The history of the New York Yankees cannot be disputed. The Yankees era started (after much drama and debate) in 1913. In a meeting to unite the two leagues, American League President Ban Johnson stated his wish to have a team in New York. A deal was made to move the Baltimore Orioles to New York. The original ballpark was earmarked for a plot of land just north of New York City. The team was named the NY Highlanders. At the time, it was common to refer to the team as the New York Americans and then the New York Yankees in 1904. However, it was not until 1913 that they officially were named the New York Yankees.

The home field of the New York Highlanders was originally at the Polo grounds. Throughout the legacy of baseball in New York City, there have been actually four ballparks that were recognized as the “Polo Grounds,” which dates back to the 1800s. Initially, the Polo grounds were located near Central Park. In 1889, the Giants moved to Harlem and played at Coogan’s Bluff. In 1890, the Player’s League merged with the National League and the NY Giants purchased the ballpark at Brotherhood Park. This ballpark was renamed to the Polo Grounds in 1891.

Since their inception, the New York Yankees have been the most decorated team in MLB history. They have won 26 World Series in 39 appearances. In the 1970s, George Steinbrenner bought the franchise and hired former Yankee great Billy Martin. After a dry spell in the 1970s, the Yankees returned to greatness in the mid to late 1990s, winning the World Series in 1996, 1998, 1999, and 2000. The club won four World Series Championships during this period, which includes a victory over the cross-town rival the New York Mets in 2000.