The World Series. In baseball it is the greatest honor that a team and player competes for. A first to 4 wins showcase of the best that the game has to offer. In almost 120 years of World Series there was never a more hyped series than the 2000 Fall Classic. Some say it was the Most Overrated Series Ever. But to me, it didn’t matter how long it lasted. All that mattered was what was at stake.
Bragging Rights Sports Presents:
Subway Series 2000
Chapter 1: Next Stop, The Yankees Journey to the Series
The 2000 MLB Season was considered the apex of the great hitting seasons of its era. That season featured the most runs scored by every team since the 1930s. The start of the new millennium would bring change to the game in terms of strategies, new ballparks, and a new generation of baseball stars. But the one thing that hadn’t changed over the past few seasons was who won the World Series. The New York Yankees entering 2000 were going for their 3rd straight championship and 4th in 5 years. In 1996 they came back from a 2-0 deficit in Fall Classic against the defending champion Atlanta Braves. In both 1998 and 1999 they swept the World Series against the Padres and aforementioned Braves. This was both the best team money could buy as well as many homegrown players at the top of their game. They had the Core 4 of Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada, and Andy Pettitte. But they had much more. The Yankees had a loaded rotation with Roger Clemens, David Cone, Orlando Hernandez, Pettitte, and Denny Neagle. The bullpen was led by Rivera, Mike Stanton, and Jeff Nelson. Besides Jeter and Posada, the Bronx Bombers featured Bernie Williams, Tino Martinez, Paul O’Neill, and Scott Brosius. A midseason trade for David Justice made them even stronger. This on paper from a talent standpoint was probably their best team in the Joe Torre years. Their record in the regular season deceives how good they were. They would have had another 100 win season if they didn’t lose 15 of 18 to end the season.
In the playoffs, the Yankees would be tested right away. Their opponent in the ALDS would be the AL West Champion Oakland A’s featuring a dynamic 1-2 punch in Jason Giambi, and Miguel Tejada. Plus a Big 3 on the mound in Mark Mulder, Barry Zito, and Tim Hudson. In Game 1, the Athletics would pound Roger Clemens for 4 runs in a 5-3 win. The next night, Andy Pettitte would return the favor by shutting out the A’s 6-0. Game 3 was dominated by the Yankee defense, in particular Jeter, and 2nd Baseman Luis Sojo. Plus they got 2 scoreless innings from Sandman yeah that too. (Good luck hitting that cutter from Mariano) With Clemens pitching again on short rest in Game 4 it felt like Oakland was done. That was until they put together an 11-1 whipping to send the series back to the Oakland Coliseum. Joe Torre called it “The Flight From Hell” no one wanted to make it yet they all said we aren’t going back on the road empty handed. Even more baffling was that several A’s players said that the Yankees time was up and it was time for a new team like Oakland to take over the baseball world. I have one piece of advice for you: Athletics. NEVER WAKE A SLEEPING GIANT! BOOM! Because if you do they will beat you. In the 1st inning, the Yankees did exactly that. Led by a bases-clearing double by Tino Martinez, New York would take a 6-0 lead right out of the gate. But the A’s would chip back in it off of Pettitte. The bad news for Oakland was that the guy waiting at the end of the bullpen was a guy named Rivera. Even with the tying run at the plate in the bottom of the 9th the A’s season would end with one at-bat. “The runner goes, it’s popped up, and this could do it, Martinez in foul ground, and the New York Yankees have won Game 5 in Oakland and they march on to the American League Championship Series.” 1 down, 2 to go.
