New York Yankees 1996-2001 Fall Classic DVD
by Scrooge McSuck

When you think about baseball, odds are the first thing that comes to mind is the New York Yankees. Easily the most beloved and hated team in baseball history, the Yankees have hosted some of the greatest moments in sports history, and are the all-time leaders in championships won in any major sport (second place goes to the Montreal Canadiens of the NHL, I believe). This DVD Box Set covers the 1996-2001 dynasty the Yankees forged, thanks to a good blend of home grown talent and a lot of good players that played their own roles in helping the team run like a machine. By the time 2001 came around though, things changed, and since then, typing this in 2007, the monster has gotten so out of hand no one knows how to explain their latest collapse. Anyway, enough bitching. Onto the DVD!

Disc 1: 1996 Game 4: New York Yankees @ Atlanta Braves – October 23rd, 1996 (Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium)

DVD Case tidbits of the 1996 New York Yankees:
• The Yankees welcomed tightly played ball games. In 1996, they led Major League Baseball with a 25-16 record in one-run decisions.
• Game Four was the longest in World Series history, lasting 4 hours and 17 minutes.
• The Yankees six-run come-from-behind win matched the 2nd largest in World Series history.
• Game Four was the sixth come-from-behind win for the Yankees in the 1996 postseason, the most ever by a club in one postseason.
• Yankees reliever Graeme Lloyd was the first Australian native to participate in the World Series, when he recorded a victory in Game Four.
• The Five combined third basemen used by both clubs set a World Series Record.
• As a member of the Atlanta Braves, Joe Torre hit the first two home runs in Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium on April 12, 1966. He also managed the Braves 1982-1984.

New York Yankees Starting Lineup:
P – Kenny Rogers, C – Joe Girardi, 1B – Cecil Fielder, 2B – Mariano Duncan, 3B – Charlie Hayes, SS – Derek Jeter, LF – Tim Raines, CF – Bernie Williams – RF – Darryl Strawberry

Atlanta Braves Starting Lineup:
P – Denny Neagle, C – Javier Lopez, 1B – Fred McGriff, 2B – Mark Lemke, 3B – Chipper Jones, SS – Jeff Blauser, LF – Andruw Jones, CF – Marquis Grissom, RF – Jermaine Dye

As noted earlier, each of the games (for the most part) are featured based on the come-from-behind swagger of the New York Yankees during this dynasty era. Kenny Rogers, a notable failure in the post-season in every year besides 2006, buried them in a giant hole, allowing 5 ER in just 2+ innings of work (the + meaning he came out for the third, but couldn’t record an out). The bullpen managed to keep the Braves lineup in check, allowing just one run over the course of the rest of the game, allowing the lineup to chip away at the lead. RBI singles by Fielder and Hayes cut the lead in half in the Top of the 6th, but pinch hitters Paul O’Neill and Tino Martinez both failed at doing more damage. The unlikely hero of the night ended up being back-up catcher, first basemen, and outfielder Jim Leyritz, who hit a three-run game tying homer off of closer Mark Wohlers in the Top of the 8th. Steve Avery, a struggling starter moved to the bullpen and at one time a highly touted prospect in the Braves organization, came in to work the 10th inning, and walked in the go-ahead run pitching to Wade Boggs after intentionally walking Bernie Williams. The Yankees added a second run before handing the game over to John Wetteland, picking up his 2nd of four saves in the 1996 World Series.

Disc 2: 1998 Game 3: New York Yankees @ San Diego Padres – October 20th, 1996 (Qualcomm Stadium)

DVD Case tidbits of the 1998 New York Yankees:
• Yankee Stadium celebrated its 75th anniversary in 1998 and, with regular season and postseason games combined, the Yankees finished 75 games over .500 (125-50).
• Scott Brosius won the 1998 World Series MVP by hitting .471 with two home runs and six RBI.
• Scott Brosius became only the eighth player to hit World Series home runs in consecutive innings. When he connected in the seventh and eighth innings of Game Three, he joined Babe Ruth (1928) as the only two players to hit both after the fifth inning.
• After winning Game Three and Four, the Yankees 1998 winning percentage was .714, the same number of career home runs by the “Sultan of Swat”, Babe Ruth.
• Game Time Temp: 72 degrees.

