The 1998 season was the 96th season played by the New York Yankees. Widely regarded as one of the greatest teams in baseball history, the Yankees finished with a franchise record regular-season standing of 114–48. These Yankees set an American League record for wins in a season, a record that would stand until 2001, when the Seattle Mariners won 116 games in the regular season against 46 losses. (The Yankees still hold the record for most regular season wins by a team that won the World Series.) It also saw Yankee David Wells pitch the 15th perfect game in baseball history. The Yankees played at Yankee Stadium, in which they celebrated the stadium's 75th Anniversary. Joe Torre managed the team.
In the postseason, they swept the Texas Rangers in the American League Division Series, won the American League pennant by beating the Cleveland Indians four games to two in the American League Championship Series, and swept the San Diego Padres to capture their 24th World Series. Including the playoffs, the 1998 Yankees won a total of 125 games against 50 losses, a Major League Baseball record.
Offseason transactions
November 11, 1997: Charlie Hayes was traded by the New York Yankees with cash to the San Francisco Giants for Chris Singleton and Alberto Castillo (minors). November 12, 1997: Luis Sojo was signed as a free agent with the New York Yankees. November 18, 1997: Scott Brosius was sent by the Oakland Athletics to the New York Yankees to complete an earlier deal made on November 7, 1997. The Oakland Athletics sent a player to be named later to the New York Yankees for Kenny Rogers and cash. November 25, 1997: Dale Sveum was signed as a free agent with the New York Yankees. December 10, 1997: Chili Davis signed as a free agent with the New York Yankees. January 8, 1998: Darryl Strawberry re-signed as a free agent with the New York Yankees. January 15, 1998: Tim Raines re-signed as a free agent with the New York Yankees. January 26, 1998: Doug Linton was signed as a free agent with the New York Yankees. February 6, 1998: Chuck Knoblauch was traded by the Minnesota Twins to the New York Yankees for Brian Buchanan, Cristian Guzmán, Eric Milton, Danny Mota, and cash. March 14, 1998: Doug Linton was released by the New York Yankees. June 2, 1998: Mark Prior was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 1st round (43rd pick) of the 1998 amateur draft, but did not sign. June 2, 1998: Drew Henson was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 3rd round of the 1998 amateur draft. Player signed July 24, 1998. June 28, 1998: Ken Huckaby was signed as a free agent with the New York Yankees. August 3, 1998: Dale Sveum was released by the New York Yankees. September 29, 1998: Alfonso Soriano was purchased by the New York Yankees from the Hiroshima Toyo Carp (Japan Central).