Nov. 4, 2009
For the second time in 86 years, the New York Yankees closed out the inaugural season of a brand new stadium by winning a World Series title at home.
By defeating the Philadelphia Phillies in Game Six of the 2009 World Series Wednesday in New York, the Yankees added another chapter to their storied history by equaling an achievement they first accomplished in 1923 when the previous Yankee Stadium, “the House that Ruth built,” opened. The Yankees defeated the New York Giants in six games that year for the first of their 27 championships.
The only other team to accomplish the feat in the last 86 years is the 2006 St. Louis Cardinals, who transitioned from one Busch Stadium to another that season and defeated the Detroit Tigers four games to one in the World Series with a Game Five victory in St. Louis.
By securing their 27th championship, the Yankees are, in effect, 27-for-86 when it comes to championships since the 1923 season. If this were calculated as a batting average, it would be .314.
By contrast, the Cardinals – who have the second highest number of championships in Major League History – are 10-for 86 since that time, which would translate into a .116 batting average.
Remember, there was no World Series in 1994, so that season is not included in these stats.
Love ’em or hate ’em, the New York Yankees are in a class by themselves.
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