Surprise! Strange isn't it? The New York Yankees, with their glorious history of Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle, were not a part of the first season of baseball played in the American League. When commissioner Ban Johnson brought the minor Western League of the Great Lakes region to major status as the American League in 1901, the initial season saw these franchises: Milwaukee Brewers, Boston Americans, Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Blues, Detroit Tigers, Washington Senators, Baltimore Orioles, Philadelphia Athletics.

However, in 1903, Baltimore moved to New York and were renamed the Highlanders. The team didn't become the Yankees until 1913 (but they started wearing the iconic pinstripes in 1912.)

Cleveland became the Indians in 1915 and the Americans became the Red Sox in 1908.

In another move, the Brewers moved to St. Louis in 1902 and became the Browns. They then moved to Baltimore in 1954 and revived the name Orioles.

In 1961, the Senators moved to Minnesota and became the Twins, while the league placed an expansion team in Washington D.C., also known as the Senators.

The Athletics moved to Kansas City in 1955 and then Oakland in 1968.

But, in 1901, the original eight had nothing to do with New York.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org