 1948 pennant race, Harris was relieved of his duties and replaced by Casey Stengel , who had a reputation of being a clown and managing bad teams. His tenure as Yankees' field manager, however, was marked with success. The "underdog" Yankees came from behind to catch and surprise a powerful Red Sox team on the last two days of the 1949 season, a face-off that fueled the beginning of the modern Yankees–Red Sox rivalry . By this time, however, DiMaggio's career
6615-474: The 1975 World Series, "We won that thing 3 games to 4." In 1978, the Red Sox and the Yankees were involved in a tight pennant race. The Yankees were 14 + 1 ⁄ 2 games behind the Red Sox in July, and on September 10, after completing a 4-game sweep of the Red Sox (known as "The Boston Massacre"), the Yankees tied for the divisional lead. On September 16 the Yankees held a 3 + 1 ⁄ 2 game lead over
6762-466: The 1979 season. Former Cy Young Award-winning closer Sparky Lyle was traded to the Texas Rangers for several players, including Dave Righetti . Tommy John was acquired from the Dodgers and Luis Tiant from the Red Sox to bolster the pitching staff. During the season, Bob Lemon was replaced by Billy Martin, who was serving his second stint as Yankees manager. The 1970s ended on a tragic note for
6909-720: The AL East for the first time in 11 seasons, and faced the California Angels in the ALCS . The teams split the first two games in Boston, but the Angels won the next two home games, taking a 3–1 lead in the series. With the Angels poised to win the series, the Red Sox trailed 5–2 heading into the ninth inning of Game 5. A two-run homer by Baylor cut the lead to one. With two outs and a runner on, and one strike away from elimination, Dave Henderson homered off Donnie Moore to put Boston up 6–5. Although
7056-478: The AL pennant race until almost the last game. The BoSox had finished the 1966 season in ninth place, but they found new life with Yastrzemski as the team won the pennant to reach the 1967 World Series . Yastrzemski won the American League Triple Crown (the most recent player to accomplish such a feat until Miguel Cabrera did so in 2012), hitting .326 with 44 home runs and 121 runs batted in . He
7203-660: The American League Rookie of the Year award and the Most Valuable Player award, a feat which had never previously been accomplished, and was not duplicated until Ichiro Suzuki did it in 2001. In the 1975 American League Championship Series , the Red Sox swept the Oakland A's . In the 1975 World Series , they faced the heavily favored Cincinnati Reds , also known as The Big Red Machine . Luis Tiant won games 1 and 4 of
7350-412: The American League team saw an opportunity. On December 18, 1907, Taylor announced that the club had officially adopted red as its new team color. The 1908 uniforms featured a large icon of a red stocking angling across the shirt front. For 1908, the National League club returned to wearing red trim, but the American League team finally had an official nickname and remained the "Red Sox" for good. The name
7497-545: The Angels tied the game in the bottom of the ninth, the Red Sox won in the eleventh on a Henderson sacrifice fly off Moore. The Red Sox then found themselves with six- and seven-run wins at Fenway Park in Games 6 and 7 to win the American League title. The Red Sox faced a heavily favored New York Mets team that had won 108 games in the regular season in the 1986 World Series . Boston won the first two games in Shea Stadium but lost
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#17330930027487644-511: The Chicago Cubs in the 1932 World Series , and brought the team's streak of consecutive World Series game wins to 12. This series was made famous by Babe Ruth's " Called Shot " in game three of the series at Wrigley Field , in which Ruth pointed to center field before hitting a home run. In 1935, Ruth left the Yankees to join the NL's Boston Braves , and he made his last major league baseball appearance on May 30 of that year. After Ruth left
7791-466: The Dodgers, Mets, and Cardinals also objecting. While the Yankees usually drafted fairly early during this period due to their lackluster records, Thurman Munson was the only pick who lived up to his billing. On January 3, 1973, CBS announced they were selling the club to a group of investors, led by Cleveland -based shipbuilder George Steinbrenner (1930–2010), for $ 10 million (equivalent to $ 68.6 million in 2023). E. Michael Burke , who assumed
7938-484: The Highlanders shared the Polo Grounds with the Giants after their lease with Hilltop Park expired. While playing at the Polo Grounds, the name "Highlanders" fell into disuse among the press. In 1913 the team became officially known as the New York Yankees. In the mid‑1910s, the Yankees finished towards the bottom of the standings. The relationship between Farrell and Devery became strained due to money issues and
8085-455: The Keyboard", and his relationship with the fans was often rocky as he was seen spitting towards the stands on more than one occasion. With Williams, the Red Sox reached the 1946 World Series but lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games in part because of the use of the "Williams Shift", a defensive tactic in which the shortstop moves to the right side of the infield to make it harder for
8232-519: The NL's New York Giants . A team was instead placed in Baltimore , Maryland, in 1901 and named the Orioles. The Orioles were managed by John McGraw , who was also a part owner. After many personal clashes with Johnson, during the 1902 season McGraw jumped to become the new manager of the Giants, taking many players with him. The Orioles limped through the remainder of the season under league control, using
