New York Yankees

Lore & Background

The team was founded when Frank Farrell and Bill Devery purchased the franchise rights to the defunct Baltimore Orioles and used them to establish the New York Highlanders. The Highlanders were renamed the Yankees in 1913. The team is owned by Yankee Global Enterprises, a limited liability company controlled by the family of the late George Steinbrenner, who purchased the team from CBS in 1973. As of 2025, Brian Cashman is the general manager, Aaron Boone is the field manager, and Aaron Judge is the team captain. The team's home games were played at the original Yankee Stadium from 1923 to 1973 and from 1976 to 2008. In 1974 and 1975, the Yankees shared Shea Stadium with the Mets, the New York Jets, and the New York Giants. In 2009, they moved into a new Yankee Stadium built next to the old one. The Yankees have won 21 AL East Division titles, 41 AL pennants, and 27 World Series championships, all MLB records. The team has had 52 players and 11 managers inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, including Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford, Reggie Jackson, Mariano Rivera, and Derek Jeter. According to Forbes, the Yankees are the tenth-most valuable sports franchise in the world and the most valuable MLB franchise, with an estimated value of $8.2 billion in 2025. The team's rivalry with the Boston Red Sox is one of the best-known in North American sports.

In Their Own Story

The air inside Shea Stadium was thick with humidity and anticipation on a sweltering September night in 2006. The stands were a sea of orange and blue, chanting in unison as the Yankees dugout stared across the diamond with cold determination. It wasn't just about winning a game; it was about silencing the ghosts of the Bronx and proving that in New York, no dynasty is safe from the underdog's swing.

Reader's Guide

The Yankees' history begins with the Baltimore Orioles (1901–1902), which were disbanded after the 1902 season. In 1903, the franchise was awarded to Frank J. Farrell and William S. Devery. It is unclear whether they purchased the remains of the Orioles or received an expansion franchise. The team was named the New York Highlanders and played at Hilltop Park. The name 'Yankees' was coined by a sports editor in 1904. From 1913 to 1922, the Highlanders shared the Polo Grounds with the New York Giants and were officially renamed the Yankees in 1913. In 1915, the team was sold to Colonel Jacob Ruppert and Captain Tillinghast L'Hommedieu Huston. In the early 1920s, the Yankees acquired Babe Ruth from the Boston Red Sox, which led to their first World Series appearance in 1921.

Did You Know?

• The Yankees were originally called the New York Highlanders, named after their elevated ballpark location in Washington Heights.
• Jack Chesbro set the single-season wins record at 41 while pitching for the Highlanders in 1904.
• The Yankees shared Shea Stadium with the Mets, Jets, and Giants during the 1974 and 1975 seasons.
• The team's logo is internationally known as a fashion item and an icon of New York City and the United States.