1990 New York Yankees: Chaos at the Bronx Zoo

The final standing	7th in AL East (Failed to reach postseason)
Regular-season record	67-95 (.414)
Post-season record	Did not qualify
Divisional rank	7th
ALDS record and opponent	Did not play
AL rank	14
ALCS record and opponent	Did not play
World Series record and opponent	Did not play
Manager	Bucky Dent, Stump Merrill
Captain	–
Top batter	Home run: Jesse Barfield (25), Kevin Maas (21), Steve Balboni (17), Roberto Kelly (15) BA: Roberto Kelly (.285), Steve Sax (.260), Mel Hall (.258), Rick Cerone (.302 in 49 games) Runs: Roberto Kelly (85), Steve Sax (70), Jesse Barfield (69) RBI: Jesse Barfield (78), Roberto Kelly (61), Mel Hall (46)
Top pitcher/ (W-L, ERA)	Dave LaPoint: 7-10, 4.11
Attendance record	2,006,436 (8th of 14)

1990 New York Yankees season: Summary

The 1990 New York Yankees season was not just a baseball campaign; it was a surreal journey through the unexpected twists and turns of a team destined for the depths of the American League East. As the 88th season for the Yankees unfolded, it became a bizarre tapestry woven with chaos, misfortune, and a touch of unconventional humor.

The Yankees started the season with a historic change, bidding farewell to SportsChannel NY and making the cable-only MSG Network their new broadcasting home. Little did they know, this shift in television channels would be just the beginning of an extraordinary season.

The team, managed by the duo of Bucky Dent and Stump Merril (seperately)l, stumbled through the season, finishing in a dismal seventh place with a record of 67-95. The Yankees hadn’t experienced such a woeful performance since 1912, marking their first last-place finish in 24 years. It was a record-setting season in all the wrong ways, leaving the franchise and its fans in disbelief.

One of the few shining stars in this dark chapter was rookie Kevin Maas, who emerged as the face of the franchise. Amid the struggles on the field, Yankees fans found solace in taunting the Red Sox with chants of “1918!”—a reminder of the last time Boston had won a World Series.

The team’s bizarre antics went beyond the standings. In an unusual turn of events, pitcher Andy Hawkins threw a no-hitter and still managed to lose 4-0, highlighting the peculiar misfortunes that plagued the Yankees throughout the season. Third baseman Mike Blowers committed four errors in a single game, while former Yankee Rickey Henderson scored from second base on a routine ground ball to shortstop.

The off-field drama added another layer of intrigue. The Yankees faced challenges from the start, with a 32-day lockout delaying the beginning of spring training. The team was in disarray, losing key players like Henderson and third baseman Mike Pagliarulo, while Dave Winfield struggled to return from a back injury that sidelined him for the entire 1989 season.

Managerial changes and player losses set the stage for a tumultuous season, with Bucky Dent getting fired in early June, giving way to Stump Merrill. Meanwhile, the specter of owner George Steinbrenner‘s investigation loomed large. Accusations of his behavior towards Winfield and paying a gambler named Howie Spira to dig up dirt on the star player added a layer of off-field drama that captivated the media.

The team’s struggles took a toll on the players, but amidst the chaos, there were moments of levity. Second baseman Steve Sax, known for his earlier throwing problems, adopted the unique strategy of singing softly in the field to calm himself. Pitcher Dave LaPoint created a clubhouse anthem titled “We Stink,” set to the Rawhide theme, providing a humorous escape from the misery on the field.

The season hit rock bottom in Boston when George Steinbrenner fired Bucky Dent and introduced Stump Merrill as the Yankees’ 18th manager in 18 years. However, the managerial change failed to reverse the team’s fortune, and they continued to struggle.

The climax of the season came on July 30 when Commissioner Fay Vincent banned George Steinbrenner from any further involvement with the team, citing a “pattern of behavior that borders on the bizarre.” The news initially met with cheers from the crowd, but couldn’t salvage the Yankees’ lackluster performance.

Despite the hardships, there were moments of resistance. The Yankees thwarted Nolan Ryan’s pursuit of his 300th win, a small victory in a season filled with disappointments. Manager Stump Merrill, despite facing relentless criticism, found humor in the situation, reflecting that the tumultuous season was a highlight in his life.