8379-399: The Polo Grounds. After the 1922 season, the Yankees were told to move out of the Polo Grounds. Giants manager John McGraw became upset with the increase of Yankees attendance along with the number of home runs. He was said to have commented that the Yankees should "move to some out-of-the-way place, like Queens", but they instead broke ground for a new ballpark in the Bronx , right across
8526-480: The Red Sox and the Yankees. On December 18, 1918, outfielder Duffy Lewis , pitcher Dutch Leonard and pitcher Ernie Shore were traded to the Yankees for pitcher Ray Caldwell , Slim Love , Roxy Walters , Frank Gilhooley and $ 15,000. In July 1919, pitcher Carl Mays quit the team and then was traded to the Yankees for Bob McGraw, Allan Russell and $ 40,000. After Mays was traded, league president Ban Johnson suspended him due to his breaking of his contract with
8673-633: The Red Sox beat the New York Giants 4–3–1 in the 1912 World Series best known for Snodgrass's Muff . From 1913 to 1916, the Red Sox were owned by Joseph Lannin . In 1914, Lannin signed a young up-and-coming pitcher named Babe Ruth from the Baltimore Orioles of the International League . In 1915, the team won 101 games and went on to the 1915 World Series , where they beat the Philadelphia Phillies four games to one. Following
8820-470: The Red Sox featured several other star players during the 1940s, including second baseman Bobby Doerr and center fielder Dom DiMaggio (the younger brother of Joe DiMaggio ). The Red Sox narrowly lost the AL pennant in 1948 and 1949. In 1948, Boston finished in a tie with Cleveland , and their loss to Cleveland in a one-game playoff ended hopes of an all-Boston World Series. Curiously, manager Joseph McCarthy chose journeyman Denny Galehouse to start
8967-453: The Red Sox with signs saying "CURSE OF THE BAMBINO", pictures of Babe Ruth, and wearing "1918!" T-shirts each time they were at the stadium. These fans came to be known as the Bleacher Creatures . The poor showings in the 1980s and early 1990s soon changed. Steinbrenner hired Howard Spira to uncover damaging information on Winfield and was subsequently suspended from day-to-day team operations by Commissioner Fay Vincent for two years when
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#17330930027489114-405: The Red Sox, but the Sox won 11 of their next 13 games and by the final day of the season, the Yankees' magic number to win the division was one—with a win over Cleveland or a Boston loss to the Toronto Blue Jays clinching the division. However, New York lost 9–2 and Boston won 5–0, forcing a one-game playoff to be held at Fenway Park on Monday, October 2. The most remembered moment from the game
9261-413: The Red Sox, though 1961 saw the debut of Carl "Yaz" Yastrzemski , Williams' replacement in left field, who developed into one of the better hitters of a pitching-rich decade. Red Sox fans know 1967 as the season of the "Impossible Dream". The slogan refers to the hit song from the popular musical play " Man of La Mancha ". 1967 saw one of the great pennant races in baseball history with four teams in
9408-404: The Red Sox. The Yankees went to court after Johnson suspended Mays. After the Yankees were able to play Mays, the American League split into two factions: the Yankees, Red Sox and White Sox, known as the "Insurrectos", versus Johnson and the remaining five clubs, a.k.a. the "Loyal Five". On December 26, 1919, the team sold Babe Ruth, who had played the previous six seasons for the Red Sox, to
9555-420: The World Series but after five games, the Red Sox trailed the series 3 games to 2. Game 6 at Fenway Park is considered among the greatest games in postseason history. Down 6–3 in the bottom of the eighth inning, Red Sox pinch hitter Bernie Carbo hit a three-run homer into the center field bleachers off Reds fireman Rawly Eastwick to tie the game. In the top of the 11th inning, right fielder Dwight Evans made
9702-435: The Yankees Lost the Pennant". The term was coined by writer Douglass Wallop , who wrote a novel of the same name . The novel was then adapted into a musical called Damn Yankees . In 1955 , the Dodgers finally beat the Yankees in the World Series, after five previous Series losses to them. The Yankees came back strong the next year. In Game 5 of the 1956 World Series against the Dodgers , pitcher Don Larsen threw
9849-453: The Yankees as New York's only baseball team. In the 1958 World Series , the Yankees got their revenge against the Braves and became the second team to win the Series after being down 3–1. For the decade, the Yankees won six World Series championships (1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1956, 1958) and eight American League pennants (those six plus 1955 and 1957). Led by Mantle, Ford, Berra, Elston Howard (the Yankees' first African-American player), and
9996-502: The Yankees edge the St. Louis Browns in a tight pennant race. After late trades in 1922, a June 15 trading deadline went into effect. In 1923, Herb Pennock was traded by the Red Sox to the Yankees for Camp Skinner, Norm McMillan, and George Murray . The loss of several top players sent the Red Sox into free fall. During the 1920s and early 1930s, the Red Sox were fixtures in the second division, never finishing closer than 20 games out of first. The losses increased after Frazee sold
10143-407: The Yankees following the 1934 season , Gehrig finally had a chance to take center stage, but it was only one year before a new star appeared, Joe DiMaggio . The team won an unprecedented four straight World Series titles from 1936 to 1939. For most of 1939, however, they had to do it without Gehrig, who took himself out of the lineup on May 2 and retired due to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis , which
