New York Yankes (1903-Present) Page 2

Historical Moments (Continued):
1970: Led by outstanding season from Rookie of the Year Thurman Munson the Yankees win 93 games, but fall 15 games short of the division title.

1973: On January 3rd (the anniversary of the Babe Ruth purchase), the Yankees themselves are purchased from CBS by a group headed by a shipping magnate from Cleveland named George M. Steinbrenner. In buying the Yankees, Steinbrenner vows not take a prominent role in the running of the club. In Steinbrenner's first year of ownership the Yankees finish with a disappointing 80-82 record, as Manager Ralph Houk resigns at the end of the season.

1973: As Yankees Stadium celebrated its 50th anniversary, plans were being made to completely rebuild and modernize the house that Ruth built. At season's end mementos from the stadium were sold off. The Smithsonian Institute received the bat racks, and bullpen steps. Home plate was given to the widow of Babe Ruth, while Lou Gehrig's widow received 1st Base. Seats were than sold off to ex-players, and fans. George Steinbrenner would loan another group of seats to the producers of a new live Television show for the audience. The show was Saturday Night Live and these seats are still in use. While pieces of the old stadium were sold off major changes would happen to the stadium itself. Columns supporting the roof, and upper deck were removed to improve sightlines, as a new-cantilevered structure would allow all seats to see the game without obstacle. The playing field was lowered 5-feet to improve sightlines in the lower decks. The Yankees replaced the old 18-inch wooden seats, with 22-inch plastic seats. The scalloped frieze that was the old stadium's signature on the roof would be replicated on top of the new scoreboard that ran from left field to right. These major changes would take 2 years to complete, and in that time the Yankees were forced to play their home games at Shea Stadium.

1974: The Yankees made a late charge but came up 2-games short in the race for the division with a record of 89-73. In the off-season the fans get a glimpse of the future, as the Yankees sign Jim "Catfish" Hunter, who became a free agent after the Oakland A's ownership was found in breech of contract.

1975: After the Yankees get off to a disappointing start manger Bill Virdon is fired, and replaced by 1950's Yankee hero Billy Martin. Martin was exiled out of the Yankee kingdom in 1957 after being involved in a fight at the Copacubana, a local New York club. The fight that made headlines also involved Whitey Ford, and Moose Skowron. The feisty Martin was seen by Yankees management as being at fault and was dealt away to the Kansas City A's. In Martin's first season as manager with the Yanks the team finishes in 3rd Place with an 83-79 record.

1976: As the USA celebrated its bicentennial Yankee Stadium celebrated its grand re-opening. Fans were now greeted with 138-foot smokestack shaped like a Louisville Slugger Baseball Bat. The fans also had another spot to visit before games as the monuments that used to be on the field were moved slightly beyond the Left-centerfield seats this area would become known as Monument Park. Fans also got to see the Yankees return to prominence as thy were led by their MVP captain Thurman Munson to win 97 games en-route to the division title. In the ALCS the Yankees face a strong challenge from the Kansas City Royals, beginning a rivalry that would be among baseball's best over the next 5-years. The series would go the full 5-games, and as the Royals refused to die. With the Yanks leading 6-3 in the 8th Royals 3B George Brett hit a 3-run homer to tie the game up setting the stage for one of the stadium's most dramatic moments. With the game still tied in the bottom of the 9th Chris Chambliss led off and hit Mark Littell's 1st pitch of the inning over the wall in right center to send the Yankees back to the World Series for the first time in 12 years. However, in the series the Yankees ran into one of the best team's in baseball history, as Cincinnati's Big Red Machine swept the Yankees. The lone bright spot for the Yanks was a .529 average from Thurman Munson. After losing the series, Steinbrenner opened his checkbook again signing superstar slugger Reggie Jackson to a 5-year deal.

1977: Reggie Jackson would arrive to spring full of bluster, and gusto declaring himself the straw that stirs the drink. Not tacking to kindly to this was the feisty Manager Bill Martin who did not want the Yankees to sign Reggie in the first place. Martin, and several other Yankees felt that Thurman Munson the Yankee captain was the one who got the Yankees going and a rift would develop. The Yankees would get off to a slow start as a feud started to simmer between Martin, and Jackson. The feud would boil over on a Saturday in mid-June before a national television audience, when Martin pulled Reggie out of a game in 6th inning at Boston. The 2 began screaming at each other in the dugout, and Billy Martin had to be restrained from going after his star OF. Strangely enough the Yanks thrived under the adverse circumstances and began to gain on the 1st place Red Sox. The Yankees would surge even further in August to gain a foothold on 1st place and won 100 game en-route to their 2nd consecutive ALCS against the Royals. The Royals would prove a pest again and held a 2-1 series lead with the final 2 games in Kansas City. The Yankees would win Game 4 thanks to 4 hits by Mickey Rivers, and 5.2 innings of scoreless relief by Cy Young winner Sparky Lyle. Things began to look bleak for the Yankees as the trailed the Royals 3-1 in the 8th inning of the 5th and deciding game. However the Yankees would score 1 run in the 8th, and 3 in the 9th to pull off another AL Championship and head to their 31st World Series.

