New York Yankees Path to World Series Championship

By: Christina Cohen

New Yankee Stadium

-The Yankees had a new stadium be built for the 2009 season.

-Construction began August 17, 2006 and opened on April 3, 2009 in the exhibition game vs. the Chicago Cubs.

-First regular season game in the new stadium was on April 16, 2009

- It holds 51,800 people and cost approximately $1.3 billion.

2009 Season

• The New York Yankees had a very successful season.

• They had 15 walk-off wins during the regular season.

• After every walk-off win, starting pitcher A.J Burnett would pie the person who got the winning hit in the face.

Pie in the face after walk off win

2009 Season

• The Yankees finished off the 2009 season with a 103-59 record, which was the best record in the MLB.

• They won the American League East, ahead of the Boston Red Sox,Tampa Bay Rays, Toronto Blue Jays, and the Baltimore Orioles.

• Clinching the best record gave the Yankees home field advantage throughout the duration of the playoffs.

Yankees vs. Twins

• The New York Yankees played the Minnesota Twins in the American League Division Series (ALDS).

• The Yankees swept the Twins in three games.

• The Yankees were headed to the American League Championship Series (ALCS) for the first time since 2004.

Yankees vs. Angels

• The Yankees were 5-5 vs. the Angels during the season.

• The Yankees beat the Angels 4-2 in the American League Championship Series (ALCS).

• They won their 40th American League pennant and their first since 2003.

Yankees vs. Phillies• The Philadelphia Phillies were the defending World Series

Champs.

• The Yankees beat the Phillies 4-2 and won their 27th World Series Championship.

• It was their first World Series title since winning in 2000.

• Many Yankees players experienced their first career World Series Championship.

Yankees celebration after winning their 27th World Series

Yankees ‘Ticker Tape’ Parade • The Yankees celebrated their 27th World Series parade as an

organization, following the traditional route up Broadway.• The ticker-tape parade began on Broadway at Battery Place

and continued uptown along the Canyon of Heroes to Chambers Street.

• A ceremony was held at City Hall Plaza, where Mayor Michael Bloomberg presented the Bronx Bombers with the Keys to the City.

• Jay-Z performed “Empire State of Mind”, which is also known as the 2009 ‘Yankees Anthem’ live at the City Hall ceremony.

Major Milestones

• Mariano Rivera gets his 500th career save.

• Yankees win 27th World Series Championship.

• Derek Jeter passes Lou Gehrig on the Yankees all time hit list.

Important Postseason Plays/Players• Johnny Damon stealing two bases in Game 4 of the ALCS vs.

the Angels in a 4-4 tie in the top of the ninth inning with 2 outs.• Hideki Matsui won MVP of the World Series, batting .615 (8 for

13) with three homeruns and eight RBI’s. In Game 6 of the World Series, he had six RBI’s and was a triple short of the cycle. His 6 RBI’s were the most by any player in a World Series clincher. He was also the first Japanese born player to win World Series MVP.

• Alex Rodriguez was very successful throughout the entire postseason. He had numerous clutch hits which he hasn’t done in past postseasons.

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