New York Yankees nickname history explained

The New York Yankees were founded in 1903, but they were not initially known by their now famous team name.

The New York Yankees nickname stretches back 118 years ago to when the team was first introduced to the American League. But, they were not known by that name at the beginning of their existence.

In January of 1903, Frank Farrell and Bill Devery bought the defunct Baltimore baseball franchise for a grand total of $18,000, per the Yankees franchise timeline on MLB.com. That March, the purchase of the team was made official by the American League, where Ferrell and Devery moved them to Manhattan. The team was first known as the Highlanders (1903-1912) due to them playing in the highest point in the city. But when did they become the Yankees?

How did the New York Yankees get their nickname?

After playing a decade at Hilltop Park, the Highlanders moved to the Polo Grounds in 1913. From there, the franchise decided that they should change their name. That is when the Yankees were born. But how did they decide upon that name?

During their days as the Highlanders, the New York media basically denounced the name. The New York Press were the first to refer to the New York baseball franchise as the Yankees or “Yanks” because the name fit in the headlines better than Highlanders. The name stuck and the team decided to make it their official moniker in 1913.

Since the name switch, the Yankees have won 27 World Series titles, 40 AL pennants and 29 East division titles in 56 postseason appearances.

And that is how the Yankees nickname was born.