1907 New York Yankees (Highlanders)
Esteban Quiñones
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Table of Contents
The final standing | 5th in AL (Did not qualify for World Series) |
Regular season record | 70-78 (.473) |
Post-season record | (Not played) |
AL rank | 5th |
World Series record and opponent | (Not played) |
Manager | Clark Griffith |
Captain | Kid Elberfeld |
Top batter | Home runs: Danny Hoffman (5), Wid Conroy (3) BA: Hal Chase (.287), George Moriarty (.277), Kid Elberfeld (.271) Runs: Danny Hoffman (81), Hal Chase (72), Kid Elberfeld (61) RBI: Hal Chase (68), Jimmy Williams (63), Kid Elberfeld (51) |
Top pitcher/ (W-L, ERA) | Bil Hogg: 10-8, 3.08 Jack Chesbro: 10-10, 2.53 Slow Joe Doyle: 11-11, 2.65 |
Attendance record | 350,020 (6th of 8) |
1907 New York Yankees season: A brief summary
The 1907 season of the New York Highlanders, who would later be known as the New York Yankees, was a campaign marked by both challenge and transition. Finishing in fifth place in the American League with a record of 70 wins and 78 losses, the team found itself while rebuilding and reshaping its roster for future success.
One of the most significant moments of the 1907 New York Yankees season was the acquisition of Branch Rickey. This name would later become synonymous with breaking Major League Baseball’s color barrier by signing Jackie Robinson. Although Rickey’s impact as a player for the Highlanders in 1907 was modest, his later contributions as an executive would forever change the landscape of the sport.
The team’s performance on the field reflected the growing pains typical of a franchise trying to find its footing. Despite a less-than-stellar win-loss record, the 1907 New York Yankees displayed flashes of brilliance and competitiveness. Their standing in fifth place, while disappointing, was indicative of the highly competitive nature of the American League during that era.
The 1907 season was also a reflection of the era’s baseball environment: lower-scoring games, a premium on strategic play, and the importance of strong pitching and defense. In this context, the Highlanders were a team working to build around these fundamentals, searching for the right mix of talent that could propel them to the top of the standings.
Branch Rickey’s arrival to New York in 1907 might not have made immediate waves in the standings, but his presence on the team was a precursor to his influential role in baseball history. Known for his keen eye for talent and innovative thinking, Rickey’s career as a player was just the beginning of his profound impact on the sport.
Looking back, the 1907 season for the New York Highlanders was a chapter of groundwork laying and anticipation. It showcased a team in the throes of evolution, marked by introducing players who would leave a lasting legacy far beyond their on-field performance. While the season may not have ended with championship celebrations, it was a pivotal moment in the early history of a franchise that would go on to become one of the most storied teams in all of professional sports.
Postseason result
(Did not qualify – Eliminated in regular season)
1907 New York Yankees roster
Name | Age | B | T | Ht | Wt | DoB | Yrs | G | GS | WAR |
Rudy Baerwald | 26 | R | R | 5′ 8″ | 158 | Jan 1, 1881 | 1st | 18 | 15 | -0.1 |
Neal Ball | 26 | R | R | 5′ 7″ | 145 | Apr 22, 1881 | 1st | 16 | 15 | -0.6 |
