#5. 1998 World Champion New York Yankees v. #24. 1938 World Champion New York Yankees
The 1938 Yankees began in 1925 when a 22 year old Lou Gehrig took over first base from Wally Pipp. The Yanks won the pennant the following year and a year later won 110 regular season games and the World Series. They won it again in '28. In 1929 a 22 year old Bill Dickey became the starting catcher. In 1930 - Red Ruffing was acquired and became the ace of the pitching staff. The Yanks hired Joe McCarthy as the skipper in '31 and 22 year old Lefty Gomez joined the rotation and won 22 games. 21 year old Frankie Crosetti became the shortstop is '32 and the Yanks won the World Series. Two years later, 25 year old Johnny Murphy became the closer. Red Rolfe took over at third in '35 and George Selkirk moved into RF replacing Babe Ruth. 21 year old Joe DiMaggio's rookie season was '36, Monte Pearson and Bump Hadley joined the rotation and the Yanks won the World Series. Last year, Spud Chandler joined the rotation and Ivy Andrews became the bullpen's best arm and they won another World Series. And that gets us here - to 1938, Joe Gordon and Tommy Henrich are added to the lineup and that gets us the '38 Yankees. 99-53, won the pennant by 9.5 games over the Red Sox. Swept the Cubs in the World Series. They entered the tournament as the 24th overall seed and have been favored in each if their five rounds. They opened up by sweeping Hank Aaron's 1957 Braves. Then took out a modern team, the 2019 Dodgers 3 games to 1. Next to fall was that 2001 Mariners team that won 115 games, also 3 games to 1. In the Regional Final, the Yanks knocked off Manny/Thome/Murray and the 1995 Indians 4 games to 1. In the last round - it took a full 7 games, but the 1938 Yanks withstood the challenge of the 1977 Yankees to advance to the final four to play for the pennant.
The top seed standing in the tournament is the 1998 Yankees. Here's how they were built. In 1991, a 22 year old Bernie Williams took the center field job. The Yankee leader in innings pitched back in '91? Scott Sanderson. In 1993, the right fielder became 30 year old Paul O'Neill. In 1995, Darryl Strawberry is signed and splits time at DH and both David Cone and Andy Pettitte join the rotation. Joe Torre was hired in '96, Tino Martinez and Derek Jeter move into the lineup. Tim Raines is a key bench bat; Mariano Rivera and Jeff Nelson important bullpen pieces and the Yanks win the World Series. Last year Chad Curtis was the 4th OF, Jorge Posada began to take the catching job, David Wells was added to the rotation; and the bullpen got set up - Rivera to close, Ramiro Mendoza, Mike Stanton, Graeme Lloyd joining Nelson. And then this year - Hideki Irabu and Orland Hernandez filled out the rotation; Chuck Knoblauch and Scott Brosius were acquired, as was Chili Davis; and Shane Spencer came up at year's end. Brian Cashman also ascended to GM just before the season began. The Yanks went 114-48, won the AL East by 22 over Boston. They swept the Rangers in the ALDS, won the pennant over the Indians 4 games to 2 and then swept San Diego to win the World Series. They entered the tournament as the 5th overall seed, swept Albert Pujols and the 2004 Cards in round one, took out a Tinker/Evers/Chance Cubs 3 games to 1. Knocked off Mantle/Maris and the '61 Yanks 3 games to 1; beat Reggie's '72 A's 4 games to 1 - and then eliminated the 1970 Orioles 4 games to 2 to reach the Final Four and play for the pennant. This Yankee club has also been favored in each round, so something has to give - and they are now up to 141 wins.
Yankees 114-48 (Pythag 114-48) Mgr. Joe Torre (AL MoY)
1st in AL East
d. Rangers 3-0 in ALDS
d. Indians 4-2 in ALCS (MVP-David Wells)
d. Padres 4-0 in World Series (MVP-Scott Brosius)
d. #124 2004 Cardinals 2-0 (MVP: Bernie Williams/Tino Martinez)
d. #69 1910 Cubs 3-1 (MVP-Orlando Hernandez)
d. #28 1961 Yankees 3-1 (MVP-Bernie Williams)
d. #117 1972 A's 4-1 (MVP-David Wells/Mariano Rivera)
d. #13 1970 Orioles 4-2 (MVP-Jorge Posada)
All-Stars 3B Scott Brosius, SS Derek Jeter (3rd AL MVP) OF Paul O'Neill, SP David Wells (3rd AL Cy Young) OF Bernie Williams
Hall of Famers: Derek Jeter, Tim Raines, Mariano Rivera, Joe Torre
125-50 regular/postseason, won the AL East by 22. 41 games over .500 by the All Star Break. David Wells threw a perfect game in May. Darryl Strawberry had a cancer diagnosis in October.
Yankees 99-53 (Pythag 97-55) Mgr Joe McCarthy
Won AL Pennant
d. Cubs 4-0 to win World Series
d. #105 1957 Braves 2-0 (MVP-Joe Gordon)
d. #41 2019 Dodgers 3-1 (MVP-Frankie Crosetti/Joe Gordon)
d. #56 2001 Mariners 3-1 (MVP-Joe DiMaggio/Bill Dickey)
d. #40 1995 Indians 4-1 (MVP Joe DiMaggio)
d. #97 1977 Yankees 4-3 (MVP-Spud Chandler/Red Rolfe)
All-Stars Bill Dickey (2nd AL MVP) Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig, Lefty Gomez, Johnny Murphy, Red Rolfe, Red Ruffing (4th AL MVP)
Hall of Fame: Bill Dickey, Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig, Lefty Gomez, Joe Gordon, Red Ruffing, Joe McCarthy
Another Joe McCarthy team, third straight World Championship for the Yankees, it hadn't been done before. They win it again next year. Won the AL by 9.5.