Next up, the Seattle Mariners. Even with Ken Griffey Jr and Randy Johnson no longer with the team, they still were able to make the playoffs and sweep the AL Central Champion Chicago White Sox in the ALDS. The Yankees did have revenge on their side. In the 1995 ALDS New York blew a 2-0 lead to the Mariners thanks to the heroics of Junior and Edgar Martinez. This time the Yankees would have home field advantage unlike in 1995. But in Game 1 it didn’t matter. Freddy Garcia shut out the Yanks in Game 1 2-0. In Game 2, Seattle led 1-0 in the 8th with Jamie Moyer pitching a 4 hitter at the time. But then the doors had opened again for the Bombers. “Base hit, the Yankees finally score and they tie it.” No longer would the Mariners have control of this series. “The Yankees take a 2-1 lead!” “Swung on and hit in the air to deep right, that ball is high, it is far! IT IS GONE! Derek Jeter puts a cap on the inning, and the Yankees now take a 7-1 lead.” After opening the series with 16 scoreless innings, New York would dominate the next 2 games shortly afterwards. Andy Pettitte won Game 3 8-2. But the story of the series would take place in Game 4. Roger Clemens’ playoff record was spotty in the playoffs going into the game. Then he would put up his best performance of his career. He struck out the 1st 6 batters he faced. And in the 5th, Jeter opened the scoring with a 3-run homer. Clemens would pitch a no-hitter into the 7th when he gave up a single to Al Martin that went just over the glove of Tino into right field. Then with 2 on and 1 out. Clemens had to face Edgar Martinez who was the tying run at the plate. Clemens struck him out with a fastball for the 2nd out. Next came Mike Cameron and he worked the Rocket into a full count. “And the 3-2, STRIKE 3 DOWN LOOKING! CLEMENS HAS STRUCK OUT THE SIDE!” He would eventually strike out an ALCS Record 15 batters in route to a 5-0 win. However the Yankees wouldn’t close it out in 5 thanks to the Mariners getting to Denny Neagle. In Game 6 it was El Duque carrying his unbeaten playoff record into a closeout situation. But Carlos Guillen and the Mariners wouldn’t die quickly. They took a 4-0 lead into the 4th. But as expected the Yanks would come storming back. Led by RBI hits from Posada and O’Neill, the M’s lead was cut to 1. In the 7th, Arthur Rhodes came into pitch for Seattle. And right on cue the Yankees would mount a rally. Both Jeter and Jose Vizcaino singled, putting runners on 1st and 3rd for David Justice. And with one swing. “And the 3-1, SWUNG ON AND DRILLED DEEP TO RIGHT FIELD! THERE IT GOES! SEE YA!!! INTO THE UPPER DECK! DAVID JUSTICE WITH A 3-RUN-HOMERUN!!! AND THE YANKEES HAVE COME ALL THE WAY BACK! THEY LEAD 6-4! GET YOUR TOKENS READY! YOU MIGHT BE BOARDING THE SUBWAY!!!” Speaking of which before this series ends we need to visit the other New York team which got us to Michael Kay saying you might be boarding the Subway.
Chapter 2: Next Stop, The Mets Journey to the Series
The New York Mets on the other hand were coming off a 6 game loss to the division rival Braves in the NLCS in 1999. This was a team that had plenty of talent as well. Mike Piazza, Robin Ventura, Edgardo Alfonzo, Mike Bordick, Derek Bell, and Benny Agbayani headlined the offense. The rotation was led by former All Stars Al Leiter, and Mike Hamption were also tough to beat. And in the bullpen they had future Hall of Famer John Franco, along with hard thrower Armando Benitez. They won 94 games in the regular season, and even if they lost the NL East to Atlanta on the final day of the year, the Mets were able to make the playoffs as a Wild Card. In the NLDS they would be tested by the 2 leading NL MVP candidates in Barry Bonds and Jeff Kent, as well as a San Francisco Giants team that had the best record in baseball. In Game 1, Ellis Burks jumped all over Hampton by hitting a 3 run homer early in the game. The Giants would eventually win 5-1. The next evening, Leiter would make sure San Fran got little offense. He gave up 1 run and left with a 2-1 lead. Alfonzo would hit a 2 run shot in the top of the 9th to make it 4-1. But it wouldn’t last. In the bottom half, the Giants threatened and had the tying run at the plate with JT Snow batting against Armando Benitez. “Benitez deals, Snow, high fly ball to right, into the corner, Perez chasing to the wall. IT’S GONE! Oh No! IT’S GONE! (Oriole fans tried warning you about Benitez) SNOW HAS HOMERED AND WE ARE TIED!” The Mets had blown the lead, but luckily for them the game was going to extra innings. The Mets responded to the challenge. Darryl Hamilton and Jay Payton would get back to back 2 out hits to make it