History of the New York Yankees

The New York Yankees have won more World Series than any other baseball team, winning 27 World Series from 1923 to 2018. Their best season was in 1998, when they won 114 games. The decade in which they went to the postseason the most times was from 2000 to 2009. They went to the postseason nine times and they won two World Series titles (2000 and 2009).

1903-1909

The New York Yankees began in 1903 as the New York Highlanders. They played their home games at Hilltop Park until 1912. The team had winning seasons in 1903, 1904, and 1906. Their best season was 1904, when they had 92 wins and 59 losses. They didn't go to the World Series during their first decade.

The Yankees had three managers in their first decade. Their first manager, Clark Griffith, would later own the Washington Senators and eventually be inducted into the Hall of Fame as an executive. He led the Yankees from 1903 through 1908. Their next two managers were Kid Elberfeld (1908) and George Stallings (1909-1910).

Two future Hall of Famers were on these early teams. Both Willie Keeler and Jack Chesbro played with the Yankees from 1903 through 1909.

1910-1919

In 1913, the team became known as the New York Yankees. Two years later, the Yankees were sold to a brewery owner, Jacob Ruppert, who had enough money to invest in improving the team. In 1919, Ruppert made a deal that turned the Yankees into a winning team - he acquired Babe Ruth from the Boston Red Sox.

The Yankees didn't have their own stadium from 1913 through 1922, so they played at the Polo Grounds. They had winning seasons in 1910, 1916, and 1919, with their best season in 1910, when they won 88 games and lost 63. None of their seasons was good enough for them to go to the World Series.

The Yankees had many managers from 1910 to 1919, starting with George Stallings and Hal Chase in 1910. Two of the managers were also players on the team (Harry Wolverton, 1912, and Roger Peckinpaugh, 1914). Future Hall of Famer Frank Chance managed the team in 1913 and 1914, followed by Bill Donovan from 1915-1917. The Yankees finally got a long term manager in 1918, when they hired Miller Huggins, who stayed with them through 1929.

1920-1929

The trade for Ruth translated into a World Series for the Yankees in 1921 and again in 1922. They lost both of those series to the New York Giants but they came back in 1923, in their new Yankee Stadium, to win their first World Series. It took four more years for the New York Yankees to win another World Series, but in 1927, they beat the Pittsburgh Pirates to once again be the best team in baseball. By that time, Lou Gehrig had joined Babe Ruth to make the Yankees unbeatable. In 1927, the Yankees had a 110-44 win-loss record. Their strength continued the following season and the Yankees had their third World Series win, defeating the St. Louis Cardinals in 1928.

In addition to Ruth and Gehrig, the Yankees had a slew of future Hall of Famers on their team in the 1920s. Pitcher Waite Hoyt joined the team in 1921 and he played with them through 1930. Two years later, pitcher Herb Pennock came and stayed through 1933. He was followed in 1924 by Earl Combs, in 1926 by Tony Lazzeri, and in 1928 by Bill Dickey. Both Combs and Lazzeri would continue to play with the Yankees through the mid-1930s and Dickey would stay with them through part of the 1940s.

1930-1939

From 1930 through 1935, the Yankees would see postseason play only in 1932, when they defeated the Chicago Cubs in the World Series. From 1936 through 1939, the Yankees won every World Series, defeating the Giants twice (1936 and 1937), the Cubs again in 1938, and the Cincinnati Reds in 1939.

Although the Yankees didn't go to the World Series every year from 1930 to 1939, they had winning seasons each of those years. Their best season was 1932, when they had 107 wins and 47 losses.

The Yankees had just two managers during the 1930s. Bob Shawkey had his only managerial position in 1930 and he was followed in 1931 by Joe McCarthy, who managed the team through 1946. Like Miller Huggins, McCarthy would someday be inducted into the Hall of Fame as a manager.