1977: The Yanks would face the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Fall Classic, and Reggie Jackson would step into his "Mr. October" role as Superman. The Yanks won Game 1 in 12 innings as Willie Randolph came home to score after a lead off single. After losing Game 2 the Yanks won Game 3 & 4 to take a commanding 3-1 series lead. Reggie would hit a HR in Game 4 and another in Game 5 (a Yankees loss) to set the stage for a historic Game 6. In the 6th game the Dodgers had an early 3-2 lead, when Reggie who walked in his first AB stepped up to face Burt Hooton with a runner on in the 4th. Reggie would homer on the first pitch he would see. The very next inning now facing Elias Sosa Reggie would homer again on the first pitch to increase the lead to 7-3. Reggie would come up one more time with the sold out Yankee Stadium crown chanting "Reggie, Reggie, Reggie', sounding like an oncoming locomotive. Reggie now facing Charlie Hough would again swing at the first pitch sending it into the black seats in straight away center to put the game and the series out of reach. The Yankees after15 years were World Champions again, for the 21st time over all.

1978: In 1977 the Yankees became the "Bronx Zoo" on the way to the World Championship things would only get wilder in 1978. The Yanks were ravaged all throughout the early part of the season with injuries and watched helplessly as the Boston Red Sox pulled away. The lone bright spot was the spectacular pitching of Ron Guidry who dominated AL hitters that year en-route to wining Cy Young with a 25-3 record, and an 1.74 ERA. Injury would turn into frustration as the Yankees fell into 4th place 14 games out of 1st on July 19th. That day Bill Martin would suspend Reggie Martin for insubordination. On July 25th Billy himself would be forced to resign after making unflattering comments about Reggie, and Yankees boss George Steinbrenner. A few days later Billy would smooth things out and plans were all ready in place for his return to the bench down the road. The man who would fill Martin's role the rest of the season was a complete opposite of the fiery manager; Bob Lemon preferred the quiet and laid back approach. In August the Yankees began to get healthy and made a last ditch charge for the division. While the Yankees began to roar back to life the 1st place Red Sox began to struggle. The stage was set on September 7th for the Yankees to make their move, 4 games out, with a 4-game series in Fenway Park. The Yankees not only made their move, they dominated the Sox. Sweeping the series later called "The Boston Massacre" by a combined score of 42-9. A week later the Yankees would take another 2 of 3 at Yankee Stadium against the Sox to pull a head by 2 � games. However, Boston caught their bearings and would catch the Yankees on the final day of the season setting the stage for of the greatest games in baseball history.

1978: With the two teams tied at the end of the season with identical 99-63 records a 1-game playoff, held at Fenway Park. The Yankees sent their ace Ron Guidry against Mike Torrez who helped the Yankees in 1977. Torrez had shut down the Yankees through the first 6 innings and with the help of Carl Yastrzemski HR held a 2-0 lead. With 2 on in the 7th Torrez faced light-hitting SS Bucky Dent who changed bats after fouling a ball of his foot. Teammate Mickey Rivers told Dent this bat had a HR in it. Dent stepped up and hit a ball over the Green Monster that gave Yankees a 3-2 lead. Reggie Jackson would extend the Yanks lead in the 8th to 5-2, but the Sox would come back to make it a 1 run game. In the 9th Boston threatened again Jerry Remy ripped a 1-out hit down the line it would have brought Rick Burleson the tying run to 3rd but Lou Pinella held him at 2nd when he reached blindly for the ball and snared it. After a long pop fly by Jim Rice that would have plated Burelson if not for Pinella's play Goose Gossage ended the game when he got Yastzemski to pop up weekly to 3rd to win the game and the division for the Yankees.