CF DiMaggio (23) 139 5.9
1B Gehrig (35) (LH) 132 4
C Dickey (31) (LH) 143 5.6
RF Henrich (25) (LH) 120 3.4
2B Gordon (23) 109 3.9
3B Rolfe (29) (LH) 107 4.1
LF Selkirk (30) (LH) 99 1.3
SS Crosetti (27) 89 4.4
DH Powell (29) 76
P Ruffing (33) 138 6.1
Bench
C Glenn (29) 67
2B Knickerbocker (26) 73
LF Hoag (30) 75
SP2 Gomez (29) (LH) 136 4.6
SP3 Chandler (30) 113
P Pearson (29) 115
LF Raines (38) (SH) 107 1.1
CF Williams (29) (SH) 160 5.6
DH Strawberry (36) (LH) 132 1.5
C Posada (26) (SH) 115 3.4
RF O'Neill (35) (LH) 130 5.4
1B Martinez (30) (LH) 124 3.6
SS Jeter (24) 127 6.3
3B Brosius (31) 121 5
2B Knoblauch (29) 102 3.8
SP Cone (35) 125 5.3
Bench:
LF Curtis (29) 90 2.9
DH Davis (38) (SH) 116
C Girardi (33) 85
IF Sojo (33) 37
SP Wells (35) (LH) 127 5.2
P Hernandez (32) 132 3.7
P Pettitte (26) (LH) (104)
Lineups:
C-Dickey over Posada (1938 1-0)
1B-Gehrig over Martinez (1938 2-0)
2B-Push (Gordon draw Knoblauch)
SS-Jeter over Crosetti (1938 2-1)
3B-Brosius over Rolfe (tied)
LF-Curtis/Raines over Selkirk (1998 3-2)
CF-DiMaggio over Williams (tied)
RF-O'Neill over Henrich (1998 4-3)
DH-Strawberry/Davis over Powell/Hoag (1998 5-3)
SP1 Ruffing over Cone (1998 5-4)
SP2 Wells over Gomez (1998 6-4)
SP3 Hernandez over Chandler (1998 7-4)
SP4-Pearson over Pettitte (1998 7-5)
Bullpen- 1998 (8-5)
So - the 1998 Yanks have the WAR advantage, it's Jeter who is the top position player, they have the better seed which gives them home field. The 1998 Yankees are favored to win the pennant and advance to the World Series.
GAME ONE
1st: Well, here we go. The 1998 Yankees take the field, facing the 1938 Yankees. How to connect them? I don't think you can. DiMaggio played with Mantle. Mantle played with Roy White. Roy White played with Dave Righetti - but Rags last season in NY was '90 and Bernie's first was '91. I could be missing something, but I think that's a continuity break. Regardless - it's David Cone on the mound right now. 35 year old RH; Cone won 20 this season, that only happened one other time in his career, 10 years prior with the Mets. He was 3rd in the Cy Young that year, 4th this year. Joe DiMaggio lines the first pitch of the series over the wall in left center and 1938 is immediately on the board. Cone gets one and then Bill Dickey lines a ball over the wall in right center -- the '38 Yankees aren't messing around, "we're the underdogs? Okay." 1938 2 1998 0
1st: Red Ruffing's got a 2-0 lead and he stands on the mound. 33 year old RH. He won 21 this year and will match that mark next year, his career high. Ruffing finished 4th in the AL MVP this year, next year, 5th. Tim Raines singles to right. That's all.
2nd: Red Rolfe singles. 29 year old left handed hitting third baseman. Rolfe wears #2 if that's evidence of how he was viewed by the organization. That's it.
2nd: Paul O'Neill singles. 35 year old left handed hitting left fielder. O'Neill wears #21, as does Spud Chandler, who will throw for 1938 in game 3. That's it.
3rd: Bill Dickey singles with 2 out. 31 year old lefty hitting catcher. 2nd in the MVP this year. Dickey's #8, as would be his replacement, Yogi Berra - and the retired number is for both of them. Tommy Henrich walks - that's all.
3rd: Scott Brosius singles. 31 year old right handed hitting third baseman. Brosius is #18; the third string catcher for the 1938 team is Arndt Jorgens, he played in 9 games and wears #18. An out later Raines singles again and there are men on the corners. And Then Bernie Williams Bombs a 3 run homer to center and 1998 has jumped in front. 1938 2 1998 3
4th: Rolfe singles again. That's it. 5 Ks for Cone; Cone's #36, no one on the other side is wearing #36.
4th: O'Neill singles. Derek Jeter walks an out later. 24 year old right handed hitting shortstop. Led the AL in runs scored, third in the MVP. 17 Yankees wore number two - the last one prior to Jeter - Mike Gallego. After the second out, Chuck Knoblauch singles to load them up. Bases loaded. 2 out. Ruffing escapes.
5th: Lou Gehrig walks with one out. 35 year old left handed first baseman in his last full year of baseball. Only Yankee ever to wear number 4. Cone holds them here.
5th: Ruffing's #15; the last Yankee to wear that number was Thurman Munson. He allows Williams to reach on an error and then swipe second -- Williams comes around to score on a Darryl Strawberry base knock. A Posada double play cleans the bases - O'Neill singles - moves to second on a wild pitch - and scores on a Tino Martinez single and '98 extends their lead. Jeter singles - it ends here, but 1998 is rolling now. 1938 2 1998 5
6th: Cone strikes out the first two, giving him 7 -- George Selkirk then singles - 30 year old left handed hitting LF. Selkirk didn't just replace Ruth in RF - he took his number. Selkirk wears #3 until 1942. Frankie Crosetti doubles him home. 1938 3 1998 5
6th: Tim Raines singles with 1 out. Raines is 38, switch hitting LF. Rock Raines is wearing #31; no one on the other side has that number. That's it.
7th: 1-2-3. nice work by Cone and you wonder if Torre's about to turn the game over to the pen.