In addition to Ruth, Gehrig, Pennock, Combs, Lazzeri, and Dickey, the Yankees added three more future Hall of Famers to their roster. Pitchers Lefty Gomez and Red Ruffing arrived in 1930. The great Joe DiMaggio joined the team in 1936 and he stayed with them through 1951. Second baseman Joe Gordon improved the team's defense, starting in 1938.

1940-1949

As they did in the 1930s, the Yankees again had all winning seasons in the 1940s. Their best season came in 1942 when they won 103 games and lost 51. Although that was their best season, it was the only World Series that they lost, being defeated by the Cardinals.

The Yankees won the World Series in 1941, defeating their New York rivals, the Brooklyn Dodgers. They won again in 1943, over the Cardinals, and in 1947 and 1949, once again defeating the Dodgers.

Joe McCarthy managed the team through the first part of 1946. He was followed by Johnny Neun (1946). In 1947, Bucky Harris took over and he managed the team for two years. He was followed in 1949 by Casey Stengel, who stayed with the team through 1960. Both Harris and Stengel would one day be inducted into the Hall of Fame as managers.

The Yankees added two more future Hall of Fame players to their roster during the 1940s. The first was Phil Rizzuto, who would play with them in 1941 and 1942 and again from 1946 through 1956. One of the greatest catchers in baseball history, Yogi Berra, joined the Yankees in 1946 and he continued to play with them through 1963.

1950-1959

The 1950s and the first half of the 1960s were the decades of the New York Yankees. From 1950 to 1964, the Yankees won 13 American League pennants and 8 World Series. They had winning seasons from 1950 through 1959, with their best season in 1954, when they had 103 wins and 51 losses. Surprisingly, 1954 was only one of two seasons in the decade when they didn't go to the World Series.

The Yankees defeated the Dodgers in the World Series in 1952, 1953, and 1956, and they lost the series to Brooklyn in 1955. They won the World Series over the Philadelphia Phillies in 1950, the Giants in 1951, and the Milwaukee Brewers in 1958. The Brewers defeated the Yankees in 1957.

To strengthen their team in the 1950s, the Yankees added two more future Hall of Famers to their roster. First was pitcher Whitey Ford in 1950. He played with the Yankees in 1950 and again from 1953 through 1967. Joe DiMaggio was replaced in center field by Mickey Mantle in 1951 and he continued with the Yankees through 1968. In 1955, the Yankees signed Elston Howard, the first African-American player to be on the team's roster.

1960-1969

The Yankees had winning seasons from 1960 through 1964. Their best season was 1961, when they had 109 wins and 53 losses. They went to the World Series all of those seasons, winning two World Series titles and losing three. In 1960, they lost to the Pirates, then the following season, they defeated the Reds. They won again in 1962, defeating the Giants, but they lost in 1963 to the Dodgers and in 1964 to the Cardinals.

Everything fell apart for the Yankees in the mid-1960s after they were sold to CBS. From 1965 through 1967 and again in 1969, they had losing seasons.

The Yankees started the 1960s with Casey Stengel as their manager, but they switched managers several times after 1960. Ralph Houk took over in 1961 and he managed the team through 1963. Yogi Berra became the team's player-manager in 1964 and he was followed as manager by Johnny Keane in 1965 and 1966. Houk returned to manage the team from 1966 through 1973.

In 1960, the Yankees added Roger Maris to their roster. He led the American League in RBIs in 1960 and 1961, and he was named the AL MVP both of those years. He is best known, however, for breaking the home run record with 61 home runs in 1961.

1970-1979

In the 1970s, the Yankees had winning seasons every year except for 1973. Their best seasons were 1977 with 100 wins and 62 losses and 1978 again with 100 wins and 63 losses.

Although the Yankees had winning seasons in 1970 through 1972, they didn't get to the postseason. In 1973, the team was purchased by George Steinbrenner for 8.7 million dollars. By 1976, the Yankees were back on top with a new manager, Billy Martin. Under Martin's leadership, and with a strong roster that included future Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson and Thurman Munson, the Yankees rose to the top again, winning the American League pennant in 1976, 1977, and 1978. They won the World Series in 1977 and 1978, defeating the Dodgers in both series.

