New York Yankees: 5 Greatest Plays of the Decade

Throughout the decade, the New York Yankees have been in the World Series four times and have won it twice—once in 2000 against their crosstown rivals the New York Mets, and in 2009 against the Philadelphia Phillies.

The other appearances were in 2001 against the Arizona Diamondbacks, and 2003 against the Florida Marlins. Throughout the decade, the Yankees have made plays that have been called the greatest plays ever. But which play of the decade is the best of the best? 

No. 5: Scott Brosius Ties Game 5 with Two-Run Home Run

After a Game 4 walk-off home run by Derek Jeter, the Yankees are faced with a 2-0 deficit in the ninth inning with Byung-Hyun Kim on the mound for the Diamondbacks. Jorge led off the inning with a double to left field. Shane Spencer and Chuck Knoblauch got out and Brosius stepped in the batter's box with two outs.

After a first-pitch ball, Scott Brosius took the next pitch deep for a walk-off home run down the left-field line. As he hit the ball, he was off balance and he raised his fists in the air in accomplishment knowing that he tied up the series 2-2.  

No. 4: Derek Jeter Hits a Walk-off Home Run in Game 4 of the 2001 World Series

The 2001 World Series was one of the most interesting of the decade. There were many late-night finishes, heartbreaking losses and walk-off victories. In Game 4 of the 2001 World Series, the Yankees and Diamondbacks were tied 3-3 in extra innings.

In a great pitching matchup of Curt Schilling versus Orlando Hernandez, each only gave up one earned run. In the ninth inning, Tino Martinez hit a two-run home run to tie the game up at three apiece.

Then, in the 10th inning, with a three-ball, two-strike count, Derek Jeter takes Diamondbacks pitcher Byung-Hyun Kim deep for a solo walk-off home run to win Game 4 of the 2001 World Series, giving Derek Jeter the nickname "Mr. November."

No. 3: Derek Jeter Dives into Stands, Catching Pop Fly

The Yankees-Red Sox rivalry is very intense and neither of them want to lose to each other. Pedro Martinez was pitching for the Red Sox and Brad Halsey for the Yanks. The game got intense when Pedro Martinez pegged Gary Sheffield in the bottom of the first.

Heading into extra innings, the game was tied 3-3 and it was a dual for the ages. In the bottom of the 12th inning, Derek Jeter showed the Sox that he and the Yankees wanted to win the game by diving into the stands on a shallow Trot Nixon pop fly and catching the ball.

It was the turning point of the game because it riled up the fans and the Yankees. After Manny Ramirez hit a solo shot in the 13th, Miguel Cairo came up big with an RBI double to tie it, and then John Flaherty hit a walk-off ground rule double.

That play gave me shivers because of the amount of heart that Derek Jeter put into that play, never giving up on that ball.

No. 2: Derek Jeter's Flip Play

The Yankees met the Oakland Athletics in the ALDS in 2001. They Yankees quickly were down two games to none, and were heading to Oakland to play Game 3. Mike Mussina was looking to keep the Yankees' hopes alive, and he was lights-out taking a shutout into the seventh inning.

The Yankees were up 1-0 at that time thanks to Jorge Posada's solo blast. In the bottom of the seventh, Mike Mussina gave up a two-out single to Jeremy Giambi, and Terrence Long was up to bat.

Long hit a shot down the right-field line and it went to the corner. Shane Spencer fielded it, fired it in and overthrew the cutoff man—in came Derek Jeter, getting the ball and flipping it to catcher Jorge Posada who tagged out Jeremy Giambi.

That play saved the Yankees, as they went on to win that game and eventually went all the way to the World Series.

No. 1: Aaron Boone's Walk-off Home Run in the 2003 ALCS

Game 7 of the ALCS, Yankees versus Red Sox, was the most anticipated game of the year because it was the ideal playoff game. Two aces were going at it, with Pedro Martinez squaring off against Roger Clemens.

This game proved to be an offensive game—Roger Clemens got taken out after giving up four runs in three innings, and Pedro Martinez was taken out after seven innings and giving up five runs.

After nine innings, the game was tied 5-5 and headed for extra innings. When the 11th inning arrived, it was still 5-5 and the Sox took out Mike Timlin and put in knuckle-baller Tim Wakefield.

Leading off was Aaron Boone, who pinch-hit for Ruben Sierra. On the first pitch, Aaron Boone hit a walk-off home run to send the Yankees to the World Series.