THE NEW YORK YANKEES AND THE 4-5 CURSE

old baseball

ARTICLE BY:

Vincent Spada

New England author & poet

vinspada@yahoo.com

Despite their 27 World Championships, the Bronx Bombers may be plagued by an unusual hex. I'm speaking, of course, about...

THE NEW YORK YANKEES AND THE 4-5 CURSE

Explanation: The New York Yankees have never won a World Series title in a year ending in a 4 or 5. What follows is a list detailing what occurred and why there may be a curse...

First thing's first: The Yankees were not the Yankees until 1913. Before that, they played as the New York Highlanders and, briefly, as the Baltimore Orioles (sort of). In both 1914 and 1915 they had losing records, struggling to establish themselves in the younger circuit known as the American League. It was not until 1920, when they traded for Babe Ruth, that they became a relative force in baseball.

They posted a winning record in 1924, finishing second to the Washington Senators, but a losing one in 1925 (This was the year of Babe Ruth's so-called "stomach ache"). In 1934 and 1935 they were again runner's-up, being trumped by the Detroit Tigers both times. But 1936 may be the year the curse really began, with the emergence of a young center fielder...

It was 21-year old Joe DiMaggio, fresh from the minors, who burst onto the scene that season. Swatting 29 homers, along with 125 RBI, he was a mainstay in the Yankees line-up. The Bronx Bombers won 4 World Series titles in a row from 1936-1939, but in that time frame suffered a major loss of enormous significance, in more ways than one.

I'm speaking of first baseman Lou Gehrig, the gentleman ballplayer and pride of the Yankees. Famous for his great hitting and iron-man consecutive games played streak, he set the precedent for Pinstripe greatness. However, early in the 1939 season, Gehrig had to remove himself from the game due to his terrible and unfortunate illness. Only two years later The Iron Horse was gone, taken too soon at the tender age of just 37.

Now why does the curse begin here? It has to do with the numbers both Gehrig and DiMaggio wore. Gehrig 4, DiMaggio 5. 4 and 5...

Gehrig was a living legend and face of the franchise, and that was removed from him by Joe DiMaggio. Not that Joe D. did anything wrong, but it's just hard to say goodbye to a hero. This same incident occurred when Tino Martinez had to replace first baseman Don Mattingly in 1996. Fans were not so quick to welcome in Tino, still clinging to memories of Donnie Baseball. This symbolic passing of the torch may have also carried over these negative feelings from older fans, who were very loyal to Lou Gehrig and did not want his position usurped by a young newcomer. If such is the case perhaps those same "bad vibes" inadvertently led to the curse. Anyone who watches baseball usually believes in superstitions, jinxes and plain old bad luck.

Hence, we might assume that if there was and is a curse, it began right then and there. If so, let us examine the evidence that follows, season by season and event by event:

1. 1944 and 1945: The Yankees finish in third and fourth during these two campaigns, lacking their star power due to World War 2. Incidentally, 1945 was the last year the Chicago Cubs appeared in a World Series (Their "Billy Goat" curse began that season).

2. 1954 and 1955: Despite winning 103 regular season games in 1954, the Yankees pace a distant second to the Cleveland Indians 111 victories. In 1955 they make it to Game 7 of the World Series, only to lose to Johnny Podres and the Brooklyn Dodgers.

3. 1964 and 1965: Yet again, the Yankees make it to Game 7 in the '64 Classic, only to fall this time to Bob Gibson and the St. Louis Cardinals. In 1965 they post a record of 77-85, their first losing season since 1925 (That "stomach ache" year!). At this point the dynasty of the New York Yankees, that featured Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio and Mantle, ceases to exist, as the Bronx Bombers sink into a decade of obscurity, failing to make the playoffs again until 1976 (During that period of dominance, stretching from 1920-1964, the Yankees won the World Series a staggering 20 times. That golden age lasted 45 years. Once more, those two numbers, 4 and 5...).

4. 1974 and 1975: New York is starting to reemerge again as a potential postseason squad, having winning records in both '74 and '75. However, the Baltimore Orioles and Boston Red Sox still claim the AL East titles, and the Yankees will have to wait until 1977 for their first world championship in 15 years (Note: It was during this period, in 1973, that George Steinbrenner purchased the team).

5. 1984 and 1985: Despite Don Mattingly's AL batting title in '84 and MVP performance in '85, both he and Hall of Famer Dave Winfield cannot lead the Pinstripers back to glory. New York came close to a division title in '85, chasing the Toronto Blue Jays all season, but suffered a devastating 8-game losing streak in late September and could not recover (To this day, that one still hurts).

6. 1994 and 1995: With the Yankees finally poised to take the AL East crown in '94, the unthinkable happens: MLB players go on strike in August and the playoffs are cancelled when a labor agreement can't be reached. There will be no World Series that year for the first time since 1904, and it single-handedly destroys baseball in smaller markets (The Montreal Expos never bounce back and move to Washington in 2005). The next year, in a strike-shortened season, New York finally makes the postseason for the first time since 1981, but are beaten by the Seattle Mariners in the first round of one of the most exciting ALDS contests of all-time (That one still hurts, too. 1994, as well).

7. 2004 and 2005: After 101 regular season wins and a first round victory over the Minnesota Twins in the ALDS, the Yankees take a commanding 3-0 lead over the Boston Red Sox in the 2004 ALCS. Yet, the BoSox have their own curse to break, and they stun the world with 4 straight victories. They then defeat the St. Louis Cardinals in the Fall Classic and end the "Curse of the Bambino" (Will never get over that one). In 2005 the Bombers return to the ALDS, but are beaten by the Los Angeles Angels in 5 games. The White Sox take the flag that year, ending their own "Black Sox" curse of 1919.

8. 2014 and 2015: The Yankees failed to make the playoffs for the second straight year in 2014, saying goodbye to legendary SS and Captain Derek Jeter. 2015 began slowly for New York, but hot hitting by Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira help earn several victories. Combined with great bullpen work and some good starts from the rotation, it led to a wild card playoff spot. However, Dallas Keuchel and the Houston Astros were too much for the Pinstripers, and now the hex has continued up to the present season. 2024. Will Aaron Judge, Gerrit Cole and Juan Soto finally end this unusual streak?...

You may ask, is any of this real? I can't say for certain. Time will tell the tale in its own time. We'll just have to wait and see.

And that, my fellow baseball fans, is the history of the New York Yankees 4-5 curse. Believe it or disbelieve it. The facts are there. You decide for yourself...

Thank you,

Vincent Spada

Lifelong Yankees fan

*Many thanks to Baseball Reference for its accurate facts and fine online format.*