Just because the New York Yankees aren’t in the postseason this year, doesn’t mean you can’t look back at the best of the best from their playoff experiences.
Although fans haven’t seen a legitimate New York Yankees’ run since 2012, postseason baseball in the Bronx is uncomparable to anything else.
Throughout the franchise’s 113-year existence, they have earned 52 trips to the playoffs including 40 American League pennants and 27 World Series championships.
As a result, some of the greatest moments in baseball’s history have occurred when the Yankees took center stage in the bracket to decide a champion.
While there are hundreds upon hundreds of moments to choose from, ESNY has narrowed the list down to 10. Sit back, relax, and relive the best of the best from New York’s playoff history.
Honorable Mentions:
8/10/12- Ibanez Singlehandedly Lifts New York Past O’s
With the ALDS tied at one between the Yankees and Baltimore Orioles, the Bombers looked lifeless in game three as they trailed 2-1 entering the ninth inning.
Slugger Alex Rodriguez was due up, but manager Joe Girardi optioned to go withRaul Ibanez, a questionable move until it paid off for the Yankees as he sent the stadium into a frenzy by shooting a game-tying home run into the seats in right to provide us with some “free baseball.”
That was cool in itself, but when he hit another home run in the 12th to throw the Yankees ahead 2-1 in the series? It was just flat-out insane.
Ibanez put on one of the greatest manifestations of playoff hitting on the biggest stage as the Yankees would go on to win the series 3-2 and keep their quest for title number 28 very much alive.
10/2/1978- Bucky Dent AL East Playoff Game Heroics
While technically not a “playoff game,” Bucky Dent’s heroics in the game to decide the American League East winner in 1978 certainly was a moment that will live forever in Yankees’ history.
In the top of the seventh, with New York down 2-0 with two runners on, Dent shocked Fenway Park by ripping a go-ahead three-run home run over the green monster.
Dent only hit 27 home runs during his six-year Yankees’ career, but I’m sure he’d be fine with having just one if this shot were the only home run he hit.
10/09/09: Alex Rodriguez’s Game Tying Two-Run Bomb
Simply put, the Yankees probably don’t win the 2009 World Series without this bomb. That’s far-fetched. Maybe without Alex Rodriguez, their 27th title isn’t obtained, at least.
Overall, Rodriguez hit .365 with six home runs and 18 RBIs in the 2009 postseason but this game-tying two-run homer in the ninth inning of Game 2 in the ALDS is the highlight.
It also serves as one of the major highlights of not only the 2009 playoffs, but Rodriguez’s career, as well.
10. A Gift From The Crowd
In Game 1 of the 1996 American League Championship series, the Bombers found themselves down 4-3 as the game progressed into the bottom of the eighth.
With one out and Armando Benitez on the hill, Derek Jeter was able to tie the game up at four with a solo blast to right. He did, however, need a little help.
As the ball was descending from the Bronx sky, it seems as though O’s right fielder Tony Tarasco could have made the play if not for 12-year old Jeffery Maier.
Maier reached his hand out into the field of play and literally pulled the ball into the crowd. Umpire Rich Garcia ruled the play, which was clearly fan interference, a home run.
New York went on to win the game thanks to a Bernie Williams walk-off blast in the 11th in an eventual 4-1 series win.
9. Mantle Lifts Yanks To World Series Win
Game 7 of the 1952 World Series was tied up at two apiece until Mickey Mantle stepped up to the plate in the top of the sixth.
Facing Joe Black, the Yankees’ legend tattooed the game-winning home run to right-center and padded the lead with a RBI single in the seventh to lift his team to its fourth-straight World Series win.
To add icing to the cake, it was the franchise’s second consecutive title win over the Brooklyn Dodgers and it was all thanks to Mantle’s .345 batting average and two homers.
8. Richardson Saves The Day… And The 1962 World Series
It was the ninth inning in Game 7 of the 1962 World Series between the Yankees and Giants at Candlestick Park.
Up at the dish, was future Hall of Famer Willie McCovey with two outs and a runner second and third. On the mound was Ralph Terry and your classic “do-or-die” situation occurred.
McCovey, who had already hit a triple in the contest, rocketed a screaming line drive in the direction of second baseman Bobby Richardson.
If Richardson fails to catch it, the Giants walk off with the World Series title. If he snares it, New York would go on to win their 20th title in franchise history.
Well, he’s on the list, so guess what? Richardson made the play completing Terry’s shutout victory and helping the Yankees win back-to-back titles for the first time in 10 years.
7. Welcome To November Baseball
There is no drama quite comparable to baseball drama and this moment is a prime example of why.
In Game 4 of the 2001 World Series, the clock struck midnight for the first time in baseball history and Jeter started the month off right.
After battling closer Byung-Hyun Kim for eight pitches, Jeter drilled the ninth pitch over the short porch in right to officially claim the nickname “Mr. November” and tie the series up at 2-2.
