How To Succeed In Baseball, The Yankee Way

How Did The Yankees Current Tradition Of Spending Begin?

After the 2001 playoffs baseball witnessed a major transition in how teams went about themselves in the off season. A new phase of operation had begun, and the Yankees were at the forefront.
The idea was that to make money, and ultimately succeed, a team must spend. This idea influenced the larger market teams in baseball, with the best example being the Yankees.
In early 2003 the Yankees launched the YES Network, an entire television channel devoted to Steinbrenner associated teams, such as the Devils, Nets, and Yankees, in addition to the Giants, Jets, and Manchester United. The goal: to make money.
In its inaugural season, the YES network proved to be a success and brought in truck loads of money for the team.
In addition to YES, the team itself brings in a lot through various marketing and ticket operations. It’s no wonder why the team has no qualms about spending millions each year for players, if they bring in billions.
While it might seem like spending is a modern Yankee tradition, the team, more specifically, George Steinbrenner, had experimented with the idea before.
In the after the Yankees defeat in the 1976 World Series at the hands of the Cincinnati Reds, New York decided to bring in an all-star with a big attitude. Sound familiar?
It was none other than Reginald Martínez Jackson, or Reggie Jackson as he is commonly known. Reggie had previously played for the Oakland Athletics and had established himself as a superstar slugger.
Upon signing with New York, Reggie made comments detrimental to the team. At one point he explained that he didn’t come to New York to become a superstar, but rather he came and brought his superstar with him. It was comments like these that bothered teammates.
One particular event that stands out in the minds of many Yankee fans is the fight between Yankee manager Billy Martin and Reggie Jackson. During an afternoon game at Fenway Park in June of 1977, Martin pulled Jackson from the game because of what the manager perceived as laziness to get to the ball after a routine base hit, ultimately allowing a runner to advance. Reggie felt that he had done nothing wrong and before anyone could stop the two, both were fighting in the dugout, in the middle of the game.
Eventually, incidents with Jackson died down, and as a surprise to many, his overall attitude changed, and now is less egotistical.
Reggie Jackson is one prime example of the Yankees spending, but he is not alone. Although the team was largely unsuccessful during the 1980s, the Yankees continued to pursue key high priced players such as Catfish Hunter, Dave Winfield, and Ricky Henderson.
While the Yankees spent a lot in the past, they eventually changed their strategy in the 1990s, one possible reason for their success. However, the team returned to its original form, in a much more extreme fashion in the winter of 2001.
From 2001 to 2006, and now again in 2008 and 2009, the Yankees believe that the best way to succeed in baseball, is spend, spend, spend. So who did they acquire? Check back in the next article, and learn about the fact that they spent nearly half a billion dollars this off season, yet still saved money, and will ultimately make even more.