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History of the New york Yankees
The New York Yankees professional baseball team, are usually considered probably the most successful professional sports franchise in history. The Yankees are also the most commonly known American sports team throughout the world. They're based in the borough of the Bronx in New York City. The particular club was one of the original American League teams however known as the Baltimore Orioles for their initial two years. In 1903 they relocated from Baltimore to New York City and became the Highlanders. They officially became the "Yankees" in 1913.
The Yankees play at Yankee stadium, one of the more prominent sports venues the world has ever known. The original stadium was built in 1923 and was generally known as "the house that Ruth built" referring to Babe Ruth, the popular Yankee slugger. In 2009 the team relocated in to the new Yankee stadium which has been constructed on a site across the street from the original ballpark.
The Yankees have won forty American League pennants qualifying them for more world series than any major league team. They won their last World Series in 2009 which was the 27th world championship in their storied history. The Yankees won their very first series in 1923 and have won an average of about 1 out of every three world series since that time. An impressive accomplishment in any sport.
In the past 110 years, the Yankees have showcased some of the most prominent players in major league baseball (MLB). George Herman "Babe" Ruth played with the Yankees from 1920 until 1934 after playing 6 years for the rival Boston Red Sox. Along with Lou Gehrig and many other great players, Ruth began the Yankee domination of the sport. After Ruth and Gehrig, the amazing Joe DiMaggio years followed until the 1950s when the role of superstar was filled by Mickey Mantle. At the conclusion of Mantle's career in the 1960s and into the early seventies the Yankees had abnormally average teams.
In 1973 multi-millionaire George Steinbrenner led a group of investors to purchase the New York Yankees from CBS (the television network) which in fact had bought the team in 1965 ( many believe that CBS was a primary reason to the years of mediocrity). The recent "Curt Flood" court decision had resulted in free agency in major league baseball. Steinbrenner signed free agents including Catfish Hunter and Reggie Jackson to huge contracts and rebuilt the team into a powerhouse returning to the World Series in 1976 after having a 12 year absence.
Steinbrenner made the Yankees into the most valuable sports franchise in the world. Until his retirement in 2006, the Yankee owner used his pocketbook in order to guarantee that the Yankees remained one of the elite teams in baseball. Over the period the sheer number of superstars wearing the well known Yankee pin stripped uniform are way too numerous to cover. Earnings with regard to the Yankees increased as sales of caps, jerseys, headbands, shoes, helmets, jewelry and whatever else that could have a Yankee logo was gobbled up by numerous followers, tourists as well as hobbyists.
Steinbrenner however had his share of controversy and detractors. fans of some other teams have described the Yankees during his leadership as the "Evil Empire" referencing Darth Vader's dark side in the Star Wars movies .His on again off again relationship with sometimes Yankee manager Billy Martin typically left both enthusiasts and also Yankee haters baffled. The skilled gut unpredictable Martin was hired and fired five times by Steinbrenner and was set for a 6th stint just before his untimely death in 1989.
The Yankees today remain a great baseball team with Derek Jeter as their present superstar. They made the 2011 playoffs but were eliminated in short order,, an uncommon event for Yankee followers. Television, films and the internet now take American sports around the globe. Much like several football and basketball teams, you will find Yankee fans in Utah, Texas, Los Angeles, Florida, Japan and even Thailand. Most of us love to be linked to those who win and the New York Yankees are the definition of the word "winners".
About the Author
I grew up near Syracuse, New York and was a huge Yankee fan in the late 50s and early 60s. Mickey Mantle was my favorite sports hero both then and now. In the 1970s I moved south and became an Atlanta Braves fan and one of those Yankee haters. In recent years after the drug scandals, strikes and ridiculous contracts, I have lost interest in major league baseball. However, I still daydream about Mickey, Yogi, Whitey and the boys when the fresh smell of a spring day reminds me of the great game of baseball.
Johnny Bench on Mike and the Mad dog radio show
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