7th: Jorge Posada homers to right center and that might end game one. 27 year old switch hitting catcher. Posada's #20. On the other side #20 is Kemp Wicker who pitched one inning in 1938. Ruffing gets 2 and then Jeter homers to right and that is that -- the younger fans in the stadium love it -- 1998 pounds long balls here in game one. McCarthy goes to his pen, Johnny Murphy is a 29 year old RH who led the AL with 11 saves. He ends it. 1938 3 1998 7
8th: Torre does go to the pen for Mike Stanton. 31 year old lefty. Stanton wears #29, no one from 1938 has that number. 1-2-3
8th: Knoblauch singles. 29 year old RH hitting second baseman. Wears #11 - on the other side #11 is Lefty Gomez, throwing in game 2. Dickey throws him out trying to steal - after the second out Bernie Williams walks, Strawberry singles and so does Posada, scoring a run. 30 year old RH Wes Ferrell comes on and ends it. 1938 3 1998 8
9th: Stanton stays on to finish up - he walks Selkirk, but that's all.
1938 3
1998 8
WP Cone
LP Ruffing
17 hits for 1998 in Game One and they just roll to victory.
Raines 3x
Williams 2x/HR, 3 game 1 RBI, 3 game 1 runs scored
Strawberry 2x
Posada 2x/HR
O'Neill 3x
Martinez 1x
Jeter 3x/HR
Brosius 1x
Knoblauch 1x
DiMaggio 1x/HR
Gehrig 1x
Dickey 2x/HR
Henrich 1x
Rolfe 2x
Selkirk 2x
Crosetti 1x/double
CF DiMaggio (23) 139 5.9
1B Gehrig (35) (LH) 132 4
C Dickey (31) (LH) 143 5.6
RF Henrich (25) (LH) 120 3.4
2B Gordon (23) 109 3.9
3B Rolfe (29) (LH) 107 4.1
SS Crosetti (27) 89 4.4
LF Hoag (30) 75
DH Powell (29) 76
SP2 Gomez (29) (LH) 136 4.6
CF Williams (29) (SH) 160 5.6
SS Jeter (24) 127 6.3
3B Brosius (31) 121 5
DH Davis (38) (SH) 116
C Posada (26) (SH) 115 3.4
RF O'Neill (35) (LH) 130 5.4
1B Martinez (30) (LH) 124 3.6
2B Knoblauch (29) 102 3.8
LF Curtis (29) 90 2.9
SP Wells (35) (LH) 127 5.2
GAME TWO
1st: The 1998 Yanks ripped 17 hits in game one and are back at it today. David Wells on the mound. 35 year old lefty. 3rd in the Cy Young, that's tied for his best ever finish, two years from now when he's with the Jays he'll also finish third. Wells led MLB in K/BB this year, only time he'd accomplish that. He's #33, as is Lee Stine in the opposite dugout. Stine pitched in 4 games this year. He gets 2 and then Bill Dickey, as he did in game 1 -- homers to start this off. 1938 1 1998 0
1st: Lefty Gomez is tasked with slowing this '98 club with 142 wins in the bank. 29 years old. Led the AL in shutouts and HR/9. Jeter walks with one away; Brosius singles. Gomez escapes.
2nd: Joe Gordon walks. The rookie second sacker is 23, right handed, Gordon's #6 - as is Joe Torre. Rolfe singles and '38 has action. Crosetti flies out - Gordon goes to third and a Myril Hoag sac fly adds the second 1938 run. 1938 2 1998 0
2nd: 1-2-3
3rd: 1-2-3
3rd: Chad Curtis walks. The 29 year old right handed bat is in left today; Curtis sports #28, in the other dugout, Atley Donald, who pitched in two games, has the same number. That's it.
4th: 1-2-3, that's 9 straight for Boomer Wells.
4th: Chili Davis walks. The 38 year old switch hitter is the DH today; he's the only #45 on either side. An out later O'Neill singles. After the second out Knoblauch walks to load the bases with 2 away. But Gomez slips it.
5th: Frankie Crosetti singles. The RH shortstop is 27. He led MLB in steals and being hit by pitches. Crosetti is #1, retired for Billy Martin. 2 outs later DiMaggio singles - but that's all.
5th: 1-2-3
6th: Joe Gordon slams a 2 out double and that's followed by a Red Rolfe double that makes it 3-0. 1938 3 1998 0
6th: Just two hits on the day for 1998. 1-2-3, 7 straight for Gomez, 9 outs from tying this series.
7th: 1-2-3
7th: Tino Martinez singles. 30 year old LH hitting first baseman. #24 - Over on the other side, the ace reliever Ivy Andrews wears #24. That's all - Gomez now 6 outs away from tying this up.
8th: Tommy Henrich singles with 2 away; the LH hitting RF is 25; wearing #17 -- in the other dugout #17 is Dale Sveum, who got into 30 games this year. Gordon walks -- Torre decides to stick with Wells, 2 on, 2 out - and it ends.
8th: Jeter singles. Brosius singles to put men on the corners. Two on and nobody out and it ends Gomez's day for Johnny Murphy - he gets a Chili Davis double play, but it scores a run. That's all. 1938 3 1998 1
9th: Torre turns to Mike Stanton. Jake Powell singles with 2 out; 29 year old RH DH'ing today. That's all.
9th: Murphy to finish this up.
O'Neill strikes out.
Martinez walks.
Knoblauch strikes out. One out to go.
0-2 count on Curtis -- but he fights his way back to draw a walk and now the tying run is on base. 2 on, 2 out.
Bernie Williams singles hard to left -- Martinez is held at third and the bases are loaded and that brings Ivy Andrews on. 31 year old RH.
Bases loaded. 2 out --- and Jeter singles to center! Martinez scores ---- Curtis will score! And the Yankees tie it up! Derek Jeter, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap -- two out single to tie the game. Andrews gets Brosius and the inning ends. 1938 3 1998 3
10th: Stanton stays on. He gets 2 and then walks Henrich. That's all.
