The origins of the phrase ‘Murderers’ Row’ in baseball are deeply tied to true crime history, not merely the legendary 1927 New York Yankees team.

The 1927 New York Yankees' batting order was so stacked with all-star talent that opposing pitchers had every reason to feel intimidated. Earle Combs led off, followed by Mark Koenig, then the powerhouse combo of Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, with Bob Meusel and Tony Lazzeri completing the usual starting six. This fearsome lineup earned the nickname 'Murderers’ Row,' which is sometimes used to describe that World Series-winning team as a whole.

Over time, the term 'Murderers’ Row' has expanded beyond the Yankees, being used to describe any group—whether in baseball or other fields—that commands fear, respect, or a mix of both. However, the 1927 Yankees were not the first team to carry the moniker. A 1905 news article referred to Billy Lush as part of a 'Murderers’ Row,' describing the first six batters of the Cleveland Indians’ lineup. A 1912 newspaper clipping did the same for the Philadelphia Phillies’ batting order. By 1918, as Barry Popik notes, the term had finally found its way to the Yankees.

While the Yankees’ home stadium wasn’t the birthplace of 'Murderers’ Row,' their city was—and the term initially referred to a completely different kind of 'grand slam' in New York City’s criminal underworld.

Not Your Average Pharaoh’s Tombs

In the late 1830s, a new prison designed in the Egyptian Revival style opened in Lower Manhattan. Officially named 'The Halls of Justice,' it quickly became known as 'The Tombs,' likely due to its resemblance to Egyptian burial structures. However, its cells were far from fit for royalty.

'Why, such indecent and disgusting dungeons as these cells, would bring disgrace upon the most despotic empire in the world!' wrote Charles Dickens after visiting The Tombs in 1842.

Inmates were grouped by their offenses, with one particular corridor reserved for murderers. This section came to be known as 'Murderers’ Row.' The earliest recorded reference to this term, uncovered by Major League Baseball’s official historian, John Thorn, is found in a November 1852 article in The New York Herald:

“In the Tombs, where the condemned criminals are held under the vigilant care of Mr. Peter Crosby, one of the capable keepers of the facility, a row of cells, side by side, have been set aside for those convicted of murder, referred to as ‘Murderer’s Row.’”

A Dangerous Alley

Thorn has also proposed an alternative theory regarding the origin of the phrase. In the 1899 book Nooks & Corners of Old New York, author Charles Hemstreet traces 'Murderers’ Row' to a decaying alley between Grand and Broome Streets (incidentally just a few blocks from The Tombs). Hemstreet wrote, 'Murderers’ Row is renowned in police history as a crime hotspot.'

Thorn suggests that the same alley was listed as 'Otter’s Alley' in an 1822 city directory. Since the alley predates The Tombs, he believes it’s possible that the term 'Murderer’s Row' originated there as well. However, he also considers the possibility that local police first heard the phrase in reference to the nearby prison and later adopted it for their crime-ridden district. After all, the prison's cell block was much more literally a row than Otter’s Alley—a point Hemstreet himself emphasized.

'It could not be identified by its name, for it is not a 'row' at all, merely a foul-smelling alley, an arcade passing through a block of dilapidated tenements,' he remarked.

Regardless of the exact origin, one thing is certain: New York City has witnessed its fair share of 'Murderers’ Rows' over the years, both inside and outside the baseball world.