10290-502: The Yankees for Del Pratt , Muddy Ruel , Hank Thormahlen, Sammy Vick. The following winter, shortstop Everett Scott , and pitchers Bullet Joe Bush and Sad Sam Jones were traded to the Yankees for Roger Peckinpaugh , who was immediately traded to the Washington Senators , Jack Quinn , Rip Collins , Bill Piercy. On July 23, 1922, Joe Dugan and Elmer Smith were traded to the Yankees for Elmer Miller, Chick Fewster, Johnny Mitchell , and Lefty O'Doul . Acquiring Dugan helped
10437-448: The Yankees from the "Bronx Bombers" into the "Bronx Burners", increasing the Yankees' ability to win games based on speed and defense instead of relying on home runs. As a first step towards this end, the Yankees signed Dave Collins from the Cincinnati Reds during the 1981 off-season. Collins was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays after the 1982 season in a deal that also included future All-Stars Fred McGriff and Mike Morgan . In return
10584-457: The Yankees got Dale Murray and Tom Dodd . The Yankees of the 1980s were led by All-Star first baseman Don Mattingly . In spite of accumulating the most total wins of any major league team, they failed to win a World Series (the 1980s were the first decade since the 1910s in which the Yankees did not win at least two Series) and had only two playoff appearances. They consistently had a powerful offense, with Mattingly and Winfield competing for
10731-462: The Yankees had already strengthened their supply of future prospects, which included a young outfielder named Roger Maris . In 1960, Maris led the league in slugging percentage, RBI, and extra-base hits. He finished second in home runs (one behind Mickey Mantle ) and total bases, and won a Gold Glove , which garnered enough votes for the American League MVP award. The year 1961 was one of
10878-453: The Yankees had the best record in the AL, but the season was cut short by a players' strike . Because the Yankees were last in a postseason in a season cut short by a strike , the news media constantly reminded the Yankees about the parallels between these two Yankees teams, which included both teams having division leads taken away by strike. Throughout October, the media continued to speculate about what might have been if there had not been
11025-521: The Yankees led the AL East before a strike hit in June 1981. The Yankees struggled under Bob Lemon , who replaced Michael for the second half of the season. Thanks to the split-season playoff format, the Yankees faced the second-half winner Milwaukee Brewers in the special 1981 American League Division Series . After defeating Milwaukee 3–2, they swept the Oakland Athletics in a three-game ALCS . In
11172-458: The Yankees manager. The 1950 title was the only one of those five championships not to be won against either the New York Giants or Brooklyn Dodgers ; it was won in four straight games against the Whiz Kids of the Philadelphia Phillies . In 1954, the Yankees won 103 games, but the Cleveland Indians took the pennant with a then-AL record 111 wins; 1954 was famously referred to as "The Year
11319-477: The Yankees moved across the street, Munson's locker was torn out and installed in the new stadium's museum. Immediately after Munson's death, the team announced his number 15 would be retired . The 1980 season brought more changes. Billy Martin was fired once again and Dick Howser took his place. Chris Chambliss was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays for catcher Rick Cerone . Reggie Jackson hit .300 for
11466-433: The Yankees moved to their new home, Yankee Stadium , which took 11 months to build and cost $ 2.5 million (equivalent to $ 40,000,000 in 2021). The team announced that 99,200 fans showed up on Opening Day and 25,000 were turned away. In the first game at Yankee Stadium, Ruth hit a home run. The stadium was nicknamed "The House That Ruth Built", due mainly to the fact that Ruth had doubled Yankees' attendance, which helped
11613-533: The Yankees' favor, leading to accusations that the Athletics were little more than a Yankees farm team at the major league level. Kansas City had been home to the Yankees' top farm team, the Kansas City Blues , for almost 20 years before the Athletics moved there from Philadelphia in 1954. In 1960, Charles O. Finley purchased the Athletics and put an end to the trades with the Yankees. At that point, however,
11760-452: The Yankees. On August 2, 1979, catcher Thurman Munson died when his private plane crashed while he was practicing touch-and-go landings . Four days later, the entire team flew out to Canton , Ohio, for the funeral, despite having a game later that day against the Orioles . Bobby Murcer , a close friend of Munson's, along with Lou Piniella , were chosen to give the eulogy at his funeral. In
11907-508: The age of 38 in 1957, but there was little else for Boston fans to root for. Williams retired at the end of the 1960 season , famously hitting a home run in his final at-bat as memorialized in the John Updike story "Hub fans bid Kid adieu." The Red Sox finally became the last Major League team to field an African American player when they promoted infielder Pumpsie Green from their AAA farm team in 1959. The 1960s also started poorly for
12054-458: The bases to win the game for the Red Sox 7–6. The Red Sox lost game 7, 4–3 even though they had an early 3–0 lead. Starting pitcher Bill Lee threw a slow looping curve which he called a "Leephus pitch" or "space ball" to Reds first baseman Tony Pérez who hit the ball over the Green Monster and across the street. The Reds scored the winning run in the 9th inning. Carlton Fisk said famously about