1978: The Yankees facing the Kansas City Royals in the ALCS again, were forced to start rookie Jim Beatie in the series opener. Beatie who struggled all year came through in the opener and got the Yanks off to a flying start. After losing Game 2 the Yankees headed home to the Bronx for Game 3. In Game 3 Catfish Hunter was victimized by 3 HR from George Brett. However, a 2-run homer and 3 RBI from Reggie wearing his MR. October superman suit again kept the Yanks in the game. In the 8th with Yanks still trailing 5-4 Thurman Munson smacked a 2-run homer over the monuments to put the Yanks out and front in the game and the series. Ron Guidry who allowed just one 1st inning run, won Game 4 by a score 2-1 to send the Yanks to their 3rd straight World Series. In the series the Yanks were matched up against the Los Angeles Dodgers again. After losing the first 2 in LA the Yankees desperately needed Game 3. In the 3rd game Guidry's stuff was a little off and the Dodgers smacked him around all game, except when they smacked the ball it was usually at 3B Graig Nettles. Nettles saved at least 6 runs as the Yankees won the game 5-1 to get back in the series. Comebacks would be the story of Game 4 as the Yanks fell behind early 3-0, the Yankees would go on to roar all the way back and win the game on Lou Pinnella's single in the 10th. The final 2 games would be easily won by the Yanks who won their 22nd World Championship. Two un-sung heroes SS Bucky Dent who had 10 hits en-route to being named series MVP, and Brian Doyle who had 7 hits in 16 ABs playing for the injured Willie Randolph at 2B aided the Yankees in the series.

1979: The Yankees would get off to another slow start, however this time there would be no comeback. Goose Gossage was lost for large part of the season after a clubhouse fight with Cliff Johnson. In an attempt to duplicate the magic of 1978 Billy Martin replaced Bob Lemon 65 games into the season, but this time there would be no surge, and the 1st place Baltimore Orioles were not about to collapse. On an off day on August 2nd the season would take a shocking tragic turn for the worse. Captain Thurman Munson who grew up and still lived in Akron, Ohio would routinely fly home on off days to be with his family. However, on this occasion Munson who was flying a single engine plane would not make it. Flying with his instructor Munson crash-landed and was unable to escape the burning wreckage. Munson was only 32, and the sorrow would hang a black cloud over the rest of the season. The Yankees who retired Munson's Number 15 immediately would face the Orioles in a key weekend series and lose the first 3 games. The 4th game of the series would take place in front of a Nationwide Monday Night Audience. After attending his funeral the heavy hearted Yanks were on the verge of being swept when a 9th inning rally led by Bobby Murcer who served as one of Munson's pall bearers earlier in the day won the game. The Yankees would win 89 games, but would only finish 4th in a competitive difficult season.

1979: After the season the Billy Martin soap opera would take another strange turn. Billy Martin had been arrested and charged with assault. The man Martin attacked happened to be a marshmallow salesman, and the New York Tabloids ate the story alive. This would lead to Billy losing his job for the second time.

1980: Now under the management of Dick Howser the Yankees led by 41 HR from Reggie Jackson and 22 wins from Tommy John win 103 games to narrowly hold of the Baltimore Orioles for the Al East title. The Yankees would face the Kansas City Royals in the ALCS again, but this time the Bronx Bombers would fall in 3 straight. After the season Howser is chosen as the scapegoat and fired by George Steinbrenner. The Yankees also sign star free agent Dave Winfield to a 10-year contract, this would be the start of another bizarre soap opera in the Bronx Zoo.

1981: With new manager Gene Michael the Yankees get off to a good start and are in 1st place when a 2-month player strike interrupts the season. Being in 1st place at that point earned the Yanks a post-season berth, but after the Yankees start to struggle in the second-half Michael is replaced at the helm by Bob Lemon. Despite finishing 6th in the 2nd part of the split season the Yankees win the first 2 games of an intra-division series against the Milwaukee Brewers. However, the Yankees would almost let it slip away and would need to win a 5th and deciding game after dropping game 3 and 4 at the stadium. In the ALCS the Yankees faced the Oakland A's, who were managed by Billy Martin. Surprisingly the series is no contest as the Yankees win 3 straight on their way to facing the Los Angels Dodgers in the World Series. The Yankees would win the first 2 games of the fall classic, but would fall in 6 games in a reversal of the 1978 series. No pitcher would illustrate Yankee futility better than George Frazer, who lost 3 games in relief. Also receiving criticism is Dave Winfield who only gets 1 hit in 22 World Series at-bats, and gets the nickname Mr. May from an irate George Steinbrenner. The Yankees would also lose Reggie Jackson who leaves for California after a poor season. Steinbrenner would later call not resigning Reggie as one of the biggest mistakes he ever made. The Yankees would not make it back to the World Series for 15 years.

1982: The Yankees suffer through a year of turbulence as the team goes through 3 managers, while narrowly avoiding a last place finish with a disappointing 79-83 record. After the awful season the Yankees would rehire Billy Martin to be the Manager.