Cy Barger | 22 | L | R | 6′ 0″ | 160 | May 18, 1885 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0.1 |
Walter Blair | 23 | R | R | 6′ 0″ | 185 | Oct 13, 1883 | 1st | 7 | 6 | -0.1 |
King Brockett | 26 | R | R | 5′ 10″ | 168 | Jul 23, 1880 | 1st | 11 | 5 | -1.1 |
Roy Castleton | 21 | R | L | 5′ 11″ | 167 | Jul 26, 1885 | 1st | 3 | 2 | 0.4 |
Hal Chase | 24 | R | L | 6′ 0″ | 175 | Feb 13, 1883 | 3 | 125 | 125 | 0.8 |
Jack Chesbro HOF | 33 | R | R | 5′ 9″ | 180 | Jun 5, 1874 | 9 | 30 | 25 | 5.1 |
Walter Clarkson | 28 | R | R | 5′ 10″ | 150 | Nov 3, 1878 | 4 | 5 | 2 | -0.2 |
Wid Conroy | 30 | R | R | 5′ 9″ | 158 | Apr 5, 1877 | 7 | 141 | 138 | 0.8 |
Slow Joe Doyle | 25 | R | R | 5′ 8″ | 150 | Sep 15, 1881 | 2 | 29 | 23 | 3.2 |
Kid Elberfeld | 32 | R | R | 5′ 7″ | 158 | Apr 13, 1875 | 9 | 120 | 118 | 3.2 |
Clark Griffith HOF | 37 | R | R | 5′ 6″ | 156 | Nov 20, 1869 | 16 | 5 | 0 | -1.1 |
Danny Hoffman | 27 | L | L | 5′ 9″ | 175 | Mar 2, 1880 | 5 | 137 | 135 | 1 |
Bill Hogg | 25 | R | R | 6′ 0″ | 200 | Sep 11, 1881 | 3 | 26 | 21 | 1.5 |
Tom Hughes | 23 | R | R | 6′ 2″ | 175 | Jan 28, 1884 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 0.7 |
Bobby Keefe | 25 | R | R | 5′ 11″ | 155 | Jun 16, 1882 | 1st | 19 | 3 | 1.5 |
Willie Keeler HOF | 35 | L | L | 5′ 4″ | 140 | Mar 3, 1872 | 16 | 107 | 107 | -1.8 |
Frank Kitson | 37 | L | R | 5′ 11″ | 165 | Sep 11, 1869 | 10 | 12 | 4 | 0.7 |
Red Kleinow | 29 | R | R | 5′ 10″ | 165 | Jul 20, 1877 | 4 | 90 | 85 | 1.4 |
Frank LaPorte | 27 | R | R | 5′ 8″ | 175 | Feb 6, 1880 | 3 | 130 | 124 | 1 |
William Louden | 23 | R | R | 5′ 11″ | 175 | Aug 27, 1883 | 1st | 4 | 3 | -0.2 |
Rube Manning | 24 | R | R | 6′ 0″ | 180 | Apr 29, 1883 | 1st | 1 | 1 | 0.2 |
Deacon McGuire | 43 | R | R | 6′ 1″ | 185 | Nov 18, 1863 | 23 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Earl Moore | 29 | R | R | 6′ 0″ | 195 | Jul 29, 1877 | 7 | 12 | 9 | -1.2 |
George Moriarty | 21 | R | R | 6′ 0″ | 185 | Jul 7, 1885 | 4 | 125 | 117 | 0.6 |
John Neuer | 30 | L | L | 5′ 8″ | Jun 8, 1877 | 1st | 7 | 6 | 1.1 | |
Doc Newton | 29 | L | L | 6′ 0″ | 185 | Oct 26, 1877 | 6 | 19 | 15 | 1.5 |
Al Orth | 34 | L | R | 6′ 0″ | 200 | Sep 5, 1872 | 13 | 46 | 34 | 1.7 |
Branch Rickey HOF | 25 | L | R | 5′ 9″ | 175 | Dec 20, 1881 | 3 | 52 | 34 | -1 |
Ira Thomas | 26 | R | R | 6′ 2″ | 200 | Jan 22, 1881 | 2 | 80 | 53 | 0.5 |
Ray Tift | 23 | L | 5′ 10″ | 155 | Jun 21, 1884 | 1st | 4 | 1 | -0.3 | |
Jimmy Williams | 30 | R | R | 5′ 9″ | 175 | Dec 20, 1876 | 9 | 140 | 139 | 1.1 |
1907 New York Yankees player additions, transactions, and trades
February 28, 1907
- Traded Joe Yeager to the St. Louis Browns and received Branch Rickey in return.
May 16, 1907
- Traded Walter Clarkson and Frank Delahanty to the Cleveland Naps, acquiring Earl Moore.
May 30, 1907
- Purchased Frank Kitson from the Washington Nationals.
June 7, 1907
- Deacon McGuire was selected off waivers by the Boston Americans.
July 18, 1907
- Purchased Rube Manning from Williamsport (Tri-State).
August 1907
- Made several purchases, including Neal Ball from Montgomery (Southern Association), Rudy Baerwald from Butte (Northwestern), Joe Lake from Jersey City (Eastern), and John Neuer from Savannah (South Atlantic).
- Sold Frank Kitson’s player rights to Kansas City (American Association) and Earl Moore’s player rights to Jersey City (Eastern).
August 4, 1907
- Purchased William Louden from Dallas (Texas) for $1,500.