12201-435: The best average in the AL for the 1984 season . Despite their offense, the Yankees teams of the 1980s lacked sufficient starting pitching to win a championship in the 1980s. After posting a 22–6 record in 1985, arm problems caught up with Guidry, and his performance declined over the next three years. He retired after the 1988 season. Of the remaining mainstays of the Yankees' rotation, only Dave Righetti stood out, pitching
12348-651: The bottom of the 10th, a graphic appeared on the NBC telecast hailing Barrett as the Player of the Game and Bruce Hurst as Most Valuable Player of the World Series. A message even appeared briefly on the Shea Stadium scoreboard congratulating the Red Sox as World Series champions. After so many years of abject frustration, Red Sox fans around the world could taste victory. With the count at two balls and one strike, Mets catcher Gary Carter hit
12495-412: The current team of the same name ) after it ceased operations and used them to establish the New York Highlanders . The Highlanders were officially renamed the Yankees in 1913 . The team is owned by Yankee Global Enterprises , a limited liability company that is controlled by the family of the late George Steinbrenner . Steinbrenner purchased the team from CBS in 1973. Currently, Brian Cashman
12642-513: The current major league record and one often deemed unbreakable . Two months after the Yankees beat the Brooklyn Dodgers in the 1941 World Series , the first of seven October meetings between the two crosstown rivals before the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles. As a result of the mandatory draft following the attack on Pearl Harbor , more than 90 percent of the players, including DiMaggio, were forced to suspend their playing careers and enter
12789-471: The difference in the Yankees' 5–4 win, which ended with Yastrzemski popping out to Graig Nettles in foul territory with Rick Burleson representing the tying run at third. Although Dent became a Red Sox demon, the Red Sox got retribution in 1990 when the Yankees fired Dent as their manager during a series at Fenway Park. Carl Yastrzemski retired after the 1983 season, during which the Red Sox finished sixth in
12936-399: The first professional league. When a new Cincinnati club was formed as a charter member of the National League in 1876, the "Red Stockings" nickname was commonly reserved for them once again, and the Boston team was referred to as the "Red Caps". Other names were sometimes used before Boston officially adopted the nickname "Braves" in 1912; the club eventually left Boston for Milwaukee and
13083-401: The first starting pitcher to win both awards since Vida Blue in 1971. Despite spending a month and a half on the disabled list in the middle of the season, left-hander Bruce Hurst went 13–8, striking out 167 and pitching four shutout games. Boston sportswriters that season compared Clemens and Hurst to Don Drysdale and Sandy Koufax from the 1960s Los Angeles Dodgers . The Red Sox won
13230-647: The first team to win four World Series trophies in the 21st century, with championships in 2004 , 2007 , 2013 and 2018 . The team's history has also been marked by the team's intense rivalry with the New York Yankees , arguably the fiercest and most historic in North American professional sports . The Red Sox are owned by Fenway Sports Group , which also owns Liverpool of the Premier League in England,
13377-644: The following inning sealed the eventual 5–4 win that gave the Yankees their one-hundredth win of the season and their third straight AL East title. Guidry earned his 25th win of the season. After defeating the Kansas City Royals for the third consecutive year in the ALCS , the Yankees faced the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series . They lost the first two games in Los Angeles, but won all three games at Yankee Stadium and Game 6 back in Los Angeles, winning their 22nd world championship. Changes occurred during
13524-598: The four major North American sports leagues, after briefly trailing the NHL 's Montreal Canadiens between 1993 and 1999. The Yankees have had 44 players and 11 managers inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame , including many of the most iconic figures in the sport's history, such as Babe Ruth , Lou Gehrig , Joe DiMaggio , Mickey Mantle , Yogi Berra , Whitey Ford , and Reggie Jackson ; more recent inductees include Mariano Rivera and Derek Jeter , who received
13671-587: The fourth, fifth and eighth innings of the sixth game of the World Series; earned the Series MVP Award ; and got the nickname "Mr. October." Throughout the late 1970s, the race for the pennant was often a close competition between the Yankees and the Red Sox. Despite that, during the 1978 season , the Red Sox were 14 + 1 ⁄ 2 games ahead of the Yankees in July. In late July, Martin suspended Reggie Jackson and fined him $ 9,000 (equivalent to $ 42,000 in 2023) for "defiance" after he bunted while Martin had
13818-511: The late 1940s had retired or been traded. The stark contrast in the team led critics to call the Red Sox' daily lineup "Ted Williams and the Seven Dwarfs". Jackie Robinson was even worked out by the team at Fenway Park, however, owner Tom Yawkey did not want an African American player on his team. Willie Mays also tried out for Boston and was highly praised by team scouts. In 1955, Frank Malzone debuted at third base and Ted Williams hit .388 at
13965-460: The late 1960s and early 1970s, they never finished higher than second place in their division. The closest they came to a divisional title was 1972 when they lost by a half-game to the Detroit Tigers . The start of the season was delayed by a players' strike, and the Red Sox had lost one more game to the strike than the Tigers had. Games lost to the strike were not made up. The Red Sox went to Detroit with
