George's Managers, 1973-2007

This is the ridiculous parade of managers that George Steinbrenner hired and fired since his purchase of the New York Yankees in 1973, and the evidence that their performance often had nothing to do with whether or not they were retained.

1973: Ralph Houk, 80-82, 4th place (Houk completed the 11th season of his two terms)
1974: Bill Virdon, 89-73, 2nd place
1975: Bill Virdon, 53-51; Billy Martin, 30-26, 3rd place
1976: Billy Martin, 97-62, 1st place
1977: Billy Martin, 100-62, 1st place
1978: Billy Martin, 52-42; Dick Howser, 0-1; Bob Lemon, 48-20, 1st place
1979: Bob Lemon, 34-31; Billy Martin, 55-40, 4th place
1980: Dick Howser, 103-59, 1st place
1981: Gene Michael, 48-34; Bob Lemon, 11-14, 1st place/6th place (strike shortened season)
1982: Bob Lemon, 6-8; Gene Michael, 44-42; Clyde King, 29-33, 5th place
1983: Billy Martin, 91-71, 3rd place
1984: Yogi Berra, 87-75, 3rd place
1985: Yogi Berra, 6-10; Billy Martin, 91-54, 2nd place
1986: Lou Piniella, 90-72, 2nd place
1987: Lou Piniella, 89-73, 4th place
1988: Billy Martin, 40-28; Lou Piniella, 45-48, 5th place
1989: Dallas Green, 56-65; Bucky Dent, 18-22, 5th place
1990: Bucky Dent, 18-31; Stump Merrill, 49-64, 7th place
1991: Stump Merrill, 71-91, 5th place
1992: Buck Showalter, 76-86, 4th place
1993: Buck Showalter, 88-74, 2nd place
1994: Buck Showalter, 70-43, 1st place when the strike hit
1995: Buck Showalter, 79-65, 2nd place
1996: Joe Torre, 92-70, 1st place
1997: Joe Torre, 96-66, 2nd place, Wild Card
1998: Joe Torre, 114-48, 1st place
1999: Don Zimmer, 21-15; Joe Torre, 77-49, 1st place (Zimmer was interim during Torre's
prostate cancer treatment)
2000: Joe Torre, 87-74, 1st place
2001: Joe Torre, 95-65, 1st place
2002: Joe Torre, 103-58, 1st place
2003: Joe Torre, 101-61, 1st place
2004: Joe Torre, 101-61, 1st place
2005: Joe Torre, 95-67, 1st place
2006: Joe Torre, 97-65, 1st place
2007: Joe Torre, 94-68, 2nd place

I'll save you the counting. This is 21 managers, and 20 changes, in 22 years from George's 1973 purchase through 1995. And then one manager, for 12 seasons, from 1996 through today. In the first 22 years, the Yankees had 5 postseason appearances. In the last twelve seasons, they have been in the postseason EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
In the late 1980's and early 1990's the Yankees wanted to move out of the Bronx because "Nobody will go up there anymore."
In 2007 the Yankees set a ML attendance record. In excess of 4,250,000 fans crowded into the House that Ruth Built and that Torre Saved. New Yankee Stadium is right across the street from the current stadium.
Obviously, Joe Torre deserved a pay cut and a one year contract with incentives.