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The New York Yankees first played ball in 1903 and since that time over 1,200 ball players have had the privilege of putting on the Yankee pinstripes. Since, then the Yankees have virtually dominated the sport and have won a total of 39 Pennants and 26 World Series.

In 1903 Frank Farrell and Bill Devery purchased the Baltimore franchise and moved it to New York. The team first starting playing at the famous Hilltop Park. In 1913, the team changed its name to the Yankees, inspired by the flags in Hilltop Park, and moved to the Polo Grounds. They played there for ten years. In 1921, the Yankee fans began to outnumber the Giants fans. Jacob Ruppert, who bought the team from Farrell and Devery, was asked to take his team and leave the Polo Grounds.

So, a year after the Yankees purchased Babe Ruth from the Boston Red Sox, the Yankees issued a press release to announce the purchase of 10 acres of property in the west Bronx and their intentions on building a new stadium. Within a year, Yankee Stadium was ready for its first game on April 18, 1923 against the Red Sox. The Yankees had a home that would soon be nicknamed "The House That Ruth Built" because it was undeniable that Ruth's drawing power made the stadium possible. Over 74,000 fans packed Yankee Stadium for their first look at their team's new stomping grounds and what would prove to be the most famous ballpark in history.

New Yankee Stadium

However, make way for the new Yankee Stadium, under construction in 2007 and slated to open in 2009. When completed, the new stadium will cost $1.3 billion, the most expensive stadium ever built in the United States.

Supporters of the idea have countered criticism by traditional Yankee fans by stating that the new stadium will ensure that the Yankees will at least remain in New York. In addition, the new stadium plans are more true to the original 1923 version (following major renovations in 1975) and will be certain to incorporate old Monument Park - encompassing the several dozen plaques and freestanding monuments to team greats that had always been part of the old stadium.

More modern amenities to the new stadium will include a Hard Rock Cafe and a NYY Steak restaurant that will be open all year, with the addition of nearly 50 more luxury box seats between the second level and upper deck. Getting there will also be easier with a new planned MetroNorth train from Grand Central Station that will relieve the overcrowding for fans getting to the stadium on game days by subway.

Watch for a double celebration in 2009 as the debut of the new Yankee Stadium coincides with the opening of Citi Field, the new home of the New York Mets.

More about the New York Yankees around the Web

Even if you are not a baseball fan you know who the New York Yankees are. According to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, the New York Yankees have better representation than any other club, with 23 members. This world famous team is known if not for their current fame then for the legends that played on the team in the past. Babe Ruth, the man not the candy bar, was the best thing that ever happened in sports history. Who hasn't heard of Lou Gherig, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, and Yogi Berra? They are practically household names and with the way owner George Steinbrenner and manager Joe Torre are running the show there are sure to be more to come! Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Jason Giambi are some of the top players on the team this season.

Ultimate Yankees.com - New York Yankees - This site lives up to it's name. News, roster, schedule, updated stats. Uniform history, stadium history, trivia, important dates in Yankee history. Not to mention poems and sayings written by fans of all ages.

The Baseball Page - New York Yankees - The low down on the Highlanders and how they became the Yankees. Do you know the strangest moment in Yankee history? Find out here plus all your favorite players stats and bios.

SI.com - New York Yankees - Sports Illustrated team page for New York Yankees featuring comprehensive information, roster, standings, stats, rankings, game-by-game, and schedule.

Yahoo! Sports - New York Yankees - This site is the place to visit to get scores, schedule rankings, standings, stats, team photos, live broadcasts, and message boards.

ESPN.com - New York Yankees - All New York Yankees news, all the time, with links to breaking stories, player profiles.

New York Yankees - Detailed facts & information on the different eras of this famous team, from Wikipedia.

also see in New York City -> New York City Tourist Attractions