5 BOROUGH SPORTS

Heading into the 1999 World Series, many wondered who would be crowned the “Team of the 90’s.” The Atlanta Braves were the greatest team in baseball in the early part of the decade, winning the NL East every season but 1990. The Braves also won the 1995 World Series to boost their impressive resume of the 1990’s. In the second half of the decade, however, the Yankees took the crown of the best team in the MLB. With two World Series titles in 1996 (against the Braves) and 1998, the Yanks were making a strong argument that they should be the 90’s best team. The Bombers also made the playoffs from 95-98 with 1998 being a dream season with 114 victories. For the final fall classic of the 90’s, it was certainly appropriate for these two teams to battle once again.

In Atlanta, it seemed that the Braves were going to cruise to a Game 1 victory with a Chipper Jones home run in the 4th inning. However, Yankee starter, Orlando Hernandez made sure that was the only run for the Braves and gave the offense a chance to win. In the 8th, the Yanks finally got to Maddux. With bases-loaded and nobody out, Atlanta brought in lefty-killer John Rocker to face Paul O’Neill. But the warrior battled and drove in two runs to open the flood gates. With a Game 1 victory, the Yankees set the stage to end this series quickly. With a hitting frenzy and a David Cone gem, the Yanks were heading home up 2-0. Game 3 is what made this series memorable. Despite his playoff dominance, Pettitte didn’t have it that night and the Braves took a quick 5-1 lead. The Yankees were able to cut it to 5-2 with a Tino Martinez home run, but Glavine was seemingly unhittable. It wasn’t till the 8th when Yankee magic appeared once again. With runners on first and second, Chuck Knoblauch hit an opposite field home run to tie the game. In the 10th inning, the game officially became a classic. Chad Curtis, the unspoken hero, hit a walk-off bomb to left-field to set the stage for a sweep. In Game 4, Roge Clemens officially became a Yankee. His 6 inning dominating performance allowed the Yankees to take a 3-0 lead into the 8th inning. When the Braves threatened in the top of the 8th, it was time for Mariano Rivera to end the series. While sitting in the Loge Level at Game 4, I have to admit that Yankee Stadium was the loudest I’ve ever heard when Mariano came in from the bullpen than the final out. With “Enter Sandman” blasting, everyone knew the series was over. Appropriately, the final out was a fly ball to Chad Curtis. The Yankees had become “…Team of the Decade…Team of the Century…the most successful franchise in sports.”

This past fall, the Yankees were able to erase all the nightmare events that occured throughout this decade. After winning their third straight title in 2000, the Yankees had a series of years that was absolute torture for every Yankee fan. After discovering the humanity of Rivera in 2001 and having the ultimate collapse in 2004, it seemed like the franchise was headed in the wrong direction. With more postseason collapses and unnecessary major free-agent acquisitions, the Yankees were digging their own grave. Finally, in 2008, the Yanks hit rock bottom: highest payroll in baseball and didn’t reach the postseason. Finally, GM Brian Cashman started to make the right moves to put together a championship team. With new signees C.C Sabathia, A.J Burnett, and Mark Teixeira, the Yankees had the tools to reach the promise land. After finishing with their best record since 2002 with 103 victories, the Yanks steamrolled through the Division Series against the Twins and the Championship Series against the Angels. Alex Rodriguez, who struggled in the postseason since his Yankee career began, was unstoppable in October. It seemed like every big moment late in the game, A-Rod came through in the clutch with key base hits and crucial home runs.

In the World Series against the Phillies, Philadelphia looked to have control of the series after a magnificent performance by Game 1 starter Cliff Lee. The Yankees, however, stormed back in Game 2 defeating nemisis Pedro Martinez and took two of three in Philadelphia. In Game 4, Johnny Damon and A-Rod came through for the Yankees in the 9th inning to break a 4-4 tie with a Damon double-steal and an A-Rod clutch 2 RBI double. With Hideki Matsui’s MVP performance in Game 6 with six RBI, the Yankees found themselves on top of the baseball world for the first time in nine years.