Bronx Zoo '90: Crime, Chaos, and Baseball

The unbelievable story of the 1990 New York Yankees marked a crossroads in their storied history. Not only did the season yield one of their worst records ever, but what was happening off the field was even more alarming. Their bombastic owner, George Steinbrenner, was under investigation by the league for his dealings with notorious gambler Howie Spira in connection to a decade-long feud with star player Dave Winfield. The beloved captain Don Mattingly was navigating a contentious contract dispute and suffering from serious back injuries. Their top free agent signing was missing, while rookie Deion Sanders jumped between two sports. Amid that chaos, the clubhouse was in utter disarray, led by the behavior of hard-hitting outfielder Mel Hall, who was dating a local teenager. It seemed hard to believe at the time, but this mania and incompetence was also sowing the seeds for one of the greatest dynasties in sports history.

The unbelievable story of the 1990 New York Yankees marked a crossroads in their storied history. Not only did the season yield one of their worst records ever, but what was happening off the field was even more alarming. Their bombastic owner, George Steinbrenner, was under investigation by the league for his dealings with notorious gambler Howie Spira in connection to a decade-long feud with star player Dave Winfield. The beloved captain Don Mattingly was navigating a contentious contract dispute and suffering from serious back injuries. Their top free agent signing was missing, while rookie Deion Sanders jumped between two sports. Amid that chaos, the clubhouse was in utter disarray, led by the behavior of hard-hitting outfielder Mel Hall, who was dating a local teenager. It seemed hard to believe at the time, but this mania and incompetence was also sowing the seeds for one of the greatest dynasties in sports history.

The unbelievable story of the 1990 New York Yankees marked a crossroads in their storied history. Not only did the season yield one of their worst records ever, but what was happening off the field was even more alarming. Their bombastic owner, George Steinbrenner, was under investigation by the league for his dealings with notorious gambler Howie Spira in connection to a decade-long feud with star player Dave Winfield. The beloved captain Don Mattingly was navigating a contentious contract dispute and suffering from serious back injuries. Their top free agent signing was missing, while rookie Deion Sanders jumped between two sports. Amid that chaos, the clubhouse was in utter disarray, led by the behavior of hard-hitting outfielder Mel Hall, who was dating a local teenager. It seemed hard to believe at the time, but this mania and incompetence was also sowing the seeds for one of the greatest dynasties in sports history.