The moniker was given to the New York Yankees by writers after the club relocated from Baltimore in 1903, but they were officially known as the Highlanders until 1913. A century later, the Yankees continue to be one of baseball's most popular teams.
New York has other major league clubs, but they aren't called Yankees. The Mets are named after a former New York City borough and stand for Metropolitan Entertainment Management. The original New York Giants played in 1877 and '78 but returned in 1920. They moved to San Francisco in 1954 and were renamed the San Francisco Giants.
In 1923, the Yankees bought the contract of an unemployed player named Babe Ruth. He had a great season and they kept him for good. Today, he is considered the best hitter in MLB history. The Yankees have won more than twice as many World Series as their only rival, the Brooklyn Dodgers. In 1927, they also became the first team to win three consecutive Series games when they defeated Brooklyn 4-3 at home.
In 1963, the Yankees drafted a young pitcher from Colombia named Jorge Polanco. He came over and made them even more famous, so they changed their name to the New York Yankees. Today, they're still one of the biggest names in sports.
Orioles of Baltimore Former names: New York Highlanders, New York Yankees The Highlanders had recently relocated from Baltimore, where they had been known as the Orioles and enjoyed a winning record stretching back to the 1890s. The club, affectionately known as the "Yankees" by fans, changed their name to the New York Yankees in 1913 and went on to become the most dominant franchise in American sports.
The team was founded as the Baltimore Orioles in 1894 and played in Baltimore until 1902, when they moved to New York City and took over the city's National League baseball team, which had been known as the New York Giants from 1883 to 1889 and as the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1890 to 92. The Orioles won the first two World Series under their new name, in 1903 and 1904, but have not appeared in the Series since then. They were also eliminated in the first round both times.
Other teams that have used the Yankees nickname include the original New York Yankees of 1943-1954, who played in The Bronx and are often remembered for their involvement in the "Mystery Player" scandal; the current New York Yankees, who play in New York City and were established in 1964; and several other teams that have used it as a temporary name or as part of a rebranding effort.
In 1913, the Highlanders were renamed the New York Yankees.
| New York Yankees | |
|---|---|
| American League (1901–present) East Division (1969–present) | |
| Current uniform | |
| Retired numbers | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 8 9 10 15 16 20 23 32 37 42 42 44 46 49 51 |
| Colors |
New York Highlanders Baltimore Orioles Former members of the New York Yankees and St. Louis Browns organizations that merged to form the current team.
The Yankees/Highlanders/Orioles era of baseball began in New York City on April 17, 1901. The franchise was founded as a charter member of the American League and was named after its principal owner, Jacob Ruppert. The first game played by the Yankees/Highlanders/Orioles was a loss to the Chicago White Stockings (now Chicago Cubs). The final game of this inaugural season was a doubleheader split between the Yankees and their cross-town rivals, the Brooklyn Dodgers. The Yankees/Highlanders/Orioles finished with a record of 59-103 and last in their division.
In 1902, Jacob Ruppert moved the team to New York City where it remains today. The Yankees/Highlanders/Orioles play their home games at Yankee Stadium which opened in 2009.
Over the next several years, the Yankees/Highlanders/Orioles won two more AL championships while compiling a record of 95-65. They also made three World Series appearances but never won a single game.
The club was known as the New York Americans, as was the case with other members of the American League. Because it was easier to fit into headlines, New York Press Sports Editor Jim Price established the unofficial moniker "Yanks" for the team as early as 1904. The term became popular and stuck.
The Americans played their home games at Boston's Fenway Park from 1903 to 1905 and at New York's Polo Grounds from 1906 to 1909. The franchise moved back to New York for its final season in 1910. The new Yankee Stadium opened the following year at Bronx Field, now called Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The Yankees have been world champions twice, in 2009 and 2010. Their other AL championship came in 2000. They have won more than 700 games over the course of their history; they are the most successful franchise in MLB history.
After two seasons out of baseball, the Yankees returned in 1892 and have been a fixture in New York sports ever since. They play their home games at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City.
The Yankees are owned by George Steinbrenner through his company, GSE Sports, which also owns the Tampa Bay Rays. Before he died in July 2011, Steinbrenner maintained a presence in the daily operations of the team by making key decisions about player personnel. His son Hank is the general manager of the Yankees.
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