In the end, the 1990 New York Yankees season wasn’t just a story of losses and last-place finishes. It was a surreal tale of a team grappling with bizarre misfortunes, off-field drama, and a unique sense of humor that helped the players cope with the chaos. While the season left an indelible mark in the record books, it also etched itself into the collective memory of Yankees fans as one of the most unforgettable and peculiar chapters in the team’s storied history.

1990 New York Yankees: No-Hit, but not a win for Andy Hawkins

July 1, 1990, etched itself into the annals of New York Yankees history as a day that encapsulated the absurdity of their tumultuous 1990 season. The protagonist of this peculiar tale was Andy Hawkins, a pitcher who, just weeks earlier, teetered on the edge of being released by the team. Little did he know that fate had a bizarre twist in store for him.

Hawkins took the mound against the Chicago White Sox and proceeded to weave a masterpiece—a no-hitter. The sixth of the season and the third in a mere 48 hours. However, the baseball gods, seemingly amused by the Yankees’ plight, orchestrated a cruel joke. The Yankees not only lost the game but did so in a fashion never seen before. Hawkins, who should have been basking in the glory of a no-hitter, was handed a 4-0 defeat.

The eighth inning unraveled like a tragic comedy. Hawkins, having retired the first 14 White Sox hitters, was cruising toward history. Then, the unthinkable happened. A bouncer to third base dropped by Mike Blowers set off a sequence of errors that would define this bizarre chapter in Yankees lore. The official scorer ruled it an error, not a hit, but the damage was done.

Hawkins, unyielding, walked Ozzie Guillen and Lance Johnson, loading the bases. The stage was set for a dramatic turn of events. Manager Stump Merrill, though he walked to the mound, had no intention of relieving Hawkins. The soothing words offered did little to prevent the impending catastrophe.

Robin Ventura hit a routine fly ball to left field. The moment of triumph quickly morphed into a nightmare when rookie left fielder Jim Leyritz dropped the ball, allowing three runs to score. Jesse Barfield, momentarily blinded by the sun, added insult to injury by mishandling a fly ball hit to right by Ivan Calderon, allowing Ventura to score.

The no-hitter, which should have been a moment of jubilation, turned into a blend of disbelief and disappointment for Hawkins. Fans cheered him, teammates applauded, but there was no joy on his face. In a post-game interview, Hawkins expressed his stunned disbelief, stating, “This is not even close to the way I envisioned a no-hitter would be.”

Hawkins found himself in the company of only a handful of pitchers who had endured the heartbreak of a no-hitter loss. The Yankee dugout, caught between celebrating the achievement and mourning the defeat, struggled to find the appropriate response. The game, which should have been a highlight in Hawkins’ career, became a testament to the absurdity that defined the 1990 Yankees season.

The irony lingered. Hawkins, who had battled for his spot on the team just weeks before, had achieved an extraordinary feat only to find himself on the wrong side of history. As the Yankees failed to mount a rally in the ninth inning, Hawkins was left with the bitter taste of a no-hitter that would forever be associated with an unexpected and bewildering defeat.

Despite the historical significance of Andy Hawkins’ no-hitter on July 1, 1990, its status as an official no-hitter was later erased by a rule change implemented by Major League Baseball the following year. The revised rule stipulated that a pitcher must complete a minimum of nine innings to be credited with a no-hitter. Since Hawkins had only pitched eight innings and the Chicago White Sox, as the home team, did not bat in the ninth, his once-celebrated no-hitter was, in the record books, rendered unofficial. 

1990 New York Yankees in videos

Postseason result

(Did not qualify – Eliminated in Regular Season)

