 Just two years after Ruth 's sale , he went on to have a record setting season — statistically , one of the greatest in major league history for a batter . This propelled the Yankees to capture their first pennant and face their rival Giants . On October 5 , 1921 , the Yankees appeared in and won their very first World Series game . Ruth got hurt during the Series , and the Yankees eventually dropped the last three games , losing the Series five games to three to the Giants in the last ever best @-@ of @-@ nine Series . Both the Yankees and Giants would play in the 1922 World Series as well , a series that would be the Yankees ' last in the two teams ' shared stadium at the Polo Grounds as the Giants served the Yankees an eviction notice after the 1921 season . 
