October 23rd, 1996: The New York Yankees Current-Era Dynasty Begins

October 23rd, 1996

There are many people that believe the modern day New York Yankees dynasty began on this day, 23 years ago.  After reaching the World Series following an ALCS victory over the Baltimore Orioles, the Yankees sized up against the Altanta Braves, who had won the National League pennant 3 out of the past 5 seasons.

After falling to a 2-1 series deficit in the series, the Yankees were trailing 6-0 to the Braves in the 6th inning of Game 4, in Atlanta.  A Braves’ win would have put the series at 3-1, with a game at hand in Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta.

The Yankees rattled off three runs in the 6th inning and capped off the improbable comeback with a Jim Leyritz game-tying three-run homerun in the 8th.  They would eventually score two more runs in the top of the 10th, and win the game 8-6.

After evening the series, the Yankees won the next two games and their first World Series since 1978.

And they won again in….1998, 1999, and 2000.  Bastards.

Impress your co-workers: the Yankees ‘96 Game 4 comeback was the second largest comeback in World Series history. The Philadelphia Athletics scored ten runs in the seventh inning to defeat the Chicago Cubs 10–8 in Game 4  of the 1929 World Series.

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