Historical Moments
1903 - At a peace summit to unite the two leagues under similar rules, and establishing the World Series, AL President Ban Johnson lets it known he wants a team in New York. Johnson got 15 of the 16 Major League owners to agree the lone dissenter was John T. Bush owner of the New York Giants. Johnson arranged Frank Farrell and Bill Devery to buy the struggling Baltimore Orioles and move them to Manhattan. The two new owners quickly secured a piece of land on Broadway between 165th and 168th street and quickly put together a ballpark known as Hilltop Park. Sine the stadium sat on one of the highest points in Manhattan the nickname Highlanders was chosen as the new club's name. The Highlanders took the field for their first game on April 22nd, and lost to the Nats in Washington 3-1. The Highlanders would win their very first game the next day 7-2. A week later facing the Nats again, the Highlanders made their home debut a success with a 6-2 win. That first year was a success for New York, as they would finish a respectable 72-62 under Hall of Fame Manager Clark Griffith
1904 - The Highlanders chased the Boston Pilgrims all year, catching them in August and trading first place back and forth into October. A key 4 game series at the end of the season would determine the pennant. In the first game Jack Chesbro defeated Boston 3-2 to the Highlanders a half-game lead (it was his 41st win, a 20th century record.) However, the Pilgrims came back to win the next 2 to retake the lead. In the 4th game of the series, with Chesbro again pitching with the score tied 2-2 in the top of the 9th, a wild pitch over the head of catcher Deacon McGuire would allow the Pilgrims pennant clinching run to score, as the Highlanders settled for 2nd place with a 92-59.
1905 - Coming off a season in which they battled for first place until the end of the season the Highlanders are a tremendous disappointment finishing in 6th place with a record of 71-78.<BR> <BR> <U>1906</U>: The Highlanders lead the American League in late September before tailing off to finish 3 games behind the Chicago White Sox with a 90-61 record.
1907 - The Highlanders continue a patter of up and down seasons, as they fall back into 5th place with a record of 70-78.
1908 - The Highlanders come crashing down into last place for the first time in franchise history posting a horrendous 51-103 record.
1909 - After a horrid 103 loss season Highlander owner Bill Devery thinks it's time for a new image, and adopts a NY insignia that was used on a medal of honor for cops shot in the line of duty. The new interlocking NY would become the most recognizable logo in all of sports. In the first year the interlocking NY appeared on the uniform the team improved to a 74-77 record.
1910 - After 3 consecutive losing seasons the Highlanders climb up to 2nd place posting a respectable 88-63 record.
1911 - The Highlanders play mediocre baseball all season finishing in 6th place with a record of 76-76.
1912 - Another uniform design change takes place this time the Highlander home uniforms would now have the add touch of pinstripes. In their first year in pinstriped the Highlanders struggle all season and finish in last place with a 50-102 record.
Managers
Clark Griffith 1903-1908
Kid Elberfeld 1908
George Stallings 1909-1910
Hal Chase 1910-1911
Nickname
While officially known as Highlanders, local sportswriters often referred to them as the Yankees or Yanks because it was much easier to type, and fit in headlines. The name Yankees comes from the fact they were the American League team, and Americans are often referred to as Yanks by the British and the same thought process was applied. The team decided in 1913 to make Yankees its official nickname
Logo
Yankees is written in a red script with a red bat serving as the back of the k, and hanging down. The y and s form a complete circle and give the logo the look of baseball with the added baseball threads. Topping of the logo is an Uncle Sam's hat, which rests on top of the bat.
