Friday, March 21, 2014

I've Got Til 5! - World Series Victories

The title might imply that this is my list of the top five World Series victories for the Yankees, but alas... it's not. The fact is I don't like talking about things I didn't actually see, so chances are you'll never see me writing about something from 37+ years ago. That's not to say I don't appreciate it, just that I don't feel comfortable saying something like "the 1927 Yankees are the greatest team of all time" because I never saw them.

Anyway, I love seeing a team celebrate a championship, or any big victory. I've been lucky enough to be a part of such celebrations a few times in my life, and it's a feeling I'll never forget. Which is why I recently got on Youtube and looked for Yankees' World Series victory celebrations.

It turns out that the last five Yankees titles happen to be the only five I've ever actually seen, and I decided to share them here. In no particular order...

1996


While I was technically alive for the 1978 championship, at one year of age I'd be lying if I said I remember it. So, in actuality, this was the first World Series victory I remember. I'll never forget, after Charlie Hayes caught the last out, running around the parking lot at my apartment in college screaming "the Yankees are back, baby!"

You can see the final out at the 2:36:10 mark.


1998


Greatest baseball team of all time? There are many that believe so, and I can't say otherwise. Watching this team win time and time again, no matter how much they were down at one point during the game, was unreal. Talk about a "never say die" attitude.

You can see the final out at the 2:24:20 mark.


1999



While sweeping the Padres in the previous World Series was a bit anti-climatic, as San Diego had only the 3rd best record in the National League, and won a poor National League West division, the 1999 World Series was a bit sweeter. In that one, the Yankees swept an Atlanta Braves team that had won the most games in the league (103), and had a starting rotation headlined by Tom Glavine, Kevin Millwood, Greg Maddux, and John Smoltz.

The final out can be seen at the 2:17:34 mark.


2000


The Yankees had the audacity to lose a game to the New York Mets in the 2000 World Series. But I suppose losing one game to a team that got incredible seasons out of Mike Piazza, Edgardo Alfonso, Benny Agbayani, Mike Hampton, and Al Leiter is okay. Can you believe that Derek Jeter, at only 26 years old, had just won his 4th World Series? Wow.

You can see the final out at the 2:52:30 mark.


2009


2009 was such a special year for me as a Yankees fan. Sure, I'd gotten to see four other World Series victories, which is a lot more than other sports fans can say, but something else happened that year. That was the year that Daniel Burch and I truly became friends. We were lucky enough to bond over a team that meant so much to us, and that friendship goes on now and will for the rest of our lives. 

You can see the final out at the 4:20 mark.

Now let's see the Yankees keep it up this season and bring me a 6th World Series victory!

5 comments:

  1. Daniel, I know you knew this was coming...
    1947,48,50,51,52 all on the radio.
    1953, 56, 58 TV
    1961, 62 Movies/Radio I was busy elsewhere
    1977, 78, 96, 98, 99, 2000, and 2009 all on TV.
    17 of them for sure, maybe one more but not sure of it.
    The 1961 team was very, very good also, but I will not try and compare the three teams, different generations...different rules and times!

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    1. One advantage to being 114 years old I guess. :) I'm glad you're a good sport Mr. Reed.

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  2. Funny how each of the dynasties had a leader....... Tubby Babe Ruth, Pompous Joe D., Drunk Mickey Mantle and the great, classy, amazing, clutch Derek Jeter.

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  3. Yes 2009 was definitely a special year. Without the 2009 season, Daily Sports Pages, and all the other crap we could go back on there is no TGP. I love you like a brother Bryan, but I am sure you know that.

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Sorry for the Capatcha... Blame the Russians :)