14112-565: The late 1960s. CBS initially suggested renovations, but the team needed to play elsewhere, and the Mets refused to open their home, Shea Stadium, to the Yankees. A new stadium in the Meadowlands , across the Hudson River in New Jersey , was suggested (and was eventually built, as Giants Stadium , specifically for football). Finally, in mid-1972, Mayor John Lindsay stepped in. The city bought
14259-599: The league. In December 1907, Taylor proposed that the Boston Americans name change to the Boston Red Sox. By 1909, center fielder Tris Speaker had become a fixture in the Boston outfield, and the team finished the season in third place. In 1912 , the Red Sox won 105 games and the pennant. The 105 wins stood as the club record until the 2018 club won 108. Anchored by an outfield including Tris Speaker, Harry Hooper and Duffy Lewis , and pitcher Smoky Joe Wood ,
14406-462: The left-handed-hitting Williams to hit to that side of the field. Some have claimed that he was too proud to hit to the other side of the field, not wanting to let the Cardinals take away his game. His performance may have also been affected by a pitch he took in the elbow in an exhibition game a few days earlier. Either way, in his only World Series, Williams gathered just five singles in 25 at-bats for
14553-408: The middle of 1989 , while back problems hampered both Winfield (who missed the entire 1989 season) and Mattingly (who missed almost the entire second half of 1990). Winfield's tenure with the team ended when he was dealt to the California Angels . From 1989 to 1992, the team had a losing record, spending significant money on free-agents and draft picks who did not live up to expectations. In 1990,
14700-529: The military. Despite losing many of their players, the Yankees still managed to pull out a win against the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1943 World Series . Following Jacob Ruppert's death in 1939, his heirs assumed control on the team. In 1945 construction and real estate magnate Del Webb along with partners Dan Topping and Larry MacPhail purchased the team from the Ruppert estate for $ 2.8 million (equivalent to roughly $ 47.8 million in 2023); MacPhail, who
14847-478: The most memorable in Yankees history. Mantle and Maris hit home runs at a fast pace and became known as the " M&M Boys ". Ultimately, a severe hip infection forced Mantle to leave the lineup at the end of the regular season. Maris continued though, and on October 1, the last day of the regular season, he hit home run number 61, surpassing Babe Ruth's single-season home run record of 60. However, MLB Commissioner Ford Frick decreed that since Maris had played in
14994-446: The newly acquired Roger Maris , the Yankees entered the 1960s seeking to replicate their success of the 1950s. Arnold Johnson , owner of the Kansas City Athletics , was a longtime business associate of Yankees co-owners Del Webb and Dan Topping . Because of this "special relationship" with the Yankees, he traded young players to them in exchange for cash and aging veterans. Invariably, these trades ended up being heavily tilted in
15141-442: The next two at Fenway, knotting the series at two games apiece. After Bruce Hurst recorded his second victory of the series in Game 5, the Red Sox returned to Shea Stadium looking to garner their first championship in 68 years. However, Game 6 became one of the most devastating losses in club history. After pitching seven strong innings, Clemens was lifted from the game with a 3–2 lead. Years later, Manager John McNamara said Clemens
15288-669: The only perfect game in World Series history, which remains the only perfect game in postseason play and the only postseason no-hitter until 2010. The Yankees lost the 1957 World Series to the Milwaukee Braves when Lew Burdette won three games for the Braves and was awarded World Series MVP . Following the Series, the New York Giants and the Brooklyn Dodgers both left for San Francisco and Los Angeles , respectively. This left
15435-584: The only time in his career with 41 homers, and finished second in the MVP voting to Kansas City's George Brett . The Yankees won 103 games and the AL East by three games over the Baltimore Orioles , but were swept by the Royals in the ALCS . After the season ended, the Yankees signed Dave Winfield to a 10-year contract. A contract misunderstanding led to a feud between Winfield and Steinbrenner. The team fired Howser and replaced him with Gene Michael . Under Michael,
15582-463: The pennant by 10.5 games, but they scored only four runs in the series and were swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers and their ace pitcher, Sandy Koufax . The series was the first between the Yankees and the new Los Angeles Dodgers, after their move in 1958. After the season, Yogi Berra, who had just retired from playing, took over managerial duties. The aging Yankees returned the next year for
15729-459: The playoff game when the young lefty phenom Mel Parnell was available to pitch. In 1949, the Red Sox were one game ahead of the New York Yankees , with the only two games left for both teams being against each other, and they lost both of those games. The 1950s were viewed as a time of tribulation for the Red Sox. After Williams returned from the Korean War in 1953, many of the best players from
15876-558: The plot was revealed. This turn of events allowed management to implement a coherent acquisition and development program without owner interference. General Manager Gene Michael , along with manager Buck Showalter , shifted the club's emphasis from high-priced acquisitions to developing talent through the farm system . This new philosophy developed key players such as outfielder Bernie Williams , shortstop Derek Jeter , catcher Jorge Posada , and pitchers Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera . The first significant success came in 1994 , when