1990 New York Yankees roster

Name	Age	B	T	Ht	Wt	DoB	Yrs	G	GS	WAR	Salary
Steve Adkins	25	R	L	6′ 6″	210	Oct 26, 1964	1st	5	5	-0.3
Oscar Azocar	25	L	L	6′ 1″	170	Feb 21, 1965	1st	65	49	0.9	$100,000
Steve Balboni	33	R	R	6′ 3″	225	Jan 16, 1957	10	116	64	-0.5	$900,000
Jesse Barfield	30	R	R	6′ 1″	200	Oct 29, 1959	10	153	136	5.2	$1,233,333
Mike Blowers	25	R	R	6′ 2″	190	Apr 24, 1965	2	48	43	-0.8	$107,000
Greg Cadaret	28	L	L	6′ 3″	210	Feb 27, 1962	4	54	6	0.3	$265,000
Chuck Cary	30	L	L	6′ 4″	210	Mar 3, 1960	6	28	27	1.4	$200,000
Rick Cerone	36	R	R	5′ 11″	192	May 19, 1954	16	49	34	0.9	$600,000
Brian Dorsett	29	R	R	6′ 3″	215	Apr 9, 1961	4	14	10	-0.5	$107,000
Dave Eiland	23	R	R	6′ 3″	210	Jul 5, 1966	3	5	5	0.4	$103,500
Alvaro Espinoza	28	R	R	6′ 0″	170	Feb 19, 1962	6	150	141	0.4	$256,000
Bob Geren	28	R	R	6′ 3″	205	Sep 22, 1961	3	110	81	0.4	$180,000
Lee Guetterman	31	L	L	6′ 8″	225	Nov 22, 1958	6	64	0	1.4	$465,000
John Habyan	26	R	R	6′ 1″	195	Jan 29, 1964	5	6	0	0.3
Mel Hall	29	L	L	6′ 0″	185	Sep 16, 1960	10	113	93	-0.7	$1,100,000
Andy Hawkins	30	R	R	6′ 4″	200	Jan 21, 1960	9	28	26	-1	$1,133,333
Jimmy Jones	26	R	R	6′ 2″	175	Apr 20, 1964	5	17	7	-1	$190,000
Roberto Kelly	25	R	R	6′ 2″	180	Oct 1, 1964	4	162	155	5.5	$265,000
Dave LaPoint	30	L	L	6′ 3″	205	Jul 29, 1959	11	28	27	0.7	$850,000
Tim Leary	31	R	R	6′ 3″	205	Dec 23, 1958	9	31	31	1.7	$825,000
Mark Leiter	27	R	R	6′ 3″	200	Apr 13, 1963	1st	8	3	-0.5
Jim Leyritz	26	R	R	6′ 0″	190	Dec 27, 1963	1st	92	86	-0.7	$100,000
Kevin Maas	25	L	L	6′ 3″	195	Jan 20, 1965	1st	79	70	1.2	$100,000
Don Mattingly	29	L	L	6′ 0″	175	Apr 20, 1961	9	102	98	-0.3	$2,500,000
Lance McCullers	26	B	R	6′ 1″	185	Mar 8, 1964	6	11	0	-0.1	$650,000
Hensley Meulens	23	R	R	6′ 4″	200	Jun 23, 1967	2	23	22	0.5
Alan Mills	23	R	R	6′ 1″	190	Oct 18, 1966	1st	36	0	0.1	$100,000
Rich Monteleone	27	R	R	6′ 2″	205	Mar 22, 1963	4	5	0	-0.1
Matt Nokes	26	L	R	6′ 1″	185	Oct 31, 1963	6	92	63	0.4
Clay Parker	27	R	R	6′ 1″	185	Dec 19, 1962	3	5	2	0.2	$150,000
Pascual Perez	33	R	R	6′ 2″	162	May 17, 1957	10	3	3	0.6	$1,400,000
Eric Plunk	26	R	R	6′ 5″	210	Sep 3, 1963	5	47	0	1.2	$450,000
Luis Polonia	26	L	L	5′ 8″	155	Dec 10, 1963	4	11	4	0	$200,000
Dave Righetti	31	L	L	6′ 4″	195	Nov 28, 1958	11	53	0	0.3	$1,550,000
Jeff Robinson	29	R	R	6′ 4″	195	Dec 13, 1960	7	54	4	1.5	$925,000
Deion Sanders	22	L	L	6′ 1″	195	Aug 9, 1967	2	57	35	-0.6
Steve Sax	30	R	R	5′ 11″	185	Jan 29, 1960	10	155	154	1.4	$950,000
Wayne Tolleson	34	B	R	5′ 9″	160	Nov 22, 1955	10	73	19	-0.1	$425,000
Randy Velarde	27	R	R	6′ 0″	185	Nov 24, 1962	4	95	65	1.4	$136,500
Jim Walewander	28	B	R	5′ 10″	160	May 2, 1962	3	9	1	-0.1
Claudell Washington	35	L	L	6′ 0″	190	Aug 31, 1954	17	33	19	-0.6
Dave Winfield HOF	38	R	R	6′ 6″	220	Oct 3, 1951	17	20	16	-0.4	$1,958,652
Mike Witt	29	R	R	6′ 7″	185	Jul 20, 1960	10	16	16	0.3

1990 New York Yankees: Player additions and trades

November 1989

• Nov 8: Marcus Lawton and Dale Mohorcic were released.
• Nov 13: Rich Gossage, Mel Hall, and Walt Terrell were granted Free Agency.
• Nov 20: Tom Brookens and Rafael Santana were released.
• Nov 21: Pascual Perez was signed as a free agent.
• Nov 30: Mel Hall was signed as a free agent.

