Minor league baseball teams were based in Easton, Maryland between 1924 and 1949. Easton teams played as exclusively as members of the Class D level Eastern Shore League from 1924 to 1928, 1937 to 1941 and 1946 to 1949.
165-605: Easton was a minor league affiliate of the St. Louis Browns in 1937 and 1938 and the New York Yankees from 1939 to 1941 and 1946 to 1949. Baseball Hall of Fame members Frank Home Run Baker and Jimmie Foxx both played for the 1924 Easton Farmers after Baker signed the 16–year old Foxx in his role as player/manager for Easton. Baker returned as the Easton manager in 1925. Minor league baseball began in Easton, Maryland with
330-561: A no-hitter on July 4, 1983, but he was moved to the bullpen the next year where he helped to define the closer role. Despite the Yankees' lack of pitching success during the 1980s, they had three of the premier pitchers of the early 1990s on their roster during these years in Al Leiter , Doug Drabek and José Rijo . All were mismanaged and dealt away before they could reach their full potential, with only Rijo returning much value – he
495-486: A 162-game season, and Ruth (in 1927) had played in a 154-game season. They were considered two separate records for 30 years, until MLB reversed course and stated Maris held the record alone. His record would be broken by Mark McGwire , who hit 70 home runs in 1998. Maris held the American League record until 2022 when Aaron Judge hit 62. The Yankees won the pennant with a 109–53 record and went on to defeat
660-416: A 3-foot 7-inch, 65-pound dwarf , to bat as a pinch hitter . When Gaedel stepped to the plate, he was wearing a Browns child's uniform with the number 1 ⁄ 8 . Knowing that Gaedel had no strike zone to speak of, Veeck ordered Gaedel to keep his bat on his shoulder, and Gaedel walked on four straight pitches. The stunt infuriated American League President Will Harridge , who voided Gaedel's contract
825-484: A 48–69 record, under returning manager Ray Powell, Easton finished 22.0 games behind the first place Dover Orioles and 2.0 games ahead of the eighth place Pocomoke City Chicks. The Easton Yankees were the 1941 Eastern Shore League Champions. The Yankees ended Eastern Shore League regular season with a record of 57–53. Easton placed third in the six–team league, finishing 10.0 games behind the Milford Giants . In
990-572: A World Series. By comparison, the other seven American League teams had won at least three pennants. In the 1944 World Series , the Browns were decided underdogs against their tenants, the Cardinals . It would be the last World Series played entirely in one stadium until the 2020 World Series played in Arlington, Texas . While the Browns lost in six games, they won two of the first three games, and
1155-567: A certain number of professional games above the Class D level. A "class" player could not have been in more than 25 games as a position player or 15 games as a pitcher at a level higher than a Class D classification. Violators were subject to forfeit. Buck Herzog served as the 1926 manager as Easton finished 39.0 games behind the first place Crisfield Crabbers . The 1927 Easton Farmers ended the Eastern Shore League regular season with
1320-518: A city which had lost their previous team in 1903 after the second incarnation of the Orioles had moved to New York City as the Highlanders (later Yankees). He was rebuffed by the other owners, still seething over the publicity stunts he pulled at the Browns home games, and also opposed proposals Veeck had made to pool revenues from broadcasting. The revenue-sharing idea was particularly abhorrent to
1485-538: A contract in Cleveland in 1948, amid much criticism. Paige was 45 when he returned to the mound in a Browns uniform. Veeck was criticized among baseball's owners, but Paige finished the season with a respectable 3–4 record and a 4.79 ERA. Veeck believed that St. Louis could no longer support two franchises, and planned to drive the Cardinals out of town. He signed many of the Cardinals' most popular ex-players and, as
1650-647: A deal that would have paid him almost four times what he was earning in New York. However, as part of the settlement that ended the war with the National League, Hedges and Mathewson tore up the contract. Years later, Hedges said that while he knew he was likely giving up a pennant by relinquishing Mathewson to the Giants, it was more important to bring peace to the game. Although the Browns had only four winning seasons from 1902 to 1922, they were very popular at
1815-498: A downturn in the Cardinals' fortunes after Rickey left them for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1942 . It initially appeared Veeck had won the war when Cardinals' owner Fred Saigh was charged with massive tax evasion late in 1952. He pleaded no contest and put the Cardinals up for sale rather than face certain lifetime banishment from baseball. For a time, it looked almost certain that the Cardinals were leaving town, as most of
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#17327939045061980-404: A fifth straight World Series , but were beaten 4–3 by the St. Louis Cardinals . It would be the Yankees' last World Series appearance until 1976. After the 1964 season, broadcasting company CBS purchased 80% of the Yankees from Topping and Webb for $ 11.2 million (equivalent to $ 110 million in 2023). With the new ownership, the team began to decline. The 1965 edition of the team posted
2145-399: A hitless at-bat. O'Connor and coach Harry Howell tried to bribe the official scorer, a woman, to change the call to a hit – even offering to buy her a new wardrobe. Cobb won the batting title by just a few thousandths of a point over Lajoie. But it was later reported that one game may have been counted twice in the statistics, and there were rumors about the attempted bribery, causing
2310-469: A home run and six RBI in the only postseason series of his career, his back problems led him to retire after the 1997 season after sitting out the 1996 season. Joe Torre had a mediocre run as a manager in the National League, and the choice was initially derided ("Clueless Joe" was a headline in the New York Daily News ). However, his calm demeanor proved to be a good fit, and his tenure
2475-658: A jail complex in Lower Manhattan that had specific cell block for murderers . That season, the Yankees became the first team in baseball to occupy first place every day of the season, winning 110 games. The team also swept the Pittsburgh Pirates in the World Series . Ruth's home run total of 60 in 1927 set a single-season home run record that stood until it was broken by Roger Maris in 1961, although Maris had eight additional games in which to break
2640-479: A lack of talent, the Brewers made a wretched showing. They never recovered from an 0–5 start, and crumbled to last place for good on June 30. They finished 48–89, the worst record in baseball, 35.5 games behind the pennant-winning Chicago White Sox . It did not help matters that Matthew Killilea spent most of the season battling tuberculosis , which he died from on July 27. Henry was forced to become operating head of
2805-588: A move that started the modern era of free agency , signing star pitcher Catfish Hunter away from Oakland. Midway through the 1975 season , the team hired former second baseman Billy Martin as manager. With Martin at the helm, the Yankees reached the 1976 World Series , but were swept by the Cincinnati Reds and their famed " Big Red Machine ." After the 1976 campaign, Steinbrenner added star Oakland outfielder Reggie Jackson —who had spent 1976 with
2970-406: A nationally televised and emotional game, Murcer used Munson's bat (which he gave to Munson's wife after the game), and drove in all five of the team's runs in a dramatic 5–4 walk-off victory. Before the game, Munson's locker sat empty except for his catching gear, a sad reminder for his teammates. His locker, labeled with his number 15, has remained empty in the Yankees clubhouse as a memorial. When
3135-462: A new park on the site of the original Browns' former venue, Sportsman's Park . In their first season in St. Louis, the Browns finished second under manager Jimmy McAleer , five games behind Philadelphia. This was mainly because Hedges and McAleer persuaded six Cardinals to jump to the Browns. They looked to become even more powerful in 1903 when Hedges signed New York Giants ace Christy Mathewson to
3300-618: A player at age 38. Baker, a former star for the Philadelphia Athletics , signed a 16–year old Jimmie Foxx to play for Easton in 1924. Baker had heard about Foxx, who was a star athlete in Sudlersville, Maryland , about 35 miles from Easton. A future Hall of Fame member, Foxx was a junior in high School when he joined the Farmers in 1924. Under the tutelage of Baker, Foxx was sold by Baker to sign with Connie Mack and
3465-403: A record of 36–48. Easton avoided a third-consecutive last place finish by placing fifth in the six–team standings. Easton finished 22.0 games behind the first place Parksley Spuds and 6.5 games ahead of the sixth place Northampton Red Sox. Ted Cather and Jiggs Donahue were the Easton managers in 1927. The 1928 Eastern Shore League folded during the season. On July 10, 1928, as the league folded,
