On May 5, 1955, the musical Damn Yankees opened at New York City’s 46th Street Theatre. The production ran for an impressive 1,022 performances and won seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical. With music and lyrics by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross, choreography by the legendary Bob Fosse, and a standout cast featuring Gwen Verdon and Ray Walston, the show quickly became a Broadway classic.

Based on the novel The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant by Douglass Wallop, Damn Yankees is a Faustian tale set against the backdrop of 1950s American baseball. The story follows Joe Boyd, a middle-aged Washington Senators fan who makes a deal with the devil—embodied as the slick Mr. Applegate—to become a young baseball phenom named Joe Hardy and help his beloved team beat the New York Yankees. But as with any deal with the devil, things quickly get complicated.

“You’ve gotta have heart / All you really need is heart / When the odds are sayin’ you’ll never win / That’s when the grin should start!”

The show’s conception was driven by Adler and Ross’s desire to create a fresh, all-American musical after their success with The Pajama Game. They teamed up again with director George Abbott and choreographer Bob Fosse. Drawing on the timeless appeal of baseball, the mystical edge of a Faustian bargain, and a smart mix of humor and heart, they struck gold once more.

“Whatever Lola wants, Lola gets / And little man, little Lola wants you!”

With its catchy score, captivating performances, and uniquely American spirit, Damn Yankees secured its place in musical theatre history—not just for its awards and acclaim, but for the way it blended fantasy and fandom into a story that still charms audiences today.