San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-10-03
Present American League
Champions in Ruck Un-
til Recent Years.
MANY STARS ON TEAM
Idea Has Been to Collect
Talent Ever Since Club
Organized.
Nv The Associated Press.

New York, Oct. S.-rhe New York
Yankees. toughest club in the Ameri-
can League. pennant winners this year
for the third consecutive time. brought
an end to the first major league base
ball war when they entered the circuit
in the winter of 1902. Their place in
the league was made by the forfeiture
of the Baltimore Oriole franchise.
Frank j. Farrell. whose finances
and enterprise established the Ameri-
can League team in New York. built
the first Yankee home in Washington
Heights He placed Clark Griffith.
who had achieved success L. a manager
in Chicago, in charge Of an all-star or
ganization selected to rcrresent New
York in the junior circuit. A peace
agreement was signed between the
American and National Leagues short
ly afterward.
Players whose names are now set
down IN baseball's corridor of fame
wore the first Yankee uniforms. They
include Jack Chesbro. Harry Howell.
Jesse Tannehill. jack O'Connor. John
Camel. Jimmy Williams. Herman
Long, Wild Conroy. Willie Keller.
Dave Fultz and Lefty Davis. Within
year Jack Powell. Al Orth. Tom
Hughes. Jim Mcclure. Kid Elberfeld
and Pat Dougherty were added.
Had Many Managers.
Griffith piloted the club until late
in the season OF 1908 when he. resigned
in favor of Elberfeld George STALL
ings took charge in 1909 and held on
until late in 1910 when Hal Chase
became manager. Chase was succeed
ed IN 1912 by Harry Wolverton, then
came Frank Chance. who led until
September. 1914, when he resigned
after failing to mai, a pennant con-
tender of the club. Roger Peckin-
paugh finished the 1914 season. the
last Of the Farrell regime. In 1915
Colonies Jacob Rupert and I. l.. Hus-
ton purchased the club. paying some
thing around half a million dollars for
the franchise, players and other prop
crty.
Until this time the Yankees had been
'in-apa-outers." Rupert and Huston
Immediately began building up with
new players. Bill Donovan was en-
ployed as manager. His club in three
seasons could do no better than fourth,
A upNtNeT. anu MliltT I1ukSlHS was
placed in charge. Huston and Rup-
pert continued their generous outlay OF
money for stars. Babe Ruth, who had
won fame as a pitcher and hitter with
tine Boston Red Sox, came to New
York.
Ruth Brought Luck.
With Babe came luck. In 1921 the
Yankees won their first pennant. Ruth
set a new all-time record for homc.runs
with 80 that year. The Yankees start
ed the worlds series impressively but
cracked and the Giants won the cham
pionship after eight contests. In 1922
the Yankees again won their race. but
failed to take a game from t. Giants
in the worlds series. They tied one
game and lost four.
After their lease on the grounds in
Washington Heights expired in 1918
the Yankees shared the use of the Polo
Grounds with the Giants for nine
years. but, after their unusually sue
cessful seasons of 1921 and 1922, the
Yankee owners decided to build their
own park. The Yankee Stadium.
greatest baseball plant in the world.
was opened 10 the public this year.
After some negotiation, Colonel Hus-
ton. half owner of the Yankees, sold
his interest early this year TO Colonel
Rupert for about 81, 800. 900, netting
gross profit of more than S1,000,O0O
in eight years.
Average Million People.
In 1915 the first season under the
Ruppert-Huston ownership. the Yam
KEGS attendance was 256.GO0. Since
the war, the attendance has averaged
annually more than 100000.
In the 81 years of American League
baseball in New York the Yankees
have finished as follows:
1908. fourth: 1901. second; 1905.
sixth; 1906. second; 1907, fifth: 1907,
fifth; 1905. eighth; 1909. fifth; 1910,
second: 1911. sixth: 1912. eighth:
1913, seveHth; 1914. sixth: 1915, fifth
1916. fourth 1917. sixth; 1918.
fourth 1919. third; 1920, third; 1921,
first: 1922. first; 1923, first.