The Subway Series

For nearly thirty years, the modern-day tradition of the Subway Series has featured epic moments and iconic players squaring off to capture ultimate New York baseball bragging rights. With origins predating the advent of Gotham City’s subway system in 1904, the clash between New York’s original American Association (AA) clubs: the Metropolitans and Atlantics along with their original National League (NL) baseball counterpart, the Gothams, is a tradition that dates back over 143 years.

After adopting new nicknames in the seasons following their inception, the Yankees, formerly known as the Highlanders (AL), met the Dodgers (Brooklyn transferred to NL in 1890) and Giants a combined thirteen times in the World Series. Unfortunately, both of New York’s NL clubs left for the West Coast following the 1957 MLB season. Upon Branch Rickey and William Shea delivering NL baseball back to New York in 1962, the revival of The Mayor’s Trophy Game saw the Amazin’s and Pinstripes lock horns in exhibition play for parts of nineteen years from 1963-79 and 1982-83.

Following a 14-year hiatus in the area rivalry, the modern-day Subway Series took shape in 1997, conjuring up the same mystique and bad blood that existed in the late nineteenth century. Tag along on a memorable journey into New York baseball’s celebrated past to relive the truly unforgettable milestones and legendary moments that built the Subway Series into the longstanding rivalry that it is today.