Ah, the New York Yankees—baseball’s ultimate villain. Whether you love them or hate them (let’s be honest, most people fall into the second category), the Yankees are that team.
They’re the rich, cocky, and historically dominant franchise that fans of 29 other teams just love to root against. So, why exactly do the Yankees inspire so much loathing? Let’s break it down.
1. The Whole “27 Rings” Thing
Every Yankees fan has this phrase locked and loaded for any baseball argument. Got swept in the ALDS? “27 rings.” Haven’t won since 2009? “27 rings.” Someone sneezes near a Yankees fan? “27 rings.” We get it. The franchise has a winning history, but that doesn’t mean we need to hear about it every five minutes.
2. They Buy Championships
Sure, baseball doesn’t have a salary cap, but the Yankees treat free agency like a billionaire at an auction. When in doubt, throw money at the problem. A struggling rotation? Sign the best pitcher available. Need a power bat? Just outbid everyone else. Other teams develop prospects—Yankees fans just expect their front office to cut a check.
3. The Uniform Rules Are Weirdly Strict
The Yankees are the only team in MLB where players have to follow a dress code. No beards, no long hair, and no individuality. This is baseball, not military school. Let the guys live a little!
4. They Have the Most Obnoxious Fans
Not all Yankees fans are bad, but let’s be real—many of them are. They expect to win the World Series every year, and when they don’t, it’s a “failure.” Meanwhile, other teams celebrate making the playoffs like it’s a national holiday. Also, Yankees fans seem to believe the season doesn’t officially start until October.
5. Derek Jeter Was Good… But Calm Down
Derek Jeter was a great player, but if you only listened to Yankees fans, you’d think he was a baseball deity who single-handedly carried the franchise for two decades. Let’s not forget he won zero MVPs, was a meh defensive shortstop, and benefited from playing on stacked teams. But sure, let’s build another documentary about him.
6. They Act Like They Invented Baseball
Yankees fans will remind you that baseball history basically starts and ends in the Bronx. Babe Ruth? Yankee. Mickey Mantle? Yankee. Joe DiMaggio? Yankee. Meanwhile, teams like the Cardinals, Dodgers, and Red Sox have rich histories too, but the Yankees act like the sport wouldn’t exist without them.
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7. The Overhyped Prospects
Every season, there’s some Yankees prospect who’s hyped up as the next Mickey Mantle. Then reality sets in. (Looking at you, Clint Frazier, Miguel Andújar, and Gary Sánchez.) Yankees fans are constantly convinced their farm system is elite, but when was the last time a true homegrown star emerged? Aaron Judge? Fine, we’ll give you that one.
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8. Their Stadium Is… Kind of a Joke
Yankee Stadium looks nice on TV, but let’s not pretend it’s a sacred baseball cathedral. The place is a glorified corporate lounge with $20 beers, overpriced tickets, and a right-field fence so short that a toddler could hit a home run there.
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9. Every Big-Name Free Agent Is “Going to the Yankees”
No matter who’s available, Yankees fans swear they’re signing him. Whether it’s Shohei Ohtani or a guy who just got DFA’d, their name always gets thrown into the mix. Then, when the player signs elsewhere, it’s because “he couldn’t handle the bright lights of New York.”
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10. They’re Just Always Relevant
Even when the Yankees are bad, they’re still the main story. ESPN won’t shut up about them. Every trade deadline, they’re the center of rumors. Even when they don’t make the playoffs, they somehow still dominate the conversation. It’s exhausting.
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