Charisma of the New York Yankees

When most people are asked what the word "charisma" means, they often reply with a phrase along the lines of 'well, its hard to explain.' By combining various definitions of charisma from authors such as Edward Shils, Sydney Hook, Max Weber, Professor Schneiderman, Philip Rieff and Burns, the concept of charisma can be better understood. Max Weber defines charismatic people as "natural leaders...holders of specific gifts of the body and spirit: and these gifts have been believed be supernatural, not accessible to everybody." Shils' definition of charisma refers to a body or group of people. "Bodies come to possess charismatic qualities simply by virtue of the tremendous power concentrated in them...Charisma can also be, simply, a quality that characterizes a person, or in Shils' case group, above most others. A charismatic group is considered to have an invisible force that drives them to success and leadership.

The New York Yankees are the best example of a charismatic group in Major League Baseball. They have maintained their charisma from when the team first started in 1903 through the times of Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig until today with Derek Jeter and Joe Torre. Their charisma is due to a number of different aspects and qualities ranging from amazing players such as Ruth, Gehrig, and DiMaggio to the way to the team plays, from the team's appearance to Yankee Stadium itself. These aspects of the New York Yankees are the distinguishing factors that classify the team as charismatic and can correspond with the opinions and definitions of the aforementioned authors. From their beginning in 1903, the Yankees have been a team comprised of the best players in Major League Baseball, each of whom has added his own charismatic qualities to the team. Babe Ruth, possibly the greatest player in all of baseball, was a member of the Yankees from 1920-1934. For many reasons, Babe Ruth can be considered an event-making man in history. According to Sidney Hook, the event-making man happens to be in the right place at the right time, but also imagines what he wants to accomplish and how he will do it.