The New York Yankees arguably have the richest history in Major League Baseball history. Some even consider the franchise as one of the most valuable and successful sports clubs in the entire world.
The Yankees’ rise to prominence began in the 1920s, the decade when The Bronx Bombers won the first of their MLB-record 27 World Series championships. When Colonel Jacob Ruppert, who had just inherited a brewery fortune, and his partners bought the franchise for $1.25 million in 1915, the Yankees were given the go-signal to spend a lot to build a winning team. And that they did.
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In 1920, New York traded for The Bambino, Babe Ruth. The home-run king left both players and fans in awe with the way he hit the ball with ease, especially since he started his baseball career as a pitcher.
Three years later, the Yankees signed Lou Gehrig in the middle of the season. While he did not impress immediately, he improved season after season, eventually breaking out in 1926. He may not have been as powerful as Babe Ruth with the bat, Gehrig showed all-around hitting skills.
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These two sluggers were the foundation of what would then become known as the “Murderers’ Row.” Ruth batted third in the lineup, with Gehrig following him. They were flanked by four other formidable hitters, namely, Earle Combs, Mark Koenig, Bob Meusel, and Tony Lazzeri. The sextet were so intimidating and dominating that it prompted an opponent to say, “Those fellows not only beat you but they tear your heart out. I wish the season was over.”
The group won three World Series titles together, sweeping all of them, before Babe Ruth left the team for the Boston Braves in 1935.
Hi! I’m Peter Max, a lifelong New York Yankees fan. Read more about the team by visiting this website.
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