New York Yankees Starting Lineup:
P – David Cone (20-7, 3.55 ERA), C – Joe Girardi, 1B – Tino Martinez, 2B – Chuck Knoblauch, 3B – Scott Brosius, SS – Derek Jeter, LF – Shane Spencer, CF – Bernie Williams, RF – Paul O’Neill

San Diego Padres Starting Lineup:
P – Sterling Hitchcock (9-7, 3.93 ERA), C – Jim Leyritz, 1B – Wally Joyner, 2B – Quilvio Veras, 3B – Ken Caminiti, SS – Chris Gomez, LF – Greg Vaughn, CF – Steve Finley, RF – Tony Gwynn

Sterling Hitchock, who could best be described as a mediocre skilled pitcher, was lighting the world on fire during the 1998 Post-Season, and battled David Cone in a pitchers duel until things went crazy in the Top of the 6th. David Cone lead off the inning and was forced to run bases after reaching on a single. Once returning to the mound, Cone allowed three earned runs, including allowing Hitchcock to retaliate and get on base as well. The jinx worked both ways, as Hitchoff allowed two runs, one earned, without retiring a batter in the 7th. Randy Myers came in to work the 8th inning, setting up for closer Trevor Hoffman, but walked Paul O’Neill to lead off the inning, forcing Hoffman into the game earlier than expected. Hoffman then would walk Tino Martinez, and Scott Brosius came up and hit a three-run homer to give the Yankees a 5-4 lead, enough for Mariano Rivera to pick up the save, working 1 2/3 innings. Not exactly my choice for the 1998 World Series to go on this DVD set. I’d rather have used Game 1 from Yankee Stadium where the Yankees came from behind late and ended up winning in spectacular fashion thanks to a slump-busting Grand Slam by Tino Martinez off Mark Langston, one of the most controversial at-bats of the 1998 Post-Season.

Disc 3: 1999 Game 3: Atlanta Braves @ New York Yankees – October 26th, 1999 (Yankee Stadium)

• DVD Case tidbits of the 1999 New York Yankees:
• With his two scoreless innings of relief work in Game Three, Mariano Rivera had not allowed a run in his last 24.1 innings of postseason player over 17 outings. Rivera’s career postseason ERA stood at 0.39, the lowest in postseason history for relievers with 30 or more innings pitched.
• In his only start of the World Series, Chad Curtis hit his first postseason home run in the fifth inning, then added the game winning home run in the 10th.
• Curtis’ homer in the 10th marked the 11th time a World Series game ended on a home run. The last walk-off homer was Joe Carter’s championship-clinching blast in 1993.
• Mariano Rivera was named the 1999 World Series MVP (1 win, 2 saves, 0 earn runs) and became the tenth Yankees player to win the award. - With the Game Three Victory, Joe Torre won his 11th consecutive World Series game, breaking the previous record set by Joe McCarthy who managed the Yankees to 10 straight wins from 1937-1941.
• The Yankees hit four homers in Game Three, the most in a World Series game since the Oakland A’s had five in Game Three of the 1989 World Series.

New York Yankees Starting Lineup:
P – Andy Pettitte (14-11, 4.70 ERA), C – Joe Girardi, 1B – Tino Martinez, 2B – Chuck Knoblauch, 3B – Scott Brosius, SS – Derek Jeter, LF – Chad Curtis, CF – Bernie Williams, RF – Paul O’Neill, DH – Chili Davis

Atlanta Braves Starting Lineup:
P - Tom Glavine (14-11, 4.12 ERA), C – Eddie Perez, 1B – Brian Hunter, 2B – Bret Boone, 3B – Chipper Jones, SS – Walt Weiss, LF – Gerald Williams, CF – Andruw Jones, RF – Brian Jordan, DH – Jose Hernandez

Much like the 1996 Game Four, the Braves jumped out to an early 4 run lead, while Tom Glavine, battling the flu during the days leading up to the start, kept the Yankees bats in check for the most part. But also like that Game Four, the Yankees eventually chipped away at the lead, thanks to solo homers by Chad Curtis in the 5th and Tino Martinez in the 7th, then finally a game tying two-run homer by Knoblauch in the Bottom of the 8th. John Rocker, most famous for some very controversial comments regarding the citizen of New York, kept the Yankees silenced for his two innings of work. It wasn’t until the Bottom of the 10th that another run scored, this time Chad Curtis hitting his second homer of the night off of Mike Remlinger. However, Chad Curtis’ night might be forever remembered for snubbing NBC broadcaster Jim Gray following the walk-off home run, in protest for a controversial interview Gary conducted with Pete Rose before Game 2. Curtis also stamped his ticket out of New York, being traded to the Texas Rangers weeks after the World Series, and basically fading into oblivion from there.

