The Yankees

Yankee Baseball

This page is a personal favorite of mine and are dedicated to my father, Mel, a diehard Yankee Fan, who had instilled in me a fascination for the Yankees, the players, and the history of baseball.

At the tender age of four, mid summer of 1953, I accompanied my parents to the old Tiger Stadium to take in a Yankees vs Detroit game. With Yogi Berra catching and Mickey Mantel in the field, I only wish I could remember it.

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa murderers row aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Murderers' Row

On April 12, 1927, at Yankee Stadium, the Yankees opened their season with a game against the Philadelphia Athletics, starting a record setting season.

"Murderers' Row" is the legendary nickname given to the first six hitters in the batting order of the 1927 New York Yankees. Widely considered one of the greatest baseball teams of all time, they dominated the league with their fearsome, unstoppable lineup.

The formidable group consisted of the following players in batting order:
  • Earle Combs (Center Field) — Lead-off hitter who batted .356
  • Mark Koenig (Shortstop)Babe Ruth (Right Field) — Hit an astonishing 60 home runs
  • Lou Gehrig (First Base) — Batted .373 with 175 RBIs and won the AL MVP
  • Bob Meusel (Left Field)
  • Tony Lazzeri (Second Base)

The 1927 Yankees compiled a 110-44 record, won the American League pennant by 19 games, and swept the Pittsburgh Pirates in the World Series. The name has since become synonymous with any batting order that boasts overwhelming, back-to-back offensive power.
aaaaaaaaaaa talking baseball aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Talking Baseball

The song "Talkin' Baseball" (originally titled "Willie, Mickey and the Duke") by Terry Cashman is a nostalgic tribute to the "Golden Age" of Major League Baseball in the 1950s. It captures the history of the sport, baseball heroes, and the culture of a simpler era in America.

The song's refrain of "Willie, Mickey and the Duke" refers to Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle, and Duke Snider, three Hall-of-Fame center fielders, all of whom played in the same city at the same time—Mays for the New York Giants, Mantle for the New York Yankees and Snider for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Other players and managers are referred to in the song, some by full name, some partial name, and some by nicknames.

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa dimaggioAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Joltin' Joe
The Yankee Clipper

"I'd like to thank the good Lord for making me a Yankee."

Joseph Paul DiMaggio, nicknamed Joltin' Joe and The Yankee Clipper, made his major league debut with the Yankees on May 3, 1936, batting ahead of Lou Gehrig.

He was an outstanding player, one of the game's most graceful athletes. He had an aura of quiet dignity; a picture perfect player remembered for his smooth, effortless fielding and hitting. Joe made playing baseball look easy. He held major league records, was named MVP in 1939, 1941 and 1947, and voted baseball's greatest living player in 1969.



Joe DiMaggio, retired from baseball at the end of the 1951 season. Yankee Jersey No. 5 was officially retired in 1952. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on July 25th, 1955.



Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe
Married January 14, 1954 - San Francisco

Joe and Marilyn's elopement at San Francisco City Hall on January 14, 1954 was the culmination of a courtship that had captivated the nation.

Their marriage ended after 274 days. Their friendship ended on her death, August 5th, 1962. Joe had a half-dozen red roses delivered 3 times a week to Marilyn's crypt for the next 20 years. Their love story never ended.


Pop Culture

Joe DiMaggio has been the subject of a wide variety of songs and can be heard in the music of John Fogerty, Madonna, Simon & Garfunkel, Jennifer Lopez, and many more.

The most famous song directly about the Yankee Clipper is the 1941 hit "Joltin' Joe DiMaggio" by Les Brown and His Orchestra, featuring vocalist Betty Bonney. It famously chronicles his legendary 56-game hitting streak.


Movies and televisions shows have created plots around Joe, including Seinfeld, Daffy Duck and Star Trek.

Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital

On 17 September 1992, the Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital opened, for which he raised over $4,000,000.

Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital is a world-class hospital that has earned the distinction of being the leading children’s hospital in Broward and Palm Beach Counties. This premier facility combines advanced technology and the expertise of the largest diversity of board-certified specialists in the region, all in a caring, compassionate setting designed specifically for children.


Joe DiMaggio
Nov 25, 1914 - March 8, 1999
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagehrigaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Murderers' Row
The Iron Horse


Of all the players in baseball history, none possessed as much talent and humility as Lou Gehrig. His accomplishments on the field made him an American hero, and his tragic early death made him a legend.

Lou Gehrig

Henry Louis "Lou" Gehrig, is remembered for his prowess as a hitter, his consecutive games played record, and his tearful farewell from baseball at age 36. Between 1925 and 1939, he played in 2,130 consecutive games, setting several Major League records. He was voted the greatest first baseman of all time by the Baseball Writers' Association.



Lou played for the New York Yankees until his career was cut short by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), now commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig's Disease.




On May 2, 1939 Gehrig benched himself telling the Yankees that he was doing so "for the good of the team". He never played baseball again.

On June 21, 1939 the New York Yankees announced Gearing's retirement and proclaimed July 4, 1939 "Lou Gehrig Appreciation Day" at Yankee Stadium. Yankee Jersey No. 4 was officially retired. He inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1939.

