O/T (kind of) I'm not that smart, but......
 

The Yankees really blew it this year. It was 100 years ago that the Highlanders were renamed to the Yankees. Remember the great job the Red Sox did last year for 100 years of Fenway? Is it just me, or are the Yankees missing a golden opportunity to celebrate 100 years of the most storied franchise in history and cash in on a complete marketing/merchandise campaign with all the fan fare? I even emailed them last fall and told them they should model themselves after the year long celebration of Fenway. (As big a Yankee fan that I am, I went to Fenway last year and enjoyed all the history that I saw, it was amazing and I know some board members actually had items on display inside Fenway...) Think of the history that could have been displayed at the stadium and all the Highlander jerseys and hats that could have been sold. Again, I know I'm not that smart, but.......

Tim

Well Tim, I'm not a Yankee fan but I think you have a wonderful idea & I agree that they are missing a golden opportunity to celebrate the 100 year history in perfect historical fashion-it's odd that they wouldn't think of this. And it would be awesome to see them play in Highlanders jerseys and hats-or throwbacks of the whole uniforms at least for a game. Great idea, I think you are that smart :)

Sincerely, Clayton

In 'The Book of Base Ball, 1911', they are only referred to as the Yankees - no mention whatsoever of 'Highlanders'. Perhaps it's the fuzziness of the date changeover that has kept them from doing anything.

Baltimore Orioles 1901-1902
New York Highlanders 1903-1912
New York Yankees 1913-present

Not sure where the 1913 number would come from if they were the Yankees in 1911 - my guess is that someone more recently picked 1913 without really knowing when the change took place. But if the franchise recognizes '1913' as the official name change, I suppose they should begin celebrating.

This Baseball Fever thread has some interesting stuff on the name changeover.

http://www.baseball-fever.com/showth...k-Yankees-quot

The 1911 T205s have them listed as the Yankees. Did that nickname not become official until 1913?

I believe in that era teams had official nicknames and alternative but more popular commonly-used nicknames...or no official nickname and a bunch of commonly used nicknames. 1913 was likely the year the name 'Yankees' became official but it had been used for several years prior, thus explaining why it was on a 1911 baseball card.

Even more confusing is the history of the Dodgers team name...they had a host of various commonly-used nicknames before Dodgers became official (for example, the Superbas) and the history of when one name began and the others ended is murky.

Particularly convoluted is the history of baseball in Washington. Everyone is surprised to find out that even the Washington Senators of the 1900s - 1950s were officially known as the Washington Nationals even though they ceased being referred to as the Nationals around the turn of the century. The Nationals name currently used has a longer and more official, arguably, lineage than the Senators moniker.

I really don't think the name is that important.

The Yankees basically had three nicknames.

New York Americans
New York Highlanders
New York Yankees

There are Newspapers referring to them as the Yankees as early as 1904. But all of them could have been used to refer to them.

This is off the Yankee website........ clearly states "officially renamed yankees in April 1913..... I really think they missed the boat on this one.....

http://mlb.mlb.com/nyy/history/timeline1.jsp

Tim

Yes it was "officially" recognized, but they had been called the Yankees for a number of years.

The U.S. declared independence in 1776, but wasn't officially recognized until 1783. We still have our centennial's on the '76.

I think the Yankees centennial was much more important as well as concrete. It was officially celebrated in 2003.

I'd like to see anything printed in 1913 that states that they were officially changing their name. Not saying it doesn't exist, but it's odd that no one has ever shown it.

Ok, great input from everyone, but I think some of you are missing my intention. Strictly from a business/marketing/PR side, the Yankees clearly had an opportunity to capitalize on a 100 year event that they themselves claim on their own website. It really doesn't matter what the truth is, they could have marketed the Highlander/Yankee thing to the hilt and come up with a huge pay day and some great historic events and fun for the fans at the same time. Again, strictly from a business/marketing/PR standpoint.... It amazes me that a business the size of this one would completely miss out.....

Thanks for all the input.....

Tim

Exactly, it never happened. It's my understanding that they were mainly known as the Highlanders until around 1913 or so when they simply started identifying themselves foremost as the Yankees around that time. Nothing official. The name "Highlanders" only referred to their park, Hilltop Park, which was at the top of NYC. "Yankees" was just a nickname that slowly stuck.

Tim, I agree with you. I thought the 'fuzziness' of the date was the reason, but since their organization is stating that 1913 is the year, it does appear that they are missing an opportunity.

Here's an article from 1908 where the name Highlanders isn't even used.

http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive...DF405B888CF1D3

Someone mentioned this above, but ALL of the 1911 t205 Cards for the team have 'Yankees' printed on the front. It appears that the 'highlanders' name was history by then.

It doesn't take a marketing genius
 

Methinks all the fuzziness about the timing of the Highlander-Yankee name change should not inhibit or prevent a celebration, but merely prolong it.

Why not celebrate the "birth" of the Yankees with a decade long centennial celebration?

All the crappy little Highlander souvenirs that you don't sell one year, you can sell the next. The team could use the funky Highlander retro uniforms more than once, each year in fact. I think the tradition of a "Highlander" week would be picked up by local pubs as well.

Yes, Tim, the Yankees did drop the ball on this one, but then again I always enjoy seeing the Yankees drop the ball.:D

Perhaps one of the five gazillionaire starters on the DL has some clause in their contract that prevents team celebrations if they are injured?

I'm not a Yankee fan, but it's impressive what they've done this year with their back-ups - seems it took getting rid of a few balloon-heads in order to find team chemistry.