Juan Soto’s decision to leave the Mets for the Yankees has given the rivalry a whole new twist. Take a look at the past of the two teams and what is currently being said about Soto.
New York Mets established in 1962 are gearing for their 63rd MLB in 2025. They’ve won five National League championships and two World Series titles, but they have always been second to their rivals across the street.
New York Yankees are their rivals and have been around since 1903. It’s interesting to note that the Yankees weren’t known by this name from the beginning. In the first decade of their existence, the team was known as the New York Highlanders. This name reflected the original location.
It is believed that the nickname “Highlanders”, which was given to them because they were located in New York’s Washington Heights district, and played at Hilltop Park, an old wooden stadium on Manhattan’s highest hill, came from this location. It was common to name baseball teams according to their geographical location during the era.
The team moved to Washington Heights in April 1913 and shared the Polo Grounds Ballpark with the New York Giants. The team dropped the moniker “Highlanders”, and adopted the New York Yankees name.
In 1923, the Yankees were forever changed by a momentous event. After acquiring Babe Ruth, the Yankees built a new stadium for the Bronx. The new stadium, appropriately named “Yankee Stadium,” marked the start of an era in baseball that would be remembered for generations to come.
The Yankees are now the dominant team in MLB. The Yankees’ remarkable record includes winning 27 World Series in 41 games. They stand as the only franchise to achieve four consecutive World Series wins – a feat they accomplished twice. They won five consecutive championships starting in 1949.
Recent buzz is centered around Juan Soto. A talented outfielder, Juan Soto played one season for the Yankees back in 2024. The rivalry was sparked by his decision to sign with the Mets a free-agent contract worth $765 million over 15 years. Soto, quoted as saying in December, “choosed the Mets for their best chances of winning,” caused a stir in the Bronx.
Aaron Judge, captain of the Yankees and American League MVP in 2014, responded to Soto’s remarks. Judge acknowledged Soto’s statement but disagreed. “That’s just his opinion,” he said. He is free to say whatever he likes, but I disagree. It wasn’t surprising to me, as I thought that was the place he wanted.
Judge, who is often regarded as baseball’s most classy player, said, “I wish him the best.” The gesture of goodwill shows the respect between rivals, even when they are at odds.
This story is not yet over. Baseball fans are eagerly awaiting Juan Soto’s return to Yankee Stadium on May 16, 2025. The 2025 baseball season will see six high-profile matchups, including this one between the Mets vs. Yankees. This is the return of the New York Subway Series.