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#17327939045063630-746: A record of 77–85 — the Yankees' first losing record in 40 years. In 1966, the Yankees finished in last place in the AL for the first time since 1912. It also marked their first consecutive losing seasons since 1917 and 1918. The 1967 season was not much better; they finished only ahead of the Kansas City Athletics in the American League. While their fortunes improved somewhat in the late 1960s and early 1970s, they finished higher than fourth only once during CBS' ownership, in 1970 . The Yankees were not able to replace their aging superstars with promising young talent, as they had consistently done in
3795-535: A result, attracted many Cards fans to see the Browns. Notably, Veeck inked former Cardinals great Dizzy Dean to a broadcasting contract and tapped Rogers Hornsby for a second stint as manager. He also re-acquired former Browns fan favorite Vern Stephens and signed former Cardinals pitcher Harry Brecheen , both of whom had starred in the all-St. Louis World Series in 1944. Veeck stripped Sportsman's Park of all Cardinals material and dressed it exclusively in Browns memorabilia, even moving his family to an apartment under
3960-588: A roster of players loaned from the rest of the AL clubs. The Orioles were disbanded at the end of the season. In early 1903, the two leagues decided to settle their disputes and try to coexist. At a conference, Johnson requested that an AL team be put in New York, to play alongside the NL's Giants. It was put to a vote, and 15 of the 16 major league owners agreed on it. The franchise was awarded to Frank J. Farrell and William S. Devery . The team's new ballpark, Hilltop Park (formally known as "American League Park"),
4125-584: A scandal about the rankings. After news broke of the scandal, a writer for the St. Louis Post claimed: "All St. Louis is up in arms over the deplorable spectacle, conceived in stupidity and executed in jealousy." The resulting outcry triggered an investigation by Johnson. At his insistence, Hedges fired O'Connor and Howell; both men were informally banned from baseball for life. After several pedestrian seasons, Hedges hired former Browns catcher Branch Rickey as business manager (de facto general manager ) midway through
4290-529: A strike, making references to the day's games in the postseason would have been played. A year later, the team qualified for the playoffs in the new wild card slot in the strike-shortened 1995 season. In the memorable 1995 American League Division Series against the Seattle Mariners , the Yankees won the first two games at home and lost the next three in Seattle. Although Mattingly batted .417 with
4455-640: Is the team's general manager, Aaron Boone is the team's field manager , and Aaron Judge is the team captain . The team's home games were played at the original Yankee Stadium in the Bronx from 1923 to 1973 and from 1976 to 2008. In 1974 and 1975, the Yankees shared Shea Stadium with the Mets, in addition to the New York Jets and the New York Giants . In 2009, they moved into a new ballpark of
4620-747: The American Association in the 1940s. However, the Brewers were now the top affiliate of the National League's Boston Braves , and therefore had first claim on the major league rights to Milwaukee. Veeck offered to pay Braves owner Lou Perini $ 700,000 as compensation. Perini stalled on the deal before abruptly moving the Braves there in March 1953, three weeks before opening day. Undaunted, Veeck got in touch with Baltimore Mayor Tommy D'Alesandro and attorney Clarence Miles , who were leading an effort to bring Major League Baseball back to Baltimore,
4785-574: The Baltimore Orioles —to his roster. During spring training of 1977, Jackson alienated his teammates with controversial remarks about the Yankees captain, catcher Thurman Munson . He had bad blood with manager Billy Martin, who had managed the Detroit Tigers when Jackson's Athletics defeated them in the 1972 playoffs . Jackson, Martin, and Steinbrenner repeatedly feuded with each other throughout Jackson's 5-year contract. Martin
4950-589: The Boston Red Sox is one of the most well-known rivalries in North American sports. The team's logo is internationally known as a fashion item and an icon of New York City and the United States. From 1903 through the 2024 season, the Yankees' overall win–loss record is 10,778–8,148–88 (a .569 winning percentage ). In 1900, Ban Johnson , the president of a minor league known as
5115-534: The Cincinnati Reds in the 1961 World Series . The team finished the year with 240 home runs, which was an MLB record until surpassed by the 1996 Baltimore Orioles team with 257 home runs. In 1962, the sports scene in New York changed when the National League added an expansion team, the New York Mets . The Mets played at the Giants' former home, the Polo Grounds , for two seasons while Shea Stadium
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5280-580: The Harlem River from the Polo Grounds. In 1922, the Yankees returned to the World Series again and were dealt a second defeat at the hands of the Giants . Manager Miller Huggins and general manager Ed Barrow were important newcomers in this period. The hiring of Huggins by Ruppert in 1918 caused a rift between the owners that eventually led to Ruppert buying Huston out in 1923. In 1923,
5445-776: The National Baseball Hall of Fame . In the late 19th century, the team was formed as the Milwaukee Brewers in the Western League . For the 1900 season, the Western League was renamed the "American League", and in 1901, league president Ban Johnson declared it a major league. The team was originally owned by Milwaukee lawyers Matthew and Henry Killilea . As a minor league team, the Brewers had usually fielded subpar teams until Connie Mack became manager in 1894. The Killileas were among
5610-488: The National Football League 's Baltimore Colts , considered buying the Browns and moving them to Baltimore. However, this hinged on the Cardinals buying Sportsman's Park, and Rodenberg withdrew his offer when the Cardinals expressed little interest. After another abysmal season in 1948, in which the Browns struggled to attract crowds over 3,000, Muckerman sold the team to DeWitt and his brother Charley,
5775-746: The New York City borough of the Bronx . The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East Division . They are one of two major league clubs based in New York City alongside the National League (NL)'s New York Mets . The team was founded in 1903 when Frank Farrell and Bill Devery purchased the franchise rights to the defunct Baltimore Orioles (no relation to
5940-497: The New York Yankees , including most former Browns of note still on the Baltimore roster, dramatically changing the team. This remains the biggest trade in baseball history. Though the deal did little to improve the short-term competitiveness of the club, it helped establish a fresh identity for the Orioles franchise. The Orioles make almost no mention of their past as the Browns. However, in 2003, when they returned to St Louis for
6105-518: The Philadelphia Athletics before the end of the 1924 season, making his major league debut in 1925. Foxx hit .296 with 10 home runs for Easton in 1924. In one home game, with major league baseball Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis in attendance, Foxx received a standing ovation before hitting one of the longest home runs at Federal Park. Foxx went on to hit 534 home runs, with a .325 batting average in his major league career. Easton continued play in
6270-512: The Western League (1894–1899), changed the Western League name to the American League (AL) and asked the National League to classify it as a major league. Johnson held that his league would operate on friendly terms with the National League, but the National League demanded concessions which Johnson did not agree with and he declared major league status for the AL in 1901 anyway. Plans to add an AL team in New York City were blocked by
6435-629: The World Series , the Yankees won the first two games against the Los Angeles Dodgers. But the Dodgers fought back to win the next four games to claim the World Series title. This World Series would be the most recent between the Yankees and the Dodgers. Following the team's loss to the Dodgers in the 1981 World Series, the Yankees began their longest absence from the playoffs since 1921. Steinbrenner announced his plan to transform
6600-487: The Yankees had the worst record in the American League, and their fourth last-place finish in franchise history. During the 1990 season, Yankee fans started to chant " 1918! " to taunt the Red Sox, reminding them of the last time they won a World Series one weekend the Red Sox were there in 1990. Each time the Red Sox were at Yankee Stadium afterward, chants of "1918!" echoed through the stadium. Yankee fans also taunted
6765-493: The Yankees to a pennant. The club was boasting the best players in franchise history, including future Hall of Famer George Sisler and an outfield trio of Ken Williams , Baby Doll Jacobson , and Jack Tobin , who batted .300 or better from 1919 to 1923 and in 1925. In 1922, Williams became the first player in Major League history to hit 30 home runs and steal 30 bases in a season, something that would not be done again in
