1907 New York Yankees (Highlanders)

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?