Yankee Stadium was renovated in 1974 and 1975 and the Yankees played those seasons in the Mets' Shea Stadium. They moved back to their own stadium in 1976 and played there through 2008.

Ralph Houk managed the team through 1973. He was followed by Bill Virdon who was the manager in 1974 and 1975. Steinbrenner's love-hate relationship with Billy Martin began in 1975. He was hired, fired, rehired more than once and he managed the Yankees from 1975 to 1978 and again in 1979. His hiring, firing, and rehiring continued into the 1980s, with managerial stints in 1983, 1985, and 1988. In between Martin's time as manager, the Yankees were managed by Hall of Famer Bob Lemon (1978-1979, 1981-1982), and Dick Howser (1978, 1980).

Reggie Jackson joined the Yankees in 1977 and he played with them through 1981. Catcher Thurman Munson first played with the team in 1969, but he made his first real impact on the team the following season when he won the AL Rookie of the Year award. He won Gold Gloves in 1973, 1974, and 1975, and in 1976, he was the AL MVP. Another top player who joined the team was third baseman Graig Nettles, who played with the Yankees from 1973 through 1983. In 1976, he led the AL in home runs. Pitcher Ron Guidry joined the team in 1975 and he won the Cy Young award three years later, leading the AL in ERA and wins in 1978. He stayed with the team through 1988. Future Hall of Fame pitcher Rich "Goose" Gossage was added to the roster in 1978.

1980-1989

The next downhill trend for the Yankees began when Billy Martin was fired in 1980. Although the Yankees won the American League pennant in 1981, they would not win another one until 1996. However, they did have winning seasons in eight years from 1980 to 1989 (1980, 1981, 1983-1988). Their best season was in 1980, when they won 103 games and lost 59.

The Yankees went to the postseason in 1980, but they lost the ALCS to the Kansas City Royals. In the strike shortened 1981 season, they won the ALDS over the Brewers and then went on to win the ALCS over the Oakland Athletics. They lost the World Series to the Dodgers.

The Yankees had nine managers from 1980 through 1989. In addition to Martin, Howser, and Lemon, they had Gene Michael (1981-1982), Clyde King (1982), Yogi Berra (1984-1985), Lou Piniella (1986-1987, 1988), Dallas Green (1989), and Bucky Dent (1989-1990).

In addition to Nettles, Guidry, and Gossage, the Yankees strengthened their roster in 1982 with first baseman Don Mattingly. He continued to play with the team through 1995.

1990-1999

After three years of losing seasons, the Yankees started their upward swing again in 1993, winning 88 games and losing 74. They had winning seasons for the rest of the 1990s. Their best season was in 1998, when they won 114 games and lost just 48.

The Yankees won the Wild Card in 1995 but they lost the ALDS to the Seattle Mariners. In 1996, under new manager Joe Torre, the Yankees won the World Series, defeating the Atlanta Braves. They won the Wild Card spot again in 1997, but they lost the ALDS to the Cleveland Indians. The decade ended with two more World Series titles. They defeated the San Diego Padres in 1998 and the Braves in 1999.

The Yankees had two AL Managers of the Year in the 1990s. The first was Buck Showalter, who managed the team from 1992 through 1995. He won his award in 1994. Joe Torre, who managed from 1996 through 2007, won two Manager of the Year awards (1996, 1998).

Key players for the Yankees in the 1990s included pitchers David Cone (1995-2000) and Andy Pettitte. Cone won the Cy Young award in 1994 and he pitched a perfect game on July 18, 1999. Two outfielders provided the Yankees with power. Paul O'Neill led the AL in batting average in 1994 and Bernie Williams did the same in 1998. Pettitte, along with Derek Jeter (1995-2014), Jorge Posada (1995-2011), and Mariano Rivera (1995-2013) became known as the "Core Four," for their long years with the Yankees during their dominance of the game.