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6930-432: The "Grandstand Managers" voting (against his own team). After the 1951 season, Veeck made Ned Garver the highest-paid member of the Browns. Garver went on to win 20 games, while the team lost 100 games. He was the second pitcher in history to accomplish the feat. Veeck also brought Satchel Paige back to major league baseball to pitch for the Browns. Veeck had previously signed the former Negro leagues great at age 42 to
7095-406: The "swing" signal on. Upon Jackson's return, Martin made a famous statement against both Jackson and owner Steinbrenner: "They deserve each other. One's a born liar; the other's convicted." Martin was forced to resign the next day and was replaced by Bob Lemon . This came while the team was winning five games in a row and Boston was losing five in a row. The Yankees continued to win games, and by
7260-550: The 1913 season, and made him manager as well in September. Although Rickey had been a mediocre player at best, he had a keen eye for spotting talent. His greatest find was George Sisler , who had played for Rickey at Michigan . They fell back to sixth in 1914, but won 79 games in 1915, their first winning record in eight years. In 1916 , as part of the settlement that ended the war with the Federal League , Hedges sold
7425-581: The 1924 Easton Farmers , who became members of the Class D Eastern Shore League . Easton played home games at Federal Field, which would remain as the home to all Easton minor league teams. The Easton Farmers of the Eastern Shore League ended the 1924 season with a record of 23–57, finishing last in the six–team league, 23.0 games behind the Parksley Spuds . Future Baseball Hall of Fame member Frank "Home Run" Baker served as player/manager, hitting .293 with 6 home runs in 43 games in his final season as
7590-514: The 1925 Eastern Shore League, finishing last with a 36–53 record. The Easton Farmers placed sixth in the Eastern Shore League, finishing 15.0 games behind the first place Cambridge Canners under managers Home Run Baker, Charles Gault and Buck Herzog. Baker was reportedly fired due to not receiving enough money for selling Jimmie Foxx to Baker's former team, the Philadelphia Athletics. The 1926 Easton Farmers finished last again in
7755-399: The 1942 season. Los Angeles was already the fifth-largest city in the United States, and was larger than any major-league city except New York, Chicago, Philadelphia and Detroit. The Browns got tentative approval from the league, which went as far as to draw up a schedule accounting for transcontinental train trips, though the Browns suggested that teams could travel by plane, a new concept at
7920-574: The 1946 season with a record of 59–66, placing fifth in the eight–team league 29.0 games behind the Centreville Orioles, as Jack Farmer managed the team. The Easton Yankees of the Eastern Shore League ended the 1947 season with a record of 48–78. Easton placed seventh in the standings, finishing 43.5 games behind the first place Cambridge Dodgers as Joe Antolick served as player/manager. Federal Park saw season attendance of 42,618, an average of 676 per game. The 1948 Easton Yankees ended
8085-475: The 1948 pennant race, Harris was relieved of his duties and replaced by Casey Stengel , who had a reputation of being a clown and managing bad teams. His tenure as Yankees' field manager, however, was marked with success. The "underdog" Yankees came from behind to catch and surprise a powerful Red Sox team on the last two days of the 1949 season, a face-off that fueled the beginning of the modern Yankees–Red Sox rivalry . By this time, however, DiMaggio's career
8250-491: The 1949 season with a record of 68–52, placing first in the Eastern Shore League Standings. Easton finished 4.5 games ahead of the second place Federalsburg Feds as Jack Farmer served as manager. Easton was eliminated with a 2–4 record in the round robin playoff format. The Eastern Shore League permanently folded after the 1949 season. Easton, Maryland has not hosted another minor league team. Today,
8415-473: The 1979 season. Former Cy Young Award-winning closer Sparky Lyle was traded to the Texas Rangers for several players, including Dave Righetti . Tommy John was acquired from the Dodgers and Luis Tiant from the Red Sox to bolster the pitching staff. During the season, Bob Lemon was replaced by Billy Martin, who was serving his second stint as Yankees manager. The 1970s ended on a tragic note for
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#17327939045068580-480: The Ball estate withheld badly needed capital that could have been used to get better players. Attendance sagged to the point that the other American League teams could not meet their travel expenses. In 1936, Rickey helped broker a sale to investment banker Donald Lee Barnes . Cardinals treasurer Bill DeWitt , Barnes' son-in-law, bought a minority stake in the Browns and became the team's general manager. To help finance
8745-493: The Brewers could not be viable in Milwaukee, and originally intended to move them to St. Louis, a larger market. At the time, St. Louis was the fourth-largest city in the nation, while Milwaukee was the 15th. However, Matthew Killilea persuaded Johnson to give the Brewers what amounted to a one-year trial in Milwaukee, saying that he would agree to move to St. Louis if the team didn't make a good account of itself that year. Due to
8910-410: The Browns had crested. They would never have another winning season in St. Louis. Indeed, 1944 and 1945 were two of only six winning seasons they enjoyed in the 31 years after nearly winning the pennant in 1922. They were also two of only seven seasons finishing fourth or better. Matters were not much better at the gate. 1944 and 1945 would also the only two seasons after 1922 in which they did not have
9075-462: The Browns had the best record in the league from the time Muckerman closed on his purchase, the hole from earlier in the season was too much to overcome, and they finished in third place with an 81–70 record. Despite fielding less than top-level talent, they were only six games behind the Tigers for first. The 1945 season may be best remembered for the Browns' signing of utility outfielder Pete Gray ,
9240-575: The Browns qualified for the Eastern Shore League playoffs. Easton ended the 1937 season with a 56–41 record, placing second in the regular season, finishing 3.5 games behind the Salisbury Indians . Salisbury had 21 wins taken away due to roster violations, but still won the pennant. In the 1937 playoffs, the Centreville Colts defeated Easton 2 games to 1. The 1938 Easton Cubs continued Eastern Shore League play and placed sixth in
9405-402: The Browns to refrigeration magnate Philip DeCatesby Ball , who had owned the defunct league's St. Louis Terriers . Concluding that Rickey's talents were better suited to the front office, he named Fielder Jones as manager, while Rickey remained de facto general manager. Under Ball's early tenure, the club had its first sustained period of success on the field; they were a contender for most of
9570-482: The Browns were on the brink of insolvency. At the same time, prospective buyers began circling the Browns. During the season, Chicago businessman Emory Perry considered buying the Browns and moving them to Los Angeles, but the effort foundered when Perry learned that any major league team moving to California would have to compensate every team in the PCL for invading their territory. After the season, Bob Rodenberg, owner of
9735-476: The Browns. As a first step, he sold Sportsman's Park to the Cardinals for $ 800,000. He would have likely had to sell it in any event. The 44-year-old park had fallen into disrepair, and even with the rent from the Cardinals, Veeck wasn't bringing in nearly enough money to bring the park up to code. Veeck first attempted to move the Browns back to Milwaukee, where he had owned the Triple-A Brewers of
9900-482: The Cardinals dominated St. Louis baseball, while still technically tenants of the Browns. Meanwhile, the Browns rapidly fell into the cellar. They had only two winning records from 1927 to 1943, including a 43–111 mark in 1939 that is still the worst in franchise history. As a measure of how rapidly St. Louisians shifted to the Cardinals, the Browns set a franchise record for attendance in 1922, attracting over 712,000 people. This figure would never be approached again for
10065-462: The Cardinals in St. Louis, and was relieved when brewery president Gussie Busch jumped into the bidding with that in mind. Veeck quickly realized that he was finished in St. Louis. He knew that with Anheuser-Busch's corporate wealth behind them, the Cardinals now had more resources than he could ever hope to match. Unlike most of his fellow team owners, he had no income apart from the Browns. Reluctantly, Veeck concluded he had no other option but to move
