Baseball has had it’s share of history. There are some teams that have helped define the sport of baseball. Here is some history of the New York Yankees and some of their achievements.
The Yankees’ Beginnings-Early 1900s
On January 9, 1903, a Baltimore franchise that was no longer functioning, was bought by Frank Farrell and Bill Devery for $18,000. The team was then moved to Manhattan. Imagine that! $18,000. Crazy how things have changed.
A couple of months later, the New York Franchise, was approved as a member of the American League. They become the “Highlanders”, due to their playing at one of the highest spots in Manhattan. Their home field was called “Hilltop Park.”
On April 22, 1903, the Highlanders played their first game. It ended up in a 3-1 loss to the Washington Senators. The Highlanders first win came the next day, winning 7-2 at Washington. Harry Howell got the win.
The Highlanders won their home opener on April 30th against Washington, winning 6-2.
On April 11, 1912, the infamous pinstripes were added to the Highlanders’ uniforms. A year later, they were officially renamed the “Yankees” after moving to the home of the New York Giants, the Polo Grounds.
Colonel’s Jacob Ruppert and Tillinghast L’Hommedieu Huston purchased the Yankees for $1.25 million. This took place on January 29, 1915.
History was made on April 24, 1917 when Pitcher George Mogridge became the first Yankee to throw a no-hitter. The Yankees won 2-1 against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.
The Start of a Yankees’ Dynasty
On January 3, 1920, the Yankees acquired Babe Ruth from the Red Sox for $125,000 and a $350,000 loan against the mortgage on Fenway Park. This starts the curse because the last time the Red Sox won a World Series was 1918, when they had Ruth. Ever since, the Red Sox were “cursed”, not winning a Championship until 2004, sweeping the St. Louis Cardinals. It could be worse. The Chicago Cubs’ last Championship win was in 1908, until they won in 2016 against the Cleveland Indians.
In September of 1921, the Yankees won their first AL pennant. They won their first World Series this year as well, against the the Giants. Two more Championships followed.
The following year, the construction of Yankee Stadium begins, while Col. Ruppert Buys out Col. Huston for $1.5 million.
On April 18, 1923, Ruth hits the stadium’s first HR during their home-opener for the season.
Ruth breaks his own MLB record for HR with 60 on September 30, 1927.
On April 16, 1929, the Yankees are the first team to make numbers a permanent part of their uniform. Later this same year on September 25th, Manager Miller Huggins dies of blood poisoning.
Pennants, Championships and Memorable Moments
Throughout the Yankees history, they have won 27 World Series Championships and 40 Pennants. Their latest took place in 2009 when they won the World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies. The Yankees have not made another World Series since then.
There were so many MVPs as well. For those that are still alive and remember the 1956 World Series, history was made. Don Larsen was, and still is, the only pitcher in MLB history to pitch a perfect game during the World Series. Larsen won MVP for that Championship.
Other players have memorable moments, but it is not just during the World Series. During the 2001 ALDS as the Yankees faced the Oakland Athletics, Derek Jeter made a remarkable play. After a hit off the bat of Terrence Long into right field, Shane Spencer threw the ball, overthrowing the cut off men and then Jeter retrieves it, making a flip to Jorge Posada at the plate. Posada then tags Jeremy Giambi at the plate, who was being waved home by the Athletics’ third-base coach, Ron Washington.
Plays like this will be remembered in history for the players and for those who watched them. The ironic part of it all is how so much has changed throughout the years. Hopefully, the Yankees still have more magic in them like they did in previous years. Baseball is America’s pastime and it is great that a team like the Yankees are part of it.
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