The New York Yankees came into that series already the winner of the last two previous World Series. They swept the San Diego Padres in 1998 and the Atlanta Braves in 1999. They had a twelve-game World Series winning streak going as they began the 2000 World Series, dating back to the World Series they won against the Atlanta Braves in 1996. The Yankees should certainly be considered a dynasty, don't you think?

The New York Yankees had won two consecutive World Series titles and they were prepared to do battle for their third against the New York Mets in 2000. The New York Yankees won the first two games to improve their record to fourteen consecutive World Series wins. The Mets finally broke that streak when they came away victorious in game three 4-2 at Shea Stadium. The Mets would lose the next two games and the World Series. The New York Yankees had won their twenty-sixth World Series title led by manager Joe Torre. Shortstop Derek Jeter would be the MVP. He batted .409 in the series with nine hits and two homeruns. The rest is history.

The previous "Subway Series" occurred way back in 1951. That would be the final year of play for Yankee legend and Hall of Famer Joe DiMaggio. It would also be the beginning for a little known outfielder from Oklahoma by the name of Mickey Mantle. Catcher and Hall of Famer himself, Yogi Berra was the American league's MVP that year. This team was loaded with talent. Yankee pitcher Allie Reynolds had tossed two no-hitters during the regular season. The Yankees would square off against the New York Giants that year. The Giants had won the right to face the Yankees when the Giant's Bobby Thomson hit a homerun over the left field fence against the Brooklyn Dodgers to win the game in the ninth for the Giants and the three game series. That homerun made history, but that is another story in itself.

The New York Yankees were the winners of the two previous World Series before playing in the 1951 World Series. They had won the 1949 World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers four games to one and the 1950 World Series against the Philadelphia Athletics four games to none. The Yankees were certainly a dynasty to be reckoned with. They were led by former player and Hall of Fame manager Casey Stengel.

The 1951 New York Giants, led by Hall of Fame manager Leo Durocher, would be no match for the New York Yankees, either. The Yankees won that series 4-2. Shortstop Phil Rizzuto, another Hall of Famer, hit .320 in the series with one homerun and three RBI's. Outfielder Gil McDougald had one homerun and led the team with seven RBI's. Joe DiMaggio hit one homerun and drove in five runs. The best hitter for the Giants was Hall of Fame outfielder Monte Irwin, who batted .458 to lead all hitters in the series. Yankee pitcher Ed Lopat who was 21-9 on the regular season won two games in the World Series to lead all pitchers. His ERA was an amazing 0.50. The New York Yankees would go on to win the 1952 and the 1953 World Series. That's five World Series championships in a row.

Now, the first ever "Subway Series" occurred way back in 1921. That would be the first year ever that the New York Yankees won a pennant or appeared in a World Series. The manager was another Hall of Famer by the name of Miller Huggins. He was a tough guy. The Yankees had a mighty offensive weapon in a 26-year-old by the name of Babe Ruth, a former pitcher for the Boston Red Sox. They would be facing manager John McGraw's New York Giants another future Hall of Famer.

The fans of New York weren't really that excited about these two teams playing each other, they were more excited about watching Babe Ruth, the Sultan of Swat. During the 1921 season, he led the majors with 59 homeruns and 171 RBI's. He also led the majors in walks with 144 and in slugging with a .846 mark. Those were amazing stats, even for today.

This would be the last year a best of nine game series was ever utilized. The New York Giants beat the New York Yankees five games to three in that 1921 World Series. Babe Ruth batted .313 in the series, but he only hit one homerun with three runs knocked in. Outfielder George Burns led the Giants with eleven hits. Outfielder Irish Muesel led the team with seven RBI's. He batted .345 in the series. Pitchers Jesse Barnes and Phil Douglas had two wins apiece for the Giants.

These two teams would face each other again in the 1922 World Series. Now MLB Commissioner Judge Landis had suspended Babe Ruth and Bob Meusel for barnstorming after the 1921 World Series. They wouldn't be permitted to suit up till May 20th of the 1922 season. Babe Ruth ended up hitting only 35 homeruns and driving in 99 runs. He batted .315 for the season. Irish Muesel led the Giants with 132 RBI's that season. The New York Giants were victorious again in the World Series by sweeping the Yankees four games to none. The second game resulted in a tie. Giant pitchers shut off the Yankee attack by holding Babe Ruth to a pitiful .118 batting average. Giant third baseman Heine Groh and second baseman Frankie Frisch both batted over .400 in the series. Irish Muesel led the team with seven RBI's.

1923 would finally be the New York Yankees' year. They won the American League pennant with a record of 98-54 and went on to win the 1923 World Series over the New York Giants four games to two. This would be the first of twenty-six World Series titles to come for the New York Yankees. Babe Ruth had a good series batting .368 with three homeruns and three runs driven in. He also had a good regular season by hitting 41 homeruns with 131 RBI's. He batted .393 during the regular season. Outfielder Bob Muesel led the Yankees with eight RBI's in the World Series. Yankee pitcher Herb Pennock, who was 19-8 during the regular season, won two games for his Yankees in the World Series.

Now, the year is 2001 and the New York Yankees will do everything in their power to continue their dynasty and make their fourth consecutive World Series appearance. Hopefully for them, winning their twenty-seventh World Series title. I'm quite sure Yankee owner George Steinbrenner will assist his team with any needs they may have to continue their winning tradition. As for the New York Mets, they are really struggling right now and I don't see them making it to the World Series this year. But I could be wrong. We may have to wait until 2002 or later to see another "Subway Series".

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