Yankees vs Giants

Lore & Background

The current Yankees franchise had its origins in Baltimore as the Baltimore Orioles. In 1902, National League executive John T. Brush gained a partial ownership interest in the Orioles and released four key players to join the New York Giants. The American League moved the Orioles to New York over the Giants' objections, and the team was eventually called the Highlanders. The Giants refused to play the 1904 World Series, leading to the 1905 series being the first official matchup.

The Giants briefly shared Hilltop Park with the Highlanders in 1911, and the Highlanders moved into the Polo Grounds in 1913, becoming officially known as the New York Yankees. By the mid-1910s, the Yankees were sold to Jacob Ruppert and Tillinghast L'Hommedieu Huston. The Yankees won their first AL pennant in 1921 and faced the Giants in the World Series, losing in a best-of-nine format. They lost again in 1922.

The Yankees moved to Yankee Stadium in 1923 and won their first World Series over the Giants. The teams met again in the 1936 and 1937 World Series, with the Yankees winning both.

Reader's Guide

The rivalry is defined by early 20th-century clashes when both teams shared New York City and the Polo Grounds. Key moments include the 1921 and 1922 World Series, the Yankees' move to the Bronx in 1923, and subsequent meetings in 1936 and 1937.

Did You Know?

• The 1922 World Series had the third and final tie game in World Series history.
• Yankee Stadium was built across the Harlem River from the Polo Grounds and finished in less than a year.