10th: McCarthy goes to the pen to bring on Joe Beggs. 27 year old RH. Beggs and Stanton have the worst ERA+ you're likely to see all series and here they are. 1-2-3
11th: Jeff Nelson enters for 1998. 31 year old RH. Red Rolfe singles. That's the possible go ahead run. Nelson gets the next 3.
11th: Beggs stays on. 1-2-3; good bullpen outing for Joe Beggs.
12th: 32 year old RH Darren Holmes now for Torre. He walks DiMaggio on 4 straight and again, potential go ahead run on base. And then he walks Gehrig on 4 straight. Lot of nervous glances now - is Holmes up to this task? Dickey laces a single to center -- DiMaggio comes around to score and there's the go ahead run. 26 year old RH Ramiro Mendoza comes on; he walks Henrich to load the bases -- still nobody out -- he gets the first - but then a Rolfe base hit scores another run and a Crosetti sac fly scores a third. Hoag walks to load them again, it ends here. 1938 6 1998 3
12th: Beggs stays on - McCarthy trying to get a third inning out of his RH.
Jeter flies to left.
Brosius singles.
And Chili Davis Homers to Right Center! The younger fans explode - Davis brings 1998 within a run with a 2 run shot to right center field!
28 year old RH Steve Sundra comes on, can he get these last 2 outs.
Sundra strikes out Posada.
Sundra strikes out O'Neill and it's over.
1938 6
1998 5
WP Beggs
LP Holmes
Sv Sundra
It took a dozen innings and the withstanding of a couple of comebacks - but 1938 has tied this series.
DiMaggio 3x/HR
Gehrig 2x
Dickey 4x/2HR
Henrich 4x
Rolfe 5x/double
Selkirk 2x
Crosetti 2x/double
Gordon 3x/double
Hoag 1x
Powell 1x
Raines 3x
Williams 3x/HR, 3 game 1 RBI, 3 game 1 runs scored
Strawberry 2x
Posada 2x/HR
O'Neill 4x
Martinez 3x
Jeter 6x/HR
Brosius 4x
Knoblauch 2x
Davis 2x/HR
Curtis 2x
LF Raines (38) (SH) 107 1.1
CF Williams (29) (SH) 160 5.6
C Posada (26) (SH) 115 3.4
RF O'Neill (35) (LH) 130 5.4
1B Martinez (30) (LH) 124 3.6
SS Jeter (24) 127 6.3
3B Brosius (31) 121 5
2B Knoblauch (29) 102 3.8
P Hernandez (32) 132 3.7
CF DiMaggio (23) 139 5.9
1B Gehrig (35) (LH) 132 4
C Dickey (31) (LH) 143 5.6
RF Henrich (25) (LH) 120 3.4
2B Gordon (23) 109 3.9
3B Rolfe (29) (LH) 107 4.1
LF Selkirk (30) (LH) 99 1.3
SS Crosetti (27) 89 4.4
SP3 Chandler (30) 113
GAME THREE
1st: The next 3 games will be...well, at Yankee Stadium obviously, just without a DH as 1938 becomes the home team. Spud Chandler on the mound. 30 year old RH in his second big league season. 5 years from now he will be AL MVP. 1-2-3
1st: Orlando Hernandez is a 32 year old rookie RH. 4th this year in the Rookie of the Year; wearing #26. The backup catcher for 1938, Joe Glenn, is similarly uniformed. Dickey walks with 2 outs, he had homered in the first in games 1 and 2. Henrich singles and there are men on the corners. Gordon walks and 1938 loads the bases...but they don't score.
2nd: O'Neill singles. There hasn't been a Yankee assigned #21 since Morgan Ensberg in '08. That's all.
2nd: 1-2-3
3rd: Raines is back in left today and he walks with 2 out. The current #31 is Aaron Hicks, the Yankee who wore it longest is Dave Winfield. Williams singles - Posada singles and 1998 is on the board first. 1998 1 1938 0
3rd: 1-2-3, 7 straight for Hernandez
4th: Martinez and Jeter walks back to back. Prior to Jeter, it was Red Rolfe who wore #2 the longest for the Yanks. Brosius singles. Loaded. Nobody out. Chandler gets the next 2 -- and then it's Raines who comes through with a base hit to score another. 1998 2 1938 0
4th: Henrich walks. In an 11 year Yankee career, Henrich wears 4 different numbers. He's #17 right now; a Yankee hasn't worn that number since Matt Holliday in 2017. The longest running #17 - Stick Michael, 1968-74. 2 outs later Selkirk walks. But that's all.
5th: 1-2-3
5th: Just 1 hit for 1938 -- Joe DiMaggio walks with one away. The Yankee Clipper is a 23 year old RH hitting CF. He was 6th this year in the AL MVP. He wears number 5 -- once he retires in '51, that number goes with him. After the second out Bill Dickey bombs a 2 run shot to tie the score. Dickey's third homer of the series ties this up in the 5th. Hernandez hits Henrich. It ends here. 1938 2 1998 2
6th: Brand new series, totally deadlocked. Knoblauch doubles with 2 away. Brett Gardner has worn #11 for the last 13 seasons, just surpassing Lefty Gomez for #11 tenure. Torre goes to the bench - Shane Spencer, who battered the ball in September hits for Hernandez and walks. 2 on, 2 out, score tied at 2. Chandler gets through it.
6th: Mike Stanton for the Yanks. Stanton's wearing #29, no one is in the other dugout. Gio Urshela wore it in 2020; No Yankee ever wore #29 longer than Stanton; although Charlie Silvera, a backup catcher in the 50s, matched him. 1-2-3
7th: Bullpen game now. McCarthy turning to Johnny Murphy. Masahiro Tanaka has been #19 with the Yanks since 2014, that still doesn't match Murphy who wore it for 9 seasons, and that's one fewer than Dave Righetti, who had it for a decade. With one out Posada walks and O'Neill singles -- Tino Martinez comes through with a base hit that breaks the tie. Ivy Andrews now takes the ball and ends the inning. 1998 3 1938 2
7th: 1-2-3, thats 6 straight for Stanton - two perfect innings out of the pen.