December 1989

• Dec 4: Tim Layana was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 1989 rule 5 draft.
• Dec 4: Ramon Manon was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 1989 rule 5 draft.
• Dec 4: Don Slaught was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates, and Jeff Robinson and Willie Smith were received.
• Dec 5: Mike Christopher was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1989 minor league draft.
• Dec 12: Rod Imes (minors) and Hal Morris were traded to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for Tim Leary and Van Snider.
• Dec 20: Rick Cerone was signed as a free agent.
• Dec 22: Damaso Garcia was signed as a free agent.
• Dec 27: Jim Walewander was signed as a free agent.

January 1990

• Jan 4: Chris Bushing was released.

February 1990

• Feb 17: Mariano Rivera was signed as an amateur free agent.

March 1990

• Mar 13: Orlando Miller was traded to the Houston Astros, and a player to be named later and Dave Silvestri were received (trade completed on June 11, 1990, with Daven Bond).

April 1990 

• Apr 2: Freddie Toliver was released.
• Apr 17: Rich Batchelor was signed as an amateur free agent.
• Apr 29: Luis Polonia was traded to the California Angels, and Rich Monteleone and Claudell Washington were received.
• Apr 30: The Texas Rangers returned Ramon Manon (earlier draft pick).

May 1990 

• May 1: Chris Howard was released.
• May 11: Dave Winfield was traded to the California Angels, and Mike Witt was received.

June 1990

On June 4, 1990, the New York Yankees made several transactions:

1. Lance McCullers and Clay Parker were traded to the Detroit Tigers in exchange for Matt Nokes.

2. In the 1990 amateur draft:

• Carl Everett was selected in the 1st round (10th pick) and signed on June 8, 1990.
• Robert Eenhoorn was drafted in the 2nd round and signed on June 10, 1990.
• Kirt Ojala was chosen in the 4th round and signed on June 5, 1990.
• Sam Militello was selected in the 6th round.
• Jalal Leach was picked in the 7th round and signed on June 8, 1990.
• Ricky Ledee was drafted in the 16th round and signed on June 5, 1990.
• Kevin Jordan was chosen in the 20th round and signed on June 8, 1990.
• Matt Dunbar was selected in the 25th round and signed on June 9, 1990.
• Shane Spencer was drafted in the 28th round and signed on June 7, 1990.
• Kevin Ohme was chosen in the 35th round but did not sign.
• John Wasdin was selected in the 41st round but did not sign.
• Andy Pettitte was drafted in the 22nd round and signed on May 25, 1991.
• Tom Wilson was drafted in the 23rd round, Jorge Posada in the 24th round, and both players signed on May 21, 1991, and May 24, 1991, respectively.

September 1990

• Sep 24: Deion Sanders was released.

October 1990

• Oct 4: Jimmy Jones was granted Free Agency, and Claudell Washington was released.
• Oct 5: Wayne Tolleson was released.
• Oct 15: Mitch Lyden and Jim Walewander were granted Free Agency.

1990 New York Yankees debuts

• Steve Adkins – 09-12-1990 – 25 years old
• Oscar Azocar – 07-17-1990 – 25 years old
• Mark Leiter – 07-24-1990 – 27 years old
• Jim Leyritz – 06-08-1990 – 26 years old
• Kevin Maas – 06-29-1990 – 25 years old
• Alan Mills – 04-14-1990 – 23 years old

