New York Yankees
Posted by Adam Bierenbaum on August 24th, 2011
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in The Bronx, in New York City, New York. They are a member of Major League Baseball’s American League East Division. One of the American Leagues eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Baltimore, Maryland in 1901 as the Baltimore Orioles. They moved to New York City in 1903 becoming known as the New York Highlanders before being officially being renamed the ” Yankees” in 1913. From 1923 to 2008, the Yankee’s home ballpark was Yankee Stadium; one of the world’s most famous sport’s venues. In 2009 they moved into a new building, which is still called Yankee Stadium.
The legendary Yankees Dynasty of the 1920’s and 1930’s won 11 pennants and 8 World Series championships, with players such as Babe Ruth, Earle Combs, Lou Gehrig, and Joe DiMaggio. The Yankees continued to achieve success from 1948- 1960, when the club entered another golden age. Led by players such as Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, Phil Rizzuto, and Whitey Ford, they won ten American League pennants and Seven World Series championships, including 5 straight from 1949-53, a major league record.
The period of the 1970s is considered a period of greatness as Businessman George Steinbrenner bought the franchise and hired former Yankee shortstop Billy Martin as manager. The Yankees won three straight pennants from 1976 through 1978, going on to win the World Series in 1977 and 1978. After a relative dry spell, the franchise returned to dominance in the late 1990s with players such as Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, and Andy Pettitie, winning the World Series in 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, and most recently in 2009.
The Yankees have achieved widespread popularity and have a dedicated fan base. Their famous interlocking NY logo is one of the the most recognizable logos in the world. That is why you see fans all over the world in Yankees Jerseys and hats. Their rivalry with the Boston Red Sox is arguably the fiercest and most historic in North American professional sports. As of 2011 the franchise leads the league in both revenue and titles, with 27 World Series Championships, and 40 American League Pennants. Throughout its existence the team has had some of the most celebrated players in Major League History. 43 Yankees players and 11 managers have been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