1983: Two bizarre incidents, and a July 4th No Hitter by Dave Righetti highlight the season. The 1st bizarre incident happens in Toronto when Dave Winfield accidentally kills a seagull with a warm up throw. Toronto police viewing the seagull as a national bird arrest the Yankees slugger for Animal Cruelty. Winfield would be released after a few hours and the charges would be dropped. The other bizarre incident took place on July 24th in a game with the Kansas City Royals. With the Yanks up 4-3 and 2-outs in the 9th inning noted Yankee killer George Brett hits a 2-run homer giving Kansas City a 5-4 lead. However, Yankees catcher Rick Cerone and Billy Martin argue that there is too much pine tar on Brett's bat, trying to take advantage of on obscure rule. Pine Tar is a sticky substance used on bats to avoid losing control of the bat and hurting someone. However, there is a rule stating that pine tar can not be higher that 18inches up the handle, umpires using home plate as a measuring toll determine there is too much pine tar and rule Brett out. This would send the Royals star into an absolute rage having to be restrained by half the Royals team from attacking the umpires. The Royals appeal would eventually be upheld and the Yankees would lose the game 5-4. The Yanks would go on to win 91 games, but after coming up 7 games short for the division Billy Martin is fired again.

1984: In a season where the Yankees finish a distant 3rd Don Mattingly and Dave Winfield battle down to the final day of the season for the batting crown. Mattingly who is playing is his first full season as the Yankees 1B, wins the title by 3 one hundredths of appoint over Winfield.

1985: The Yankees who acquired speedster Rickey Henderson from the Oakland Athletcis expected to win the division. However, with Rickey missing much of the first 3 weeks the Yankees get off to a slow start and Manger Yogi Berra is fired. Berra is so enraged he vows never to return to the stadium again. Billy Martin now in his 4th tour of duty as Yankee manager would replace Yogi. The Yankees featured a powerful offense led by MVP Don Mattingly who would knock in 135 runs, and Rickey Henderson who touched home plate 146 times. Ron Guidry who wins 22 games once again leads the Yanks on the mound. However the rest of the pitching staff would fail to come up big and despite winning 95 games need a sweep of the Blue Jays in Toronto just to force a 1-game playoff. The Yankees would lose the middle game of the season ending series to see their pennant hopes end. However, on the season's final day Phil Niekro would pitch a complete game shut out against a Blue Jay team full of reserves en-route to his 300th career victory.

1985: Despite a successful 97-win season the Martin-Steinbrenner soap opera would continue. This time Billy Martin gets in hot water after a bizarre brawl with pitcher Eddie Whitson. The fiery Martin and the temperamental pitcher would get into a heated argument that quickly turned into a brawl. The 2 would continue to brawl even after being separated on several occasions. They brawl would start in a hotel bar, and continue into the lobby. Martin would suffer a separated shoulder and at season's end would be separated form his job again. The Whitson situation would get even more bizarre in the following season. Whitson began to get worried and claimed fans were following him home eventually a decision was made to start Whitson only on the road after he began to suffer panic attacks before games at Yankee Stadium. Whitson would eventually be dealt back to the San Diego Padres ending yet another bizarre Bronx Zoo soap opera.

1986: In Lou Pinella's first season as Manager the Yankees finish in 2nd Place with a solid 90-72 record. The season is highlighted, by Dave Righetti who saves a then Major League Record 46 games.

1987: Don Mattingly now fully established as baseball's best slugger gets his name in the record book twice. First on July 18th Mattingly homers of the Texas Rangers Jose Guzman giving him a record tying 8-game HR streak. (During the streak Mattingly would hit 10 HR.) The other achievement would be 6 Grand Slams, which established a new Major League single season record. Despite Mattingly terrorizing AL pitching the Yankees only won 89 games and finished in 4th. The problem was that the Yanks themselves could not find any pitching and made 2 poor trades in an attempt to find anyone who could win games on the mound. The 1st bad trade came in the previous off-season when the Yanks traded future Cy Young winner Doug Drabek for an aging Rick Rhoden, the other would come in the middle of the season when The Yankees traded Bob Tewkesbury for Steve Trout. Trout much like Whitson would have panic attacks, and lost all 4 of his decisions in pinstripes.

