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4 Greatest Moments From Yankees' 2009 World Series Season Fans Should Watch During MLB Hiatus

By Brendan Balsamo

These four moments embody the amazing 2009 season the New York Yankees had when they won the World Series.
These four moments embody the amazing 2009 season the New York Yankees had when they won the World Series. / Chris McGrath/Getty Images

In New York Yankees tradition, the Bronx Bombers christened their new stadium with a World Series win in 2009. It was a season that looked bleak from the start, but then turned into something magical that Yankees fans hadn't seen in almost 10 years.

It's now been over a decade since their last World Series success, so let's take a look at the last time they won it all and the best moments from that season.

4. Mariano Rivera's 500th Save vs. Mets

At this point in time, Mariano Rivera was already solidified as one of the greatest closers of all time. As of June 28th, though, there was still a milestone he had yet to eclipse: 500 saves. Going into that night's game against the New York Mets, he was one save away from becoming the second closer to ever reach the prestigious milestone. Prior to finishing off his save, he got one of his four career plate appearances, getting his only career RBI on a bases-loaded walk in the top of the ninth. In the bottom of the inning, he secured three outs, which nabbed the best closer ever his milestone marker.

3. Derek Jeter Becomes Yankees Hit King vs. Orioles

Up until 2009, Lou Gehrig had been the Yankees' all-time hits leader. On Sept. 11, against the Baltimore Orioles, Derek Jeter collected his 2,722th hit, making him the Yankees' new hit king. In a magical moment, the crowd drowned the Bronx in cheers for the Yankees legend. The team came out to congratulate him, and he saluted the crowd in a Jeteresque fashion. An iconic Yankee moment for an iconic Yankee.

2. ALDS Game 2 A-Rod and Teixeira Home Runs vs. Twins

The Yankees were down 3-1 in the bottom of the ninth, and it looked like the ALDS was going to go back to Minnesota tied 1-1 with the Twins. That was, until Alex Rodriguez, the driving force behind the 2009 Yankees, hit a two-run jack that tied the game and set the table for an unforgettable walk-off home run by Mark Teixeira in the bottom of the 11th inning. The Yankees had all the momentum going into Game 3, and finished the sweep two days later to reach their first ALCS since 2004.

1. WS Game 6: Yankees Win World Series vs. Phillies

The Core 4 captured their final World Series together in 2009, and it couldn't have come in greater fashion. A clinching game started by Andy Pettitte and closed by Rivera, with Jeter at shortstop and Jorge Posada behind the plate is written like a Hollywood script. It had been nine years since the Yankees had been at the top of the baseball world, which felt like forever to Yankee fans. A miraculous performance by Hideki Matsui powered the Bombers over Philadelphia Phillies' starter Pedro Martinez, and gave the Bronx its first Commissioner's Trophy since 2000.