In 1915, Mack sold him to the New York Yankees where he remained (except for a brief service with the U.S. Navy during World War I when he served on the battleship Arkansas for eight months) until 1931.

[3] Because the team's first game was at home, this also meant that he was the first player to pitch at the newly built Yankee Stadium.

[2] The Yankees won 4–1 behind Babe Ruth's three-run home run, with Shawkey pitching a complete game to become the first winning pitcher at the stadium.

[5] Bob credited his success to a super fastball and an outstanding curve ball.

During the 1976 opening day festivities for the renovated Yankee Stadium, Shawkey threw out the ceremonial first pitch.