a 5-4 lead for New York. And with Franco in to pitch the 10th, the Giants again threatened. With 2 out, up came Bonds with a chance to win it. “3-2 pitch, ON THE INSIDE CORNER! STRIKE 3 CALLED! The ballgame is over, Franco strikes out Barry Bonds!” What do you know, the occasional appearance of LOLMETS wasn’t happening after all. Now with the series tied, action shifted to Shea Stadium. And just like Game 2 it was a battle that went on and on. The Giants led 2-0 in the 6th, but the Mets came back to tie it off Robb Nen in the 8th. Both teams’ bullpens were lights out, trading 0’s from the 9th through 13th. But then in the bottom of the 13th. HERE I COME TO SAVE THE DAY! “Agbayani hits it to deep left center! 13th inning! Mets win Game 3!” (Another Bay Area gutpunch) B-B-Benny and the Mets! That’s how the fans who were there viewed it. That home run would suck the air right out of Dusty Baker’s squad. And the next day Bobby Jones tossed the 1st 1 hit postseason shutout since Bob Gibson in 1967. Plus he got plenty of help from Robin Ventura too. Now with San Francisco out of the way. The Mets could turn their focus to the St Louis Cardinals, who had swept the Braves right out of the playoffs led by Will Clark, Mark McGuire, and Jim Edmonds. In Game 1 both Piazza and Timo Perez set the tone of the NLCS. Each of them had multi hit performances which backed up homers from Todd Zeile and Jay Payton plus Mike Hampton pitching 7 shutout frames. That same night John Stearns, the Mets Bench Coach yelled following Piazza’s 2 run double in the 1st. “He’s out of the cage! THE MONSTER IS OUT OF THE CAGE! THE MONSTER’S OUT OF THE CAGE! LETS GO!” It wasn’t just the most dominant hitting Catcher of all time that woke up, it was Al Leiter the next night. In Game 2 he outperformed Cardinals Rookie Sensation Rick Ankiel even if St Louis in the 8th inning tied the score at 5 on a double by JD Drew. (It also didn’t help Ankiel that he had 3 more wild pitches on top of the 5 he had in Game 1 vs Atlanta) But in the top of the 9th an error by Will Clark on a ground ball from Ventura would cost the Redbirds badly. Because Payton for the 2nd time in the playoffs delivered the knockout in the late innings. All Armando Benitez had to do was overcome a 2 out walk to Edmonds and the win would be in the heads of the Orange and Blue. “SWUNG ON AND MISSED STRIKE 3! The Mets are going home to Shea Stadium ahead 2 games to none.” What a statement by a team desperate to overcome their LCS loss the previous year. The Mets were not about to let this bid for the pennant slip away. Even though the Cardinals rallied in Game 3 for an 8-2 win, Bobby Jones picked up where left off in the Division Series in Game 4 even if he got whacked later in the game. It didn’t matter because Piazza, Perez, Ventura and the rest of the Mets again destroyed St Louis pitching. 7 runs in the 1st 2 innings to be exact. With a 3-1 lead in the series it was only a matter of time before the Mets would punch their ticket to the 2000 World Series. In Game 5 they had just the man to do it. Mike Hampton again was lights out. Plus in the 1st inning the Mets batted around and scored 3 runs. Not even former 20 game winner and World Series Champion Pat Hentgen could stop the wave of black jerseys coming to destroy the Redbirds base. In the 8th inning chaos broke out. ”Payton gets plunked and will go to 1st base. AND JAY PAYTON IS CHARGING THE MOUND! HERE COME THE BENCHES!” Little did anyone know that this wouldn’t be the only bench clearly brawl that the Mets dealt with all postseason. (More on that later) When the dust settled, Hampton was on the verge of ending the game and series. “Hampton with the count at 3-1. (CRACK) For the 1st time since 1986, the Mets are going to the World Series!” The Mets had done their part, overcoming a 6 game loss in 1999 to the Braves and finally making it back to the Fall Classic for the 1st time in 14 years. Now the question was who their opponent would be. Now let’s go back to the Bronx. The Yankees led 9-4 after 7 innings in Game 6. But the Mariners scored 3 in the top of the 8th to cut it to 9-7. But Sandman would enter with a chance at the much anticipated Fall Classic matchup. After Alex Rodriguez hit a double in the 9th to put the tying run at the plate for Edgar Martinez, all Rivera had to do was get one more out. “A slow roller, but Martinez doesn’t run well, Jeter up with it. (Crowd: YEAAAAH!) Start spreading the news. New York, New York!” For the 3rd year in a row, the Yankees clinched the AL Pennant thanks to clutch hitting and timely outs from the bullpen. Now we get the matchup everyone wants to see.
