The Decade in Sports: The Top Ten Most Memorable New York Yankees Games in the 2000's

The was by far the toughest list of the four greatest games list because of all the great games that the Yankees have played over the past ten years. I only could include the absolute most memorable in my mind, but there were so many great memories that I didn't include that are worth pouring over another day. For now, here are my top ten.

10. October 22, 2000 World Series Game 2 vs. NY Mets (Yankees 6, Mets 5)

My second favorite game from the Subway Series and the one most famous for the Roger Clemens vs. Mike Piazza incident. The Yanks led 6-0 going into the ninth inning, but thanks to Mike Piazza and Jay Payton home runs, nearly saw the lead evaporate. Not the best Mariano Rivera save, but he saved the game nonetheless.


9. October 22, 2001 American League Championship Series Game 5 vs. Seattle (Yankees 12, Mariners 3)

This was the most satisfying non-World Series playoff win of the decade, mostly because the Yanks proved to be the true dominant team of the American League. This was the year Seattle won 116 games and looked to be a AL Champion lock. Winning this game 12-3 was icing on the cake, as was Tino Martinez's three run blast in the eighth inning.


8. October 20, 2004 American League Championship Series Game 7 vs. Boston (Red Sox 10, Yankees 3)

The ultimate nightmare series was over in stunning fashion. Granted, it was over before this game started. The Yankees were so demoralized at this point of the series that they had no chance, and after a diasterous start by Kevin Brown and falling behind 6-0 after two innings, our pennant chances were gone. Boston would break the curse of the Bambino by sweeping the Cardinals in the World Series.


7. October 25, 2003 World Series Game 6 vs. Florida (Marlins 2, Yankees 0)

Talk about another nightmare, the Yankees were hevay favorite taking on small market Florida in the 2003 series. It was a David vs. Goliath and jsut like the story, David won. This game was most memorable for the five-hit complete game shutout thrown by Josh Beckett in the clincher for Florida, it was by far the greatest pitching performance I had seen in a long time.


6. October 31, 2001 World Series Game 4 vs. Arizona (Yankees 4, Diamondbacks 3 10 innings)

Mr. November was born this night. Derke JEter's walk-off solo home run off of sidearmer Byung-Hung Kim won the game for the Yankees and knotted a tough series at two games apiece. A World Series that was memorable for patriotism and heroes more than anything ended with a legend's clutch home run.


5. November 4, 2001 World Series Game 7 at Arizona (Diamondbacks 3, Yankees 2)

Not the msot memorable World Series game of the decade, but the most well played in my opinio. A pitchign duel between Clemens and Curt Schilling made every run important. When Alfonso Soriano hit a solo home run in the top of the eighth to give New York the 2-1 lead, the title seemed Yankee boudn again. That was until Rivera choked uncharacteristically, and Luis Gonzalez's walk-off single won the Series for a team in just its fourth year of exitence.


4. 2004 American League Championship Series Game 4 (Red Sox 6, Yankees 4 12 innings)

Dave Roberts is the name, his stolen base and run in the bottom of the ninth kept the Red Sox season alive against Rivera, and from there on, it's history. Boston's bullpen shuts down the Yankees offense in extra innings, Paul Quantrill blows the game in the 12th against David Ortiz, and from there on, it's history.


3. September 21, 2008 vs. Baltimore (Yankees 7, Orioles 3)

The final game at Yankee Stadium and the lone regular season game on this list. Watching a place where I as well as millons other have so many memories and where so many baseball legends, Yankees and opposing players played, it was sad to see it go. But watching Rivera pitch in the ninth inning, and Derek Jeter's speech after the game are memories that will last a lifetime.


2. October 26, 2000 World Series Game 5 at NY Mets (Yankees 4, Mets 2)

The Subway Series, the battle for supremacy of New York was over. The Yankees had won their 26th World Series and third consecutive. Luis Sojo lives in Yankee lore as his two run single in the ninth was the game winner for the Yanks. Rivera closed out the game as usual, and the final out was against Piazza no less. What an awesome Series win.


1. November 4, 2009 World Series Game 6 vs. Philadelphia (Yankees 7, Phillies 3)

As great as the Subway Series was, nothing will ever beat the Dream Series, which the Yankees won 7-3. This Series was so huge for me, watching my two favorite teams battle it out, and watching an underappreciated player in Hideki Matsui be the hero of the Series was the greatest feeling. This was a night that will live in my mind forever.