Game seven of the 2001 World Series was a classic. I didn't care which team won, and I was nervous the entire time. There was a lot of gravity surrounding the World Series that year. 9/11 had happened less than two months earlier, and emotions ran high throughout the sports world. There was widespread sentiment toward the Yankees because they were from New York City. It felt like destiny that the best baseball team from a hopeful and defiant city would win it all that year.
But they didn't.
The Diamondbacks pulled off the upset, preventing the Yankees from winning their fourth straight World Series. Here's some thoughts on that epic game seven:
--The Diamondbacks' uniforms are terrible. Thank God that vest look never caught on. You can forgive them for the color scheme, but man, that sleeveless uniform with a purple undershirt is an atrocity.
--Craig Counsell keeps showing up in the crucial World Series games, which is weird. I don't remember anything else about him. I'm not even sure he played in the regular season. Maybe teams just brought him in for the World Series because he's clutch. (Cut to analytics guys screaming "There's no such thing as clutch!!!")
--This game featured Roger Clemens versus Curt Schilling. It's like a convention for disgraced Cy Young winners. I don't really care about anyone's alleged steroid use or their political views. My opinion is that both have been jerks toward everyone and that's why they're disgraced. You can get away with a lot more if you're nice to people. Look at Alex Rodriguez. A-Rod hate was widespread throughout the baseball community until last year. Why? He was charming and likable on post game shows. The lesson? Be kind to people and you won't end up being treated like a tropical virus.
--At the top of the second inning, Fox cuts in with an update on the Emmy Awards, letting us know that Allison Janny has won an Emmy for her work on The West Wing. It's so out of our time that I don't know how to process it. First, how many people watching the World Series care about the Emmys? Second, today you would just check Twitter or some other website. I really don't remember these award show updates happening at the time. Weird.
--Watching Roger Clemens bat was cringy. He almost falls down on his first swing. I'm in the minority and enjoy the differences between the National and American leagues, so I'm not saying MLB should make the National League adopt the DH. But...watching pitchers hit is painful sometimes.
--Through five innings, more than half the game, nothing happens. This would be awful if it was a game on August 19. But game seven of the World Series? It's amazing. Clemens and Schilling going head to head, staring hard at the plate from behind their gloves. Neither team had a runner past second base. Every moment is loaded with tension, every ball in play the potential to turn the game one way or the other. Sometimes baseball is amazing.
--Arizona finally breaks open the game in the bottom of the sixth. Steve Finley singles and then Danny Bautista doubles him home. Bautista tries to stretch it to a triple, but is tagged out at third. I only mention that because Paul O'Neill had the same thing happen to him in the first. Just a weird coincidence I wanted to talk about.
--Tino Martinez ties the game in the top of the seventh with a single. All the momentum the Diamondbacks built up in the previous inning has suddenly shifted toward the Yankees. At the time, I just assumed New York would find some way to win the game. They had won three World Series in a row, and I figured Derek Jeter had some sort of dark magic that allowed him to win every playoff game that matter for the rest of his career.
--I demand that Fox bring back the Virtual Manager poll. I want to vote on baseball decisions. I know more than every manager in the MLB. I should be able to showcase my managerial acumen in virtual poll form. Also, remember when we called everything on the internet "virtual?" I miss the early part of this century.
--Alfonso Soriano breaks the tie with a solo home run. It's 2-1 Yankees. I loved Soriano. He was electric, the last player to hit 40 home runs and steal 40 bases. I miss players like him. It was unfortunate his career got derailed by injuries.
--The Diamondbacks bring in Randy Johnson to relieve. I can't imagine the terror of facing Johnson. Dude was 6'10" and had long arms. He also scowled all the time like he was angry at every human being who ever existed. Starters making relief appearances is one of my favorite things about the postseason in baseball. When legends like Johnson are called on to relieve, it makes it even more special.
--Joe Torre brings in Mariano Rivera to pitch the eighth and ninth innings. I'm going to submit my own virtual manager poll--that was a mistake. Rivera should have either pitched the eighth or the ninth. Not both. He might be the greatest reliever in baseball history, but he's still human. Rivera gets through the eighth without any trouble.
But then Mark Grace leads off the ninth with a single. Then Damian Miller bunts the ball back to Rivera, who throws to second. But the throw is offline, and David Dellucci, pinch running for Grace, gets tangled up with Derek Jeter, who reaches for the ball. The ball goes into the outfield, but Dellucci can't advance past second because Bernie Williams is backing up the play. Jeter lies on the ground for a little while, and every Yankees fan in the world collectively holds their breath. Eventually he gets up and is okay.
Jay Bell bunts, because screw sabermetrics, and Rivera throws to third to get Dellucci out. I know it was 2001, but it makes no sense to give up precious outs when you're facing Mariano Rivera. Once you have a runner in scoring position, there's no need to give up another out. Just swing away.
Tony Womack doubles to right field, scoring Midre Cummings, who pinch ran for Miller. I think this proves my point. Let hitters hit once you've got guys in scoring position. The game is tied 2-2, and all the momentum is on the Diamondbacks' side. Rivera looks mortal for once, and at this point you'd be surprised if the Yankees won.
Rivera hits Counsell, and Bank One Ballpark is a madhouse. I can't imagine what it sounded like on the field. I wonder if this game goes a different way if it's in Yankee Stadium. No matter how good he was or how focused he could be, there's no way that noise didn't get to Rivera.
Then Luis Gonzales hits a little looper over Jeter's head, and the game is over. It's such an awkward little hit, nothing like what you'd script if you were writing the movie for this drama. But it's enough to get the job done. The Diamondbacks topple the Yankees dynasty. New York wouldn't reach the World Series again until 2009.
Arizona won a title only three years after coming into existence, breaking the Florida Marlins' record of four years from first season to title. They did it amazing fashion, playing a thrilling World Series and outlasting a tough Yankees team.
The 2001 World Series was memorable for a lot of reasons, and game seven was the perfect ending.
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