Yankees Postseason History Recap: Jeffrey Maier

Since the New York Yankees postseason is over and I am still holding strong to onto my boycott of the 2017 World Series let’s get nostalgic, shall we? Let’s take a look over the course the next couple weeks at the Yankees and their postseason history and let’s begin with a cold day in the Bronx back in 1996.

I can remember the first playoff game that I watched all nine innings of. Sure I watched a lot of the 1995 Wild Card round and I had watched some of the ALDS from 1996 but the first game, due to school, homework or the fact that I was just 10-years old and had the attention span of a 10-year old, Game 1 of the 1996 ALCS between the New York Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles was the first game I watched from the first pitch to the last and boy was I not left disappointed.

If you don’t remember that was the game at Yankee Stadium that saw Derek Jeter step up to the plate against Armando Benitez with the Yankees trailing 4-3 in the bottom of the 8th inning. Jeter would slap the ball the other way to the right field wall where outfielder Tony Tarasco and a 12-year old little boy who will forever be remembered were waiting. His name was Jeffrey Maier.

Maier visibly reached into the field of play and grabbed the ball from Tarasco leading umpire Rich Garcia to rule the play a home run. The game was tied thanks to a little help, a game the Yankees went on to win leading to a series victory as well for the Bronx Bombers. 

Yankees Postseason History Recap: Jeffrey Maier

I can remember the first playoff game that I watched all nine innings of. Sure I watched a lot of the 1995 Wild Card round and I had watched some of the ALDS from 1996 but the first game, due to school, homework or the fact that I was just 10-years old and had the attention span of a 10-year old, Game 1 of the 1996 ALCS between the New York Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles was the first game I watched from the first pitch to the last and boy was I not left disappointed.

If you don’t remember that was the game at Yankee Stadium that saw Derek Jeter step up to the plate against Armando Benitez with the Yankees trailing 4-3 in the bottom of the 8^th inning. Jeter would slap the ball the other way to the right field wall where outfielder Tony Tarasco and a 12-year old little boy who will forever be remembered were waiting. His name was Jeffrey Maier.

Maier visibly reached into the field of play and grabbed the ball from Tarasco leading umpire Rich Garcia to rule the play a home run. The game was tied thanks to a little help, a game the Yankees went on to win leading to a series victory as well for the Bronx Bombers. 

This Day In New York Yankees History 10/9

On this day in 1928 the Yankees completed their second consecutive sweep of the World Series as they beat the St. Louis Cardinals. The Yankees would win their third World Series title overall behind five home runs, three by Babe Ruth alone, in the game four clincher.

On this day in 1938 the Yankees completed a sweep of the Chicago Cubs to become the first team to win three consecutive World Series titles in Major League history.

On this day in 1951 the Yankees rookie infielder Gil McDougal would become only the third player in World Series history to hit a grand slam. The other two were the Yankees Tony Lazzeri and Elmer Smith.

On this day in 1958 the Yankees would win their 18th World Series championship while beating the defending champion Milwaukee Braves. The Yankees would win game seven 6-2 becoming only the second team to come back from a three games to one deficit to win a World Series.

On this day in 1961 the Yankees would win their 19th World Series championship while beating the Reds 13-5 in game five.

On this day in 1980 George Steinbrenner reared his ugly head again as Willie Randolph was thrown out at home in game two of the ALCS. George was seen on national TV jumping out of his seat and screaming profanities wanting the third base coach Mike Ferraro fired on the spot. Dick Howser, the Yankees manager, refused and would lose his job following the season even though the Yankees finished in first place in the American League East with 103 victories.

On this day in 1996 we all witnessed the Jeffrey Maier assisted Derek Jeter home run in the ALCS against the Baltimore Orioles. The Yankees were trailing 4-3 in the bottom of the eight inning in game one before the home run and the eventual Yankees victory.

On this day in 2010 the New York Yankees completed a sweep of the Minnesota Twins in the ALDS at Yankees Stadium. The Twins were the first team to clinch a playoff spot in 2010 and exited their second consecutive postseason without winning a single game.