Yankees FAQ: History of MLB's most storied club

Major League Baseball is preparing to make history this summer, crossing the Atlantic Ocean for two regular season games in the United Kingdom. The New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox will face off in the contests, representing the latest installment of a rivalry that dates back more than a century.

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As the American League East rivals look ahead to the contests, which will be played at London's Olympic Stadium on June 29-30, here is a brief overview of some frequently asked questions about the Yankees:

Why are the Yankees so significant to Major League Baseball?
The Yankees are baseball's most storied franchise, standing alone with 27 World Series championships and 40 American League pennants. Their most recent World Series title was achieved in 2009. Some of the greatest players in baseball history have worn their fabled pinstriped uniform, including Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Reggie Jackson, Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera. The Yankees have retired 21 uniform numbers to honor 22 former players and managers, by far the most in the sport.

Where do they play their home games?
For nine decades, the Yankees have called the Bronx borough of New York City their home, save for a two-year period of renovations in the mid-1970s when they played at Shea Stadium in Queens. The original Yankee Stadium opened in April 1923, with Ruth hitting the building's first home run, and re-opened in '76. In 2009, the Yankees opened a majestic, state-of-the-art living museum, also called Yankee Stadium and located across the street from the original.

Why is the rivalry between the Red Sox and Yankees so important?
The Red Sox and Yankees have been significantly intertwined since 1920, when the Yankees purchased Ruth from Boston for $100,000. Ruth went on to become one of the greatest hitters in the sport's history, frequently hitting more home runs than some entire teams of the era. Always contentious, the rivalry between the clubs peaked in the mid-2000s, highlighted by a 2003 American League Championship Series when Aaron Boone hit a clinching home run off Boston's Tim Wakefield. Boone would be named the Yankees' manager in '18. Last October, the Red Sox ended the Yankees' season in a four-game American League Division Series.

Why do the Yankees wear pinstriped uniforms?
The Yankees are known throughout the world for their uniforms, including a navy blue cap with an interlocking "NY" on the front. Their signature is to wear bright white pinstriped uniforms for home games, a look that has remained unchanged for more than seven decades, with the exception of minor alterations. The Yankees were the first club to wear uniform numbers, which at first adhered to their spot in the batting order (Ruth frequently hit third, which is why he was assigned No. 3). Unlike most teams, the Yankees have never worn names on the back of their uniform shirts.

Why are the Yankees clean-shaven?
Since 1973, the Yankees have followed a grooming policy for players that permits mustaches, but no hair below the lip. The policy was instituted by principal owner George Steinbrenner upon his purchase of the team from CBS, and has continued since Steinbrenner's passing in 2010. The franchise continues to be held in Steinbrenner family ownership, with The Boss' son Hal Steinbrenner currently serving as their managing general partner.

Who are the most recognizable players on the 2019 Yankees roster?
The Yankees feature a star-studded cast of some of the finest players in modern baseball, headlined by slugging outfielders Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton. Judge electrified the sport with a magnificent rookie season in 2017, hitting 52 homers to rank second in the Majors behind Stanton's 59. Stanton was acquired in a trade from the Marlins that offseason, giving the Yankees two prodigious power threats. Other exciting players include pitcher CC Sabathia, catcher Gary Sanchez, infielder Gleyber Torres and outfielder Clint Frazier.

How are the Yankees doing this season?
Paced by their "Baby Bombers," the Yankees have won 12 of their first 22 games despite a rash of injuries that has seen them place a Major League-leading 13 players on the injured list. The most recent blow was to Judge, who sustained a strained left oblique on April 20. Many of their injured stars are expected to return by late June, including Judge, Stanton, outfielder Aaron Hicks and relief pitcher Dellin Betances.

Why will playing two games in London be so special?
When Sabathia announced that he would retire after the 2019 season, the 19-year veteran said that one of the main reasons he came back was to have a chance to play in London. Though the Yankees regularly play road games against the Blue Jays in Canada, international travel is a rare novelty for the Yankees. Their only previous trip to a destination not in North America came in '04, when the club opened the regular season with two games in Tokyo.