The Big Apple: “Break up the Yankees!”

Above, a plaque remaining from the Big Apple Night Club at west 135th Street and Seventh Avenue in Harlem.

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Above, Big Apple Corner at 54th Street and Broadway in Manhattan.

Above, John J. Fitz Gerald, from the Oct. 17, 1931, Turf Play, p. 7.

Listen to Robert Emmerich introduce The Big Apple, a hit song from 1937. Music written by Bob and performed by Tommy Dorsey's Clambake Seven with Bob on piano. Lyrics written by Buddy Bernier and sung by Edythe Wright. Audio provided by Dorothy Emmerich.

This site is edited by Barry Popik. Technical matters are handled by Grant Barrett of Double-Tongued Word Wrester Dictionary.

Entry from December 13, 2005

“Break up the Yankees!”

"Break up the Yankees!" was the public cry against the 1920s Babe Ruth Yankee teams that almost always won.

10 July 1927, Chicago Daily Tribune, pg. A4:
The well wishers would have the league break up the Yankee combination and distribute the strength among the weak clubs.

18 August 1929, New York Times, pg. S2:
A fellow with a good strong memory might even recall the time when Colonel Rupert was urged to break up the Yankees because they were so strong they would wreck the league by winning continuously. That was almost a year ago.

24 February 1941, New York World-Telegram, pg. 18 (Willard Mullin cartoon):
WHO WAS IT SAID "BREAK UP THE YANKEES"?

Posted by Barry Popik
Sports • (0) Comments • Tuesday, December 13, 2005 • Permalink