World Series' Most Memorable Moments

Stan McNeal - SportingNews.com

NEW YORK -- The New York Yankees got what they paid for Wednesday: a World Series championship.

Led by the slugging of Hideki Matsui, one of nine Yankees with an eight-figure salary, New York beat the Phillies 7-3 in Game 6 to win their 27th World Series. Clinching the championship in the first year at their new stadium will go down as one reason to remember the 105th World Series. 

But most of the memories were made on the field. 

A DH is MVP

In perhaps his final game as a Yankee, Matsui drove in six runs -- tying a World Series record -- and became the first designated hitter to be named MVP. Matsui hit a two-run homer off Pedro Martinez in the second inning, added a two-run single in the third and blew the game open with a two-run double in the fifth.

"He hit everything we threw up there," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "He had a big night."

The soon-to-be free agent finished the Series hitting .615 with eight RBIs, despite being relegated to three pinch-hit appearances in Philadelphia (he homered in one of them). 

"I guess this is the best moment of my life right now," Matsui said through an interpreter.

A-Rod wins a ring

Alex Rodriguez singled and scored twice in Game 6, but this was the postseason when he became a bona fide Yankee. And became a World Series champion for the first time. Though Rodriguez hit just .250 in the Series, he finished the postseason with 18 RBIs and almost single-handedly slugged the Yankees to the AL pennant.

"It feels even better than you can imagine," Rodriguez said. "In '04 we were close. Things happen for a reason. We've waited a long time."

Pedro's return

Wearing Phillies' red instead of that of the hated Red Sox, Pedro Martinez started twice against the team he has faced more than any other. Both games came at Yankee Stadium, and Martinez lost both. He didn't make it to the fifth inning in the decisive Game 6 mainly because he couldn't stop Matsui. Martinez, calling himself an "old goat," nevertheless enjoyed his time on the big stage. At one press conference, he said, "I might be at times the most influential player that ever stepped in Yankee Stadium."

Johnny be quick

Johnny Damon hit .364 and had perhaps the grittiest at-bat of the Series, but his quick mind and fast feet are what will be most remembered. The Phillies had tied Game 4 in the eighth, and Damon came to bat with two out in the ninth. He battled Brad Lidge for eight pitches before he singled on the ninth. On the next pitch, Damon took off for second. When he popped up from his slide, he immediately sprinted to third. Damon knew the base was uncovered because the Phillies had shifted their third baseman toward second for pull hitter Mark Teixeira.  The move paid off when Rodriguez drove him in with the go-ahead run, and the Yankees took a 3-1 lead in the Series.

Chase Utley is about as likely to be called the "straw that stirs the drink" as he is to flip his bat after a home run. But he and Reggie Jackson share a line in the World Series record book after Utley hit five home runs in the six games. Utley homered twice in each of the Phillies' victories. He came up in Game 6 with two runners on and a chance to pull Philadelphia within a run, but he struck out.

Stan McNeal is a staff writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at smcneal@sportingnews.com.

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