8th: Brosius singles. Didi Gregorius wore #18 most recently in New York. Reliever Hal Reniff wins the award for longest tenure with that number. That's it.
8th: Jeff Nelson takes over and Rivera starts to stir. Jonathan Loaisiga has been #43 the last two years; Nelson wore that number longer than any other Yankee. Henrich singles. Gordon doubles and here we go - tying run at third, go ahead run at second. Nobody out. Big, big, big spot in this series.
Rolfe foul pop to third.
Selkirk walks. Loaded. One out. Loaded. One out. Huge spot.
Crosetti rips a base hit to right center! One run. Two runs and 1938 has taken the lead!
Darren Holmes comes on now for Torre. Bill Knickerbocker is a 26 year old right handed bat and he comes off the bench for McCarthy. He grounds out - but that scores another run.
The inning ends -- big inning! 1998 3 1938 5
9th: Joe Beggs was big in game 2 and now looks to get these last 3 outs.
Raines doubles.
Williams singles - Raines is held at third -- tying runs on and nobody out.
Posada grounds out - scoring a run to make it 5-4. Tying run in scoring position now with one away.
O'Neill flies deep to RF -- Williams goes to third. That's the tying run -- just 90 feet away - 2 outs.
Martinez hits a sinking line drive to center field -- DiMaggio races in to make a shoestring catch and the game is over.
Big comeback for 1938 - they score 3 in the 8th and then hold on and now have gained control of this series. They only got 5 hits today - but 1938 has won game 3
1998 4
1938 5
WP Andrews
LP Nelson
Sv Beggs
DiMaggio 4x/HR
Gehrig 2x
Dickey 6x/3HR
Henrich 7x
Rolfe 5x/double
Selkirk 4x
Crosetti 3x/double
Gordon 5x/2double
Hoag 1x
Powell 1x
Raines 6x/double
Williams 5x/HR, 3 game 1 RBI, 3 game 1 runs scored
Strawberry 2x
Posada 4x/HR
O'Neill 6x
Martinez 3x
Jeter 6x/HR
Brosius 4x
Knoblauch 2x
Davis 2x/HR
Curtis 2x
CF Williams (29) (SH) 160 5.6
LF Strawberry (36) (LH) 132 1.5
C Posada (26) (SH) 115 3.4
RF O'Neill (35) (LH) 130 5.4
1B Martinez (30) (LH) 124 3.6
SS Jeter (24) 127 6.3
3B Brosius (31) 121 5
2B Knoblauch (29) 102 3.8
P Pettitte (26) (LH) (104)
CF DiMaggio (23) 139 5.9
1B Gehrig (35) (LH) 132 4
C Dickey (31) (LH) 143 5.6
RF Henrich (25) (LH) 120 3.4
2B Gordon (23) 109 3.9
3B Rolfe (29) (LH) 107 4.1
SS Crosetti (27) 89 4.4
LF Selkirk (30) (LH) 99 1.3
P Pearson (29) 115
GAME FOUR
1st: After getting blasted with 17 hits in game 1, 1938 has settled in, taking games 3 and 4 and now are 27 outs away from grabbing this series by the throat. 29 year old RH Monte Pearson goes for '38. Pearson sports #16; the last Yankee to wear that will be Whitey Ford, retiring in '67. Bernie Williams singles. Pearson gets 2 and then walks O'Neill and Martinez to load the bases, but he then escapes it.
1st: Andy Pettitte needs to come up big today. 26 year old lefty. Pettitte's #46 will be retired by the ballclub after 2013; no one is wearing it in the other dugout today. 1-2-3
2nd: Brosius singles. Knoblauch walks. The first out moves the lead runner up and then a Williams groundout scores him. 1998 1 1938 0
2nd: Henrich singles. That's all.
3rd: Martinez hits a 2 out double; Tino's #24 is currently worn by Gary Sanchez; no Yankee wore it longer than Robinson Cano. Jeter follows with a double and that's another run. 1998 2 1938 0
3rd: Pettitte gets one and then George Selkirk bombs a homer to right center. After the second out, DiMaggio doubles. It ends. 1998 2 1938 1
4th: Knoblauch doubles - but Pearson strands him.
4th: 1-2-3
5th: O'Neill singles with 1 out. Jeter singles after the second out. And then Brosius singles -- that's gonna score a run. Knoblauch is given the intentional walk to bring Pettitte to the plate and it works. 1998 3 1938 1
5th: Pettitte strikes out the side. 1-2-3
6th: 1-2-3
6th: 3 hits allowed by Pettitte today; DiMaggio walks with 1 out. That's all.
7th: O'Neill singles. Moves to second on an out - scores on a Jeter base hit and 1998 extends the lead. That ends Pearson's day, Johnny Murphy comes on. He gets the second out - then walks Knoblauch; does Torre let Pettitte hit? He does and the inning ends. 1998 4 1938 1
7th: Gordon walks with one out - and Torre's faith looks to have paid off as Pettitte moves through it.
8th: Williams singles and steals second. Posada walks an out later and O'Neill tacks on one more run with a base hit. Murphy exits for Wes Ferrell. A Martinez groundout adds another run. Jeter singles. Brosius doubles --- that scores 2 and this is over. 1998 is about to even this series at 2 games each. 1998 8 1938 1
8th: Crosetti doubles. Selkirk walks. An out moves Crosetti up a base where he scores on a DiMaggio sac fly. 1998 8 1938 2
9th: Steve Sundra is the new pitcher. Williams hits a 1 out single, Posada hits a 2 out single. O'Neill doubles -- it scores two runs and 1998 has just really hammered this one home. Martinez walks and that's all. 1998 10 1938 2
9th: Pettitte stays on looking for the complete game. 1-2-3
4 hitter for Pettitte, 1998 has another 17 hit game and we are going to game 5, 2 games to 2.
