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.
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.