Chapter 3: Next Stop, Subway Series History
“It’s official, after 44 years, 2 teams playing in the Big Apple will meet in the Fall Classic.” The Subway Series was set. The Mets and Yankees, the 2 best teams in baseball for much of the season, were going head to head for the title of World Champs, and Kings of New York City. Their regular season matchups were also considered highly anticipated matchups. Especially when they met in July for a unique doubleheader. The 1st game was in Queens, and the 2nd game was in the Bronx. The Yankees won both games and there were storylines all over the place. In Game 1, Dwight Gooden beat his old team in his first start at Shea in 7 years. In Game 2, Roger Clemens beaned Mike Piazza in the 2nd inning and gave him a concussion. Piazza would miss the next few weeks, although he did return to form afterwards. Speaking of the Subway Series, the history of this interleague battle went back to 1921. In that series the then New York Baseball Giants under Hall of Fame manager John McGraw beat Babe Ruth and the Yankees in 8 games. (The World Series was best of 9 until 1923) But in 1923 the Babe and his boys won their 1st of 25 World Series Championships in the 20th Century, which would lead to the beginning of 9 Subway Series wins in a row from 1923-1955. Beginning in 1947 there was an assumption that the World Series would usually come down to a clash between inner New York squads. And those people were right. The conventional wisdom was that the Yankees would always make the World Series, and it would usually be against the Brooklyn Dodgers, and if it wasn’t the Dodgers, it would be their rivals from the Polo Grounds in the Giants. Excluding 3 seasons 1948, 1950, and 1954, there were 7 Subway Series in 10 years. (Although in the 3 years that there wasn’t one. A New York team would still be in the World Series) Plus from a fan’s perspective it was a community feud. Now matter where the 3 teams played, the visitors in each game would have good will as their team bus left their home park. Once they arrived in enemy territory, everyone knew where the bus path would lead to and the boos and tomato throwing would begin. But for many years the Subway Series wasn’t meant for Brooklyn. If you were a bum, YOU HAD TO SUFFER! It was always Dem Bums for the Dodgers and their cry was always Wait Till Next Year which got annoying quickly. That changed in 1955 when they beat the Yanks in 7 games. The next year, the 2 teams would meet up again in the Fall Classic. Tied at 2 games apiece, Don Larsen of the Yankees pitched the Greatest Game in the History of Baseball. The only perfect game ever thrown in playoff history, and it would be the only no hitter until Roy Halladay in 2010. The Yanks would win the series in another Game 7 for their 18th Championship. However this was the last time the 2 teams would meet in the World Series until 1977. By then the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles and kept their winning tradition alive. The Giants would also move to the West Coast in 1958, beginning their stay in San Francisco. It would be a while for the Giants until they won it all again, but they would win 3 titles in 5 years from 2010-14. In 1993 when Rudy Giuliani ran for New York Mayor for the 1st time, he made a campaign promise that during his tenure as mayor that there would be a Subway Series. Once the Mets came into existence in the early 1960s and up until the turn of the 21st Century, there weren’t many times where both New York teams were in Championship Contention at the same time. That changed in 1999 when both teams made it to the LCS in their respective leagues. Even though the Baseball Gods were robbed of a Subway Series in 1999, they would get their wish in the 1st year of the New Millenium. Turns out that Rudy was right. Finally, after 44 years, the World Series would be played entirely in New York City. Just ask the legendary voice of the old Yankee Stadium Bob Sheppard. Sheppard: “I have seen the Yankees against the Giants, I have seen the Yankees against the Dodgers. I was hoping for another one like this year, surely. What young red-blooded American would not love to be here to this Monumental Clash.”
Chapter 4: Next Stop, Game 1.