1990 New York Yankees stats (batting)

Pos	Name	Age	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA
C	Bob Geren	28	110	303	277	21	59	7	0	8	31	0	0	13	73	0.213
1B	Don Mattingly	29	102	428	394	40	101	16	0	5	42	1	0	28	20	0.256
2B	Steve Sax	30	155	680	615	70	160	24	2	4	42	43	9	49	46	0.26
SS	Alvaro Espinoza	28	150	472	438	31	98	12	2	2	20	1	2	16	54	0.224
3B	Jim Leyritz	26	92	339	303	28	78	13	1	5	25	2	3	27	51	0.257
LF	Oscar Azocar	25	65	218	214	18	53	8	0	5	19	7	0	2	15	0.248
CF	Roberto Kelly	25	162	687	641	85	183	32	4	15	61	42	17	33	148	0.285
RF	Jesse Barfield	30	153	570	476	69	117	21	2	25	78	4	3	82	150	0.246
DH	Steve Balboni	33	116	307	266	24	51	6	0	17	34	0	0	35	91	0.192
DH	Mel Hall	29	113	371	360	41	93	23	2	12	46	0	0	6	46	0.258
1B	Kevin Maas	25	79	300	254	42	64	9	0	21	41	1	2	43	76	0.252
C	Matt Nokes	26	92	264	240	21	57	4	0	8	32	2	2	20	33	0.238
3B	Randy Velarde	27	95	253	229	21	48	6	2	5	19	0	3	20	53	0.21
3B	Mike Blowers	25	48	157	144	16	27	4	0	5	21	1	0	12	50	0.188
OF	Deion Sanders	22	57	149	133	24	21	2	2	3	9	8	2	13	27	0.158
C	Rick Cerone	36	49	146	139	12	42	6	0	2	11	0	0	5	13	0.302
LF	Hensley Meulens	23	23	95	83	12	20	7	0	3	10	1	0	9	25	0.241
LF	Claudell Washington	35	33	83	80	4	13	1	1	0	6	3	1	2	17	0.163
SS	Wayne Tolleson	34	73	83	74	12	11	1	1	0	4	1	0	6	21	0.149
LF	Dave Winfield	38	20	67	61	7	13	3	0	2	6	0	0	4	13	0.213
C	Brian Dorsett	29	14	37	35	2	5	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	4	0.143
DH	Luis Polonia	26	11	23	22	2	7	0	0	0	3	1	0	0	1	0.318
IF	Jim Walewander	28	9	5	5	1	1	1	0	0	1	1	1	0	0	0.2
	Team Totals	28.2	162	6037	5483	603	1322	208	19	147	561	119	45	427	1027	0.241
	Rank in 14 AL teams				8	14	14	14	14	4		4	2	14	13	14

1990 New York Yankees stats (pitching)

Pos	Name	Age	W	L	W-L%	ERA	G	GS	GF	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	R	ER
SP	Tim Leary	31	9	19	0.321	4.11	31	31	0	6	1	0	208	202	105	95
SP	Dave LaPoint	30	7	10	0.412	4.11	28	27	0	2	0	0	157.2	180	84	72
SP	Andy Hawkins	30	5	12	0.294	5.37	28	26	1	2	1	0	157.2	156	101	94
SP	Chuck Cary	30	6	12	0.333	4.19	28	27	1	2	0	0	156.2	155	77	73
SP	Mike Witt	29	5	6	0.455	4.47	16	16	0	2	1	0	96.2	87	53	48
CL	Dave Righetti	31	1	1	0.5	3.57	53	0	47	0	0	36	53	48	24	21
RP	Greg Cadaret	28	5	4	0.556	4.15	54	6	9	0	0	3	121.1	120	62	56
RP	Lee Guetterman	31	11	7	0.611	3.39	64	0	21	0	0	2	93	80	37	35
RP	Jeff Robinson	29	3	6	0.333	3.45	54	4	12	1	0	0	88.2	82	35	34
RP	Eric Plunk	26	6	3	0.667	2.72	47	0	16	0	0	0	72.2	58	27	22
	Jimmy Jones	26	1	2	0.333	6.3	17	7	9	0	0	0	50	72	42	35
	Alan Mills	23	1	5	0.167	4.1	36	0	18	0	0	0	41.2	48	21	19
	Dave Eiland	23	2	1	0.667	3.56	5	5	0	0	0	0	30.1	31	14	12
	Mark Leiter	27	1	1	0.5	6.84	8	3	2	0	0	0	26.1	33	20	20
	Steve Adkins	25	1	2	0.333	6.38	5	5	0	0	0	0	24	19	18	17
	Clay Parker	27	1	1	0.5	4.5	5	2	1	0	0	0	22	19	11	11
	Lance McCullers	26	1	0	1	3.6	11	0	7	0	0	0	15	14	8	6
	Pascual Perez	33	1	2	0.333	1.29	3	3	0	0	0	0	14	8	3	2
	John Habyan	26	0	0		2.08	6	0	1	0	0	0	8.2	10	2	2
	Rich Monteleone	27	0	1	0	6.14	5	0	2	0	0	0	7.1	8	5	5
	Team Totals	29	67	95	0.414	4.21	162	162	147	15	3	41	1444.2	1430	749	676
	Rank in 14 AL teams		14	1		12				8	13	11	6	6	12	12