16023-491: The policy was to " instill a certain sense of order and discipline" in the players. The policy originated from Steinbrenner's service in the United States Air Force , which had a similar appearance policy. This rule is still in effect today, and enforced by his sons after George's passing. The Cincinnati Reds had the same personal appearance policy from 1967 until 1999. After the 1974 season , Steinbrenner made
16170-409: The previous five decades. As early as the 1961–62 off-season, longtime fans noticed that the pipeline of talent from the minor league affiliates had started to dry up. This was worsened by the introduction of the amateur draft that year, which meant that the Yankees could no longer sign any player they wanted. The Yankees were one of four teams who voted against the establishment of the draft, with
16317-415: The record. Meanwhile, first baseman Lou Gehrig had his first big season, batting .373 with 47 home runs and 175 runs batted in (RBI), beating Ruth's single-season RBI mark which he had set in 1921. The Yankees won the World Series again in 1928. In 1931, Joe McCarthy , who was previously manager of the Chicago Cubs , was hired as manager and brought the Yankees back to the top of the AL. They swept
16464-481: The rival New York Yankees. The sale was announced on January 6, 1920. In 1919, Ruth had broken the single-season home run record, hitting 29 home runs. It was believed that Frazee sold Ruth to finance the Broadway musical No, No, Nanette . While No, No, Nanette did not open on Broadway until 1925, Leigh Montville's book, The Big Bam: The Life and Times of Babe Ruth , reports that No, No, Nanette had originated as
16611-490: The role of team president in 1966, resigned as president in April but stayed with the organization as a consultant to the owner. Within a year, Steinbrenner bought out most of his other partners and became the team's principal owner, although Burke continued to hold a minority share into the 1980s. One of Steinbrenner's major goals was to renovate Yankee Stadium. Both the stadium and the surrounding neighborhood had deteriorated by
16758-519: The same name that was constructed adjacent to the previous facility, which was closed and demolished. The team is perennially among the leaders in MLB attendance . Arguably the most successful professional sports franchise in the United States, the Yankees have won 21 American League East Division titles , 41 American League pennants , and 27 World Series championships , all of which are MLB records. The team has won more titles than any other franchise in
16905-466: The season, the two clubs finished in a tie for first place in the AL East, and a tiebreaker game was held at Fenway Park. With Guidry pitching against former Yankee Mike Torrez , the Red Sox took an early 2–0 lead. In the seventh inning, light-hitting Yankee shortstop Bucky Dent drove a three-run home run over the Fenway Park's Green Monster , putting the Yankees up 3–2. Reggie Jackson's solo home run in
17052-491: The seven-team AL East, posting their worst record since 1966. However, in 1986, it appeared that the team's fortunes were about to change. The offense had remained strong with Jim Rice, Dwight Evans, Don Baylor and Wade Boggs . Roger Clemens led the pitching staff, going 24–4 with a 2.48 ERA , and had a 20-strikeout game to win both the American League Cy Young and Most Valuable Player awards. Clemens became
17199-516: The shore of the Harlem River in Washington Heights, was home to the New York Giants of the National League. The Giants were inter-city rivals with the Highlanders, dating back to when Giants manager John McGraw feuded with Ban Johnson after McGraw jumped from the Orioles to the Giants. Polo Grounds III burned down in 1911 and the Highlanders shared Hilltop Park with the Giants during a two-month renovation period. Later, from 1913 to 1922,
17346-508: The stadium and began an extensive two-year renovation period. Since the city also owned Shea Stadium, the Mets were forced to allow the Yankees to play two seasons there. The renovations modernized the look of the stadium, significantly altered the dimensions, and reconfigured some of the seating. In 1973, Steinbrenner instituted a personal appearance policy that included being clean-shaven, with long hair slicked back or trimmed. In an interview with The New York Times , Steinbrenner stated
17493-462: The team as the "Sox" when the context is understood to mean Red Sox. The formal name of the entity which owns the team is "Boston Red Sox Baseball Club Limited Partnership". The name shown on a door near the main entrance to Fenway Park, "Boston American League Baseball Company", was used prior to the team's reorganization as a limited partnership on May 26, 1978. In 1901, the minor Western League, led by Ban Johnson , declared itself to be equal to
17640-487: The team pay for the new stadium. At the end of the season, the Yankees faced the Giants in the World Series for the third straight year and won their first championship. In the 1927 season , the Yankees featured a lineup that became known as " Murderers' Row ", and some consider this team to be the best in the history of baseball (though similar claims have been made for other Yankee squads, notably those of 1939, 1961 and 1998). The name originated from The Tombs ,
