Without Mattingly, the Yankees had lost their franchise player, and despite having made the playoffs for the first time since 1981, there was little optimism among fans. Manager Buck Showalter, tired of Steinbrenner’s interference, departed to take over the expansion franchise in Arizona, and his replacement, Joe Torre, had a career managerial record of 894 wins and 1007 losses. The New York media greeted his arrival with headlines like “Clueless Joe,” and prepared to pounce on the first sign of weakness. Torre never gave them the chance, leading the Yankees to their first World Series title in almost two decades, then repeating the feat in three of the next four years. Of course, the players helped: Derek Jeter, Bernie Williams, Wade Boggs, David Wells, David Cone, Roger Clemons, and Mariano Rivera were just a few of the greats who contributed to the magnificent championship run.

As the 2006 season begins, Torre is still in charge, but it’s been five years since the team won its last championship. According to stories in the press, Steinbrenner’s age may be catching up with him. The payroll hovers around $200 million. In the last few years, they have added the game’s best all around player in Alex Rodriguez, its most intimidating pitcher in Randy Johnson, and a bevy of other superstars (including BALCO suspects Garry Sheffield and Jason Giambi) to mount another assault on baseball’s promised land. Will 2006 be the year? Or has the end of the Red Sox “Curse of the Bambino” left Ruth’s second team cursed. As the Yankees prepare to erect a new stadium in Manhattan—and ultimately tear down the House That Ruth Built—fans can only watch the season unfold, and wait…



The Yankee Eras:

• Before the Babe (1901-1919)

• The Team That Babe Built (1920-1935)

• The DiMaggio Years (1936-1951)

• The Mantle Years (1951-1964)

• The Fallen Empire (1965-1974)

• The Billy Martin Years (1975-1983)

• The Donnie Baseball Years (1984-1995)

• The Joe Torre Era (1996-present)