1998 10
1938 2
WP Pettitte
LP Pearson
Raines 6x/double
Williams 8x/HR, 3 game 1 RBI, 3 game 1 runs scored
Strawberry 2x
Posada 6x/HR
O'Neill 10x/double, 3 game 4 RBI
Martinez 6x/double
Jeter 10x/HR, double
Brosius 7x/double, 3 game 4 RBI
Knoblauch 6x/double
Davis 2x/HR
Curtis 2x
DiMaggio 6x/HR, double
Gehrig 2x
Dickey 6x/3HR
Henrich 8x
Rolfe 5x/double
Selkirk 6x/HR
Crosetti 4x/2double
Gordon 5x/2double
Hoag 1x
Powell 1x
LF Raines (38) (SH) 107 1.1
CF Williams (29) (SH) 160 5.6
C Posada (26) (SH) 115 3.4
RF O'Neill (35) (LH) 130 5.4
1B Martinez (30) (LH) 124 3.6
SS Jeter (24) 127 6.3
3B Brosius (31) 121 5
2B Knoblauch (29) 102 3.8
SP Cone (35) 125 5.3
CF DiMaggio (23) 139 5.9
1B Gehrig (35) (LH) 132 4
C Dickey (31) (LH) 143 5.6
RF Henrich (25) (LH) 120 3.4
2B Gordon (23) 109 3.9
3B Rolfe (29) (LH) 107 4.1
LF Selkirk (30) (LH) 99 1.3
SS Crosetti (27) 89 4.4
P Ruffing (33) 138 6.1
GAME FIVE
1st: Pivotal game in the series; most important game yet in the tournament. Game 5, two Yankee teams 60 years apart playing for a pennant. The 2019 Astros and the 1969 Orioles await on the other side of the bracket. Red Ruffing lost game one and he's back today. Tim Raines is back in the lineup today and he opens the game with a single. He's reached 7 times. Bernie Williams then reaches on an error and '98 is in business. Ruffing gets the next two -- and then Tino Martinez comes through with a base hit and it scores a run. Derek Jeter singles - and it scores another. Scott Brosius doubles - that's 2 more runs -- 1998 just punches Ruffing right in the mouth. 1998 4 1938 0
1st: David Cone won game 1 and he has the big, big lead here. Cone gets two -- and then Bill Dickey hits his 4th home run of the series, his third first inning homer. Henrich doubles, that's all. 1998 4 1938 1
2nd: 1-2-3
2nd: 1-2-3
3rd: Tino Martinez homers with 2 out -- his second hit, second RBI of the day -- the younger fans in the Bronx roaring their approval as the first baseman reaches home plate. 1998 5 1938 1
3rd: 1-2-3, 8 straight for Cone.
4th: 1-2-3
4th: 1-2-3, 11 straight for Cone.
5th: Raines walks. That's all.
5th: Red Rolfe doubles. Selkirk walks and Crosetti single -- Rolfe held at third and here's the big chance for 1938. Bases loaded. Nobody out. Can they get back into this game 5? Cone gets two -- it's been a really, really quiet series for Lou Gehrig - but he comes through here with a base hit that plates two. 1998 5 1938 3
6th: 1-2-3
6th: 1-2-3, each club with 5 hits and we head to the 7th.
7th: 1-2-3, 9 straight for Ruffing, 1998 doesn't have a hit since the Martinez homer back in the third.
7th: Crosetti reached on an error and Myril Hoag, hitting for Ruffing, doubles him home; there's nobody out, the tying run is in scoring position. Cone gets one -- but maybe Gehrig is heating up - he blasts a double off the left field wall that ties the score. Torre brings the hook for Cone, Mike Stanton comes on, gets the second out and then Henrich singles. 2 on, 2 out -- big spot --- Joe Gordon singles and 1938 has come all the way back in this one and takes the lead. 1998 5 1938 6
8th: Johnny Murphy gets the ball for 1938 -- suddenly just 6 outs from a 3-2 series lead.
Raines grounds to short.
Williams grounds to third.
Murphy strikes out Posada --- 1998 goes down 1-2-3.
8th: Stanton still on. Selkirk singles. 2 outs later DiMaggio walks and that's all.
9th: Murphy's 3 outs away -- the older fans now running Yankee Stadium really giving it to the younger crowd.
O'Neill grounds to second.
Martinez flies to center.
Murphy strikes out Jeter and it's done.
1938 comes back again - 3 in the 7th - Murphy provides 2 perfect innings of relief and they win the pivotal game 5. Just 5 hits today for 1998.
1998 5
1938 6
WP Ruffing
LP Cone
Sv Murphy
DiMaggio 7x/HR, double
Gehrig 4x/double, 3 game 5 RBI
Dickey 7x/4HR
Henrich 10x/double
Rolfe 6x/2double
Selkirk 8x/HR
Crosetti 5x/2double
Gordon 6x/2double
Hoag 2x
Powell 1x
Raines 8x/double
Williams 8x/HR, 3 game 1 RBI, 3 game 1 runs scored
Strawberry 2x
Posada 6x/HR
O'Neill 10x/double, 3 game 4 RBI
Martinez 8x/double, HR
Jeter 11x/HR, double
Brosius 8x/2double, 3 game 4 RBI
Knoblauch 6x/double
Davis 2x/HR
Curtis 2x
CF DiMaggio (23) 139 5.9
1B Gehrig (35) (LH) 132 4
C Dickey (31) (LH) 143 5.6
RF Henrich (25) (LH) 120 3.4
2B Gordon (23) 109 3.9
3B Rolfe (29) (LH) 107 4.1
SS Crosetti (27) 89 4.4
LF Selkirk (30) (LH) 99 1.3
DH Powell (29) 76
SP2 Gomez (29) (LH) 136 4.6
CF Williams (29) (SH) 160 5.6
SS Jeter (24) 127 6.3
3B Brosius (31) 121 5
DH Davis (38) (SH) 116
C Posada (26) (SH) 115 3.4
RF O'Neill (35) (LH) 130 5.4
1B Martinez (30) (LH) 124 3.6
2B Knoblauch (29) 102 3.8
LF Raines (38) (SH) 107 1.1
SP Wells (35) (LH) 127 5.2
GAME SIX
1st: 27 outs from now either the 1938 Yankees will have won the pennant or we will be headed to Game 7. David Wells takes the ball today. He gets two and then Bill Dickey continues his first inning dominance with a triple, he had just 4 this season. Wells doesn't allow a run.