17787-476: The team performance. At the start of 1915, the pair sold the team to Colonel Jacob Ruppert , a brewer, and Captain Tillinghast L'Hommedieu Huston , a contractor-engineer. Ruppert and Huston paid $ 350,000 (equivalent to $ 9,375,000 in 2021) with both men contributing half of the total price. After the purchase, Ruppert assumed the role of team president with Huston becoming team secretary and treasurer . In
17934-451: The team to Bob Quinn in 1923. The team bottomed out in 1932 with a record of 43–111, still the worst record in franchise history. However, in 1931, Earl Webb set the all-time mark for most doubles in a season with 67. In 1933, Tom Yawkey bought the team. Yawkey acquired pitchers Wes Ferrell and Lefty Grove , Joe Cronin , a shortstop and manager, and first baseman Jimmie Foxx . In 1938, Foxx hit 50 home runs, which stood as
18081-504: The team won their first American League pennant and, as a result, Boston participated in the first modern World Series , going up against the Pittsburgh Pirates . Aided by the modified chants of " Tessie " by the Royal Rooters fan club and by its stronger pitching staff, the Americans won the best-of-nine series five games to three. In April 1904, the team was purchased by John I. Taylor of Boston. The 1904 team found itself in
18228-401: The team's sixth World Series championship in 2004 . The team's history during that period was punctuated with some of the most memorable moments in World Series history, including Enos Slaughter 's " mad dash " in 1946 , the " Impossible Dream " of 1967 , Carlton Fisk 's home run in 1975 , and Bill Buckner 's error in 1986 . Following their victory in the 2018 World Series , they became
18375-400: The third-most of any MLB team, and has played in 13 World Series. Their most recent World Series appearance and win was in 2018 . In addition, they won the 1904 American League pennant , but were not able to defend their 1903 World Series championship when the New York Giants refused to participate in the 1904 World Series . The Red Sox were a dominant team in the new league, defeating
18522-407: The time they met Boston for a pivotal four-game series at Fenway Park in early September, the Yankees were four games behind the Red Sox. The Yankees swept the Red Sox in what became known as the "Boston Massacre", winning the games 15–3, 13–2, 7–0, and 7–4. The third game was a shutout pitched by Ron Guidry , who led the majors with nine shutouts, a 25–3 record, and a 1.74 ERA. On the last day of
18669-462: The two highest vote percentages of all Hall of Fame members. According to Forbes , the Yankees are the second-highest valued sports franchise in the world, after the NFL 's Dallas Cowboys , with an estimated value in 2023 of approximately $ 7.1 billion. The team has garnered enormous popularity and a dedicated fanbase, as well as widespread enmity from fans of other MLB teams. The team's rivalry with
18816-481: The variant "Los Red Sox". The Red Stockings nickname was previously used by the Cincinnati Red Stockings , who were members of the pioneering National Association of Base Ball Players . Managed by Harry Wright , Cincinnati adopted a uniform with white knickers and red stockings and earned the famous nickname, a year or two before hiring the first fully professional team in 1869. When the club folded after
18963-406: The years around 1920, the Yankees, the Red Sox, and the Chicago White Sox had a détente . The trades between the three ball clubs antagonized Ban Johnson and garnered the teams the nickname "The Insurrectos ". This détente paid off well for the Yankees as they increased their payroll. Most new players who later contributed to the team's success came from the Red Sox, whose owner, Harry Frazee ,
19110-500: The youngest player in Major League Baseball to hit his 100th home run, a record that stands today. He was struck just above the left cheek bone by a fastball thrown by Jack Hamilton of the California Angels on Friday, August 18, 1967, and sat out the entire next season with headaches and blurred vision. Although he did have a productive season in 1970, he was never the same. Although the Red Sox were competitive for much of
19257-418: Was Bucky Dent 's 7th inning three-run home run in off Mike Torrez just over the Green Monster, giving the Yankees their first lead. The dejected Boston manager, Don Zimmer , gave Mr. Dent a new middle name which lives on in Boston sports lore to this day, uttering three words as the ball sailed over the left-field wall: "Bucky Fucking Dent!" Reggie Jackson provided a solo home run in the 8th that proved to be
19404-402: Was coined by writer Dan Shaughnessy in the 1990 book of the same name. Ruth's multitude of home runs proved so popular that the Yankees began drawing more people than their National League counterpart, the Giants. In 1921 — the year after acquiring Ruth — the Yankees played in their first World Series . They competed against the Giants , and all eight games of the series were played in
19551-667: Was constructed in one of Upper Manhattan 's highest points—between 165th and 168th Streets in the Washington Heights neighborhood. The team was named the New York Highlanders. Fans believed the name was chosen because of the team's elevated location in Upper Manhattan, or as a nod to team president Joseph Gordon's Scottish-Irish heritage (the Gordon Highlanders were a well known Scottish military unit). The land
19698-510: Was easier to fit in headlines. The Highlanders finished second in the AL in 1904, 1906, and 1910. In 1904, they lost the deciding game on a wild pitch to the Boston Americans , who later became the Boston Red Sox. That year, Highlander pitcher Jack Chesbro set the single-season wins record at 41. At this time there was no formal World Series agreement wherein the AL and NL winners would play each other. The Polo Grounds , located on
