In honor of major league baseball’s 112th World Series, let’s take a look back at the best of the best out of the 40 times it featured the New York Yankees.
On Tuesday night, major league baseball’s 112th World Series will kickoff and in case you live under a rock, the New York Yankees will not be a part of it.Nevertheless, they’ve been there 40 times, won the series 27 times, and have an overabundance of impeccable moments that have had an effect on not only on their organization, but the sport as a whole.
From Babe Ruth to Derek Jeter and everyone in between, there is constantly a fall classic one can look back on and say, “wow.”
Well, somehow, we ranked those “wow” moments. Ladies and gentlemen, without further adieu, here are the greatest moments throughout the 40 times the Bronx Bombers were in the World Series.
Drop Third Strike Of The Century
In game four of the 1941 Fall Classic, Yankees’ right fielder Tommy Henrich struck out which would have ended the contest.
However, Brooklyn Dodgers’ catcher Mickey Owen was unable to handle the pitch from Hugh Casey and allowed Henrich to reach first on a drop third strike.
After a single by Joe DiMaggio followed with a single and then Charlie Keller smoked a two-run double to put the Bombers up for good.
In what would have been a strikeout that tied the series up at two, Owen’s E-2 served as a spark to an incredible four-run ninth inning for the Yankees, who would win the series the following day.
Richardson Saves The Day (And 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.
Deja Vu All Over Again
Just one night after Jeter became “Mr. November,” New York found themselves trailing the Arizona Diamondbacks by two with two outs in Game 5 of the 2001 World Series.
With Jorge Posada on second and Scott Brosius at the dish, he clobbered a game-tying two-run bomb to left off the same pitcher they rallied off the previous night, Byung-Hyun Kim.
As the late Yankees’ legend Yogi Berra once said, “it’s deja vu all over again,” and the Bombers sent the series back to Arizona up 3-2.
Jeter Kicks Off Subway Series With A Bang
Derek Jeter’s most memorable year has to be 2000.
That year, the future hall-of-fame shortstop became the first Yankees to ever capture both the All-Star Game MVP and a World Series MVP.
Additionally, Jeter led off Game 4 of the Fall Classic with a leadoff home run on the very first pitch he saw against the New York Mets which sparked the Yankees to a 3-2 win.
That led a capture of a three-peat the following night.
Whitey Ford’s World Series Scoreless Streak
In the 1961 World Series, Yankees’ legend Whitey Ford smashed Babe Ruth’s Fall Classic record of 29.2 continuous scoreless innings of work.
In addition to that, the southpaw took home the 1961 series MVP honors as New York topped the Cincinnati Reds in five games. Ford pitched a complete game shutout in Game 1 and hurled five scoreless in Game 5.
This unbelievable feat stood until Mariano Rivera broke it in the 2000 American League Championship series.
Mr. November
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 in similar fashion, 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.
Jim Leyritz Sparks A Dynasty
The 1996 World Series got off to a sluggish start for the Yankees, who were looking to clinch their first title since 1978.
That accomplishment seemed unpromising, especially when the Bombers were outscored 16-1 in the first two games at Yankee Stadium.
Down 2-0, the Yankees took Game 3 thanks to David Cone‘s quality start and in Game 4, they trailed 6-0 as the game entered the sixth inning.
After rallying for three runs in the top of that inning, Jim Leyritz came up in the top the eighth with two on and he not only completed the comeback by cranking a game-tying three-run shot, but sparked the Yankees to one of the greatest dynasties the sport has ever seen.
New York won the game 8-6 and swept the concluding two games of the Series to disclose the drought. They would go on to win three of the next four World Series titles.
Babe Ruth Calls His Shot
Game three of the 1932 World Series is one that included one of baseball’s greatest and most controversial moments.
Many believe that Babe Ruth, when facing Chicago Cubs’ Charlie Root in the fifth inning, pointed towards centerfield to “call” his home run.
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.
Reggie Jackson’s Three Home Runs
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. The winner of ESNY’s list, however, goes to the greatest performance by a pitcher in World Series play.
Don Larsen’s Perfect Game
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? Which was your favorite Yankees moment in the World Series? Let us know in the comments below and enjoy tonight’s Fall Classic beginning at 8:08 pm ET on FOX.
Christian Kouroupakis covers the New York Yankees and Major League Baseball 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.