Record vs. opponents/ team splits

Opponent (Games)	Won	Lost	WP
Baltimore Orioles (13)	7	6	0.538
Boston Red Sox (13)	4	9	0.308
California Angels (12)	6	6	0.500
Chicago White Sox (12)	2	10	0.167
Cleveland Indians (13)	8	5	0.615
Detroit Tigers (13)	6	7	0.462
Kansas City Royals (12)	4	8	0.333
Milwaukee Brewers (13)	7	6	0.538
Minnesota Twins (12)	6	6	0.500
Oakland Athletics (12)	0	12	0.000
Seattle Mariners (12)	9	3	0.750
Texas Rangers (12)	3	9	0.250
Toronto Blue Jays (13)	5	8	0.385

1990 New York Yankees monthly record

Month (Games)	Won	Lost	WP
April (17)	7	10	0.412
May (27)	10	17	0.370
June (28)	11	17	0.393
July (29)	12	17	0.414
August (30)	16	14	0.533
September (28)	10	18	0.357
October (3)	1	2	0.333

1990 New York Yankees All-Star

• Steve Sax

1990 New York Yankees: Awards and honors

Individual Record: Kevin Maas set a major league record for the fewest at-bats (72) to hit 10 home runs. He also set a record by hitting his first 15 home runs in the fewest at-bats.

No-Hitter: July 1, 1990: Yankees pitcher Andy Hawkins threw a no-hitter against the Chicago White Sox.

Rookie of the Year Voting: Kevin Maas finished 2nd in AL Rookie of the Year Voting.

3 moments that haunted 1990 New York Yankees

The Tragic Demise of Billy Martin

The Yankees entered the 1990 season with heavy hearts as they grappled with the loss of Billy Martin, a revered figure in their storied history. Martin, a multi-time former Yankees manager, met a tragic end on Christmas Day in 1989. Involved in a one-car crash in Binghamton, New York, Martin’s death sent shockwaves through the baseball community. The circumstances surrounding the accident became a subject of intense scrutiny, with conflicting reports about Martin’s role as either the driver or passenger. Despite the controversy, Martin’s impact on the Yankees and the baseball world was undeniable. His untimely death cast a somber shadow over the team, marking the beginning of a tumultuous year.

Bucky Dent’s Abrupt Departure

June 6, 1990, witnessed a seismic shift in the Yankees’ managerial landscape as Bucky Dent, the skipper at the helm, was unceremoniously fired. The decision, made by the mercurial owner George Steinbrenner, unfolded in a manner that added to the drama. Dent’s firing, the 18th managerial change in as many years under Steinbrenner’s ownership, drew fierce criticism. The timing of the dismissal, taking place in Boston, where Dent had etched his name in Yankees history with a pivotal home run, fueled the controversy. The media dubbed it “merciless,” and even Yankees television analysts openly lambasted Steinbrenner for mishandling the situation. The firing of Dent not only shook the team but left New York in a state of bewilderment and frustration.

Steinbrenner’s Banishment from Baseball

The season took an even more dramatic turn on July 30, 1990, when Commissioner Fay Vincent banned George Steinbrenner, the principal owner of the Yankees, from baseball for life. This severe penalty came after Steinbrenner’s involvement in a scandal where he paid a small-time gambler, Howard Spira, $40,000 for potentially damaging information about Dave Winfield. Winfield, a Yankees outfielder, had sued Steinbrenner for failing to fulfill the charitable contributions outlined in his contract. The banishment of Steinbrenner marked a stunning development, reflecting the culmination of a turbulent era. The Yankees, already grappling with on-field challenges, now faced the absence of their iconic owner, further adding to the chaos that defined the 1990 season.

How do you rate the 1990 New York Yankees?