"Beginning in 1924, there's been a Yankee dandy in almost every beginning group. The Yankees relied more upon shopping from their rivals than upon minor league resources in winning pennants in 1921-22-23.
Earle Combs, high voltage center fielder, was the first of the new parts when the original pennant machine began to wear out in 1924. Combs suffered a broken leg early that season, so his first big year was 1925, when Lou Gehrig was also launched.
The Yankees needed a midway combination in 1926, so they brought up both second baseman Tony Lazzeri and shortstop Mark Koenig- with championship results. George Pipgras and Wilcy Moore were pitchers who added new strength in 1927, another title year. The veterans were sound enough to keep the pennant in 1928, but cocky young Leo Durocher was fitted into the machine as a spare part.
The Yankees had to make way for the Athletics for the next three years. Meantime, they prepared for a fresh surge by adding Bill Dickey, Sammy Byrd and Lyn Lary in 1929; Ben Chapman in 1930, Lefty Gomez in 1931. Shortstop Frankie Crosetti and pitcher Johnny Allen put the finishing touches on the new championship production in 1932.
There were flaws, though, and the Yankees didn't receive the proper new parts in 1933 to prevent a crackup. Dixie Walker, much later a Brooklyn star, was tried and found wanting; Billy Werber was peddled to the Red Sox.
Then, in '36, their leader was taken to the Yankees. Joe DiMaggio opened the throttle for a run of four consecutive world championships.
Now the Yankee pattern was firmly set: have a minor leaguer ready for any weakness that might develop. So they reinforced with Tommy Henrich and Spud Chandler in 1937; Joe Gordon, Joe Beggs and Steve Sundra in 1938; Charlie Keller, Atley Donald, Marius Russo and Buddy Rosar in 1939.
Demand finally exceeded supply in 1940 when pitcher Tiny Bonham was the only pitcher of worth. The Yanks missed the pennant that year, but shortstop Phil Rizzuto came along in 1941 to touch off a three-year reign. The Yankees hung on in 1942 and '43 without too much new help: pitcher Hank Borowy and pitcher Johnny Lindell in '42, though Lindell's real contribution began when he switched to the outfield the next year. Stepping into the wartime breach in 1943 were Billy Johnson, George Strinweiss and Bud Metheny.
It wasn't until 1947 that the Yanks got their player production line rolling again. Meantime, Joe Page, a rescue specialist who first appeared in 1944, was the only important addition. Since then, except for 1953, when only outfielder Bill Renna showed up, for part-time work, the infusion of new blood into the Yankee dynasty has been steady and abundant:
1947: Yogi Berra, Bobby Brown, Karl Drews, Ralph Houk, Vic Raschi.
1948: Tommy Byrne, Frank Hiller, Cliff Mapes, Gus Niarhos, Bob Porterfield, Steve Souchok (this freshman class was comparatively large, but admittedly not up to Yankee standards and this was the club's only pennant miss in a span of seven years).
1949: Hank Bauer, Jerry Coleman, Dick Kryhoski, Jack Phillips (sold to Pittsburgh in midseason), Duane Pillette, Charlie Silvera.
1950: Joe Collins, Jim Delsing, Whitey Ford, Jackie Jensen, Don Johnson (Delsing and Johnson both sold to the Browns)
1951: Mickey Mantle, Billy Martin, Gil McDougald, Tom Morgan.
1952: Tom Gorman, Bob Cerv, Bill Miller.
1953: Bill Renna.
1954: Andy Carey, Bob Grim, Bill Skowron.
1955: Elston Howard, Johnny Kucks, Tom Sturdivant.
1956: Norm Siebern, Lou Skizas (sold to the Athletics).
1957: Al Cicotte, Woodie Held, Tony Kubek, Jerry Lumpe, Bobby Richardson, Ralph Terry (Terry and Held sold to the A's).
1958: Ryne Duren, Zack Monroe, Marv Throneberry.
And that's how a championship industry is born- and maintained. No other club has had the production consistency of first Ed Barrow and then George Weiss."
-from Can 1959 Match These Rookie Crops?, Bill Bryson, Baseball Digest, March 1959
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