New York Yankees Baseball in the 1950s

By the 1950’s the New York Yankees had already experienced previous decades of glory and high levels of success over the rest of Major League Baseball. However, the 50’s had began a new decade of a higher level of dominance. The Yankees were supported by big name players like Whitey Ford, Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, Joe DiMaggio and a younger, less-experienced pitching staff. In this storied decade the Bronx Bombers were able to win eight American League Pennants and six World Series. (Yankees Baseball)

As the decade opened up with the year 1950, the Yankees were celebrating an American League Pennant and a World Series victory from the previous year. It was apparent in 1950 that the team had not taken too much time off as the team posted a 98-56 regular season record, winning their second straight Pennant and a trip to the World Series where they would match up against the Philadelphia Phillies. In 1950, the Phillies were known as the Whiz kids because of their youth and amazing talent, but in the series against the Yankees they were swept in 4 games thanks to Joe DiMaggio- a legend in Major League baseball- and Phil Rizzuto- a shortstop who would enjoy one of his most productive seasons as well as the honor of earning American League MVP. Whitey Ford, a rookie pitcher for the Yanks, also enjoyed a stand out career, winning all 9 of his starts and losing only one game in relief. (Baseball History)

In 1951, the Yanks continued to enjoy success. However, as they welcomed in rookie newcomer Mickey Mantle, they lost Joe DiMaggio to retirement and Whitey Ford to the military for two years of service. With Ford off fighting the war, the pitching staff as a whole lowered the team ERA by more than half a run per game and also doubled th...

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... for the Cardinals but wasn’t offered the amount of money that he wanted. The next year the Yankees offered him more money and he jumped at the opportunity. When Yogi was eighteen he joined the Navy to fight in World War 2. (Yogi Berra)

Through out the 1950s the Yankees experienced highs and lows but team remained arguably the ball club in all of Major League Baseball. In the 50s the team showed off tough unwavering determination to win even when some of their best players were missing from the line up. Although The Yankees didn’t win a World Series each year of this decade it is still hard to argue that they didn’t maintain their reign over professional baseball. At the start of the Yankees organization the team established one of the most storied and legendary histories ever in baseball and has built on it and will continue building on it for many days to come.