The Interlocking NY
Perhaps the most famous insignia in sports. The NY first made its appearance on the Highlanders sleeves, and caps in 1909. Eventually it would find a permanent home of prominence on the front of the Yankees uniform, while still standing proud on the navy blue caps. The interlocking design was actually designed in 1877 by Louis B. Tiffany for NYPD officer John McDowell, the first New York police officer shot in the line of duty. The logo was chosen by one of the Highlanders original owners; Bill Devery was a former police chief
Colors: Navy, White, Red
1903 - At a peace summit to unite the two leagues under similar rules, and establishing the World Series, AL President Ban Johnson lets it known he wants a team in New York. Johnson got 15 of the 16 Major League owners to agree the lone dissenter was John T. Bush owner of the New York Giants. Johnson arranged Frank Farrell and Bill Devery to buy the struggling Baltimore Orioles and move them to Manhattan. The two new owners quickly secured a piece of land on Broadway between 165th and 168th street and quickly put together a ballpark known as Hilltop Park. Sine the stadium sat on one of the highest points in Manhattan the nickname Highlanders was chosen as the new club's name. The Highlanders took the field for their first game on April 22nd, and lost to the Nats in Washington 3-1. The Highlanders would win their very first game the next day 7-2. A week later facing the Nats again, the Highlanders made their home debut a success with a 6-2 win. That first year was a success for New York, as they would finish a respectable 72-62 under Hall of Fame Manager Clark Griffith
1904 - The Highlanders chased the Boston Pilgrims all year, catching them in August and trading first place back and forth into October. A key 4 game series at the end of the season would determine the pennant. In the first game Jack Chesbro defeated Boston 3-2 to the Highlanders a half-game lead (it was his 41st win, a 20th century record.) However, the Pilgrims came back to win the next 2 to retake the lead. In the 4th game of the series, with Chesbro again pitching with the score tied 2-2 in the top of the 9th, a wild pitch over the head of catcher Deacon McGuire would allow the Pilgrims pennant clinching run to score, as the Highlanders settled for 2nd place with a 92-59.
1905 - Coming off a season in which they battled for first place until the end of the season the Highlanders are a tremendous disappointment finishing in 6th place with a record of 71-78.<BR> <BR> <U>1906</U>: The Highlanders lead the American League in late September before tailing off to finish 3 games behind the Chicago White Sox with a 90-61 record.
1907 - The Highlanders continue a patter of up and down seasons, as they fall back into 5th place with a record of 70-78.
1908 - The Highlanders come crashing down into last place for the first time in franchise history posting a horrendous 51-103 record.
1909 - After a horrid 103 loss season Highlander owner Bill Devery thinks it's time for a new image, and adopts a NY insignia that was used on a medal of honor for cops shot in the line of duty. The new interlocking NY would become the most recognizable logo in all of sports. In the first year the interlocking NY appeared on the uniform the team improved to a 74-77 record.
1910 - After 3 consecutive losing seasons the Highlanders climb up to 2nd place posting a respectable 88-63 record.
1911 - The Highlanders play mediocre baseball all season finishing in 6th place with a record of 76-76.
1912 - Another uniform design change takes place this time the Highlander home uniforms would now have the add touch of pinstripes. In their first year in pinstriped the Highlanders struggle all season and finish in last place with a 50-102 record.
Managers
Clark Griffith 1903-1908
Kid Elberfeld 1908
George Stallings 1909-1910
Hal Chase 1910-1911
Nickname
While officially known as Highlanders, local sportswriters often referred to them as the Yankees or Yanks because it was much easier to type, and fit in headlines. The name Yankees comes from the fact they were the American League team, and Americans are often referred to as Yanks by the British and the same thought process was applied. The team decided in 1913 to make Yankees its official nickname
Logo
Yankees is written in a red script with a red bat serving as the back of the k, and hanging down. The y and s form a complete circle and give the logo the look of baseball with the added baseball threads. Topping of the logo is an Uncle Sam's hat, which rests on top of the bat.
The Interlocking NY
Perhaps the most famous insignia in sports. The NY first made its appearance on the Highlanders sleeves, and caps in 1909. Eventually it would find a permanent home of prominence on the front of the Yankees uniform, while still standing proud on the navy blue caps. The interlocking design was actually designed in 1877 by Louis B. Tiffany for NYPD officer John McDowell, the first New York police officer shot in the line of duty. The logo was chosen by one of the Highlanders original owners; Bill Devery was a former police chief
Colors: Navy, White, Red