Few things are more "New York" than the NY Yankees. Their logo has been ubiquitous throughout the city for as long as most people can remember. But where exactly did the design come from? While there is an official story regarding the origin, the truth is actually more controversial. Claims have been made, and continue to be disputed to this day. According to the franchise itself, the logo origin is as follows:
It wasn't until 1909 that the most recognizable insignia in sports—the interlocking "NY"—made its first appearance on the caps and left sleeves of uniforms. The design was created in 1877 by Louis B. Tiffany for a medal to be given by the New York City Police Department to Officer John McDowell, the first NYC policeman shot in the line of duty. Perhaps because one of the club's owners, Bill Devery, was a former NYC police chief, the design was adopted by the organization.
Sports Logo History has excerpt sections from this syndicated post. Read the original at History of the New York Yankees Logo.
1968 - Present
The Yankees logo design highlighted with a red bat which extends to become the vertical line of the “K” of the red wordmark “Yankees.” Also the logo consists of an Uncle Sam top hat that is red, white and blue in color and hangs on the baseball bat on top of a white baseball with red seams. The powder blue under brim of the hat was removed from the previous logo.
1947 - 1967
The primary logo, created in 1947 by sports artist Henry Alonzo Keller, consists of “Yankees” against a baseball, written in red script with a red bat forming the vertical line of the K, an Uncle Sam hat hanging from the barrel.
1915 - 1946
Continued with the same font and the interlocking “NY” now in a dark blue color. The letters “NY” represent the city of New York.
1913 - 1914
The Yankees changed the font style, but continue the interlocking “NY” now in a brown color. The letters “NY” represent the city of New York.
1909 - 1912
It wasn’t until 1909 that the team changed to the familiar interlocking NY that would be the team logo long after the team became known as the Yankees. The interlocking NY was originally designed by Louis C. Tiffany. The letters “NY” represent the city of New York.
1908
A new font style, again with distance between the old english letters “NY” in a dark blue. The letters “NY” represent the city of New York.
1907
Different font with the distance between letters. Use of an old english letter “NY” in a darker blue. The letters “NY” represent the city of New York.
1906
New font used with a greater distance between the letters. An old english style letter of “NY” in a lighter blue. The letters “NY” represent the city of New York.
1905
A new style of old english letters “NY” in a darker blue. The letters “NY” represent the city of New York.
1904
In 1904 the team used the same font with a change in color to blue. The letters “NY” represent the city of New York.
1903
The first logo for the Highlanders is an old english letters “NY” in the color brown. The letters “NY” represent the city of New York.
1902
The final logo was a change in letters from “O” to a blue block letter “B.” The letter “B” stands for the city of Baltimore.
1901
The Orioles original logo is a orange block letter “O” with a black inside color. The letter “O” stands for the team nickname Orioles.