Despite winning game five the next night, New York would lose to the Arizona Diamondbacks in seven games but the shot by Jeter would be one of the greatest moments in World Series history.
According to the legend, he did, in fact, hit one in the eventual 7-5 New York Yankees‘ win.
Ruth and Lou Gehrig each hit two homers for New York as they would not only win the contest, but clinch their fourth World Series title in franchise history.
5. Chambliss Sends The Bronx Into A Frenzy
It had been 12 years since the Yankees had appeared in a World Series. That is until Chris Chambliss stepped up to the plate in the bottom of the ninth in Game 5 of the 1976 ALCS.
Facing Kansas City Royals Mark Littell, who had put up 4.2 scoreless frames in the series, with the game tied up at six, Chambliss smacked a walk-off solo blast to clinch the pennant in front of a crowd of 56,821.
As the slugger rounded the bases, most of that crowd stormed the field in a celebration that resembled that of a riot in the Bronx.
4. “The Flip”
Words can’t explain how epic this play by Derek Jeter was, but we’ll try.
With two outs in the bottom of seventh in Game 3 of the 2001 ALDS, Yankees’ starter Mike Mussina was pitching a masterpiece until allowing Terrence Long to rip a ground ball down the right field line with Jeremy Giambi on first.
Shane Spencer dug the ball out of the right field corner and heaved the ball over both cutoff men as Giambi rounded third.
Just when it looked like the Oakland A’s were going to tie the game up, Jeter raced from his shortstop position, fielding the throw while his momentum carried him towards the Yankees’ dugout, and shuffled a 20-foot toss to catcher Jorge Posada to nab Giambi at the dish.
The play was not only unethically incredible, but served as a turning point in the divisional series. Entering that game, New York trailed Oakland two games to none and came back to win the series in five.
3. Aaron F**king Boone
After the Yankees managed to come back down 5-2 in game seven of the 2003 ALCS off Pedro Martinez, the ballgame carried itself into extras.
In the bottom of the 11th inning, Aaron Boone stepped up to the plate and took a Tim Wakefield knuckleball into the seats in left on the very first pitch to clinch the pennant for the New York Yankees.
The image of Boone rounding the bases with his hands extended outwards while Yankee Stadium shook and Mariano Rivera crying on the mound speaks for itself.
2. Reggie Becomes Mr. October
In Game 6 of the 1977 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Reggie Jackson smacked three home runs in a row off of three straight pitches from three separate pitchers.
His first shot was a two-run fourth-inning blast to right off Burt Hooton, his second was a scorching line drive that landed over the short porch in right off Elias Sosa, and his third was a bomb to straightaway center off Charlie Hough in the eighth.
New York would win the contest and their 21st World Series title by a score of 8-4. Jackson finished the series with a .450/.542/1.250 slash line with five home runs, eight RBI, and a 1.792 OPS.
Jackson’s Game 6 performance goes down as one of the greatest performances by a hitter in World Series play. Number one on this list, however, must go to a hurler.
1. Nothing But Perfection
In Game 5 of the 1956 World Series, Don Larsen provided the baseball world with the greatest pitching performance in postseason play.
Facing the dominant Brooklyn Dodgers’ lineup, Larsen retired all 27 batters he faced securing the only perfect game in postseason history.
It stood as the only no-hitter until Roy Halladay achieved the feat in the 2010 NLDS for the Philadelphia Phillies.
Larsen’s historic performance was capped off by the stunning image of Yogi Berra jumping into his arms before being mobbed by the eventual World Champions.
What do you think, fans? Was this list of the greatest postseason moments in Yankees’ history accurate? Is there anything you’d change? Make your voice be heard in the comments below.
Christian Kouroupakis covers the New York Yankees for ESNY. Interact with him and view his daily work by “liking” his facebook page and follow him on Twitter. All statistics are courtesy of Baseball Reference.com unless otherwise noted. Don’t hesitate to shoot him an email with any questions, criticisms, or concerns.
Great list! But certainly the Bucky Dent game in Boston (though not technically a post-season game) deserved more than just an honorable mention? I would put it easily at top 5 since it is one of the mos famous games in Yankee history - in fact, in *all* of baseball history.
Game 7 of the 1952 World Series was played in Brooklyn, so Mantle's game-wining home run was in the top of the 7th, not bottom of the 7th. Sorry, I didn't say that to nitpick, but as an introduction to another suggestion: Game 3 of the 1964 World Series, when Mantle hit the game-winning walk-off homer, his record 16th World Series home run (breaking a record he shared with Babe Ruth). The Yankees did not win the World Series but that was certainly a highlight in Yankee postseason history.
Another nominee: Game 4 of the 1996 World Series, when Yankees came back from a 6-0 deficit to win the game 8-6 and tie the Series with Atlanta. The highlight of the game: Jim Leyritz's 3-run homer to tie the game at 6-6 in the top of the 8th. This game was so important as it paved the way for the Yankees to come back and win the Series (their first championship since 1978), and jump-started their 1996-2000 dynasty when they won 4 titles in 5 years.