The New York Yankees are one of the most well known and successful teams in Major League Baseball history. The Yankees were first founded in 1901 and played in Baltimore and were known as the Orioles. From 1903-1912 they played in New York and were known as the Highlanders. It wasn't until 1913 that they were called the Yankees. The Yankees won their first of twenty-six World Series Titles in 1923. This was also the first year that the they played in Yankee Stadium. They would play there through the 2008 season.

The Yankees have had some of the best players to ever play the game. They have had fifteen numbers retired, which is more than any other team in MLB history. Some Yankee greats are Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, and Yogi Berra. The Yankees have had all but two single digit numbers retired. Those numbers are two and six. These numbers have also been worn by two of the most prolific Yankees in history. Derek Jeter currently wears number two, and former manager Joe Torre wore six. There is a very good chance that both of these numbers will also be retired.

Closer Mariano Rivera is also the only player in the MLB that is allowed to wear the number forty-two. The number was retired by the entire league in 1997 in honor of Jackie Robinson. Rivera wore the number before it was retired, and due to the Grandfather Rule, he is still allowed to wear it.