August 5, 1907
- Signed Ray Tift as a free agent.
August 18, 1907
- Purchased Walter Blair from Williamsport (Tri-State) for $1,000.
October 13, 1907
- Participated in a 3-team trade, sending Frank LaPorte to the Boston Americans and receiving Jake Stahl from the Chicago White Sox. Additionally, the Boston Americans sent Freddy Parent to the Chicago White Sox.
1907 New York Yankees player debuts
- Neal Ball – 09-11-1907 – 26 years old
- Rudy Bell – 09-14-1907 – 26 years old
- Walter Blair – 09-17-1907 – 23 years old
- Lew Brockett – 04-13-1907 – 26 years old
- Roy Castleton – 04-16-1907 – 21 years old
- Bobby Keefe – 04-15-1907 – 24 years old
- Baldy Louden – 09-13-1907 – 24 years old
- Rube Manning – 09-25-1907 – 24 years old
- Tacks Neuer – 08-28-1907 – 30 years old
- Ray Tift – 08-07-1907 – 23 years old
1907 New York Yankees team stats (batting)
Pos | Name | Age | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | BA |
C | Red Kleinow | 29 | 90 | 303 | 269 | 30 | 71 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 26 | 5 | 24 | 25 | 0.264 |
1B | Hal Chase | 24 | 125 | 530 | 498 | 72 | 143 | 23 | 3 | 2 | 68 | 32 | 19 | 39 | 0.287 |
2B | Jimmy Williams | 30 | 139 | 556 | 504 | 53 | 136 | 17 | 11 | 2 | 63 | 14 | 35 | 50 | 0.27 |
SS | Kid Elberfeld | 32 | 120 | 505 | 447 | 61 | 121 | 17 | 6 | 0 | 51 | 22 | 36 | 7 | 0.271 |
3B | George Moriarty | 21 | 126 | 482 | 437 | 51 | 121 | 16 | 5 | 0 | 43 | 28 | 25 | 38 | 0.277 |
OF | Wid Conroy | 30 | 140 | 572 | 530 | 58 | 124 | 12 | 11 | 3 | 51 | 41 | 30 | 45 | 0.234 |
OF | Willie Keeler | 35 | 107 | 470 | 423 | 50 | 99 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 17 | 7 | 15 | 9 | 0.234 |
OF | Danny Hoffman | 27 | 136 | 583 | 517 | 81 | 131 | 10 | 3 | 5 | 46 | 30 | 42 | 103 | 0.253 |
UT | Frank LaPorte | 27 | 130 | 511 | 470 | 56 | 127 | 20 | 11 | 0 | 48 | 10 | 27 | 35 | 0.27 |
C | Ira Thomas | 26 | 80 | 226 | 208 | 20 | 40 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 24 | 5 | 10 | 24 | 0.192 |
OF | Branch Rickey | 25 | 52 | 153 | 137 | 16 | 25 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 15 | 4 | 11 | 25 | 0.182 |
OF | Rudy Baerwald | 26 | 17 | 60 | 52 | 4 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 0.212 |
MI | Neal Ball | 26 | 15 | 57 | 44 | 5 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 0.205 |
C | Walter Blair | 23 | 7 | 24 | 22 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0.182 |
3B | William Louden | 23 | 4 | 12 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0.111 |
C | Deacon McGuire | 43 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
P | Al Orth | 34 | 44 | 113 | 105 | 11 | 34 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 0.324 |
P | Jack Chesbro | 33 | 30 | 76 | 76 | 1 | 15 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 0.197 |
P | Slow Joe Doyle | 25 | 29 | 69 | 58 | 5 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 12 | 0.138 |
P | Bill Hogg | 25 | 26 | 68 | 60 | 5 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 19 | 0.183 |
P | Doc Newton | 29 | 19 | 48 | 37 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 14 | 0.108 |
P | Frank Kitson | 37 | 12 | 27 | 25 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.28 |
P | King Brockett | 26 | 10 | 26 | 22 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0.182 |
P | Earl Moore | 29 | 12 | 22 | 22 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0.273 |
P | John Neuer | 30 | 7 | 22 | 21 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0.095 |
P | Bobby Keefe | 25 | 19 | 22 | 19 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0.053 |
P | Tom Hughes | 23 | 4 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.143 |
P | Walter Clarkson | 28 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.286 |
