We’re gonna ignore the fact that the New York Yankees lost the series against the Boston Red Sox and split the subway series with the Mets this week. The injury list continues to have Aaron Judge’s name written on it, along with Harrison Bader and Nestor Cortes. We’re in a new era for the Yankees, a budding era dubbed the Baby Bomber Era. The Baby Bomber era is characterized by young talent trying to restore the greatness that once was. The greatness glimmers every once in a while when the sun hits just right. You just have to shimmy it and jimmy it and move it around until it’s just right.

The Golden Era

Obviously with 27 World Series titles and 40 American League pennants, it wasn’t always like this. Every sports team ebbs and flows between periods of winning, losing and being mostly average. This is also true for the Yankees. As much as we boast and roar about having 27 World Series, we’re glad to see a little competition. 

The golden era of Yankees Baseball spans from 1923 to 1962. Within those 40 years, they won 20 World Series titles. No more than four years passed between titles during this period of time, which was center stage for baseball greats like Babe Ruth, Lou Gherig, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris. 

Steinbrenner’s Renaissance

The last of those 20 rings came in 1962, before new ownership would cause a 15-year World Series drought. Then, George Steinbrenner saved the day with a Yankee renaissance of sorts. Steinbrenner’s focus on repairing the Yankees’ image included renovating the stadium and implementing a personal image policy. Eventually, Reggie Jackson and the Yankees mustered up consecutive titles in 1977 and 1978, which was proceeded by another drought until 1996. 

Rookie Derek Jeter stepped to the plate in 1996 and reinvigorated The Bronx. Andy Pettitte, Mariano Rivera, Bernie Williams and Jorge Posada fell in alongside Jeter to bring home four rings in five years. A new dynasty was born in the modern age, and I grew alongside this resurgence. 

The Early 2000s – 2010s

I was born in 1999 and, like most children, didn’t retain my memories before reaching five years old. So, I would be lying if I said I remember anything about the Yankees during this time. I was not even a fan yet. I became a Yankees fan around the age of seven, and this is the start of my personal era of Yankees history. This is the era I witnessed in real time from seats in the old Yankee stadium and the new one. 

In 2009, I witnessed the Yankees win their 27th World Series. I don’t remember everything, and I honestly don’t even remember the opponent being the Phillies. This is ironic, being that I am from the Philly area and do remember the Phils winning it in 2008. 

Andy Pettitt, Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera and Derek Jeter sitting next to each other for Bernie Williams Day in Yankee Stadium 2015

I do remember, during the early years, resorting to praying that they would win when I had to go to bed and the game wasn’t over. This is also ironic because I’m not religious. But I am competitive. This was my beloved team, and as a kid they were the best of the best, even if they weren’t all the time. I would do anything I thought could possibly help them win.

The Players

I also obsessed over them. Derek Jeter is my favorite Yankee player of all time. Every Yankee shirt I had was number two. My favorite number used to be two. I read books about him, I wanted to play shortstop in softball and, even in his waning years, he was still the star rookie to me.

Jeter being my favorite is obvious, but the rest of the players made the era memorable too. Mark Texeira at first, Robinson Cáno at second, Jeter at shortstop, A-Rod at third, Posada behind the plate, with Brett Gardner, Nick Swisher and Curtis Granderson in the outfield. I remember Gardy racing around the bases and singing that the “Grandy-man can” after Granderson’s home runs.

CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett were swinging in and out of pitching rotations. Hideki Matsui, Johnny Damon, Melky Cabrera and DiDi Gregorious are other memorable names that came and went. Most importantly, I watched the “Core Four” exit their careers. Watching each of these players play in Yankee Stadium is my own little piece of Yankee history.

The Baby Bombers Era 

Since then, the team has hit a lull – a few division titles but no pennants or rings since 2009. Like I said before, we’re watching a new era of young players trying to build off the team’s foundation of greatness. When we look back on these eras, we’ll remember the players that made it great … even if we don’t win a thing. 

The Yankees have solidified their place in Major League Baseball history with eras of baseball dominance. The Yankee brand still carries importance to fans as each generation of players comes through the Bronx. Each season, win or lose, it’s important to maintain the legacy of Yankee greatness.

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