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

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by Teamsets4u

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

[Tcards-Please]

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

[arc2q]

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.

[Jlighter]

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.

[tcdyess]

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

[Jlighter]

Originally Posted by tcdyess

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.

[Runscott]

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.

[tcdyess]

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

[calvindog]

Originally Posted by Runscott

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.

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.