1st: Lefty Gomez going for 1938 -- champing at the bit for the ball in this spot. He walks Bernie Williams; who is then cut down by Dickey trying to steal second. Derek Jeter singles and steals second - 1998 is aggressive in the first inning of the must win game. Scott Brosius doubles to right, that's his 3rd double of the series and it scores a run. 1938 0 1998 1
2nd: Henrich walks, he's reached 11 times, leading 1938. An out later Rolfe doubles, his third double of the series, the two third basemen both slapping that ball. But Wells shuts them down here.
2nd: O'Neill walks and an out later Knoblauch singles; ONeill to third - and he scores on a Raines groundout. 1938 0 1998 2
3rd: Gehrig walks with 2 out -- that's all.
3rd: 1-2-3
4th: After an out, Gordon and Rolfe single. Wells strikes out the next two and preserves the shutout.
4th: Posada/O'Neill open with back to back walks. Ruffing gets the next 3.
5th: 1-2-3
5th: Williams singles. He's reached 10 times -- and he comes all the way around to score on a Jeter double. Jeter's reached 13 times to lead both squads and 1998 extends the lead. 1938 0 1998 3
6th: Rolfe walks with 2 out but nothing else.
6th: O'Neill/Martinez rip singles. Knoblauch doubles and now it's 4-0 and 1998 might be about to put this away. Raines singles -- that scores 2 and now it's 6-0 and it's time to start thinking about game 7. Wes Ferrell takes the ball now for 1938 -- Williams singles. After a double play Brosius singles and that's another run. Davis walks, it ends Ferrell's day for Steve Sundra who ends the inning. 1938 0 1998 7
7th: 1-2-3, Wells hasn't allowed a hit since the 4th - we are heading to a game 7.
7th: Martinez walks with one away; that's it.
8th: Just 4 hits allowed by Wells; 1-2-3. 6 Ks for Boomer.
8th: Williams doubles. An out later Brosius hits a 2 run homer and that ends this one -- game 7, game 7 -- we are going to a game 7. Joe Beggs enters and ends it. 1938 0 1998 9
9th: Ramiro Mendoza comes on to finish up. Rolfe singles. An out later Selkirk walks. After the second out DiMaggio walks and it ends here.
1938 0
1998 9
WP Wells
LP Gomez
Just 5 hits today for 1938 and this series has reached the final chapter.
Raines 9x/double, 3 game 6 RBI
Williams 12x/HR double, 3 game 1 RBI, 3 game 1 runs scored
Strawberry 2x
Posada 7x/HR
O'Neill 13x/double, 3 game 4 RBI
Martinez 10x/double, HR
Jeter 13x/HR, double
Brosius 11x/3double, HR, 3 game 4 RBI, 4 game 6 RBI
Knoblauch 8x/2double
Davis 3x/HR
Curtis 2x
DiMaggio 8x/HR, double
Gehrig 5x/double, 3 game 5 RBI
Dickey 8x/4HR, triple
Henrich 11x/double
Rolfe 10x/3double
Selkirk 9x/HR
Crosetti 5x/2double
Gordon 7x/2double
Hoag 2x
Powell 1x
CF DiMaggio (23) 139 5.9
1B Gehrig (35) (LH) 132 4
C Dickey (31) (LH) 143 5.6
RF Henrich (25) (LH) 120 3.4
2B Gordon (23) 109 3.9
3B Rolfe (29) (LH) 107 4.1
LF Selkirk (30) (LH) 99 1.3
SS Crosetti (27) 89 4.4
DH Hoag (30) 75
SP3 Chandler (30) 113
LF Raines (38) (SH) 107 1.1
CF Williams (29) (SH) 160 5.6
DH Strawberry (36) (LH) 132 1.5
C Posada (26) (SH) 115 3.4
RF O'Neill (35) (LH) 130 5.4
1B Martinez (30) (LH) 124 3.6
SS Jeter (24) 127 6.3
3B Brosius (31) 121 5
2B Knoblauch (29) 102 3.8
P Hernandez (32) 132 3.7
GAME SEVEN
1st: Fun, right? If you're going to play a tournament for 6+ months, you'd like it to end well - Yankee Stadium, game 7 - for the pennant. Good stuff. Orlando Hernandez takes the mound for 1998. Deep breath and underway. 1-2-3
1st: Spud Chandler spent all 11 years of his career in pinstripes and he's back on the Yankee Stadium mound, perhaps for the final time. Or perhaps not. 1-2-3
2nd: Tommy Henrich singles to center. He's reached a dozen times, pacing 1938. That's all Hernandez allows.