1988: The Yankees had a strong offense, and needed pitching, so the Yankees signed slugger Jack Clark to be their DH. The Yankees also re-hired Billy Martin, but this reign at the helm would only last a few months, as rumors began to swirl around Martin's drinking he was fired for the 5th and final time. The Yankees would finish 5th with 85 wins in a tight 5-way race for the division title. It would turn out to be the last winning season for 5 years, as the team was getting ready to bottom out. The Yankees would make news in the off-season when they signed a 12-year $120 million with MSG a regional Sports network to carry their games. The deal would change the landscape of team and broadcast rates and would lead to the new era of big buck television deals.

1989: The Yankees suffer a poor 74-87 season in which they went through 2 mangers. Following the season the Billy Martin-George Steinbrenner soap opera would come to sad, and tragic end on Christmas Day. Billy Martin would be killed after returning home from a day of drinking and crashed his truck into a ditch killing him instantly.

1990: After ending their 6-decade run of at least 2 World Championships, the Yankees get off to a worse start in the 90's. Not only do Yankees crash into last place with 95 loses, but the feud between Dave Winfield and George Steinbrenner reaches an ugly conclusion. Winfield who sat out the entire 1989 season with a back injury ends up being dealt to the California Angels, but not before Steinbrenner gets caught spying on his star OF. Steinbrenner hired Harold Spira a known underworld figure to follow and dig up dirt on Winfield in order to discredit the OF that he had been feuding with for the last 10 years. Spira was not able to find dirt on Winfield, but Steinbrenner would end up in hot water. Commissioner Fay Vincent indefinitely suspended him for dealing with known gamblers.

1993: In the year George Steinbrenner would be reinstated by MLB, the Yankees begin their return to the top. It started slightly before the season with acquisitions of Paul O'Neill, Wade Boggs, Jimmy Key, and Jim Abbot. All 4 new players would help lead the Yankees to challenge the Toronto Blue Jays all season for the Eastern Division. The Yankees would fall off in September but not before, Jim Abbot, who only had one hand pitched a no hitter against the Cleveland Indians.

1994: This was the year it looked like the Yankees return to prominence would be completed. The Yankees were in 1stplace almost from the start, and by August the Yankees had a small cushion for the division lead and were well on pace to win 100 games. However the season would end suddenly on August 12th because of a player's strike.

1995: The Yankees looked even stronger coming back from the strike, the newly acquired Jack McDowell was supposed to be come the ace of the staff. However the Yankees struggled most of the season just to stay above.500. However, at the trade deadline the Yankees would acquire David Cone and turn it around. They would wind up winning enough games to sneak in the playoffs as the AL's first ever Wild Card. In the ALDS the Yankees got off to a promising start win the first 2 games against the Seattle Mariners, including a dramatic 15th inning HR by Jim Leyritz in Game 2. However, the bats of Edgar Martinez, and Ken Griffey Jr. proved to be too much to overcome as the Yankees lost the final 3 games in the Kingdome including Game 5 on Edgar Martinez's two-run double down the left field in the 10th inning.

1996: Even the most hardcore Yankee fan had to pessimistic entering the season. Don Mattingly had retired, and been replaced by Tino Martinez, also gone was manager Buck Showalter who was the scapegoat for losing in 1995. Buck's replacement would be Joe Torre who had managed with very little success with Mets, Braves and Cardinals. New York Tabloids blasted the move with screaming headlines saying Clueless Joe. The Yankees would break out in front early thanks in part to Rookie of the Year Derek Jeter. However in May the Yanks pennant hopes dimmed as David Cone was diagnosed with an aneurysm in his pitching arm, which would cause the Yanks ace to miss the next 4- months due to surgery. However, the other Yankees would pick up the slack including Dwight Gooden who threw a no hitter while making a come back forma 1-year drug suspension. The Yankees managed to hold on to 1st despite struggling through most of August into September to win the division title. Along the way a story began to develop involving Torre and his brothers. First in June Joe received word that his brother Paul had died from a heart attack, while his brother Frank who had played with Joe in the early 60's with Braves was in the hospital in need of a heart transplant.

1996: In the post-season the Yankees were in trouble early losing Game 1 and trailing the Texas Rangers in Game 2 of the ALDS, before the Yankees would rally and win the game in 10 innings. The Yankees would rally again in Game 3 when Bernie Williams homered to put the Yanks out in front in the game, and the series, 2-1. The Yankees would fall behind early in Game 4, but roared all the way back to win the game and the series. A formula that aided the Yankees in the regular season would be the key in the post-season as well. Yankee pitchers all year had a difficult time going the distance, and the Yankees would get around this by using Mariano Rivera to pitch the 7th and 8th and John Wetteland to close out the 9th. This would make falling behind the Yankees in any game difficult for the opposition as the Yankees barely lost any leads. The same would not hold through for their opponents the Yankees would fall behind the Baltimore Orioles early in ALCS Game 1 but tied things up it the 7th as Derek Jeter's opposite field hit was caught by 12-year old Jeffrey Maier who reached out and took the ball away from Orioles RF Tony Tarasco. The Yanks would win the game in extra innings on Bernie Williams' blast. After losing Game 2, the Yankees moved on to Baltimore and won the final 3 games to earn a trip to their 34th World Series.