19845-417: Was hired and fired by Steinbrenner five times over the next 13 years. This conflict, combined with the extremely rowdy Yankees fans of the late 1970s and the bad conditions of the Bronx, led to the Yankees organization and stadium being referred to as the " Bronx Zoo ". Despite the turmoil, Jackson hit four home runs in the 1977 World Series ; hit three of those home runs on the first pitch of his at bats in
19992-405: Was later known as "Lou Gehrig's Disease" in his memory. The Yankees declared July 4, 1939, to be "Lou Gehrig Day", on which they retired his number 4, the first retired number in baseball. Gehrig made a famous speech in which he declared himself to be "the luckiest man on the face of the earth." He died two years later on June 2, 1941. The acclaimed movie The Pride of the Yankees about Gehrig
20139-433: Was named the league's Most Valuable Player, just one vote shy of a unanimous selection as a Minnesota sportswriter placed Twins center fielder César Tovar first on his ballot. But the Red Sox lost the series to the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games. Cardinals pitcher Bob Gibson stymied the Red Sox, winning three games. An 18-year-old Bostonian rookie named Tony Conigliaro slugged 24 home runs in 1964. "Tony C" became
20286-421: Was originally owned by C.W. Somers . In January 1902, he sold all but one share of the team to Henry Killilea . The early teams were led by manager and star third baseman Jimmy Collins , outfielders Chick Stahl , Buck Freeman , and Patsy Dougherty , and pitcher Cy Young , who in 1901 won the pitching Triple Crown with 33 wins (41.8% of the team's 79 wins), 1.62 ERA and 158 strikeouts. In 1903,
20433-595: Was over 400 feet (120 m) to right field. He served two stints in the United States Marine Corps as a pilot and saw active duty in both World War II and the Korean War , missing at least five full seasons of baseball. His book The Science of Hitting is widely read by students of baseball. He is currently the last player to hit over .400 for a full season, batting .406 in 1941. Williams feuded with sports writers his whole career, calling them "The Knights of
20580-712: Was owned by the New York Institute for the Education of the Blind and was leased to the Highlanders for 10 years. Initially, the team was commonly referred to as the New York Americans. The team was also referred to as the "Invaders" in the Evening Journal and The Evening World . New York Press Sports Editor Jim Price coined the unofficial nickname Yankees (or "Yanks") for the club as early as 1904, because it
20727-448: Was released in 1942. The 1941 season was often described as the last year of the "Golden Era" before the United States entered World War II and other realities intervened. Numerous achievements were made in the early 1940s including Ted Williams of the Red Sox hitting for the elusive .400 batting average and Joe DiMaggio getting hits in consecutive ballgames. By the end of his hitting streak , DiMaggio hit in 56 consecutive games ,
20874-465: Was suffering from a blister and asked to be taken out of the game, a claim Clemens denied. The Mets then scored a run off reliever and former Met Calvin Schiraldi to tie the score 3–3. The game went to extra innings, where the Red Sox took a 5–3 lead in the top of the 10th on a solo home run by Henderson, a double by Boggs and an RBI single by second baseman Marty Barrett . After recording two outs in
21021-456: Was the team president, treasurer, and general manager, was bought out following the 1947 World Series . After a few slumping seasons, McCarthy left the organization in 1946. A few interim managers later, Bucky Harris took the job, righting the ship and taking the Yankees to a hard-fought series victory against the Dodgers . Despite finishing only three games behind the Cleveland Indians in
21168-511: Was traded to the Oakland A's in the deal that brought Henderson to New York. The team came close to winning the AL East in 1985 and 1986 , finishing second to the Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox, respectively, but fell to fourth place in 1987 and fifth in 1988 , despite having mid-season leads in the AL East both years. By the end of the decade, the Yankees' offense declined. Henderson and third baseman Mike Pagliarulo had departed by
21315-453: Was trading them for large sums of money to finance his theatrical productions. Pitcher-turned-outfielder Babe Ruth was the most talented of all the acquisitions from Boston, and the outcome of that trade would haunt the Red Sox for the next 86 years, a span in which the team did not win a single World Series championship. This phenomenon eventually became known as the Curse of the Bambino , which
21462-466: Was under construction in nearby Flushing, Queens . This restored New York as a city with more than one team, as it had been from the late 1800s until 1957. The Yankees won the 1962 World Series , their tenth in the past sixteen years, defeating the San Francisco Giants 4–3. It was the Yankees' last championship until 1977 . The Yankees easily reached the 1963 World Series when they won
21609-551: Was winding down, and the "Yankee Clipper" retired after the 1951 season after numerous injuries. That year marked the arrival of Mickey Mantle , who was one of several rookies to fill the gap. Bettering the clubs managed by Joe McCarthy, the Yankees won the World Series five consecutive times from 1949 to 1953 under Stengel, which remains an MLB record. Led by players like center fielder Mickey Mantle , pitcher Whitey Ford , and catcher Yogi Berra , Stengel's teams won ten pennants and seven World Series titles in his 12 seasons as
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