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#173279390450610230-517: The Chicago Cubs in the 1932 World Series , and brought the team's streak of consecutive World Series game wins to 12. This series was made famous by Babe Ruth's " Called Shot " in game three of the series at Wrigley Field , in which Ruth pointed to center field before hitting a home run. In 1935, Ruth left the Yankees to join the NL's Boston Braves , and he made his last major league baseball appearance on May 30 of that year. After Ruth left
10395-466: The Dodgers, Mets, and Cardinals also objecting. While the Yankees usually drafted fairly early during this period due to their lackluster records, Thurman Munson was the only pick who lived up to his billing. On January 3, 1973, CBS announced they were selling the club to a group of investors, led by Cleveland -based shipbuilder George Steinbrenner (1930–2010), for $ 10 million (equivalent to $ 68.6 million in 2023). E. Michael Burke , who assumed
10560-508: The Easton Farmers had a record of 13–20 under manager Dan Pasquella. Easton was in fifth place in the standings when the league folded, finishing 10.0 games behind the first place Northampton Red Sox. The Eastern Shore League resumed play in 1937, with Easton becoming a member and joining the eight–team league. The Easton Browns returned to play as a minor league affiliate of the St. Louis Browns . Playing under manager George Jacobs,
10725-492: The Highlanders shared the Polo Grounds with the Giants after their lease with Hilltop Park expired. While playing at the Polo Grounds, the name "Highlanders" fell into disuse among the press. In 1913 the team became officially known as the New York Yankees. In the mid‑1910s, the Yankees finished towards the bottom of the standings. The relationship between Farrell and Devery became strained due to money issues and
10890-632: The Home Run Baker Little League organization still sponsors organized youth games with a name that pays homage to Frank Baker. The youth league is based in neighboring St. Michaels, Maryland and the Easton Little League is one of six local leagues in the organization. Easton minor league teams were noted to have played home games exclusively at Federal Park. With a capacity of 1,900, the ballpark had dimensions of 300–375–310 (1939); 330–400–320 (1940). Federal Park
11055-558: The Majors until 1956 . The following year , they crumbled to fifth, partly because Sisler missed the entire season due to sinus problems. At the same time, Ball, already a very hands-on owner, became even more so after Quinn left to buy the Boston Red Sox . Ball confidently predicted that there would be a World Series in Sportsman's Park by 1926 . In anticipation, he increased the capacity of his ballpark from 18,000 to 30,000. There
11220-474: The NL's New York Giants . A team was instead placed in Baltimore , Maryland, in 1901 and named the Orioles. The Orioles were managed by John McGraw , who was also a part owner. After many personal clashes with Johnson, during the 1902 season McGraw jumped to become the new manager of the Giants, taking many players with him. The Orioles limped through the remainder of the season under league control, using
11385-743: The Playoffs Easton Yankees swept the Cambridge Cardinals in three games to advance. In the Finals, the Easton Yankees defeated the Milford Giants 4 games to 3 to claim the championship under the direction of manager Dallas Warren served. The league did not return for the 1942 season. In 1946, the Easton Yankees returned to Eastern Shore League play as the league reformed following World War II . Easton ended
11550-399: The Polo Grounds. After the 1922 season, the Yankees were told to move out of the Polo Grounds. Giants manager John McGraw became upset with the increase of Yankees attendance along with the number of home runs. He was said to have commented that the Yankees should "move to some out-of-the-way place, like Queens", but they instead broke ground for a new ballpark in the Bronx , right across
11715-536: The Red Sox or Tigers in order to pay the bills. In 1951 , Bill Veeck , the colorful former owner of the Cleveland Indians , purchased the Browns from DeWitt, who stayed on as team vice president. In St. Louis, he extended the type of promotions and wild antics that had made him famous and loved by many and loathed by many others. His most notorious stunt in St. Louis was held on August 19, 1951, when he ordered manager Zack Taylor to send Eddie Gaedel ,
11880-521: The Red Sox with signs saying "CURSE OF THE BAMBINO", pictures of Babe Ruth, and wearing "1918!" T-shirts each time they were at the stadium. These fans came to be known as the Bleacher Creatures . The poor showings in the 1980s and early 1990s soon changed. Steinbrenner hired Howard Spira to uncover damaging information on Winfield and was subsequently suspended from day-to-day team operations by Commissioner Fay Vincent for two years when
12045-437: The St. Louis Browns. After the 1953 season , the team moved to Baltimore, Maryland , where it became the Baltimore Orioles . As of October 2024 , there are only three living former St. Louis Browns players: Billy Hunter , Ed Mickelson , and Frank Saucier . The St. Louis Browns had an overall win–loss record of 3,414–4,465–96 (.434) during their 52 years in St. Louis. Two former St. Louis Browns players were elected to
12210-605: The Yankees Lost the Pennant". The term was coined by writer Douglass Wallop , who wrote a novel of the same name . The novel was then adapted into a musical called Damn Yankees . In 1955 , the Dodgers finally beat the Yankees in the World Series, after five previous Series losses to them. The Yankees came back strong the next year. In Game 5 of the 1956 World Series against the Dodgers , pitcher Don Larsen threw
12375-506: The Yankees as New York's only baseball team. In the 1958 World Series , the Yankees got their revenge against the Braves and became the second team to win the Series after being down 3–1. For the decade, the Yankees won six World Series championships (1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1956, 1958) and eight American League pennants (those six plus 1955 and 1957). Led by Mantle, Ford, Berra, Elston Howard (the Yankees' first African-American player), and
12540-417: The Yankees continued for the remaining duration of the franchise. The Easton Yankees ended the season with a 51–68 record, placing sixth, finishing 31.0 games behind the first place Federalsburg A's. Ray Powell was the 1939 manager. Playing at Federal Park, Easton's home season attendance was 32,000, an average of 538 per home game. The 1940 Easton Yankees placed seventh in the Eastern Shore League season. With
12705-407: The Yankees following the 1934 season , Gehrig finally had a chance to take center stage, but it was only one year before a new star appeared, Joe DiMaggio . The team won an unprecedented four straight World Series titles from 1936 to 1939. For most of 1939, however, they had to do it without Gehrig, who took himself out of the lineup on May 2 and retired due to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis , which
12870-516: The Yankees from the "Bronx Bombers" into the "Bronx Burners", increasing the Yankees' ability to win games based on speed and defense instead of relying on home runs. As a first step towards this end, the Yankees signed Dave Collins from the Cincinnati Reds during the 1981 off-season. Collins was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays after the 1982 season in a deal that also included future All-Stars Fred McGriff and Mike Morgan . In return
13035-457: The Yankees got Dale Murray and Tom Dodd . The Yankees of the 1980s were led by All-Star first baseman Don Mattingly . In spite of accumulating the most total wins of any major league team, they failed to win a World Series (the 1980s were the first decade since the 1910s in which the Yankees did not win at least two Series) and had only two playoff appearances. They consistently had a powerful offense, with Mattingly and Winfield competing for
13200-471: The Yankees had already strengthened their supply of future prospects, which included a young outfielder named Roger Maris . In 1960, Maris led the league in slugging percentage, RBI, and extra-base hits. He finished second in home runs (one behind Mickey Mantle ) and total bases, and won a Gold Glove , which garnered enough votes for the American League MVP award. The year 1961 was one of
13365-453: The Yankees had the best record in the AL, but the season was cut short by a players' strike . Because the Yankees were last in a postseason in a season cut short by a strike , the news media constantly reminded the Yankees about the parallels between these two Yankees teams, which included both teams having division leads taken away by strike. Throughout October, the media continued to speculate about what might have been if there had not been
13530-588: The Yankees led the AL East before a strike hit in June 1981. The Yankees struggled under Bob Lemon , who replaced Michael for the second half of the season. Thanks to the split-season playoff format, the Yankees faced the second-half winner Milwaukee Brewers in the special 1981 American League Division Series . After defeating Milwaukee 3–2, they swept the Oakland Athletics in a three-game ALCS . In
