Open Mic: 2001 World Series

While this is supposed to be a column about the greatest disappointment in sports, (and don't get me wrong, I was absolutely crushed when it was over), the World Series of 2001 has remained my favorite World Series. It was the only Fall Classic where the casual fan actually sided with the Yankees. The starting pitcher for both teams in every game was outstanding with the exception of Mussina in game 1 and Pettite in game 6. There was one veritably epic goat that continuously pumped life into the series, and it all ended with a twist that could have been directed by M. Night Shymamalan. Come back in time with me to the greatest World Series of my generation.

The Arizona Diamondbacks had made it to the World Series in just their 4th year of existence. Only two years before, the team had its first 100+ win season with a team built largely around league veterans and role players. While that 1999 team was beaten in the Divisional Series by another veteran New York team, the fans in Arizona would not have to wait long for another post season trip to the Big Apple. In 2001 the team had gotten older yet still managed to improve, having adding veterans Mark Grace, Reggie Sanders, and Curt Schilling since their last playoff run. Of the team's regular positional starters, not one was under the age of 30, while of the team's regular starting pitchers, Brian Anderson represented the youth of the rotation, being only 29.

Meanwhile, the New York Yankees were on a winning train that couldn't derail. Since 1998, the year the Diamondbacks began their major league debut, the Yankees won the World Series by sweeping the San Diego Padres and Atlanta Braves, then beating the New York Mets in five games. When David Cone left the team after a disastrous 2000, he was replaced with perennial Cy Young contender Mike Mussina. The Yankees, having felt they had made all the improvements necessary to dominate the American League, set off to defend their three-year World Series streak.

The advancement to the World Series for the Diamondbacks was incredible in itself. In the final game of the Divisional Series, with the score tied at 1 in the bottom of the 9th and with one out and runners on first and third, the Diamondbacks tried to squeeze bunt in the series winning run. The play backfired, with Midre Cummings, the runner at third, being tagged out. Fans worried that their momentum had deflated, and that the team may blow their best chance to put the series away. Tony Womak delivered, lining a single that scored pinch runner Danny Bautista. Arizona would go on to make short work of the Atlanta Braves in the League Champion Series to earn a berth in their first World Series as a franchise.

The Yankees had their own obstacles to make it past before earning the right to face Arizona. The Yankees would face two teams, the Oakland Athletics and the Seattle Mariners, that had won more than 100 games that season. The Mariners had just broken the Yankees single season record by winning 116 games during the regular season, eclipsing the Yankees old mark of 114. The Divisional series against Oakland included what may be Derek Jeter's most famous play. With Oakland on the brink of advancing, up in the series two games to none in the bottom of the 7th, trailing by one run, Terrence Long hit a hot ground ball past Tino Martinez. Jeremy Giambi started rounding bases with a full head of steam from his station at first, intent on making i

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