Disc 4: 2000 Game 5: New York Yankees @ New York Mets (October 26th, 2000) (Shea Stadium)

DVD Case tidbits of the 2000 New York Yankees:
• The Game Five victory was sealed by Mariano Rivera, who recorded his all-time record seventh World Series save. It was also Rivera’s 18th consecutive postseason save.
• The Yankees and Mets played the first Subway Series since 1956.
• Derek Jeter was named 2000 World Series MVP with a .409 BA, two doubles, one triple, two home runs, two RBI, and six runs scored.
• With the World Series victory, the Yankees became the first club to win three consecutive titles since the Oakland A’s did it from 1972-1974.
• With the Game Five victory, Joe Torre improved his World Series record to 16-3; his winning percentage of .842 was the highest of any manager at that time.
• The Yankees pitching staff held Timo Perez and Edgardo Alfonzo, the Mets top two hitters in their lineup, to a combined 5 for 37 (.135 batting average).
• These Bronx Bombers became the third team to win four World Series Championships in five years. The other two were also Yankee teams: four straight starting in 1936, then five straight starting in 1949.

New York Yankees Starting Lineup:
P – Andy Pettitte (19-9, 4.35 ERA), C – Jorge Posada, 1B – Tino Martinez, 2B – Jose Vizcaino, 3B – Scott Brosius, SS – Derek Jeter, LF – David Justice, CF – Bernie Williams, RF – Paul O’Neill

New York Mets Starting Lineup:
P – Al Leiter (16-8, 3.20 ERA), C – Mike Piazza, 1B – Todd Zeile, 2B – Edgardo Alfonzo, 3B – Robin Ventura, SS – Kurt Abbott, LF – Benny Agbayani, CF – Jay Payton, RF – Bubba Trammell

Growing up in New York, this was the biggest thing since sliced bread, but when it all came down to it, the Mets were no match against the Yankees. When your lineup for a World Series game includes BUBBA TRAMMELL, KURT ABBOTT, TODD ZEILE, AND BENNY AGBAYANI, you know you’re fucked. This game isn’t terribly exciting, either. Both teams score in the second and the Yankees tie the game at 2 in the 6th. Al Leiter pitched into the 9th inning, when things finally came apart on him. With two outs, Posada reached on a walk and Brosius singled to left. In comes Luis Sojo, back-up infielder, who singled in the go-ahead runs, setting up an easy save for Mariano Rivera to clinch the third consecutive World Series for the Yankees. Nothing much more to say here. The 2000 World Series kinda’ sucked, even if it was a Subway Series. The Mets had no right to be there, other than getting damn lucky in the NL side of the playoffs.

Disc 5: 2001 Game 4: Arizona Diamondbacks @ New York Yankees (October 31st, 2001) (Yankee Stadium)

DVD Case tidbits of the 2001 New York Yankees:
• Prior to his dramatic ninth inning home run in Game Four, Tino Martinez had been held hitless in the 2001 World Series, only reaching base safely twice (both on walks), and was only 7 for 47 in the 2001 postseason.
• Jeter’s “walk-off” home run to win Game Four was the 12th time that a World Series game ended on a home run and the fourth in Yankee history.
• Game Four officially started under a full moon on October 31st. This was the first time a World Series game ever extended into November.
• Game Four was the first time a World Series game was tied with a ninth-inning homer and won with an extra-inning home run.
• The Diamondbacks struck out 70 times against Yankees pitching in the 2001 World Series, the most ever for a single team in a World Series.
• Byung-Hyun Kim, the first Korean player to appear in a World Series, struck out four of the previous six batters he faced prior to the Martinez home run in the ninth.

