Damn Yankees is a musical comedy, a modern retelling of the Faust legend, set in Washington, D.C., with book by Douglass Wallop and George Abbott and music and lyrics by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross. It was based on Wallop's novel The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant .
The plot is based on a middle-aged fan of the Washington Senators baseball club who sold his soul to the Devil to enable the Senators to win the American League pennant.
It opened on Broadway in 1955 starring Gwen Verdon, who was also featured in the movie. In the movie version, Ray Walston played the Devil, "Mr. Applegate".
Damn Yankees is also the name of a rock band. See Damn Yankees (band).
