BRONX, N.Y. — The year 2021 means a year ending in one for the New York Yankees. There were highs and lows. Hellos and goodbyes. Plenty of memories for sure.
Only time will tell if the 2021 squad will have a special season. Below, we take a look back at the years ending in one.
1911
Not much to write home about here. The New York Highlanders finished in sixth place, with a mark of 76-76. Birdie Cree hit .348 and Russ Ford registered a 2.27 ERA.
1921
At 98-55, the organization captured its first American League Pennant. It was the first of three consecutive pennants. Babe Ruth slugged 59 home runs and posted a 239 OPS+. The Yankees dropped the Fall Classic to the New York Giants in eight games.
1931
This squad went 94-59 and finished second in the American League. Ruth and Lou Gehrig popped 46 homers apiece. Bill Dickey batted .327. Lefty Gomez sported a 2.67 ERA.
1941
Is Joe DiMaggio's 56-game hit streak baseball's most unbreakable record? pic.twitter.com/raiZXJX9BD
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) December 27, 2019
Following a one-year hiatus, the Yankees were back on top of the baseball universe. Often referred to as the last summer of innocence, Joe DiMaggio set a record with his 56-game hitting streak. DiMaggio earned the AL MVP with 30 home runs, a .357 average, and a 185 OPS+. The year also marked the debut of Phil Rizzuto, who hit .307. The Yankees finished 101-53 and defeated the Brooklyn Dodgers in five games for the World Series title. The title marked the fifth in six years.
1951
The Yankees said hello to Mickey Mantle and farewell to DiMaggio. Yogi Berra earned AL MVP with 27 home runs and a 130 OPS+. Vic Raschi, Eddie Lopat, and Allie Reynolds, who tossed two no-hitters, steered the pitching staff. Gil McDougald earned AL Rookie of the Year. New York went 98-56 and defeated the Giants in six games for the World Series. The title represented the third in a run of five straight for the pinstripes.
1961
These Bronx Bombers were an all-time classic great team. Roger Maris broke Ruth’s single-season record with 61 home runs. Maris earned his second consecutive AL MVP award. Mantle clubbed 54 home runs. Whitey Ford earned the AL Cy Young award. The Bronx Bombers finished 109-53 and defeated the Cincinnati Reds in five games in the World Series. It was the first of two consecutive titles for this club.
1971
This Yankee team went 82-80 and finished fourth in the AL East. Roy White hit 19 home runs and Bobby Murcer hit 25.
1981
During the strike-shortened season, the Yankees finished 59-48 and ultimately earned its fourth AL Pennant in six seasons. It was the beginning of the Dave Winfield era. The end of the Reggie Jackson era. Dave Righetti earned AL Rookie of the Year honors. The Yankees won the AL Pennant but lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series in six games.
1991
It was another rock bottom forgettable year. The Yankees went 71-91 and finished fifth in the AL East. Kevin Maas provided a fun streak with his 23 home runs. Rookie Bernie Williams arrived in the Bronx.
2001
The end of the dynasty as we knew it. The Bronx Bombers went 95-65 and earned a fourth consecutive AL East crown. We said hello to Mike Mussina and an emerging Alfonso Soriano but goodbye to Paul O’Neill, Tino Martinez, Scott Brosius, Chuck Knoblauch, and David Justice. Roger Clemens was awarded the AL Cy Young. Derek Jeter “flipped” the Oakland A’s in the ALDS. There would be no Game 6 in Seattle for Lou Piniella’s 116-win squad, as the Yankees secured their fourth consecutive AL Pennant in the Bronx. Memorable Fall Classic home runs from Martinez, Brosius, and of course Mr. November Jeter. Alas, the Yankees fell to the Arizona Diamondbacks in Game 7 of the World Series in the desert.
2011
These Yankees went 97-65 and earned the AL East title. New York said hello to Russell Martin and Bartolo Colon and goodbye to Jorge Posada and A.J. Burnett. Jeter recorded career hit No. 3,000. Curtis Granderson smacked 41 home runs, Mark Teixeira clocked 39 bombs. CC Sabathia fanned 230 batters. Mariano Rivera pitched to a 1.91 ERA and David Robertson 1.70. Rookie Ivan Nova finished fourth in AL Rookie of the Year voting. A rookie Dellin Betances debuted as well. The Yankees fell in the ALDS to the Detroit Tigers in five games.
