1998 New York Yankees

The New York Yankees' 1998 season was the 96th season for the Yankees. The team finished with a record of 114-48 finishing 22 games ahead of the Boston Red Sox. This team set an American League record for wins in a season, a record that would stand until 2001. In the playoffs, they reached the World Series and swept the San Diego Padres in 4 games to win their 24th World Series title.

The Yanks were utterly dominant in 1998, reaching first place to stay by April 30. They played .700 ball most of the season before tailing off late in the year.

The regular position players all had at least 10 home runs although nobody hit more than Tino Martinez's 28. Martinez also led the team in RBI with 123 while Derek Jeter led the team with 127 runs scored. Paul O'Neill was the doubles leader of the team with 40. Jeter led in triples with 8 (and also strikeouts with 119). Bernie Williams had the highest batting average at .339, leading the league, although Homer Bush and Shane Spencer each hit over .370 in limited play. Chuck Knoblauch led the team in walks and stolen bases.

The pitchers were awesome, with the top ERA in the league. David Cone was 20-7, David Wells was 18-4, Andy Pettitte went 16-11, El Duque was 12-4 and Hideki Irabu was 13-9. Reliever Mariano Rivera had 36 saves with an ERA of 1.91 while Graeme Lloyd's ERA of 1.67 was even lower.

Manager Joe Torre, in his 18th year as a manager, won his second World Series and would go on to win again in 1999 and 2000.

[edit] Awards and Honors

All-Stars: Scott Brosius, Derek Jeter, Paul O'Neill, David Wells and Bernie Williams
AL Gold Glove: Bernie Williams (OF)
AL Manager of the Year Award: Joe Torre

[edit] ALDS

Main article: 1998 ALDS1

[edit] Game 1

September 29 at Yankee Stadium (New York Yankees)

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Texas	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	0
New York	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	6	0
W: David Wells (1-0) L: Todd Stottlemyre (0-1) S: Mariano Rivera (1)

[edit] Game 2

September 30 at Yankee Stadium (New York Yankees)

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Texas	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	5	0
New York	0	1	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	3	8	0
W: Andy Pettitte (1-0) L: Rick Helling (0-1) S: Mariano Rivera (2)
HR: NYY – Shane Spencer, Scott Brosius

[edit] Game 3

October 2 at The Ballpark in Arlington (Texas Rangers)

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
New York	0	0	0	0	0	4	0	0	0	4	9	1
Texas	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	1
W: David Cone (1-0) L: Aaron Sele (0-1)
HR: NYY – Shane Spencer, Paul O'Neill

[edit] ALCS

Main article: 1998 American League Championship Series

New York wins the series, 4-2

Game	Home	Score	Visitor	Score	Date	Series
1	New York	7	Cleveland	2	October 6	1-0 (NYY)
2	New York	1	Cleveland	4	October 7	1-1
3	Cleveland	6	New York	1	October 9	2-1 (CLE)
4	Cleveland	0	New York	4	October 10	2-2
5	Cleveland	3	New York	5	October 11	3-2 (NYY)
6	New York	9	Cleveland	5	October 13	4-2 (NYY)

[edit] World Series

Main article: 1998 World Series

[edit] Game 1

October 17, 1998 at Yankee Stadium in New York, New York

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
San Diego	0	0	2	0	3	0	0	1	0	6	8	1
New York	0	2	0	0	0	0	7	0	X	9	9	1
W: David Wells (1-0) L: Donne Wall (0-1) S: Mariano Rivera (1)
HR: SD – Greg Vaughn 2 (2), Tony Gwynn (1) NYY – Chuck Knoblauch (1), Tino Martinez (1)