Courtesy MLB.com

New York Yankees

The New York Yankees have recorded many firsts in the sport of baseball, while working their way into the hearts of millions of fans. The whole thing started in 1903 when Frank Farrell and Bill Devery purchased the defunct Baltimore franchise of the American League for $18,000, moved their team to Manhattan and gave them the name Highlanders. By 1913 the Highlanders had recorded their first win in franchise history, the pinstripe uniforms were created and the Highlanders were renamed the "Yankees". In 1915 Colonel Jacob Ruppert and Tillinghast L'Hommedieu Huston purchased the Yankees for $1.25 million

Courtesy MLB.com

and the following year George Mogridge became the first of the Yankees to throw a no-hitter in a 2-1 win game at Fenway Park.

Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Joe Dimaggio Join the Yankees

Babe Ruth's contract was purchased from the Boston Red Sox in 1920 and in 1921 the Yankees won their first American League pennant. Babe Ruth hit the first home run in Yankee Stadium before a crowd of 74,200 spectators in 1923 and by 1925 the Babe broke his own Major League record with his 60th home run. Lou Gehrig began his streak of 2,130 consecutive games played, pinch-hitting for Pee Wee Wanniger. The Yankees create another first when in 1929 they were the first team to make numbers a permanent part of their uniforms. By the 1930s, the Yankees had won their first six American League Pennants and three World Championships. Lou Gehrig became the first player to hit four home runs

Courtesy MLB.com

in a single game, Babe Ruth hit the 700th home run of his career and Joe DiMaggio joined the ranks. July 4th was designated "Lou Gehrig Appreciation Day" at Yankee Stadium and his number 4 uniform was the first to be retired in Major League baseball. On July 4th, 1939 Gehrig made his famous "Today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth" speech.

Mickey Mantle, Don Larsen, Roger Maris and Reggie Jackson

In 1953 Mickey Mantle hit the first recognized "tape-measure" home run. Don Larsen hurled the only perfect game in the history of the World Series in 1956 in a 2-0 win over Brooklyn in game 5 at Yankee Stadium. A Major League record was established in 1961 when Roger Maris hits his 61st home run. The longest game in Yankee history was ended by Jack Reed's two-run, 22nd-inning home run in 1962. CBS purchased the Yankees in 1964

Courtesy MLB.com

and George M Steinbrenner III purchased the Yankees from CBS in 1973. Another record was set by the Yankees when free-agent Catfish Hunter signed a record five-year contract and then Reggie Jackson hit three home runs in game six of the Worlds Series in 1977.

Dave Whinfield, Don Mattingly, Jim Abbott, Roger Clemens and Derek Jeter

Dave Whinfield signed a then-record ten-year contract in 1980. 1996 saw the Championship Trophy returned to the Bronx after the Yankees defeated the Braves for their 23rd title. David Wells tossed the 14th regular-season perfect game in baseball history, being the first ever by a Yankee. The Yankees won their 26th World Championship in the year 2000. In 2003 Roger Clemens became the first pitcher since Nolan Ryan in 1990 to reach the 300 mark. Derek Jeter made his spectacular catch by diving into the stands, Bernie Williams launched a walk-off home-run against the Twins at Yankee Stadium and the

Courtesy MLB.com

Yankees won their seventh consecutive American League East Crown.

Yankee Stadium

In 1921 the Yankees purchased 10 acres of property in the west Bronx directly across the Harlem River from the Polo Grounds. The stadium opened in 1923 and the first night game was played in 1946. The original seating capacity of 58,000 was increased up to 57,545 in 1980. From 1958 through 1961, this was the only place to go to watch Major League Baseball in New York City. The stadium was renovated in 1976 and the Yankees appeared in the World Series in each of the next three years, winning the fall classic twice. The New York Yankees have played in six World Series and won four of them since the stadium was renovated.

Through 2004 the American Baseball League has won fifty-eight World Championships, the National League has won forty-two World Championships, there have been three tie games, one-hundred seven shutouts, one perfect game and eleven instances where a team lost the first two games yet rallied to win the world Championship.