Jazz Chisholm: Steinbrenner Shouldn't Call Yankees 'Normal'; 'We're Gonna Stay Evil'

At least one member of the New York Yankees wants to see the franchise embrace its status as the "evil empire" of Major League Baseball.

Speaking to The Athletic's Jayson Stark, Jazz Chisholm Jr. said in an unsolicited prompt that Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner should never describe them as a "normal" organization.

"I don’t care. I’m at the top," Chisholm added. "If evil means winning the World Series and getting paid, then that’s what we’re gonna do. You feel me? We’re gonna stay evil on this side. … Luke, I am your father."

"Evil empire" was a moniker bestowed on the Yankees by former Boston Red Sox president Larry Lucchino at the peak of the rivalry after New York signed Cuban pitcher José Contreras in December 2002.

"No, I'll make a comment," Lucchino said. "The evil empire extends its tentacles even into Latin America."

That was at a time when the Yankees were spending significantly more money than any other team in the sport. Their payroll went from $92.9 million in 2000 to $208.3 million by 2005.

New York continues to spend near the top of the market among all MLB teams, but things have slowed down considerably since Hal Steinbrenner took over following the death of his father, George, in 2010.

As a result of their reined in spending, the "evil empire" title doesn't really follow the Yankees around as much as it used to. The Los Angeles Dodgers get thought of in that regard more often, especially after the offseason they just had coming off a World Series win in 2024.

The Dodgers have embraced it, including announcing a Death Star promotional giveaway as part of Star Wars Night at Dodger Stadium this year.

The Yankees embraced the title for a long time. They previously played the "Imperial March" from the Star Wars soundtrack during home games.

Despite Chisholm's hope that the Yankees continue to be regarded as baseball's evil empire, it is hard to consider a franchise that hasn't won a World Series since 2009 as an empire.

The Yankees have been incredibly successful without winning a title in 15 years, but they're in a bit of a limbo state. They're still good enough to be strongly disliked by fans, but not so great that you really get mad whenever they win.