YANKEES WORLD SERIES RECORD - 1990's
1996
New York Yankees vs. Atlanta Braves
Yankees win the Series 4-2
The New York Yankees went in as heavy underdogs to unseat the defending-champion
Atlanta Braves. Things didn't look good for Joe Torre's team when they dropped the first
two games at home, no less by a combined score of 16-1.
David Cone came through with a gutty performance in Game 3, however, and the Yankees
torched middle reliever Greg McMichael en route to a 5-2 victory. The Braves rebounded to
take a 6-3 lead into the late innings of Game 4. Now only six outs away from taking a 3-1
lead in the Series, Atlanta manager Bobby Cox made an uncharacteristic decision, bringing
in closer Mark Wohlers to start the eighth inning, instead of saving the fireballer for
the ninth. Wohlers hung a slider to Jim Leyritz, who hit it out for a game-tying homer.
Steve Avery walked Wade Boggs to force in the winning run in the top of the 10th, and the
Yankees won, 8-6. New York took a 3-2 lead the next day when Andy Pettitte outdueled John
Smoltz, 1-0. Back in New York for Game 6, the Yankees put together a three-run rally
against Greg Maddux and made the runs stand up for a 3-2 victory and a most improbable
World Series comeback.
1998
New York Yankees vs. San Diego Padres
Yankees win the Series 4-0
The Yankees, after winning an American League-record 114 games, met the San Diego
Padres in the 1998 World Series. The Padres looked solid through six innings in Game 1,
leading 5-2. Chuck Knoblauch hit a game-tying three-run homer in the seventh. Tino
Martinez cracked a grand slam in the same inning to put the Yankees up 9-5 The final score
was 9-6 and the Padres never really got back into the Series.
The Yankees cruised to a 9-3 win in Game 2 with seven strong innings from Orlando
"El Duque" Hernandez. The Padres led 3-2 after seven innings of Game 3, but in
the eighth inning, Padres' reliever Trevor Hoffman, who had only blown one save all season
- gave up a three-run homer to the Yankees' third baseman Scott Brosius, and the Yankees
hung on for a 5-4 win. The Padres stranded eight baserunners in Game 4, letting the
Yankees complete the sweep for their 24th World Series title.
1999
New York Yankees vs. Atlanta Braves