TAMPA, Fla. — The New York Yankees have decided to revert to a previous tradition by playing Frank Sinatra’s iconic rendition of “Theme From New York, New York” exclusively after home victories, a shift from the current practice of playing it after every game. This change harks back to the practices initiated by former owner George Steinbrenner in 1980 and comes following feedback from players and staff, who expressed their desire to avoid a celebratory tune after losses.
The adjustment was first observed after a 4-0 defeat against the Detroit Tigers during spring training, wherein the Yankees opted to play Sinatra’s 1966 hit “That’s Life,” stemming from a collaboration by Dean Kay and Kelly Gordon. This transition took place just days after the organization lifted a ban on beards that was imposed by Steinbrenner in 1976, indicating a broader shift in team culture.
In addition to the change with the Sinatra song, the Yankees announced that a variety of different songs would replace the familiar tune following losses, allowing for more flexibility based on game outcomes.
The tradition of playing “New York, New York” on wins began when Steinbrenner was introduced to the song through a disc jockey at Le Club, a popular Manhattan restaurant and nightspot. This was revealed by former Yankees media relations director Marty Appel in a retrospective with a major publication in 2015. Originally written for the 1977 Martin Scorsese film of the same name, the song features music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb; it was famously performed by Liza Minnelli before Sinatra recorded his own version for the 1980 album “Trilogy: Past Present Future.”
For a period, the Yankees would alternate playing the two versions of the song, with Sinatra’s rendition reserved for victories and Minnelli’s for defeats. However, in recent years, the decision was made to play Sinatra’s version after the conclusion of all games, regardless of the outcome.
In another noteworthy change, Hal Steinbrenner, who has been at the helm of the franchise since 2008, has also been leading adjustments that may enhance recruitment efforts, such as lifting the beard restrictions that had been a longstanding team policy, instituted when his father was the controlling owner.
