Will Another Yankee Reign Begin Tonight?

On November 4, 2001, the New York Yankees' reign of three straight championships and four in five years ended when Arizona Diamondback Luis Gonzalez singled up the middle past closer Mariano RiveraMariano Rivera. The Yanks have not won a World Series since.

Today (November 4, 2009), the Yankees have a chance to reclaim the title "Major League Baseball Champions" when they play the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 6 at Yankee Stadium. Tonight's Yankee starting pitcher, Andy Petitte, was on the team back in 2001 and he was a key part of the team's four titles. New York tried very hard in the offseason top get rid of Petitte, although now the front office will likely deny it, and settled instead on cutting the veteran's salary.

Philadelphia's starter tonight, Pedro Martinez, has a long and storied history against the Yankees, dating back to his days as a member of the Boston Red Sox. There was the time that he gave up the game-winning and league clinching home run to Aaron Boone and the time he used Don Zimmer's head as a watermelon before depositing him on the ground outside the first base dugout at Fenway Park. Yes, the same Pedro who called the Yankees his "daddy."

History aside, if these two crafty pitchers work up to expectation tonight, this could be an outstanding game.