The New York Yankees have decided to play Frank Sinatra’s classic “New York, New York” only after home wins, moving away from the practice of playing it after every game at Yankee Stadium. This change brings back a tradition that was started by former owner George Steinbrenner in 1980.
The team noted that players and staff were growing tired of hearing the celebratory song after losses.
After suffering a 4-0 defeat in spring training against the Detroit Tigers on Sunday at George M. Steinbrenner Field, the Yankees chose to play Sinatra’s 1966 hit “That’s Life,” which was originally penned by Dean Kay and Kelly Gordon in 1963. This decision came just two days after the team lifted its long-standing beard ban, a rule that Steinbrenner had put in place back in 1976.
The Yankees have also stated that they will select different songs to play after losses.
The practice of playing “New York, New York” following victories began when Steinbrenner first heard Sinatra’s version from a disc jockey at Le Club, a restaurant and nightclub in Manhattan, as recounted by former Yankees media relations director Marty Appel in a 2015 interview with The New York Times.
The song, originally composed by John Kander with lyrics by Fred Ebb, was first performed by Liza Minnelli in Martin Scorsese’s 1977 film New York, New York. Sinatra later recorded his own version in 1980, arranged by Don Costa for his album Trilogy: Past Present Future.
For years, the Yankees celebrated their victories with Sinatra’s version of “New York, New York” and played Minnelli’s rendition after losses. Lately, however, only Sinatra’s version has been heard after the final out of each game.
On Friday, the Yankees revealed they would be lifting their long-standing beard ban, citing worries that the rule might deter potential player signings.
Hal Steinbrenner took over as the team’s principal owner in 2008, following the passing of his father in 2010.
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