13695-535: The Yankees manager. The 1950 title was the only one of those five championships not to be won against either the New York Giants or Brooklyn Dodgers ; it was won in four straight games against the Whiz Kids of the Philadelphia Phillies . In 1954, the Yankees won 103 games, but the Cleveland Indians took the pennant with a then-AL record 111 wins; 1954 was famously referred to as "The Year
13860-485: The Yankees moved across the street, Munson's locker was torn out and installed in the new stadium's museum. Immediately after Munson's death, the team announced his number 15 would be retired . The 1980 season brought more changes. Billy Martin was fired once again and Dick Howser took his place. Chris Chambliss was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays for catcher Rick Cerone . Reggie Jackson hit .300 for
14025-433: The Yankees moved to their new home, Yankee Stadium , which took 11 months to build and cost $ 2.5 million (equivalent to $ 40,000,000 in 2021). The team announced that 99,200 fans showed up on Opening Day and 25,000 were turned away. In the first game at Yankee Stadium, Ruth hit a home run. The stadium was nicknamed "The House That Ruth Built", due mainly to the fact that Ruth had doubled Yankees' attendance, which helped
14190-546: The Yankees' favor, leading to accusations that the Athletics were little more than a Yankees farm team at the major league level. Kansas City had been home to the Yankees' top farm team, the Kansas City Blues , for almost 20 years before the Athletics moved there from Philadelphia in 1954. In 1960, Charles O. Finley purchased the Athletics and put an end to the trades with the Yankees. At that point, however,
14355-509: The Yankees, whose broadcast income dwarfed most other franchises. Although there was never any official word that the 1953 season would be the Browns' last in St. Louis, enough unofficial indications leaked out to erode what support the Browns still had. Attendance fell to 3,860 per game, last in Major League Baseball. Under the circumstances, the Browns made a wretched showing, finishing 54–100, 46 games out of first. Not only
14520-457: The Yankees. On August 2, 1979, catcher Thurman Munson died when his private plane crashed while he was practicing touch-and-go landings . Four days later, the entire team flew out to Canton , Ohio, for the funeral, despite having a game later that day against the Orioles . Bobby Murcer , a close friend of Munson's, along with Lou Piniella , were chosen to give the eulogy at his funeral. In
14685-435: The best average in the AL for the 1984 season . Despite their offense, the Yankees teams of the 1980s lacked sufficient starting pitching to win a championship in the 1980s. After posting a 22–6 record in 1985, arm problems caught up with Guidry, and his performance declined over the next three years. He retired after the 1988 season. Of the remaining mainstays of the Yankees' rotation, only Dave Righetti stood out, pitching
14850-633: The board. His first act was to request permission to move the team to Baltimore, which was swiftly granted. With this, the Browns' 52-year history in St. Louis came to an end. The St. Louis Browns were unique among 1950s baseball teams in that they moved eastward, not westward, and changed their name to make a deliberate break with their history. (Other teams that moved kept their nicknames: Brooklyn / Los Angeles Dodgers , New York / San Francisco Giants , Boston / Milwaukee / Atlanta Braves , and Philadelphia / Kansas City / Oakland Athletics .) In December 1954, General Manager Paul Richards traded 17 players to
15015-555: The credible bids came from non-St. Louis interests. The most promising offer came from a group based in Houston, Texas , where the Cardinals operated a Triple-A farm team. Under the rules of the time, the Cardinals also owned the major league rights to Houston. However, just when it looked like the Cardinals were about to move to Texas, Saigh accepted a somewhat lower bid from St. Louis-based brewery Anheuser-Busch . Saigh had intended all along to sell to any credible buyer who would keep
15180-483: The current team of the same name ) after it ceased operations and used them to establish the New York Highlanders . The Highlanders were officially renamed the Yankees in 1913 . The team is owned by Yankee Global Enterprises , a limited liability company that is controlled by the family of the late George Steinbrenner . Steinbrenner purchased the team from CBS in 1973. Currently, Brian Cashman
15345-455: The current major league record and one often deemed unbreakable . Two months after the Yankees beat the Brooklyn Dodgers in the 1941 World Series , the first of seven October meetings between the two crosstown rivals before the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles. As a result of the mandatory draft following the attack on Pearl Harbor , more than 90 percent of the players, including DiMaggio, were forced to suspend their playing careers and enter
15510-533: The deal fell apart. According to the Los Angeles Daily News and Los Angeles Times , the American League owners unanimously rejected the proposal after league officials expressed concerns that travel restrictions would be too stringent for a prospective Los Angeles-based team to be viable. However, according to the Society for American Baseball Research , Barnes himself pulled the proposal off
15675-459: The early 1920s. However, analysts think Ball made a series of blunders that would ultimately doom the franchise. Shortly after buying the team, he allowed Rickey to accept the presidency of the Cardinals. When Johnson got wind of this, he told Ball in no uncertain terms that Rickey could not be allowed to go to the National League. However, since Rickey had a signed contract, Ball was only able to keep Rickey on his payroll for another 24 hours; Rickey
15840-466: The eight–team league. Continuing as a St. Louis Browns affiliate despite the moniker change, Easton ended the 1938 regular season with a 55–56 record, finishing 9.0 games behind the first place Salisbury Indians, with George Jacobs serving as manager. Easton became the Easton Yankees in the 1939 Eastern shore League after becoming an affiliate of the New York Yankees . Easton's association with
16005-519: The final three games were very close. Despite losing the Series, Barnes took heart in outdrawing the Cardinals by almost 40,000 fans. It would be the only time after 1925 that the Browns would outdraw the Cardinals. The 1945 Browns muddled through much of the early part of the season. However, in August, Barnes abruptly sold his stake in the team to minority owner and refrigeration magnate Richard Muckerman , who retained DeWitt as general manager. While
16170-408: The first time since they moved, they wore throwback Browns uniforms. In August 1979, new owner Edward Bennett Williams bought back the shares Barnes had sold to the public in 1936, returning the franchise to private control and removing one of the last remaining links to the Browns era. The buyout price was not published. However, given the Orioles' prosperity over their then-25 years in Baltimore,
16335-708: The following inning sealed the eventual 5–4 win that gave the Yankees their one-hundredth win of the season and their third straight AL East title. Guidry earned his 25th win of the season. After defeating the Kansas City Royals for the third consecutive year in the ALCS , the Yankees faced the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series . They lost the first two games in Los Angeles, but won all three games at Yankee Stadium and Game 6 back in Los Angeles, winning their 22nd world championship. Changes occurred during
16500-537: The four major North American sports leagues, after briefly trailing the NHL 's Montreal Canadiens between 1993 and 1999. The Yankees have had 44 players and 11 managers inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame , including many of the most iconic figures in the sport's history, such as Babe Ruth , Lou Gehrig , Joe DiMaggio , Mickey Mantle , Yogi Berra , Whitey Ford , and Reggie Jackson ; more recent inductees include Mariano Rivera and Derek Jeter , who received
16665-700: The fourth, fifth and eighth innings of the sixth game of the World Series; earned the Series MVP Award ; and got the nickname "Mr. October." Throughout the late 1970s, the race for the pennant was often a close competition between the Yankees and the Red Sox. Despite that, during the 1978 season , the Red Sox were 14 + 1 ⁄ 2 games ahead of the Yankees in July. In late July, Martin suspended Reggie Jackson and fined him $ 9,000 (equivalent to $ 42,000 in 2023) for "defiance" after he bunted while Martin had
16830-404: The gate during their first two decades in St. Louis. They trounced the Cardinals in attendance; in 1908, for instance, they attracted four times as many fans as the Cardinals. Pitcher Barney Pelty was a workhorse for the Browns, and a member of their starting rotation from 1904, when he pitched 31 complete games and 301 innings , through 1911. In 1909 , the Browns rebuilt Sportsman's Park as