Narrator: Game 1 of Subway Series 2000 would be the beginning of perhaps the most hyped sporting event in American History at that time. Both teams would have their lefty aces on the mound. Al Leiter vs Andy Pettitte. 2 of the hottest pitchers in the playoffs and each of them 3 Time World Series Champions head to head in front of a raucous crowd on a 70 degree night in the Bronx. Spike Lee before the game said these very words. They’ll be talking about this 40 years from now, and we’re here now.” He was right, the start of Game 1 was an omen of what was to come. Both starters would start strong. Both of their breaking balls would be tough to hit. Especially Leiter’s as he didn’t allow a base runner until the 4th inning. Pettitte meanwhile gave up base runners, but they didn’t make it very far. Why? Best pickoff move in baseball. After Piazza singled in his 2nd AB against the Yankee Southpaw, he was picked off immediately. The score would remain nothing-nothing after 5. But in the 6th the Mets would look to get the 1st run of the game. However, controversy struck. “Here’s the pitch, swung on and drilled deep to left field, going back Justice, looking up, and it’s off the top of the wall. Fielded by Justice, he fires into Jeter, Perez is coming home, here’s the throw. He is… OUT AT THE PLATE!” If you ask any Mets fan about this play they will tell you that Todd Zeile hit a home run. Instead it stayed in the park by a matter of feet. That ball was about 6-8 inches away from going over the wall and into the left field stands. Instead of being 2-0 Mets, the game remained scoreless. But the real tragedy of the play was that Timo Perez acted as if the ball went over the wall. If was running at full speed the entire time, he likely would have scored. Instead, he was gunned at the plate by “You Know Who right after David Justice reacted to the ball staying in the field quickly.” The Yankees as expected took advantage of the base running miscue and scored 2 runs on a double by Justice. But in the 7th, the Mets finally got to Pettitte. Bubba Trammell’s 2 RBI single tied the game at 2. Perez making up for his base running error sacrificed the runners to 2nd and 3rd. Pettittes night was done as he gave way to Jeff Nelson. But he gave up the go ahead hit to Edgardo Alfonzo. The Mets now led 3-2. It would stay that way going into the 9th after John Franco pitched 2 scoreless frames. On came Benitez to finish the game. However he would be in for a battle, as he and Paul O’Neill went head to head in one of the most dramatic at bats of the series. After over 10 pitches, the battle went to “The Warrior” as O’Neill drew a 1 out walk. Then Luis Polonia and Jose Vizcaino singled which loaded the bases for Chuck Knoblauch. Knoblauch would hit a Sac Fly to tie the game at 3. Luckily for Benitez and Bobby Valentine, he would retire Jeter to send the game into extra innings. But the task for the Mets was even more daunting now that Mariano Rivera was in the game. Rivera pitched scoreless frames in the 10th and 11th. He left for Mike Stanton, who would keep the game 3-3 going into the bottom of the 12th. As for the Mets Dennis Cook then Turk Wendell didn’t yield a run either. However Wendell was still out there in the 12th. And the Yankees would go right after him. Tino Martinez and Jorge Posada singled putting runners at the corner with 1 out. After intentionally walking O’Neill to load the bases, Wendell had to face Luis Sojo with the game on the line, to the good fortunes of Met fans, Sojo popped out for Out #2. Next came Vizcaino with the bases still loaded. And on the 1st pitch of the AB. “Swung on, line drive, BASE HIT TO LEFT FIELD! HERE COMES TINO! AND THE YANKEES WIN THE GAME!” What an ending to the 1st in a series of games that would be filled with drama all around. The Yankees had fired the 1st shot although it took extra innings to do so. How would the Mets be able to respond to such a tough loss?
Chapter 5: Next Stop, Game 2
In a rematch of the nightcap of that day-night doubleheader in July. It would be Mike Hampton vs Roger Clemens. Everyone was waiting to see how Mike Piazza responded in his first plate appearance against “The Rocket” since he took a fastball to the head in that chaotic game. With the Yankees ahead 1-0 in the series, they certainly liked their chances after turning a loss into an epic win. (Something they had done many times under Joe Torre) Game 2 began with Clemens striking out Perez, and Alfonzo. Next came Piazza, and the gloves were about to come off again. “Here is the 1-2 pitch. Broken bat foul ball off the right side, and the barrel of the bat came out to Clemens and he picks it up and throws it back.” Message sent. Roger Clemens not only wanted a piece of Mike Piazza he wanted the whole 10 yards. (Clemens thought the bat was the ball by the way) And wouldn’t you guess it the Mets were involved in their 2nd bench clearing in 3 games. When the dust finally settled, Piazza grounded out to end the inning. The Yankees would soon back up their fireballing ace by scoring 2 runs in the 1st on RBI hits by Martinez and Posada. Scott Brosius homered in the 2nd to make it 3-0. (The Mets in the top of the 2nd came within inches of tying the game on a long fly ball from Darryl Hamilton that went just foul) With enough run support, Clemens was locked in. For 8 shutout innings, he allowed 2 hits, no extra base hits, and struck out 9. Leading 6-0 going into the top of the 9th it should be smooth sailing. DRAMATIC MUSIC! But the Mets would go down swinging against Jeff Nelson! Following an Alfonso single to lead off the 9th, Piazza would hit the foul pole in left field to make it a 6-2 game. After Ventura singled, Torre went right to Rivera. But even Sandman would have issues in this game. The Mets would load the bases with nobody out. Rivera though would get Lenny Harris to ground into a 1-2-3 double play. That would be one of the most crucial plays of the entire series. Why? Because Jay Payton hit an opposite field 3 run homer to make it 6-5. If they don’t double off Harris the Yankees would have blown a 6-0 9th inning lead. Instead Mo struck out Kurt Abbott to end the game on the very next batter. Instead of possibly another extra inning game, it’s 2-0 Yankees in the series heading to Shea. The Mets even in defeat still felt very confident. They were going back to Queens after 2 dogfights and had a chance to get back in it. Especially after scoring off Rivera and Nelson. Even if the Yanks had a sizable advantage, this series would be far from over.
