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Playing in New York, the most famous and significant city in the United States for its historic sports culture, brings unprecedented pressure to win as a professional athlete in a town that’s always on the go and about the hustle. There are many great organizations across sports history, from the Boston Celtics of the NBA to the New York Rangers of the NHL. However, the New York Yankees stand out amongst all of them, having dominated like no other team across the four major sports (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL), with an astonishing 27 World Series titles.
They are now on the brink of adding another to their illustrious history, returning to the World Series for the first time since 2009 to claim their 28th title. The Yankees wouldn’t be in this position in what will perhaps go down as the greatest trade acquisition of all time, acquiring Juan Soto in a seven-player trade from San Diego last offseason to help alleviate some of the batting pressure off AL MVP favorite Aaron Judge. It paid off, as Soto’s epic go-ahead three-run homer off Hunter Gaddis on a 1-2 ball-strike count against the Cleveland Guardians in extra time in the 10th inning gave the Yankees a 5-2 lead, crushing the spirits of Cleveland fans who hoped to get the series back to the Bronx to keep their World Series hopes alive.
Soto never lacked confidence within himself, carrying that New York pride and confidence inside of him:
“I’m just telling myself, I’m all over every pitch, I’m all over every pitch’,” Soto said ahead of his game-winning homer. “So be ready. Be ready. He’s gonna make the mistake. He did. And I did get it.”
Soto wasn’t the only hero for the Yankees. ALCS MVP and “Mr.October” himself, Giancarlo Stanton, proved he’s a postseason primetime performer. His two-run, 446-foot homer to left-center field off an 82mph slider from Tanner Bibbee tied the game at the top of the sixth and shifted the momentum in the Yankees' favor. The Guardians had an early 2-0 lead until Stanton's game-changing hit.
Stanton’s home run in the sixth to tie the game gave him four in the series (five overall in the playoffs, one shy of Yankee record) and 16 for this postseason, the most of any player in their first 36 postseason games in MLB history. Stanton and Soto helped carry the mantle with “The Captain” Aaron Judge struggling in his four at-bats with two strikeouts after hitting a homer in the last two games, but it didn’t matter as they punched their ticket to the World Series.
"We've had some great groups, some great camaraderie, some great clubhouses," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. "This group is as close as I've ever seen, and they trust each other. They lean on each other. They love each other. They play for each other. Those are special things to have in a team sport."
This team has won big so far, but the ultimate goal hasn't yet been achieved. And that goal -- in the Bronx -- is really one that matters, the one that will truly quench this drought.
"To get there doesn't mean much," Stanton said. "We need to win it."
The Yankees will now look to try to win their 28th pennant against the winner of the Los Angeles Dodgers/New York Mets series of the NLCS. The last two games have been back-and-forth dominant wins, with the Dodgers taking Game 4 10-2 and the Mets answering back in Game 5 with a 12-6 rout to force a Game 6.
Will the Yankees win their first World Series since '09?
Yes. Let's go New York!
No. Dodgers/Mets will take it.
It’s been a long 15-year drought for the team in the Bronx since they were last in a World Series the last time they won in 2009. Their three ALC losses–2017, 2019, and 2022 came against their rival Houston Astros, who were bounced out early by the Detroit Tigers in the Wild Card that helped open a gateway. Yankees fans were yelling, “Re-sign Soto!” as his contract ended this offseason, and he has proven he’s worth a substantial payday when the time comes.
Rejoice, Yankee fans, your team is back in the World Series, and this might be your year.
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