16995-476: The hearts of his countrymen"). A spin-off joke was coined for the Browns: "First in shoes , first in booze , and last in the American League." (On October 2, 1944, cartoonist Amadee drew the St. Louis Weatherbird in a Browns uniform, standing on its head, with the legend "And first in the American League!") New York Yankees The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in
17160-445: The last ball used was gashed from seam to seam. After the season, Veeck cut a deal with Miles to move the Browns to Baltimore. Under the plan, Veeck would remain as principal owner, but would sell half of his 80% stake to a group of Baltimore investors headed by Miles. Despite assurances from Harridge that approval would be a formality, only four owners voted in favor – two short of passage. Reportedly, Yankees co-owner Del Webb
17325-583: The late 1960s. CBS initially suggested renovations, but the team needed to play elsewhere, and the Mets refused to open their home, Shea Stadium, to the Yankees. A new stadium in the Meadowlands , across the Hudson River in New Jersey , was suggested (and was eventually built, as Giants Stadium , specifically for football). Finally, in mid-1972, Mayor John Lindsay stepped in. The city bought
17490-475: The middle of 1989 , while back problems hampered both Winfield (who missed the entire 1989 season) and Mattingly (who missed almost the entire second half of 1990). Winfield's tenure with the team ended when he was dealt to the California Angels . From 1989 to 1992, the team had a losing record, spending significant money on free-agents and draft picks who did not live up to expectations. In 1990,
17655-534: The military. Despite losing many of their players, the Yankees still managed to pull out a win against the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1943 World Series . Following Jacob Ruppert's death in 1939, his heirs assumed control on the team. In 1945 construction and real estate magnate Del Webb along with partners Dan Topping and Larry MacPhail purchased the team from the Ruppert estate for $ 2.8 million (equivalent to roughly $ 47.8 million in 2023); MacPhail, who
17820-400: The military. As a result, many of the Browns' best players were classified 4-F (unfit for military service). Years of having to live a hand-to-mouth existence actually served the Browns well during the war years. They were better prepared to adjust to the effects of the draft, while wealthier teams like the Cardinals were caught unawares when their best players were drafted. The Browns spent
17985-478: The most memorable in Yankees history. Mantle and Maris hit home runs at a fast pace and became known as the " M&M Boys ". Ultimately, a severe hip infection forced Mantle to leave the lineup at the end of the regular season. Maris continued though, and on October 1, the last day of the regular season, he hit home run number 61, surpassing Babe Ruth's single-season home run record of 60. However, MLB Commissioner Ford Frick decreed that since Maris had played in
18150-446: The newly acquired Roger Maris , the Yankees entered the 1960s seeking to replicate their success of the 1950s. Arnold Johnson , owner of the Kansas City Athletics , was a longtime business associate of Yankees co-owners Del Webb and Dan Topping . Because of this "special relationship" with the Yankees, he traded young players to them in exchange for cash and aging veterans. Invariably, these trades ended up being heavily tilted in
18315-423: The next 48 hours, Miles lined up enough support from his group of investors to buy out Veeck's entire stake for $ 2.5 million. Facing threats to cancel the franchise and having sold his only leverage (the renamed Busch Stadium), Veeck had little choice but to take the deal, and the sale was duly approved. While Baltimore brewer Jerold Hoffberger became the largest shareholder, Miles was named president and chairman of
18480-468: The next day. Gaedel was by far the shortest person ever to appear in a major league game. Veeck also promoted another publicity stunt in which the Browns handed out placards – reading "take, swing, bunt", etc. – to fans and allowed them to make managerial decisions for a day. Taylor dutifully surveyed the fans' advice and relayed the sign accordingly. The Browns won the game against the Philadelphia Athletics , whose venerable owner Connie Mack took part in
18645-652: The only perfect game in World Series history, which remains the only perfect game in postseason play and the only postseason no-hitter until 2010. The Yankees lost the 1957 World Series to the Milwaukee Braves when Lew Burdette won three games for the Braves and was awarded World Series MVP . Following the Series, the New York Giants and the Brooklyn Dodgers both left for San Francisco and Los Angeles , respectively. This left
18810-403: The only one-armed major league position player in history. However, the players felt that Gray was dragging down the team. After Muckerman bought the team, he signed manager Luke Sewell to a two-year contract, and Sewell significantly cut back Gray's playing time. Gray was sent to the minors after the season, and never played in the major leagues again. Although it was not apparent at the time,
18975-591: The only time in his career with 41 homers, and finished second in the MVP voting to Kansas City's George Brett . The Yankees won 103 games and the AL East by three games over the Baltimore Orioles , but were swept by the Royals in the ALCS . After the season ended, the Yankees signed Dave Winfield to a 10-year contract. A contract misunderstanding led to a feud between Winfield and Steinbrenner. The team fired Howser and replaced him with Gene Michael . Under Michael,
19140-554: The original plans would not be enough to bring the park up to code. He also built a new stadium for their top farm team, the San Antonio Missions of the Texas League . After a slow start to 1947, he hurriedly signed two Negro league stars, Willard Brown and Hank Thompson . They only lasted a month when it became clear they neither improved attendance or the team's on-field record. Only three years after winning
19305-475: The owners likely made a considerably large return on their investment. The Browns, like the Washington Senators , were associated mostly with losing. The Senators became the butt of a well-known vaudeville joke, "First in war, first in peace, and last in the American League" (a twist on the famous "Light Horse Harry" Lee eulogy for George Washington : "First in war, first in peace and first in
19470-472: The pennant by 10.5 games, but they scored only four runs in the series and were swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers and their ace pitcher, Sandy Koufax . The series was the first between the Yankees and the new Los Angeles Dodgers, after their move in 1958. After the season, Yogi Berra, who had just retired from playing, took over managerial duties. The aging Yankees returned the next year for
19635-487: The pennant, the Browns posted the worst record in the majors, at 59–95. After the season, Muckerman was forced to sell Vern Stephens , Jack Kramer and Ellis Kinder , three stars from the 1944 pennant season, to the Red Sox. Years later, DeWitt revealed that between cost overruns from renovations to Sportsman's Park, cost overruns for building the new Mission Stadium in San Antonio, and a marked drop in attendance,
19800-558: The plot was revealed. This turn of events allowed management to implement a coherent acquisition and development program without owner interference. General Manager Gene Michael , along with manager Buck Showalter , shifted the club's emphasis from high-priced acquisitions to developing talent through the farm system . This new philosophy developed key players such as outfielder Bernie Williams , shortstop Derek Jeter , catcher Jorge Posada , and pitchers Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera . The first significant success came in 1994 , when
19965-501: The policy was to " instill a certain sense of order and discipline" in the players. The policy originated from Steinbrenner's service in the United States Air Force , which had a similar appearance policy. This rule is still in effect today, and enforced by his sons after George's passing. The Cincinnati Reds had the same personal appearance policy from 1967 until 1999. After the 1974 season , Steinbrenner made
20130-448: The poorer owners in the league, and did not have the wherewithal to take advantage of the large number of National League players bolting to the league. Of the 100 frontline players who switched leagues, only three signed with the Brewers. When Mack transferred to the Philadelphia Athletics at Johnson's behest as manager and part-owner, one of the three players who jumped to the Brewers, Hugh Duffy , became player-manager. Johnson knew
20295-409: The previous five decades. As early as the 1961–62 off-season, longtime fans noticed that the pipeline of talent from the minor league affiliates had started to dry up. This was worsened by the introduction of the amateur draft that year, which meant that the Yankees could no longer sign any player they wanted. The Yankees were one of four teams who voted against the establishment of the draft, with