Chapter 6: Next Stop, Game 3
Ben Stiller: “It’s what every New Yorker dreams about. Having grown up a Yankee fan and a Met fan it’s kind of like my dream come true” Narrator: That phrase says it all. The hype and excitement of this series was the definition of what it means to be a New York Sports fan especially in baseball. The Real World would be put aside during this series if you were a massive sports fan at the time. Game 3 would be a prime example of that. This would be the biggest game of the year for the Mets. The Yankees dating back to 1996 had won a record tying 14 straight World Series games. (The Yankees of the late 1930s and early 1940s could claim such honor) Their Game 3 starter was a man that had never lost in his playoff career. That man was El Duque. In his previous World Series start in 1999 against Atlanta, Hernandez had allowed 1 hit with 10 strikeouts in 7 frames. (The only hit was a Chipper Jones home run) His opponent, Rick Reed, the only Mets starter to get beaten in the NLCS against the Cardinals. Early on Reed started hot. 5 of his 1st 6 outs were strikeouts, which is saying something since the top of the Yankee order rarely gets fooled. Not to be outdone, all of El Duques 1st 6 outs were also K’s. However the only mistake he made in that hot stretch was on the 1st pitch of the 2nd inning. “And hit to deep right field, Robin Ventura, way back, Goodbye Home Run, Mets lead it 1-0.” Ventura may have not gotten as much attention as Piazza but his bat was smoking hot during that postseason. The Mets 1-0 lead wouldn’t stand for long. Derek Jeter as he normally would, sparked a Yankee rally. He singled off Reed with 2 outs in the top of the 3rd. Next up came David Justice, and he drove Jetes home with a double down the right field line. In the 4th, the Yankees would take the lead on a triple from O’Neill that scored Tino Martinez from 1st. Even with a 2-1 lead, the Yankees would have to hold off another Mets rally in the 6th. Piazza doubled followed by a walk to Ventura, which brought up Todd Zeile. Zeile smacked a double into the left field corner which scored Piazza to tie it at 2. The Mets weren’t done, they again had the bases loaded no one out like they did in Game 2. But this time, they came up empty. Strikeout, Strikeout, force out at 2nd to end the inning. 2-2 it remained. In the top of the 7th, the Yankees would have the chance to take the lead right back against Dennis Cook. That chance was all for naught as he struck out Bernie Williams to end the inning. The game was still tied in the 8th, and Torre still had Orlando Hernandez in the game. That decision would backfire as Zeile again would get on base this time with a single. Just like in the NLDS, Benny Agbayani had the chance to drive in the potential game winning run. Even against El Duque, Agbayani wasn’t afraid of the moment. “Agbayani into left center field, that ball is down, to the wall. Zeile on the races he’s around 3rd, digging for the plate and Mets take a 3-2 8th inning lead!” Finally, the Mets got the big hit they were looking for in the late innings against that vaunted Yankee staff. Bubba Trammell added a Sac Fly to make it 4-2. On came Benitez to close it out. With Chuck Knoblauch on 2nd with 2 outs in the top of the 9th. Up came Justice as the tying run. “Popped up, Alfonso near the line, drifting over, he makes the catch and the game is over! And the Mets win it 4-2, and get back into the series with Game 4 tomorrow night.” All of a sudden, what was once a decisive series lead for the Yankees, was all of a sudden neck and neck. The next game would say a lot about who would win this dramatic clash of Titans.