Farewell Speech

Lou Gehrig's farewell speech was one of the most emotional moments in the history of American sports. The Times account the following day called the moment "one of the most touching scenes ever witnessed on a ball field" that made even hard-boiled reporters "swallow hard".

"I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth."

He started with "Fans, for the past two weeks you have been reading about the bad break I got. Yet today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth" and concluded saying "I might have been given a bad break, but I've got an awful lot to live for. Thank you." (Lou Gehrig - Yankee Stadium, July 4, 1939.)


Lou Gehrig
June 19, 1902 - June 2, 1941
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaruth aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Murderers' Row
The Sultan of Swat - The Bambino

"Never let the fear of striking out keep you from coming up to bat.
All that can be asked of you is to give it your best."

Babe Ruth

George Herman Ruth, Jr., also popularly known as "Babe", "The Bambino", and "The Sultan of Swat", has been named the greatest baseball player in history in various surveys and rankings. His home run hitting prowess and charismatic personality made him a larger than life figure in the "Roaring Twenties". Off the field his often reckless lifestyle kept him in the news and scandals were the order of the day.

Babe's sensational home run hitting and undeniable candor became the biggest ticket in New York City. Soon, the Yankees drew so many fans that the team could afford to build Yankee Stadium, which opened in 1923. The famous stadium became known as "The House that Ruth Built."

In 1936, Ruth became one of the first five players elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.


The 25th anniversary of the opening of Yankee Stadium was held on June 13th, 1948. Ruth made his last appearance at the stadium where his legend was born. Yankee Jersey No. 3 was officially retired.




The Curse of the Bambino

The Curse of the Bambino was said to have begun after the Boston Red Sox sold Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees in the off-season of 1919-1920. Before that year, the Red Sox had been one of the most successful professional baseball franchises. After the sale, it would be another 86 years, from 1918 to 2004, before the Sox won the World Series again. The Curse was broken.

Babe Ruth
Feb 6, 1895 - August 16, 1948
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa mickey aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
One Column
The Mick
Picture
"It's unbelievable how much you dont know about the game you've been playing all your life."

"Well, baseball was my whole life. Nothing's ever been as fun as baseball."

Mickey Mantle

Mickey Mantle made his debut with the Yankees on April 17th, 1951.

Mickey's career was fraught with injuries, alcoholism, business failures, marital problems, scandals, and a suspension for being a "greeter" at a casino. In between upheavals, and despite a series of knee and leg injuries, he managed to lead the American League four times in home runs and six times in runs scored and he was named most valuable player three times. He still holds the records for most World Series home runs.

Picture Number 7

Mantle announced his retirement on March 1, 1969, and he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on August 12th, 1974. Yankee Jersey No. 7 was officially retired.

The American Dream. Mantle's Monument Park plaque bears the words "A great teammate, A magnificent Yankee who left a legacy of unequaled courage."

After baseball, Mickey battled and overcame alcoholism. He was a hero, even as he was dying, as he said, "Don’t be like me. I’m not a role model." in order to discourage kids from alcohol and drugs.

The story of Mickey Mantle is a story of courage, perseverance, loyalty, determination, inspiration and that of being a great teammate. Danny Mantle

Picture Make a Wish 

I guess in all of our lives we want to do something we could be proud of. I've been very lucky in mine - but I really am proud to be a part of Make-A-Wish and I know you are too. Thanks a lot.  Mickey Mantle

Mickey Mantle was a dedicated supporter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, notably hosting the annual Mickey Mantle Celebrity Golf Classic in Oklahoma during the early 1990s. This charity tournament raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to grant wishes for children facing critical illnesses.

Picture
Mickey Mantle
Oct 20, 1931 - Aug 13, 1996



Welcome to Jumpy's Site.

Yes, some people still speak plain english. (ME).Let's learn together. Come back and visit often. Learning never stops.
Jumpy


One Column



Welcome to Jumpy's Site.

Yes, some people still speak plain english. (ME).Let's learn together. Come back and visit often. Learning never stops.
Jumpy



One Column
Welcome to Jumpy's Site.

Yes, some people still speak plain english. (ME).Let's learn together. Come back and visit often. Learning never stops.
Jumpy



One Column
Welcome to Jumpy's Site.

Yes, some people still speak plain english. (ME).Let's learn together. Come back and visit often. Learning never stops.
Jumpy


aaaaaaaaaaa talking baseball aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
One Column

Talking Baseball

The song "Talkin' Baseball" (originally titled "Willie, Mickey and the Duke") by Terry Cashman is a nostalgic tribute to the "Golden Age" of Major League Baseball in the 1950s. It captures the history of the sport, baseball heroes, and the culture of a simpler era in America.

The song's refrain of "Willie, Mickey and the Duke" refers to Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle, and Duke Snider, three Hall-of-Fame center fielders, all of whom played in the same city at the same time—Mays for the New York Giants, Mantle for the New York Yankees and Snider for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Other players and managers are referred to in the song, some by full name, some partial name, and some by nicknames. 



Welcome to Jumpy's Site.

Yes, some people still speak plain english. (ME).Let's learn together. Come back and visit often. Learning never stops.
Jumpy






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