20460-423: The purchase, Barnes sold 20,000 shares of stock to the public at $ 5 a share, an unusual practice for a sports franchise. Soon afterward, he fired Hornsby after learning he was placing bets on horse races during games. By 1941, Barnes was convinced he could never make money in St. Louis. After interests in Los Angeles approached him about buying a stake in the team, he asked AL owners for permission to move there for
20625-475: The record. Meanwhile, first baseman Lou Gehrig had his first big season, batting .373 with 47 home runs and 175 runs batted in (RBI), beating Ruth's single-season RBI mark which he had set in 1921. The Yankees won the World Series again in 1928. In 1931, Joe McCarthy , who was previously manager of the Chicago Cubs , was hired as manager and brought the Yankees back to the top of the AL. They swept
20790-550: The rest of the franchise's tenure in St. Louis, and would remain the franchise record until 1954, the team's first year in Baltimore. Ball had previously spent lavishly on the Browns, but gradually cut that spending to the bare minimum. He died in 1933, and his estate ran the team for three years, with Ball's former right-hand man Louis Von Weise as team president. The Ball estate mostly left the baseball side to player-manager and former Cardinals great Rogers Hornsby , whom Ball had hired in one of his last acts before his death. However,
20955-494: The role of team president in 1966, resigned as president in April but stayed with the organization as a consultant to the owner. Within a year, Steinbrenner bought out most of his other partners and became the team's principal owner, although Burke continued to hold a minority share into the 1980s. One of Steinbrenner's major goals was to renovate Yankee Stadium. Both the stadium and the surrounding neighborhood had deteriorated by
21120-522: The same name that was constructed adjacent to the previous facility, which was closed and demolished. The team is perennially among the leaders in MLB attendance . Arguably the most successful professional sports franchise in the United States, the Yankees have won 21 American League East Division titles , 41 American League pennants , and 27 World Series championships , all of which are MLB records. The team has won more titles than any other franchise in
21285-429: The season in a vigorous three-way race with the Tigers and Yankees for the pennant. On the final day of the season, before a sellout crowd of 35,518–their first sellout since 1924–they defeated the Yankees 5–2. Minutes earlier, the Tigers lost 4–1 to the Washington Senators , giving the Browns the pennant by a single game. They thus became the last of the 16 teams that made up the major leagues from 1903 to 1960 to play in
21450-412: The season with a record of 71–50. Easton placed third in the league standings under manager Dallas Warren. Easton finished 18.0 games behind the first place Salisbury Cardinals . Easton was 3–4 in the round robin playoff format and did not advance to the Finals. In their final Season of play, the Easton Yankees won the 1949 Eastern Shore League pennant. The Easton Yankees of the Eastern Shore League ended
21615-472: The season, the two clubs finished in a tie for first place in the AL East, and a tiebreaker game was held at Fenway Park. With Guidry pitching against former Yankee Mike Torrez , the Red Sox took an early 2–0 lead. In the seventh inning, light-hitting Yankee shortstop Bucky Dent drove a three-run home run over the Fenway Park's Green Monster , putting the Yankees up 3–2. Reggie Jackson's solo home run in
21780-524: The shore of the Harlem River in Washington Heights, was home to the New York Giants of the National League. The Giants were inter-city rivals with the Highlanders, dating back to when Giants manager John McGraw feuded with Ban Johnson after McGraw jumped from the Orioles to the Giants. Polo Grounds III burned down in 1911 and the Highlanders shared Hilltop Park with the Giants during a two-month renovation period. Later, from 1913 to 1922,
21945-432: The six–team Eastern Shore League, after being stripped of wins due to roster violations. Easton ended the 1926 season with an official overall record of 24–60. Easton had 34 wins reversed on August 19, 1926, due to roster violations. The Eastern Shore League roster rules stipulated that a team could not have more than three "class" players on their roster at any given time. "Class" was defined as any player who had participated
22110-508: The stadium and began an extensive two-year renovation period. Since the city also owned Shea Stadium, the Mets were forced to allow the Yankees to play two seasons there. The renovations modernized the look of the stadium, significantly altered the dimensions, and reconfigured some of the seating. In 1973, Steinbrenner instituted a personal appearance policy that included being clean-shaven, with long hair slicked back or trimmed. In an interview with The New York Times , Steinbrenner stated
22275-407: The stands. The Browns never came close to fielding a winning team during this time. In Veeck's three years as owner, they never finished any closer than 31 games out of first, and twice lost 100 games. But Veeck's showmanship and colorful promotions made Browns games more fun and unpredictable than the conservative Cardinals were willing to offer. Veeck's all-out assault on the Cardinals came during
22440-542: The table when he realized that a potential Japanese attack on the West Coast–a concern in the time immediately after Pearl Harbor–would make large-scale events on the West Coast too great of a risk. During World War II, in 1944 , the Browns won their only American League pennant in St. Louis. Due to the draft decimating the minor leagues, Barnes and the Browns pursued a strategy of pursuing players who couldn't serve in
22605-487: The team pay for the new stadium. At the end of the season, the Yankees faced the Giants in the World Series for the third straight year and won their first championship. In the 1927 season , the Yankees featured a lineup that became known as " Murderers' Row ", and some consider this team to be the best in the history of baseball (though similar claims have been made for other Yankee squads, notably those of 1939, 1961 and 1998). The name originated from The Tombs ,
22770-482: The team performance. At the start of 1915, the pair sold the team to Colonel Jacob Ruppert , a brewer, and Captain Tillinghast L'Hommedieu Huston , a contractor-engineer. Ruppert and Huston paid $ 350,000 (equivalent to $ 9,375,000 in 2021) with both men contributing half of the total price. After the purchase, Ruppert assumed the role of team president with Huston becoming team secretary and treasurer . In
22935-415: The team's traveling secretary, mainly because they were the only credible buyers willing to keep the team in St. Louis. However, they financed the purchase with notes totaling $ 1 million that were due in 1954, and the team's attendance over the next two years was nowhere near enough to service the debt. Under the circumstances, DeWitt was unable to reverse the slide, and was forced to sell any good prospects to
23100-409: The team, and found it in a syndicate headed by an old friend from his days as a sportswriter, Kansas City carriage maker Robert Hedges , who moved to St. Louis soon after the purchase closed. Hedges became team secretary while ceding the presidency to St. Louis businessman Ralph Orthwein. However, Hedges was the undisputed head of the franchise long before taking the presidency himself in 1903. He built
23265-590: The team. Under the circumstances, a move to St. Louis was a foregone conclusion. At a league meeting in Chicago, the Killileas requested and received permission to move. Soon after moving, the team changed its name to the Browns, a reference to the original name of the St. Louis Cardinals , who were known from the 1880s until 1900 as the Brown Stockings . Johnson then set about finding local ownership for
23430-483: The third concrete-and-steel park in the major leagues. During this time, the Browns were best known for their role in the race for the 1910 American League batting title . Ty Cobb took off the last game of the season, believing that his slight lead over Nap Lajoie , of the Cleveland Naps , would hold up unless Lajoie had a near-perfect day at the plate. However, the Browns players decided to help Lajoie win
23595-407: The time they met Boston for a pivotal four-game series at Fenway Park in early September, the Yankees were four games behind the Red Sox. The Yankees swept the Red Sox in what became known as the "Boston Massacre", winning the games 15–3, 13–2, 7–0, and 7–4. The third game was a shutout pitched by Ron Guidry , who led the majors with nine shutouts, a 25–3 record, and a 1.74 ERA. On the last day of
23760-527: The time. Under the deal, the Browns would buy the Chicago Cubs ' top affiliate, the Los Angeles Angels ; in those days, whoever owned a minor league team owned the major league rights to that city. The deal was slated to receive final approval at a league meeting on December 8. The deal was disrupted by the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor , which took place on December 7. Sources differ on how