Chapter 7: Next Stop, Game 4 (stand clear of the closing doors)
With the Mets now back in the series. Bobby Valentine had a decision to make. Start Bobby Jones, or start Leiter on short rest. Valentine decided to roll with Jones based on his 1 hitter against the Giants in the NLDS. Joe Torre had a decision to make as well. David Cone or Denny Neagle. Cone, even near the end of his prime, was still very good, however Torre started Neagle based on his career record against the Mets at the time. Although he didn’t rule out Cone pitching in Game 4 in relief. Normally in this kind of series, action off of the bats wouldn’t be held until at least the 4th inning in some cases. In this game, it happened right away. Literally. “First pitch start time 8:31. And Jeter swings and hits a high drive to left. It is High, It is Far, It Is Gone! Derek Jeter hits a 1st ball Fastball deep in the bleachers in left field, and on the 1st pitch of the game, the Yankees take a 1-0 lead.” All series long, Jeter from his apartment in Manhattan could hear the Yankee fans yelling at him: “You better not lose, take those 3 rings and throw them out the window!” He listened to them all right. Just when the Mets thought they would get back in the series, the Yanks put that talk on hold. With an early 1 run lead, Neagle would start strong. Retiring the side in order. In the 2nd, Paul O’Neill tripled for the 2nd straight game, this time standing up. Brosius followed with a Sac Fly to make it 2-0. In the 3rd, Jeter again came up with a big hit. He tripled to the gap in right center, then scored on a groundout by Sojo to extend the Yankee lead to 3-0. But the Monster known as Mike Piazza needed to be let out of his cage in the bottom of the 3rd. Following a single by Perez, Piazza would get his chance to get his boys back in the game. And he did, he took an almost unhittable pitch and turned it into a 2 run homer. Now it was a 1 run game again. The next time Piazza came up, Torre made it clear that he wouldn’t let Neagle face him again. In came the aforementioned David Cone, who had a bag of tricks ready to be unleashed. He got Piazza to pop out thus ending the Mets chances in the 5th. From that point on, both teams went to the bullpen, and were helped out by their defenses. As the score remained 3-2 Yankees. Then in the bottom of the 8th. Rivera was summoned to pitch the last 2 innings. He struck out the 1st 2 Mets he faced, before Paul O’Neill made a sliding catch to retire the side. In the 9th, He again struck out the 1st 2 before facing pinch hitter Matt Franco with 2 out. “Here’s the 1-2 pitch. Strike 3 Called! The Yankees have won it! And they lead the series 3 games to 1.” Signed, sealed, delivered. That’s the kind of pitcher Mariano Rivera was. It didn’t matter what the situation was, he always stepped up. Now leading 3-1 the Yankees lead in the Subway Series was almost insurmountable.
Chapter 8: Next Stop, Game 5
Derek Jeter (From the 1999 World Series Film): We took every game like it was a 7th game do or die situation. I always felt that, once you have a team down, you gotta kill em.” Narrator: That’s what the Yankees were trying to do. They had never lost a World Series in their history when leading 3-1. They looked to continue that trend in Game 5. Joe Torre before the game made it very clear that they would try. Joe Torre: “I think the urgency to do it tonight is because you know we got the hammer.” Narrator: That hammer was Andy Pettitte. He had not lost in the 2000 Postseason so it was fitting that he would be the one to try and close it out at Shea. The Mets weren’t going to let the Yankees get an easy win. They sent out Al Leiter with their season on the line. Leiter, as he had done since joining the team, was willing to take on the brutal task of bailing them out. Only this time it would be against the 2 time defending champion. But things got rough for the Mets in the 1st. Just like in Game 4, the Bronx Bombers used a homer from the top of their order to take an early lead. This time it was Bernie Williams who was long overdue to get a hit. He was 0-22 in the series prior to that shot down the left field line. Pettitte had an early lead to work with. But the Mets would try and get that run back. In the bottom of the 2nd they did just that. Leiter would reach base on an infield hit, but a dropped ball on the toss over to 1st would allow the tying run to score. The Yankees’ usually reliable defense was taking a hit. And in the 3rd, Benny Agabayni hit a chopper to 3rd which went under the bare hand of Brosius and bounced into left field for a hit, scoring Payton from 3rd. Leading 2-1 Leiter was in good hands. However, when the Mets tried threatening in the 4th, the momentum stalled thanks to another pickoff move from Pettitte. (“Don’t even run on him” -Tim McCarver) It had become clear that after early defensive struggles, both teams were playing excellent in the field. Then in the 6th, the Yankees needed a spark against Leiter, who was in complete control. That’s what Derek Jeter gave them. “Swung on and drilled deep to left field, backing up Agabayni, looking up, SEE YA!” Jeter goes deep for the 2nd straight night. Tie game at 