1996: As the Yankees entered the World Series against the Atlanta Braves Frank Torre was moved to the top of the donor's list. The Yankees also looked like they were in critical condition after dropping the first 2 games at home by a combined score of 16-1. The Yankees would than head down to Atlanta and perform the most devastating march through the south since General Sherman at the end of the Civil War. The Yankees would win Game 3 with stellar pitching from David Cone, but the reprieve appeared short lived as Kenny Rogers was hammered in Game 4 giving the Braves a 6-0 lead. The Yankees cut the lead in half in the 6th than tied it up on Jim Leyritz's 3-run homer in the 8th. The Yankees would go on to win the game in 10 innings to even the series at 2 games apiece. Game 5 featured a classic pitcher's duel between Andy Pettitte and the Braves John Smoltz. The Yankees would win 1-0 as a limping Paul O'Neill caught a ball ticketed for the gap with 2 runners on to send the Yanks home up 3-2 in the series. The news would get even better for the Yanks as Frank Torre would receive his transplant during the off day between Game 5 and 6. In the 6th game Joe Girardi's 3rd inning triple would spark a 3-run inning and give the Yanks a 3-0 lead over Greg Maddux. Jimmy Key would pitch 5.1 innings with David Weathers and Graham Lloyd getting out 1 batter each the Yankees would go to their formula to hold on to a 3-2 win and win their 23rd World Series Championship.

1997: The Yanks would win more games than they did in 1996 with 96, but would have to settle for the Wild Card. In the ALDS the unthinkable would happened as Mariano Rivera blew a Game 4 lead to the Cleveland Indians. The Yankees would go on to drop the series in 5 games.

1998: The Yankees would get off to a 0-3, but after that would make history. The Yankees would go on a hot streak even though a beam collapsed caused them to play a home game at Shea Stadium. The Yanks would close out April with a 17-6 record and would never look back. In May David Wells would make history by throwing a perfect game in front of a sold out Yankee Stadium crowd there for beanie baby day. By the All-Star Break it was clear that no one could stop the Yankees who had 60-25 record. The Yankees would go on to win 114 games establishing a new American League record.

1998: The Yankees juggernaut kept rolling along sweeping the Texas Rangers in the ALDS despite receiving sobering news that DH Darryl Strawberry had colon cancer. However the Yankees would hit a bump in the road in the ALCS against the Cleveland Indians. After losing Games 2 and 3 the Yankees needed Game 4 and sent rookie Orlando Hernandez to the mound. Only El Duque was not a traditional rookie, for a number of years he was the ace of the vaunted Cuban National team but after defecting he would have to prove himself all over again. Hernandez not only proved himself he dominated the Indians hitter as the Yankees evened the series at 2 games apiece. The Yankees would then go on to win the next 2 games easily earning a trip to their 35th World Series. The series would be over almost before it began the San Diego Padres would lead the Yankees 5-2 in the 7th of Game 1, but when the Yankees scored 7 in the 7th thanks to Chuck Knoblach's game tying 3-run Homer, and Tino Martinez's upper deck grand slam the Padres were already mentally defeated. The Yanks would go on to win the next 3 games to complete the sweep. In total the Yankees won 125 regular and postseason games establishing a new record, and placing the 1998 Yankees in the same league as the greatest teams of all-time.

1999: The Yankees would endure a set back heading into the season as manager Joe Torre missed the first month and half due to treatment for prostate cancer. The Yankees managed to stay afloat during their leader's absences, and when he returned in May took off and won 98 games and their 2nd straight division titles. Highlighting the season was the return of Yogi Berra who finally made peace with George Steinbrenner. On a special day in his honor on July 18th the Yankees re-united Larsen with Berra, and then the 2 sat back and watched David Cone hurl a Perfect Game of his own. In the ALDS the Yankees swept Texas Rangers again, and moved on to face the Boston Red Sox in the ALCS. The Yankees would win the first game on a dramatic extra inning homer by Bernie Williams who by now had knack for post-season heroics. The Yankees would go on to take game 2 as well to head to Boston with a 2-0 lead. The Yankees would face a hostile crowd as long time Red Sox hero Roger Clemens was shelled 13-1. That would be the only game the Yankees would lose in the post-season. The Yankees cruised on to the World Series with easy wins in Game 4 and 5. In the World Series the Yankees faced the Atlanta Braves again, and took the 1st game 4-1 with a 4 run 8th inning rally. After crushing the Braves in Game 2, the Yankees fell behind early in Game 3 at Yankee Stadium. Down 5-1 the Yankees would chip away slowly to tie the game and send it to extra innings where OF Chad Curtis won the game with his 2nd Homer of the game in the 10th inning. The Yankees would close out the Braves easily in game 4 to win their 12th straight World Series game tying a record, and 25th World Championship cementing their claim as team of the century.

