In a move signaling a shift in team culture, the New York Yankees have decided to alter a long-standing tradition associated with the franchise. Starting in 2025, the familiar strains of Frank Sinatra’s “(Theme From) New York, New York,” which has become synonymous with the team, will no longer be played at Yankee Stadium following losses.
This change was subtly introduced during a recent spring training game at George M. Steinbrenner Field. After the Yankees fell to the Detroit Tigers, the usual post-game playing of “New York, New York” was replaced with Sinatra’s “That’s Life.” This break from custom signals a deliberate decision to move away from the song, which has been a fixture regardless of the game’s outcome since 1980.
A team spokesperson confirmed the alteration, stating, “We will be rotating through a number of different songs after a Yankees loss this year, none of them will be ‘New York New York.’” The spokesperson clarified that there isn’t a designated “loss song,” but rather a rotation of musical selections.
The tradition of playing “New York, New York” began in 1980 after George Steinbrenner, the then-owner, personally requested permission from Sinatra to use the song as fans exited the stadium. It quickly became an anthem for the Yankees. Going forward, the song will be reserved for post-victory celebrations, aligning with Steinbrenner’s original vision of using different Sinatra songs after losses.
This modification to the post-loss soundtrack comes shortly after another significant policy change. The Yankees recently relaxed their 49-year-old ban on facial hair, which owner Hal Steinbrenner deemed “outdated.” These two changes within a week suggest a broader effort to modernize aspects of the Yankees’ identity while still respecting its storied past.
Both team captain Aaron Judge and general manager Brian Cashman have spoken about the importance of forging a new identity for the Yankees while honoring their historical significance. Cashman emphasized, “The New York Yankees are different. We want to remain different. This is a special place in baseball history. That logo has a lot of meaning behind it. We want our past and present players to recognize that and the future players to recognize that. There’s still going to be things that we’re going to hold on to that are important for us, which is always trying to be a championship-caliber franchise and chase winning.”
The decision to retire “New York, New York” after losses marks a notable departure from tradition, indicating a potential shift in how the Yankees want to present themselves and connect with fans in both victory and defeat.