2nd: Jorge Posada doubles to right center. He's reached 8 times -- and he comes around to score on a Paul O'Neill double to right. That's 14 times on base in the series for Paul O'Neill, leading both teams. Chandler gets one and then Derek Jeter singles to right -- O'Neill will score and it's 2-0. 14 times on base for Jeter, matching O'Neill for series high. 1938 0 1998 2
3rd: Frankie Crosetti doubles to right. His third double of the series. Myril Hoag then laces a triple, he had just 3 this season and 1938 is on the board. Hernandez throws a pitch to the backstop -- Hoag will score and it's all tied. Hernandez gets one -- then Gehrig and Dickey single back to back. Gehrig's going to score on a Henrich sac fly -- 1938 takes the lead. 1938 3 1998 2
3rd: Chuck Knoblauch singles. 9 times on base. 2 outs later Darryl Strawberry singles but it ends here.
4th: Red Rolfe singles. He's reached 11 times. George Selkirk singles. Hernandez maybe on the ropes early on here. But -- he gets the next 3 and holds the deficit to 1.
4th: O'Neill singles. 15 times on base. That's all. 1938 still up a run.
5th: Joe DiMaggio walks. 9 times aboard. An out later Bill Dickey walks. 9 times aboard. After the second out Hernandez hits Joe Gordon to load the bases. Big moment here. Hernandez slips it.
5th: Knoblauch singles again. But that's it. We head to the 6th. Still 3-2.
6th: Crosetti doubles again - four doubles on the series for the 1938 shortstop. Hernandez strands him at second.
6th: O'Neill doubles with one out -- big game 7 for O'Neill, now on base 16 times in the series. He dies at third and we head to the 7th inning. Getting late here in Game 7.
7th: Dickey singles with 1 out. But that's all -- Hernandez and Chandler both with solid efforts, as we hit the 7th inning stretch.
7th: Scott Brosius singles. Brosius had 4 RBI in Game 6 and has now reached a dozen times. An out later Tim Raines singles. The second out places two runners in scoring position. Another big spot here. 2 on. 2 out. 1998 trailing late by a run. And Darryl Strawberry comes through with a base hit to center! Brosius scores -- 38 year old Tim Raines coming around -- DiMaggio throwing home --it's on target -- but Raines just slides in under the tag! 36 year old Strawberry singling home 38 year old Raines -- and 1998 has regained the lead! Johnny Murphy is now brought on for 1938, he's pitched in 6 of the 7 games in the series (who we haven't seen? Mariano Rivera) He ends it. 1938 3 1998 4
8th: Mike Stanton takes the ball for 1998. His job is to get the next 3 outs. He does. 1-2-3.
8th: Murphy gets one, walks Martinez, that's all.
9th: It took 7 games, but Mariano Rivera enters the series. 28 year old RH. 1.91 and 36 saves. There isn't a #42 in the other dugout.
Rivera's 3 outs away from the pennant.
Hoag grounds to short.
DiMAGGIO ROCKETS A HOMER TO CENTER AND ITS TIED! The great DiMaggio, with 1938 two outs away from elimination, homers to center off of Rivera and ties this score -- just a huge, huge reaction from Yankee Stadium - split along generational lines watching the Yankee Clipper take Rivera deep to tie the score.
Gehrig singles. Dickey walks. Go ahead run now in scoring position.
Rivera gets the next two and ends the threat. 1938 4 1998 4
9th: Murphy stays on for Joe McCarthy. 1-2-3.
We head to the 10th. Dead tied. 3 games to 3. 4 runs to 4. 11 hits to 11.
10th: Rivera's gone - Jeff Nelson takes over. He gets two and then Crosetti singles. But that's all.
10th: Ivy Andrews now comes on for 1938. Posada singles with one out. That's all.
11th: What more could you ask for? It's the 11th inning of game 7 - two great Yankees squads battling for the pennant. Nelson stays on - and gives up a base hit to DiMaggio. Gehrig then walks.
2 on. Nobody out. Is 1938 about to end this? Torre is out to the mound and Darren Holmes comes on. Holmes strikes out Dickey. Henrich hits one hard -- deep - deep - deep center field, but Williams is at the base of the wall to snag it -- DiMaggio tags up.
Men on the corners. 2 out. Joe Gordon walks.
And Red Rolfe does it -- base hit -- one run scores -- two runs score! 1938 comes through - Red Rolfe with a 2 out 2 run single and that might be the blow that ends this series.
Selkirk grounds to short and we head to the bottom. 1938 6 1998 4
11th: Joe Beggs enters. And now it's 1998 just 3 outs from elimination.
Jeter works a walk. Tying run to the plate.
Brosius grounds to short - Crosetti throws onto first; Jeter now in scoring position.
Knoblauch singles to left -- Jeter is going to score -- and it's 6-5!
Raines laces a liner -- snared by Crosetti.
1998 down to their last strike as Beggs goes 0-2 on Bernie Williams -- but Williams fights his way back and draws the walk.
Tying run at second. Winning run at first. Darryl Strawberry at the plate for 1998.
AND BEGGS STRIKES HIM OUT AND IT'S OVER! 1938 HAS WON THE PENNANT! 1938 HAS WON THE PENNANT! Dickey runs to the mound -- the 1938 Yankees explode from the dugout for the massive celebration -- DiMaggio homered off of Rivera to tie the score in the 9th and then Joe Beggs had to hold on here in the 11th -- striking out Strawberry with the winning run on base! Huge - Huge celebration here at Yankee Stadium -- the 1998 team just crushed - 144 wins and no more -- 1938 -- 1938 -- the 1938 New York Yankees are headed to the Tournament Final! Headed to the World Series!!
1938 6
1998 5
WP Andrews
LP Nelson
Sv Beggs
DiMaggio 11x/2HR, double
Dickey 12x/4HR, triple
Henrich 12x/double
Rolfe 12x/3double
Selkirk 10x/HR
Really 3 candidates for MVP - Dickey had the best overall series, hitting the 4 homers. Rolfe had the big game winning hit today. DiMaggio's homer off of Rivera saved the series.
We'll say it's Rolfe and DiMaggio - the end of game exploits today just weighing so heavily on the minds of the voters.