2000-2009

The Yankees dominance of major league baseball continued in the first decade of the new century. They had winning seasons every year from 2000 through 2009, with their best seasons in 2002 (103-58) and 2009 (103-59). They went to the postseason nine times (every year except 2008) and they won four pennants (2000, 2001, 2003, 2009) and two World Series (2000, 2009).

Joe Torre managed the team through 2007, and he led the team to a World Series title again in 2000, when they defeated their rival New York team, the Mets. They won the pennant in 2001 by defeating the Mariners, and again in 2003 by defeating the Boston Red Sox. They lost the World Series those two years, first to the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2001 and to the Miami Marlins in 2003. They lost the ALCS to the Red Sox in 2004, and the ALDS to the Los Angeles Angels in 2005, to the Detroit Tigers in 2006, and to the Indians in 2007.

Torre was replaced as manager by former Yankees' catcher Joe Girardi in 2008. They didn't make the playoffs that year, but he led them to a World Series title in 2009. That year was a significant one for the Yankees in more ways than just the wins. They moved to the new Yankee Stadium at the start of the season. Then, during the season, long-time owner George Steinbrenner died.

In addition to the Core Four (Jeter, Posada, Pettitte, and Rivera), the Yankees added power and speed to their offense. First was Alex Rodriguez, who joined the team in 2004 and played with them through 2016. Brett Gardner, who provided speed on the bases, came up from the minors in 2008. In 2009, the Yankees had two important signings - first baseman Mark Teixeira and starting pitcher C.C. Sabathia.

2010-2018

The Yankees had winning seasons again every year from 2010 through 2018. In 2010, they finished with 95 wins and 67 losses. They then went on to sweep the Minnesota Twins in three games in the ALDS, but they lost the ALCS to the Texas Rangers, four games to two. In 2011, they had a similar regular season, winning 97 games and losing 65. They went on to lose the ALDS to the Tigers, winning two games and losing three. In 2012, they once again had 95 wins and 67 losses and they finished in first place in the AL East division. They defeated the Baltimore Orioles in five games in the ALDS but they lost again to the Tigers in the ALCS, this time losing four straight games.

Although the Yankees continued to have winning seasons under Girardi's leadership, they didn't have a first place division finish from 2013 through 2017, and they never had more than 91 wins. They were plagued by injuries in 2013 and lost top players, including Mark Teixeira, Derek Jeter, and Alex Rodriguez, for most of the season. They finished with an 85-77 record and tied for third place in the AL East.

During the 2013 off-season, the Yankees signed top players, including Brian McCann, Jacoby Ellsbury, and Masahiro Tanaka. However, it didn't help them enough in 2014, and they finished in second place in the AL East division with 84 wins and 78 losses.

The Yankees returned to the postseason in 2015, winning an AL Wild Card spot, but they lost the game to the Houston Astros. The 2016 season began a rebuild for the Yankees, with many of the players from the 2009 World Series team no longer playing with them or at the end of their careers. They brought up some of their rookies towards the end of the season and these new players quickly became known as the "Baby Bombers." Included in this group was Gary Sanchez, Aaron Judge, and Greg Bird. At the trade deadline, they added more future stars by trading away some of their top players, including Aroldis Chapman, Andrew Miller, and Brian McCann. One of their trades brought top prospect Gleyber Torres to the Yankees.

Although the Yankees weren't expected to make the playoffs in 2017, their "Baby Bombers," led by Rookie of the Year Aaron Judge, helped lead them to 91 wins and 71 losses and a second place finish in the AL East division. They won a Wild Card spot and defeated the Twins in that game. They then went on to defeat the Indians in the ALDS in five games. Although they lost the ALCS to the Astros, they put up a good fight, going seven games before losing their chance to once again be in the World Series.

After the 2017 season ended, the Yankees announced that they would not be renewing Joe Girardi's contract. Instead, they hired Aaron Boone as their new manager. Boone led the team to a second place finish in the AL East and to a Wild Card win with 100 wins and 62 losses. They won the Wild Card game but lost the ALDS to the Red Sox in five games.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - New York Yankees
Baseball Reference - New York Yankees