<P> Following the team's loss to the Dodgers in the 1981 World Series, the Yankees began their longest absence from the playoffs since 1921 . Following the example set by the St. Louis Cardinals and the Big Red Machine that had defeated his team in the 1976 World Series, George Steinbrenner announced his plan to transform the Yankees from the Bronx Bombers into the "Bronx Burners", increasing the Yankees' ability to win games based on speed and defense instead of "waiting around for a 3 run home run". As a first step towards this end, the Yankees signed Dave Collins from the Cincinnati Reds during the 1981 off season . Collins was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays after the 1982 season in a deal that also included future All - Stars Fred McGriff and Mike Morgan . In return the Yankees got Dale Murray and Tom Dodd . </P> <P> The Yankees of the 1980s were led by All - Star first baseman Don Mattingly . In spite of accumulating the most total wins of any major league team, they failed to win a World Series (the first such Yankees team since the 1910s) and had only 1 playoff appearance . Although they consistently had a powerful offense--Mattingly at various times was teammate to Dave Winfield (whom Mattingly battled for the AL batting title throughout most of the 1984 season), Rickey Henderson, Don Baylor, Ken Griffey, Sr., Mike Pagliarulo, Steve Sax, and Jesse Barfield, and the Yankees led the majors in runs scored for the decade--the Yankees teams of the 1980s lacked sufficient starting pitching to win a championship . After posting a 22--6 record in 1985, arm problems caught up with Ron Guidry, and his performance declined over the next three years . Of the remaining mainstays of the Yankees' rotation, only Dave Righetti stood out, pitching a no - hitter on July 4, 1983, but he was moved to the bullpen the next year where he helped to define the closer role . Despite the Yankees' lack of pitching success during the 1980s, they had three of the premier pitchers of the early 1990s on their roster during these years in Al Leiter, Doug Drabek and José Rijo . All were mismanaged and dealt away before they could reach their full potential, with only Rijo returning much value--he was traded to the Oakland A's in the deal that brought Henderson to New York . </P> <P> The team came close to winning the AL East in 1985 and 1986, finishing second to the Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox (who lost in the World Series that year to the Yankees' cross-town rivals, the New York Mets) respectively, but fell to fourth place in 1987 and fifth in 1988, despite having mid-season leads in the AL East standings both years . Despite their lack of championships and playoff appearances the Yankees posted the highest winning percentage of all MLB teams during the 1980s . </P> <P> By the end of the decade, the Yankees' offense was on the decline . Henderson and Pagliarulo had departed by the middle of 1989, while back problems hampered both Winfield (who missed the entire' 89 season) and Mattingly (who missed almost the entire second half of 1990). Winfield's tenure with the team ended when he was dealt to the Angels . From 1989 to 1992, the team had a losing record, spending significant money on free - agents and draft picks who did not live up to expectations . In 1990, the Yankees had the worst record in the American League, and their fourth last - place finish in franchise history . </P>

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