2 apiece. In the 7th, Pettitte gave way to the vaunted Yankee Bullpen, Mike Stanton’s excellent World Series became historic. Lowest ERA by a reliever in a single World Series up to that point. (He would finish 2nd in the Series MVP Voting) The best he could do though was a tie. Leiter, even past the 100 pitch count, was not giving up an inch. In the 9th, Bobby Valentine kept his ace in the game instead of going to John Franco. At the time it made sense since he struck out the 1st 2 in the inning. But a 2 out walk to Jorge Posada was a caution sign that Leiter was out of gas, Brosius singled putting runners at 1st and 2nd with 2 out. That brought up Luis Sojo, who in the words of Torre was the perfect guy to come to the plate in that situation. All they needed was a single to retake the lead. And wouldn’t you guess: “Up the middle, (HERE I COME TO SAVE THE DAY!) Base Hit! Here comes Posada, the throw to the plate. Hits the Runner! Into the Dugout!” That lucky hop not only scored Posada, but it also awarded Brosius home plate as well. The Yankees were now 3 outs away from another 3 peat which would be their 1st since the 50s. And they had just the guy to pull it off. (Enter Sandman playing) David Justice: “It’s money in the bank. As soon as he comes in, it’s money in the bank.” Narrator: That’s right Mariano Rivera was on the mound to finish off the Mets, however the Mets would have the top of the order due up in the inning, which meant that Piazza would be batting. But only if they had a runner on base with 2 outs. Even though the Mets had 45 comeback wins during the regular season, they would have to come from behind against the Greatest Closer of All Time. Bernie Williams: “You know what’s coming, and still you can’t hit it.” Narrator: Those 2 were right, Mo was looking to put this highly dramatic series to a quick end. First he struck out pinch hitter Darryl Hamilton for the 1st out. Next up came Agabayni who was very patient in the at bat. And he got a walk out of it. That gave Mets fans plenty of hope, because if Edgardo Alfonso did anything except ground into a double play, Piazza would get another chance. Agabayni would eventually advance to 2nd on a Wild Pitch, he would go to 3rd on a flyout by Alfonso for Out #2. You couldn’t have written a better storyline for how this series would be determined. Michael Kay: “It has to come down to this. The Best Relief Pitcher in the History of Baseball, and the Best Hitting Catcher in the History of Baseball.” Even though Jeter told Rivera not to put any runners on base so that Piazza would get a chance, Mo would face the guy he wanted in the biggest AB of the season. Here’s how it played out. (From MLB Productions Baseball Seasons: 2000) John Franco: “When Mike hit the ball to center field.” (Crowd: YEAAAAH!) Jeter: “I said Oh No.” Valentine: “I thought it was a home run.” O’Neill: “I just dropped, then I looked over.” Valentine: “For a second we thought that Bernie was just watching it go over the fence. Missed it.” Joe Buck: “3-Peat!” John Sterling: “Yankees Win! THAAAAAAAAAA Yankees Win!” Narrator: It’s over. Just like that. For the 3rd year in a row, 4th time in 5 years, and 26th time in their history. The New York Yankees have reached the top of the Baseball World. Out of those 4 titles under Torre this was probably the hardest one for them to win. Inner City Rival, Rough Ending to the Season, Consistency in doubt. Yet they pulled through. That’s what made that great. Team goals were always ahead of individual goals and that’s how they plus every team before or since found their way to the top. For a series that lasted only 5 games, it had everything. Hype, Drama, Close Games, NYC, Rowdy Fanbases, 2 Teams that excelled at the fundamentals. That’s what baseball is all about, and that’s how Subway Series 2000 should be remembered for years to come.
Chapter 9: Aftermath
In the years following this epic clash, both the Yankees and Mets would struggle to make it back to the World Series. The Yankees did make it back in 2001 following the attacks of 9-11, but their streak of World Championships ended in the 9th inning of Game 7 of the 2001 World Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. They would make 2 more trips to the World Series in the 2000s. After losing to the Miami Marlins in 2003, and blowing a 3-0 lead in the 2004 ALCS, the Yankees christened the new Yankee Stadium by winning it all over the Philadelphia Phillies in 2009. The Mets wouldn’t make it back to the playoffs following their 2000 NL Pennant for another 6 years. The borough of Queens wouldn’t see another World Series for another 9 following the Mets’ run to the NLCS in 2006. Which would be their 1st playoff appearance during their stay at Citi Field. Both of these New York Franchises have had to wait a while by their standards for both of these teams to be good at the same time once again. Now in 2022, both the Yankees and Mets have each had the best records or close to it in their respective leagues. Us baseball fans can only hope that these 2 series coming up in July and August will be a tease for what is to come in October. Thank you, and Goodnight Everyone.
Bragging Rights Sports 