The Baltimore Orioles began play in the AL in 1901.[6] After two seasons, the Orioles were replaced by a club in New York; it is unclear whether it was an expansion team or a relocated version of the Orioles.[7]Frank Farrell and William S. Devery purchased the franchise, naming it the New York Highlanders.[8] In 1913, the team changed its name to the Yankees.[8] From 1921 to 1964, the Yankees were the most successful MLB franchise, winning 20 World Series titles and 29 AL pennants. This period included streaks of four consecutive championships from 1936 to 1939 and five straight titles from 1949 to 1953.
Following an 11-year playoff drought, the club appeared in the playoffs five times in a six-year period and won back-to-back World Series championships in 1977 and 1978. The Yankees won the World Series again in 1996, and in 1998 began a run of three consecutive titles. From 1995 to 2007, the Yankees made the playoffs each year; their 13-season postseason streak was the second-longest in MLB history.[9] After missing the playoffs in 2008, they won another World Series in 2009, their 27th championship and fifth in 14 seasons. Since 2009, they have reached the postseason in all but four seasons, and returned to the World Series for the first time since then in 2024, when they lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Series after winning the club's 41st pennant. Overall, the Yankees' .569 regular season winning percentage is the highest of any MLB team, and they have the eighth-most regular season wins, behind seven clubs founded in the 19th century.[10]
These statistics are from Baseball-Reference.com's New York Yankees Team History & Encyclopedia,[11] except where noted, and are current as of October 30, 2024
Record by decade
The following table describes the Yankees' MLB win–loss record by decade.
Decade
Wins
Losses
Pct
1900s
520
518
.501
1910s
701
780
.473
1920s
933
602
.608
1930s
970
554
.636
1940s
929
609
.604
1950s
955
582
.621
1960s
887
720
.552
1970s
892
715
.555
1980s
854
708
.547
1990s
851
702
.548
2000s
965
651
.597
2010s
921
699
.569
2020s
400
308
.565
All-time
10,778
8,148
.569
These statistics are from Baseball-Reference.com's New York Yankees Team History & Encyclopedia,[11] and are current as of October 30, 2024.
All-time records
Statistic
Wins
Losses
Win%
All-time regular season record
10,778
8,148
.569
All-time postseason record
252
184
.578
All-time regular and postseason record
11,030
8,332
.570
Notes
a This is determined by calculating the difference in wins plus the difference in losses divided by two.
c Half-game increments are possible because games can be cancelled due to inclement weather or other circumstances that prevent play. If a postponed game is the last of the season between two teams, it may not be made up, if it does not affect the playoff race.[73][74]
d The second game of the series ended after 10 innings due to darkness, with the score tied 2–2.[75]
i The Yankees finished the season tied for first with the Boston Red Sox. New York defeated the Red Sox 5–4 in a one-game playoff to clinch the division title. The game is best remembered for Bucky Dent's three-run home run in the seventh inning, which gave the Yankees a 3–2 lead.[80]
j The 1981 Major League Baseball strike caused the season to be split into two halves. The Yankees were given a berth in an expanded playoff tournament because they led the American League East when the strike began. The Milwaukee Brewers finished the second half in first place to earn the division's other playoff berth.[81]
k The 1994–95 Major League Baseball strike, which started on August 12, 1994, led to the cancellation of the playoffs and World Series.[82] As a result of the abbreviated season, MLB did not officially award division championships.[83] The Yankees led the American League East, and held the best record in the American League, at the time of the strike.[84]
l The 1994–95 MLB strike lasted until April 2, 1995, causing the shortening of the 1995 season to 144 games.[79]
m The Yankees finished the season tied for first with the Boston Red Sox, but were awarded the division title because they won the season series with the Red Sox.[85]
n The Yankees finished the season tied for third with the Baltimore Orioles.[86]
p The Yankees finished the season tied for second with the Boston Red Sox.[88] Since both teams qualified for the American League Wild Card Game, the tie had to be broken to determine home-field advantage. The Red Sox were designated the first wild card, and the Yankees were designated the second wild card, based on the Red Sox having won the season series between the teams, 10 games to 9.[89]