New York Yankees Starting Lineup:
P – Orlando Hernandez (4-7, 4.85 ERA), C – Jorge Posada, 1B – Tino Martinez, 2B – Alfonso Soriano, 3B – Scott Brosius, SS – Derek Jeter, LF – Shane Spencer, CF – Bernie Williams, RF – Paul O’Neill, DH – David Justice

Arizona Diamondbacks Starting Lineup:
P – Curt Schilling (22-6, 2.98 ERA), C – Damian Miller, 1B – Mark Grace, 2B – Craig Counsell, 3B – Matt Williams, SS – Tony Womack, LF – Luis Gonzalez, CF – Steve Finley, RF – Reggie Sanders, DH – Erubiel Durazo

I hate to be the guy who had to decide whether or not to include this or Game 5 from the 2001 World Series, both magical games that brought the Yankees back from the dead to make a case for what I consider the best World Series of my lifetime. A pitching duel for the first 7-innings, the D’Backs appeared to have out-dueled the Yankees again when they scored 2 runs in the 8th off of reliable reliever Mike Stanton. With Byun-Hyun Kim striking out the side in the 8th, hope seemed distant for the Yankees, who couldn’t hit anything off a pitcher with a normal delivery, let alone a side-arm Korean that they’ve never seen before. With two outs and Paul O’Neill on first base, Tino Martinez came up to bat and on the first pitch, knocked a home run to center field to tie the game. In the bottom of the 10th, Kim came out to work his third inning, but a line drive homer over the right field wall by Derek Jeter tied the series at 2. Game 5, equally magical, should’ve been included because the EXACT SAME SITUATION HAPPENED (down in the 9th, Scott Brosius homered off Kim to tie the game) after Curt Schilling tried to kill the press’ comments about the magical aura that surrounds Yankee Stadium.

Bonus Disc #1: 1996-1998:

Featured are the World Series films from 1996 and 1998, covering the World Series, of course, as well as the Division and Championship Series’ from both leagues. Nothing to write home about, since they’re just chopped up highlights and key moments from each series with a lot of butchered production spots (splicing commentary from various broadcasts other than the national TV ones).

Bonus Material:
• The 9th inning of Doc Gooden’s no hitter against the Seattle Mariners in 1996.
• 1996 ALDS Game 2: Palmer’s E (Error) Provides Win
• Pitch by Pitch: Jim Leyritz vs. Mark Wohlers
• 1996 World Series: Last-At-Bat
• The 9th Inning of David Wells’ Perfect Game against the Minnesota Twins in 1998.
• 1998 World Series MVP Trophy Presentation
• Yankees Favorite Moments.

Bonus Disc #2: 1999-2001:

Also featured are the World Series films from 1999 and 2000. 2001 is left off for the obvious reasons, but in my opinion, it’s the most deserving. I guess since Nine Innings From Ground Zero covered it enough the production team probably felt it was unnecessary to include the same on another DVD release. Same thing as last time. Players comment over key moments throughout the playoffs for each given year.

Bonus Material:
• The 9th Inning of David Cone’s Perfect Game against the Montreal Expos in 1999.
• 1999 World Series Trophy Presentation.
• 2000 ALCS: Game 4: Rocket’s Masterpiece
• 2000 ALCS Game 6: Justice Rocks Rhodes
• 2000 World Series Clubhouse Celebration
• 2001 ALDS: Jeter’s Game Saving Flip*
• 2001 AL Pennant: Torre’s Toast
• Looking Back: O’Neill Reflects on Last Game

*-For those who forgot, and if you have shame on you, this was the play where Shane Spencer missed two cut off men, Derek Jeter somehow found himself along the first base line in time to shovel the ball to Posada, just in time to tag out Jeremy Giambi late in the game. On close exam, Giambi appears safe, but since he didn’t slide and the tag was on a blind spot from the umpire’s view, that’s their problem, not mine.

Final Thoughts: Some interesting choices for Games to be featured in this DVD box set. I agree with the inclusion of the 1996 and 1999 games, indifferent for 2000 (the whole series sucked) and 2001 (Game 5 was equally diserving) and against the choice for 1998. Each game has it’s moments, but in the case of the 1998 World Series, Game 1 had a lot more than what Game 3 offered. As for bonus features, it’s a nice little package of stuff from the glory years, but there’s not a whole lot when it comes to actual running time, and the World Series films are what you would expect from an A&E production. If you’re a Yankee fan, this is still a Highly Recommended DVD set, if you’re a baseball fan in general, it’s a nice little token to see what made THIS Yankees special compared to the junk they’ve been fielding the last sixe seasons, and if you hate the Yankees, don’t bother of course.

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