2000: The Yankees would begin the new century much like they ended the old one, and that was at the top of the AL East. However holding on to the division was not that easy, the Yanks only won 87 games and faltered down the stretch including losing 6 straight to the Devil Rays, and Orioles. Going into the playoffs the Yanks looked like easy prey, especially after losing Game 1 of the ALDS to the Oakland Athletics. The Yankees would bounce back to win Game 2 and 3, but after a Game 4 route headed back to Oakland with series on the line for game 5. Prior to the 5th game A's 3B Eric Chavez was over heard spouting off at how the Yanks were over the hill this would wake the sleeping giant. The Yankees scored 6 first inning runs and held off the A's to advance to the ALCS against the Seattle Mariners. After being shut out in the first 17 innings of the ALCS the Yankees break out with 7 runs in the 8th and tie the series 1-1. The Yankees bats stayed hot winning Game 3 and Game 4 which was also aided by a Roger Clemens 1-hit shutout to take a 3-1 series lead. After losing Game 5, LCS MVP David Justice hit an Upper Deck HR in the 7th inning to get a stranglehold on the series and advance the Yanks to the World Series.

2000: In the World Series the Yankees would face the Mets for the first Subway Series in 44-years. The Subway Series had once been an every year occurrence, but after the Dodgers, and Giants bolted New York the Subway tradition seemed to have hit the last stop. In 1962 the Mets came along and where not even close to competitive, as the Yankees dynasty ran its course. When the Mets came into their own at the end of the 60's the Yankees dynasty laid in ruins. Eventually the Yankees would rise again only to see the Mets fall into to abyss under bad management. In the 80's it seemed as if a Subway Series was possible the Mets had an awesome team, and the Yankees a powerful offense, but the Yankees never quite had the pitching to get over the top. Finally in 1999 both teams were in the LCS at the same time, but the Mets would fall short to the Atlanta Braves. Then came 2000 and both teams would not be denied, as Subway series even seemed destined as early as July 8th when the two teams played a day/night Double Header with 1 game at each stadium.

2000: The Yankees would have to rally in Game 1 of the World Series, sending the game to extra innings on Chuck Knoblauch's sac-fly in the 9th. The Yanks would go on to win the game in 12 innings on Jose Vizcaino's RBI single. The Yankees would win again in Game 2 to extend their World Series win streak to a record 14 games. However the streak would come to an end at Shea Stadium in Game 3. The Yanks would bounce back immediately in Game 4 as Derek Jeter led things off with a HR, and the Yanks bullpen held off the feisty Mets to give the Yanks a 3-1 series lead. The Yankees would than go on to win their 26th World Championship with Luis Sojo's single up the middle that scored 2 runs in the top of the 9th of Game 5.

2001: Led by an incredible 20-3 season from Cy Young winner Roger Clemens, the Yankees win their 4th straight division title with a 95-65 record. Going into the playoffs the Yankees seemed to playing for the entire city, after terrorist attacks destroyed the World Trade Center on September 11th. However, the Yanks quest for 4th straight Championship looked to be in jeopardy after they dropped the first 2 games of the ALDS to the Athletics. With the series shifting to Oakland the Yankees had their backs up against the wall, and were struggling mightily at the plate. The Yanks managed to scratch home an early run in Game 3, but the A's looked to have tied the game when a ball hit down the RF sent Jeremy Giambi home. To make matters worse the throw from relay man Alfonso Soriano was wild, but Derek Jeter came out of nowhere and shoveled the ball to catcher Jorge Posda to get Giambi by a matter of inches. The Yanks would hold on to win the game 1-0, as Jeter's play seems to spark the team to life. The Yankees would win the next 2 games to take the series, and head off to an ALCS rematch against the Seattle Mariners who tied a Major League record with 116 regular season wins. The Yankees would win the first 2 in Seattle, and headed home in the drivers seat. After the Mariners took Game 3 it looked like the Mariners would get back into the series, but the Yankees would win Game 4 on Alfonso Soriano's dramatic walk off homer. The Yanks would then blow away the disheartened Mariners in Game 5 to advance on to their 4th straight World Series.

