murderers’ row

Etymology:

• The phrase is steeped in history. Before it was popularly associated with the Babe Ruth-era Yankees, it was previously a moniker for the 1918 Yankees club (predating Ruth) as well as the Athletics and Phillies of Philadelphia, and the 1904 Cleveland Naps of the American League. Though thought to have been adopted from the term labelling a section of the Tombs prison in New York City, Murderers’ Row was actually an alley, in NYC, before the Civil War (starting where Watts Street ends at Sullivan Street, midway along the block between Grand and Broome Streets).