For the New York Yankees, the real season doesn’t begin on the first day of April; it begins when they step onto the grand stage of the World Series. The regular season? That’s just a prelude. Sure, there’s some joy in winning a playoff berth, grabbing the AL East crown, and adding another Division Series and pennant to the trophy case. But none of that truly matters in the Bronx unless it ends with another World Series ring. And for a team like the Yankees, the weight of history looms large.
To put it simply: World Series titles are the only numbers that count. Being part of the Yankees means that you’re not only competing with the other teams in the league but also against the legends of baseball past—icons like Yogi Berra, Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth, and Mickey Mantle. These names are immortalized not just in the Hall of Fame but also in the hearts of every fan who walks into Yankee Stadium. Their legacies, the championships they brought home, are the standard that today’s Yankees must live up to.
Aaron Judge, the current captain of the Yankees, made it clear from the very start of spring training that the mission is all about one thing: a championship. “That’s why we’re here. That’s why I get up every single day,” Judge said back in February. “It’s been quite a long time since we’ve got to that finish line. But I think a lot of the guys and pieces that we’ve added into this room, especially a couple of changes we made in approaches, guys we brought in, it’s all going to push us towards the right direction, which is ultimately being the last team standing.”
It’s been over a decade since the Yankees last hoisted the trophy. Their last World Series win came in 2009, making this the first time they’re returning to the big stage since then. As Judge alluded to, this has been a long journey. But the core of the team—veterans like Giancarlo Stanton, Gerrit Cole, and Judge himself—feels the weight of both expectation and time. Stanton, now in his 15th major league season, has been particularly candid about the team's accomplishments thus far. Or rather, the lack of them. "As far as I’m concerned, we haven’t done nothing,” he said after a pivotal Game 4 win against the Guardians, maintaining the edge that’s driven him all season.
That same edge was on full display during the celebration after the AL Championship Series. Gleyber Torres handed Stanton the AL championship trophy and said, “Take the baby. Take the baby.” Stanton, with a knowing grin, cradled the trophy like an infant, rocking it back and forth—a subtle but unmistakable jab at Josh Naylor's home run celebration when he went yard against Cole during the 2022 ALDS. The moment wasn’t just playful—it was a symbol of the team’s mindset: They’re not here to mess around. They’re here to win.
The Yankees' history of winning is impossible to ignore. From the moment players arrive at Yankee Stadium, they’re confronted by the towering figures of the past. Oversized photos of legends in pinstripes line the tunnel leading to the clubhouse. Paintings of more recent stars, like Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera, adorn the walls. Both Jeter and Rivera, who have five championships each, were even in attendance on Old-Timers’ Day in August, mingling with the current roster. For young players like Anthony Volpe, a 23-year-old shortstop in his second big league season, this tradition isn’t just something to aspire to—it’s part of what makes the Yankees the Yankees. “What makes the Yankees the Yankees is winning and winning a World Series,” Volpe explained. It’s that simple.
But this season wasn’t without its hurdles. After missing the playoffs last year with a disappointing 82-80 record, the Yankees knew they had to make moves. The acquisition of Juan Soto from San Diego in December set the tone. When Soto showed up to spring training wearing a shirt that declared, “The Generational Juan Soto,” fans knew they were getting a player with swagger and star power. And Soto delivered. His 10th-inning, three-run homer in the ALCS to secure the Yankees’ 41st pennant was the type of moment fans dream about. He turned to the dugout, pounded his chest, and let everyone know: This is what I came here for.
Of course, the road to the World Series wasn’t always smooth. A blazing 50-22 start had fans riding high, but a 10-23 slump from mid-June through late July had some doubting whether this team had what it takes. Yet, the front office wasn’t going to stand still. The trade deadline acquisition of Jazz Chisholm Jr. from Miami injected fresh energy into the clubhouse. Finishing with a league-best 94-68 record, the Yankees surged back, clinching a playoff berth in Game 152 and locking up the AL East in Game 159.
The offense has delivered when it matters most. Stanton has been a beast in the postseason, hitting .294 with five homers and 11 RBIs. Soto has chipped in with a .333 average, three homers, and eight RBIs, while Judge, despite a .161 batting average, has still managed to knock in six runs with two homers. Torres, leading off in eight of nine postseason games, has been a spark plug.
But it’s not just the stars that have stepped up. The Yankees’ bullpen, a mix of unlikely heroes, has been clutch. Tim Hill, signed in June after being released by the struggling Chicago White Sox, has been lights out. Jake Cousins, picked up from the White Sox in March, and Tim Mayza, signed after being released by Toronto, have provided crucial relief innings. And Mark Leiter Jr., a trade deadline pickup, was added to the roster just in time for the postseason after Ian Hamilton went down with an injury. Yankees manager Aaron Boone saw it coming. “I talked to those guys first day of camp,” Boone recalled. “‘You might find yourself in the biggest moment of the year, so try and prepare that.’”
As the Yankees prepare to take on either the Los Angeles Dodgers or their crosstown rivals, the New York Mets, in the World Series, one thing is clear: This team is focused. They know what’s at stake. For them, the season begins now.
So, whether you’re a lifelong Yankees fan or just a baseball lover excited to see what unfolds, there’s no denying the electricity in the air. The Yankees are chasing their 28th title, and this time, they believe they have all the right pieces in place. Because in New York, it’s never about making it to the World Series—it’s about winning it.
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