23925-460: The title over the unpopular Cobb. Browns' manager Jack O'Connor went along with the plan, since the game would have no bearing on the pennant race. O'Connor ordered rookie third baseman Red Corriden to play on the outfield grass. This all but conceded a hit for any ball Lajoie bunted. Lajoie bunted five straight times down the third base line and made it to first easily. On his last at-bat, Lajoie reached base on an error – officially giving him
24090-465: The two highest vote percentages of all Hall of Fame members. According to Forbes , the Yankees are the second-highest valued sports franchise in the world, after the NFL 's Dallas Cowboys , with an estimated value in 2023 of approximately $ 7.1 billion. The team has garnered enormous popularity and a dedicated fanbase, as well as widespread enmity from fans of other MLB teams. The team's rivalry with
24255-451: The worst attendance in the American League. Indeed, after 1945 the Browns would struggle to attract more than 300,000 in a season. With the return of peace in 1946, the Browns found themselves in over their heads competing against teams augmented by stars returning from the war, and tumbled to seventh place. In response, Muckerman budgeted $ 300,000 to renovate Sportsman's Park. However, the bill swelled to $ 700,000 when it became apparent that
24420-473: The years around 1920, the Yankees, the Red Sox, and the Chicago White Sox had a détente . The trades between the three ball clubs antagonized Ban Johnson and garnered the teams the nickname "The Insurrectos ". This détente paid off well for the Yankees as they increased their payroll. Most new players who later contributed to the team's success came from the Red Sox, whose owner, Harry Frazee ,
24585-435: Was a World Series in Sportsman's Park in 1926 – but it was the Cardinals who took part, upsetting the Yankees . Meanwhile, the Browns slumped to seventh in the American League. More importantly, the Cardinals outdrew the Browns by more than 400,000. St. Louis had been considered a "Browns town" until then; as late as 1925, the Browns outdrew the Cardinals by more than 50,000. After their 1926 Series victory, however,
24750-490: Was Veeck forced to sell off top-drawer players to keep the team afloat, but late in the season, the Browns were running so low on baseballs that they were forced to ration them during batting practice. When what would be the Browns' last game in St. Louis (a 2–1 loss to the White Sox) went into extra innings, the Browns had so few baseballs on hand that the umpires were forced to recycle the least damaged used ones. Reportedly,
24915-402: Was coined by writer Dan Shaughnessy in the 1990 book of the same name. Ruth's multitude of home runs proved so popular that the Yankees began drawing more people than their National League counterpart, the Giants. In 1921 — the year after acquiring Ruth — the Yankees played in their first World Series . They competed against the Giants , and all eight games of the series were played in
25080-699: Was constructed in one of Upper Manhattan 's highest points—between 165th and 168th Streets in the Washington Heights neighborhood. The team was named the New York Highlanders. Fans believed the name was chosen because of the team's elevated location in Upper Manhattan, or as a nod to team president Joseph Gordon's Scottish-Irish heritage (the Gordon Highlanders were a well known Scottish military unit). The land
25245-425: Was drumming up support to move the Browns to Los Angeles, where Webb held extensive construction interests. However, talk of a Los Angeles move may have been a bluff – many owners believed that travel and schedule considerations would make having only one franchise on the West Coast unsustainable. Veeck, Miles, and D'Alesandro realized that the other AL owners were simply looking for a way to push Veeck out. Over
25410-582: Was easier to fit in headlines. The Highlanders finished second in the AL in 1904, 1906, and 1910. In 1904, they lost the deciding game on a wild pitch to the Boston Americans , who later became the Boston Red Sox. That year, Highlander pitcher Jack Chesbro set the single-season wins record at 41. At this time there was no formal World Series agreement wherein the AL and NL winners would play each other. The Polo Grounds , located on
25575-417: Was hired and fired by Steinbrenner five times over the next 13 years. This conflict, combined with the extremely rowdy Yankees fans of the late 1970s and the bad conditions of the Bronx, led to the Yankees organization and stadium being referred to as the " Bronx Zoo ". Despite the turmoil, Jackson hit four home runs in the 1977 World Series ; hit three of those home runs on the first pitch of his at bats in
25740-405: Was later known as "Lou Gehrig's Disease" in his memory. The Yankees declared July 4, 1939, to be "Lou Gehrig Day", on which they retired his number 4, the first retired number in baseball. Gehrig made a famous speech in which he declared himself to be "the luckiest man on the face of the earth." He died two years later on June 2, 1941. The acclaimed movie The Pride of the Yankees about Gehrig
25905-492: Was located at Federal Street & Hammond Street, Easton, Maryland. The site today is St. Mark's Village, a residential area. St. Louis Browns The St. Louis Browns was a Major League Baseball team that originated in Milwaukee, Wisconsin , as the Milwaukee Brewers . A charter member of the American League (AL), the Brewers moved to St. Louis, Missouri , after the 1901 season , where they played for 52 years as
26070-744: Was owned by the New York Institute for the Education of the Blind and was leased to the Highlanders for 10 years. Initially, the team was commonly referred to as the New York Americans. The team was also referred to as the "Invaders" in the Evening Journal and The Evening World . New York Press Sports Editor Jim Price coined the unofficial nickname Yankees (or "Yanks") for the club as early as 1904, because it
26235-448: Was released in 1942. The 1941 season was often described as the last year of the "Golden Era" before the United States entered World War II and other realities intervened. Numerous achievements were made in the early 1940s including Ted Williams of the Red Sox hitting for the elusive .400 batting average and Joe DiMaggio getting hits in consecutive ballgames. By the end of his hitting streak , DiMaggio hit in 56 consecutive games ,
26400-522: Was replaced by Bob Quinn . Four years later, Ball allowed the Cardinals to move out of dilapidated Robison Field and share Sportsman's Park with the Browns. Rickey and owner Sam Breadon used the proceeds from the Robison Field sale to build baseball's first modern farm system . This effort eventually produced several star players who brought the Cardinals more drawing power than the Browns. The 1922 Browns excited their owner by almost beating
26565-407: Was the team president, treasurer, and general manager, was bought out following the 1947 World Series . After a few slumping seasons, McCarthy left the organization in 1946. A few interim managers later, Bucky Harris took the job, righting the ship and taking the Yankees to a hard-fought series victory against the Dodgers . Despite finishing only three games behind the Cleveland Indians in
26730-516: Was traded to the Oakland A's in the deal that brought Henderson to New York. The team came close to winning the AL East in 1985 and 1986 , finishing second to the Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox, respectively, but fell to fourth place in 1987 and fifth in 1988 , despite having mid-season leads in the AL East both years. By the end of the decade, the Yankees' offense declined. Henderson and third baseman Mike Pagliarulo had departed by
26895-512: Was trading them for large sums of money to finance his theatrical productions. Pitcher-turned-outfielder Babe Ruth was the most talented of all the acquisitions from Boston, and the outcome of that trade would haunt the Red Sox for the next 86 years, a span in which the team did not win a single World Series championship. This phenomenon eventually became known as the Curse of the Bambino , which
27060-475: Was under construction in nearby Flushing, Queens . This restored New York as a city with more than one team, as it had been from the late 1800s until 1957. The Yankees won the 1962 World Series , their tenth in the past sixteen years, defeating the San Francisco Giants 4–3. It was the Yankees' last championship until 1977 . The Yankees easily reached the 1963 World Series when they won
27225-551: Was winding down, and the "Yankee Clipper" retired after the 1951 season after numerous injuries. That year marked the arrival of Mickey Mantle , who was one of several rookies to fill the gap. Bettering the clubs managed by Joe McCarthy, the Yankees won the World Series five consecutive times from 1949 to 1953 under Stengel, which remains an MLB record. Led by players like center fielder Mickey Mantle , pitcher Whitey Ford , and catcher Yogi Berra , Stengel's teams won ten pennants and seven World Series titles in his 12 seasons as
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