P | Ray Tift | 23 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
P | Roy Castleton | 21 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
P | Clark Griffith | 37 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
P | Rube Manning | 24 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
P | Cy Barger | 22 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Team Totals | 28.2 | 152 | 5573 | 5044 | 605 | 1258 | 150 | 67 | 15 | 497 | 206 | 304 | 533 | 0.249 | |
Rank in 8 AL teams | 7 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 4 | |||||
Non-Pitcher Totals | 28.1 | 152 | 5045 | 4568 | 562 | 1163 | 135 | 65 | 13 | 460 | 204 | 282 | 427 | 0.255 | |
Pitcher Totals | 29.5 | 152 | 528 | 476 | 43 | 95 | 15 | 2 | 2 | 37 | 2 | 22 | 106 | 0.2 |
1907 New York Yankees team stats (pitching)
Pos | Name | Age | W | L | W-L% | ERA | G | GS | GF | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | R | ER |
SP | Al Orth | 34 | 14 | 21 | 0.4 | 2.61 | 36 | 33 | 3 | 21 | 2 | 0 | 248.2 | 244 | 134 | 72 |
SP | Jack Chesbro | 33 | 10 | 10 | 0.5 | 2.53 | 30 | 25 | 3 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 206 | 192 | 83 | 58 |
SP | Slow Joe Doyle | 25 | 11 | 11 | 0.5 | 2.65 | 29 | 23 | 5 | 15 | 1 | 1 | 193.2 | 169 | 86 | 57 |
SP | Bill Hogg | 25 | 10 | 8 | 0.556 | 3.08 | 25 | 21 | 2 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 166.2 | 173 | 84 | 57 |
SP | Doc Newton | 29 | 7 | 10 | 0.412 | 3.18 | 19 | 15 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 133 | 132 | 66 | 47 |
RP | Frank Kitson | 37 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3.1 | 12 | 4 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 61 | 75 | 31 | 21 |
RP | Bobby Keefe | 25 | 3 | 5 | 0.375 | 2.5 | 19 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 57.2 | 60 | 18 | 16 |
Earl Moore | 29 | 2 | 6 | 0.25 | 3.94 | 12 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 64 | 72 | 49 | 28 | |
John Neuer | 30 | 4 | 2 | 0.667 | 2.17 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 54 | 40 | 21 | 13 | |
King Brockett | 26 | 1 | 2 | 0.333 | 6.22 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 46.1 | 58 | 36 | 32 | |
Tom Hughes | 23 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2.67 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 16 | 10 | 8 | |
Ray Tift | 23 | 0 | 0 | 4.74 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 33 | 14 | 10 | ||
Walter Clarkson | 28 | 1 | 1 | 0.5 | 6.23 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 17.1 | 19 | 12 | 12 | |
Roy Castleton | 21 | 1 | 1 | 0.5 | 2.81 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 11 | 6 | 5 | |
Rube Manning | 24 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 8 | 3 | 3 | |
Clark Griffith | 37 | 0 | 0 | 8.64 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8.1 | 15 | 16 | 8 | ||
Cy Barger | 22 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 10 | 2 | 2 | ||
Team Totals | 29.3 | 70 | 78 | 0.473 | 3.03 | 152 | 152 | 59 | 93 | 7 | 6 | 1333.2 | 1327 | 671 | 449 | |
Rank in 8 AL teams | 5 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
1907 New York Yankees record vs. opponents/ Team splits
Opponent (Games) | Won | Lost | WP |
Boston Americans (21) | 12 | 8 | 0.600 |
Chicago White Sox (22) | 10 | 12 | 0.455 |
Cleveland Naps (22) | 7 | 15 | 0.318 |
Detroit Tigers (21) | 8 | 13 | 0.381 |
Philadelphia Athletics (20) | 10 | 9 | 0.526 |
St. Louis Browns (23) | 8 | 14 | 0.364 |
Washington Senators (23) | 15 | 7 | 0.682 |
1907 New York Yankees monthly record
Month (Games) | Won | Lost | WP |
April (14) | 8 | 5 | 0.615 |
May (22) | 11 | 11 | 0.500 |
June (22) | 8 | 14 | 0.364 |
July (31) | 15 | 16 | 0.484 |
August (29) | 12 | 16 | 0.429 |
September (29) | 12 | 16 | 0.429 |
October (5) | 4 | 0 | 1.000 |
How do you rate the 1907 New York Yankees?