2001: In the World Series the Yankees would face the Arizona Diamondbacks. However the Yankees bats were struggling, and facing the D-Back 1-2 punch of Curt Schilling, and Randy Johnson didn't help as the Snakes grabbed a 2-0 series lead. As the series shifted to New York the Yankees need a Game 3 gem from Roger Clemens to edge out the D-backs 2-1. However, the Yanks bats remained cold as they trailed 3-1 in the 9th Inning of Game 4. Tino Martinez would come up big belting a game tying 2-out 2-run homer of Byung-Hyun Kim to send the game to extra innings where Derek Jeter won it with a 10th inning blast of his own. However, the Yanks bats remained cold, ad they trailed 2-0 in the 9th Inning of Game 5. However lightning struck twice as Scott Brosius delivered a 2-0ut 2-run homer off Kim to send the game to extra innings where the Yanks won on Alfonso Soriano's 12th Inning single. Up 3-2 in the series the Yanks seemed poised to win their 4th straight championship. However, they would lose Game 6 to Randy Johnson 15-2 to set up a decisive 7th game. In Game 7 they faced Curt Schilling who was keeping them off the scoreboard again. However Roger Clemens kept Arizona off the board to and the game was scoreless until the D-backs notched a single run in the 6th. However, the Yanks would bounce back scoring runs in the 7th and 8th and would enter the 9th up 2-1. However, even Mariano Rivera would prove to be human as his throwing error set the D-backs up with 2 on and no outs. After a failed bunt got the first out the game would be tied on Tony Womack's bloop double. The Yankees would go on to lose the game on the series 2 batters later after Luis Gonzalez bloop landed in CF.

2002: After losing the World Series the Yankees went through a winter of changes. Gone were Paul O'Neill, and Scott Brosius who headed off to retirement. Tino Martinez would end up being pushed out as the Yankees signed slugging free agent 1B Jason Giambi. Also gone were David Justice, and Chuck Knoblauch, whose poor performances hurt the Yankees during the postseason. The Yankees would also make Television history with launch of their very own cable network YES (Yankee Entertainment and Sports). However, a failure face would return as the Yankees signed the ever popular David Wells, who they traded away for Roger Clemens.

World Series records held by Yankees:
Yogi Berra- 71 series hits
Frank Crosetti- 23 Series as a player or a coach.
Whitey Ford 10 series wins
Mickey Mantle 18 series HR, 40 series RBI

Monument Park:
When visiting Yankee Stadium, no game can be complete with out first visiting Monument Park. The area behind Left Centerfield where the retired numbers hang, and monuments and plaques are all around honoring Yankee greats of the past.

Odds and Ends:
Team Motto: Courage,Tradition, Heart
Team Song: "Here Come the Yankees"
Unofficial Song: "New York, New York"- Frank Sinatra

On The Air:
Television: WCBS (Channel 2), YES Network (Also Available in SAP)
Radio: WCBS 880 AM
Broadcasters: Jim Kaat, Michael Kay, Bobby Murcer, Paul O'Neill, Ken SIngleton,
Suzyn Waldman- TV Roberto Clemente Jr., Armando Talavera, Betto Villa- SAP Charlie Steiner, John Sterling- Radio

Ford C. Frick Recipients*: (3)
Mel Allen 1936-1964, 1976-1983, 1990
Red Barber 1954-1966
Joe Garagiola 1965-1966
*-Award grants entrance in the broadcasters wing of the Hall of Fame

Spring Training History:
Atlanta, GA 1903-1904
Montgomery, AL 1905
Birmingham, AL 1906
Atlanta, GA 1907-1908
Macon, GA 1909
Athens, GA 1910-1911
Atlanta, GA 1912
Hamilton, Bermuda 1913
Houston, TX 1914
Savannah, GA 1915
Macon, GA 1916-1918
Jacksonville, FL 1919-1920
Shreveport, LA 1921
New Orleans, LA 1922-1924
St. Petersburg, FL 1925-1942
Asbury Park, NJ 1943
Atlantic City, NJ 1944-1945
St. Petersburg, FL 1946-1950
Phoenix, AZ 1951
St. Petersburg, FL 1952-1961
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 1962-1995
Tampa Bay, FL 1996-Present

On The Farm:
AAA: Columbus Clippers
AA: Norwich Navigators
A: Tampa Yankees
A: Greensboro Bats
A: Staten Island Yankees
Rookie: Gulf Coast Yankees