Massachusetts Breweries History: Jacob Ruppert Brewery Jacob Ruppert, Jr. ("The Colonel"), Congressman, philanthropist, brewer, manufacturer, sportsman, builder, adventurer, was the son of Jacob and Anna Gillig-Ruppert, originators of the Jacob Ruppert Brewery (1867) in Olde Yorkville of Manhattan's upper east side. He served a Colonel in the NY State 7th Regiment and was elected Congressman serving from 1899 to 1907. Jacob Ruppert, Jr. is surely best known for giving New York and the United States The New York Yankees and Yankee Stadium. In 1914 he partnered with Spanish-American War hero Col. Tillinghast L'Hommedieu Huston (who he soon bought out of the deal)to buy the then-called New York Highlanders which they soon renamed the New York Yankees (after Jacob added the pinstripes!). In 1915, Jacob Sr. died launching younger Jacob to brewery president as the first sounds of Prohibition began to rumble. The Yankees gave Ruppert a source of income to withstand the throes of Prohibition as the team grew to unimaginable fame with the likes of such greats Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Waite Hoyt, Joe Dugan and later Joe Dimaggio. In 1923, he finished building Yankee Stadium, "the House that Ruth built" (actually, for decades my family has always countered that expression with "the House the BEER built!"). By Ruppert's death in 1939, the Yankees won ten pennants and seven world series. (Bio by: K. Jacob Ruppert) - (You can find out more about the Ruppert family on Find A Grave)