2001 New York Yankees season

2001 New York Yankees
2001 AL East Champions 2001 AL Champions
Yankees' fielders huddling on the pitcher's mound during an August 2001 away game
Major League affiliations
American League (since 1901)
Eastern Division (since 1969)
Location
Yankee Stadium (since 1976)
New York City (since 1903)
Other information
Owner(s)	George Steinbrenner
General manager(s)	Brian Cashman
Manager(s)	Joe Torre
Local television	WNYW (Bobby Murcer, Tim McCarver) MSG (Ken Singleton, Jim Kaat, Al Trautwig, Suzyn Waldman)
Local radio	WABC (AM) (John Sterling, Michael Kay)
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The New York Yankees' 2001 season was the 99th season for the Yankees. The team finished with a record of 95-65 finishing 13.5 games ahead of the Boston Red Sox. New York was managed by Joe Torre. The Yankees played at Yankee Stadium. Roger Clemens had sixteen straight wins, tying an American League mark shared by Walter Johnson, Lefty Grove, Schoolboy Rowe, and Smoky Joe Wood. Clemens would finish the season with the AL Cy Young Award and become the first pitcher to win six Cy Young Awards.^[1]

Another chapter was written in the story of the Yankee-Red Sox rivalry. On September 2, 2001, Mike Mussina came within one strike of a perfect game before surrendering a bloop single to Carl Everett. This was Mussina's third time he has taken a perfect game to or beyond the 8th inning. Coincidentally, it would have been the 3rd perfect game in for the Yankees in a span of 4 seasons and could have been the 4th perfect game in franchise history.

In the emotional times of September 2001 in New York City, following the September 11 attack on New York's World Trade Center, the Yankees defeated the Oakland A's three games to two in the ALDS, and then the Seattle Mariners, who had won 116 games, four games to one in the ALCS. By winning the pennant for a fourth straight year, the 1998–2001 Yankees joined the 1921–1924 New York Giants, and the Yankee teams of 1936–1939, 1949–1953, 1955–1958 and 1960–1964 as the only dynasties to reach at least four straight pennants. The Yankees had now won eleven consecutive postseason series over a four-year period. However, the Yankees lost the World Series in a dramatic 7 game series to the Arizona Diamondbacks, when Yankee star closer Mariano Rivera uncharacteristically lost the lead – and the Series – in the bottom of the ninth inning of the final game. With the loss, this marked the second time in five years that a team lost the World Series after taking a lead into the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 7 (following the Cleveland Indians in 1997) and the first time since 1991 that the home team won all seven games of a World Series.^[2][3]

Despite the loss in the series, Derek Jeter provided one bright spot. Despite a very poor series overall, batting under .200, he got the nickname, "Mr. November", for his walk-off home run in Game 4, though it began October 31, as the game ended in the first minutes of November 1. In calling the home run, Yankees broadcaster Michael Kay said "See ya! See ya! See ya! A home run for Derek Jeter! He is Mr. November! Oh what a home run by Derek Jeter!" He said this after noticing a fan's sign that said "Mr. November".

Also, during the emotional times following the attacks, Yankee Stadium played host to a memorial service, just before the Yankees played their first home game following the attacks. The service was titled "Prayer for America".

Offseason

• November 21, 2000: Joe Oliver was signed as a Free Agent with the New York Yankees.^[4]
• November 30, 2000: Mike Mussina was signed as a Free Agent with the New York Yankees.^[5]
• December 7, 2000: Dwight Gooden signed as a Free Agent with the New York Yankees.^[6]
• December 7, 2000: Luis Sojo was signed as a Free Agent with the New York Yankees.^[7]
• December 11, 2000: Brandon Knight was drafted by the Minnesota Twins from the New York Yankees in the 2000 rule 5 draft.^[8]
• February 15, 2001: Henry Rodriguez was signed as a Free Agent with the New York Yankees.^[9]
• March 21, 2001: Drew Henson was traded by the Cincinnati Reds with Michael Coleman to the New York Yankees for Wily Mo Pena.^[10]
• March 28, 2001: Glenallen Hill was traded by the New York Yankees to the Anaheim Angels for Darren Blakely (minors).^[11]
• March 28, 2001: Brandon Knight was returned (earlier draft pick) by the Minnesota Twins to the New York Yankees.^[8]
• March 30, 2001: Brandon Knight was released by the New York Yankees.^[8]

Notable transactions

• April 1, 2001: Brandon Knight was signed as a Free Agent with the New York Yankees.^[8]
• June 5, 2001: John Ford Griffin was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 1st round (23rd pick) of the 2001 amateur draft. Player signed June 14, 2001.^[12]
• June 5, 2001: Bronson Sardinha was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 1st round (34th pick) of the 2001 amateur draft. Player signed June 13, 2001.^[13]
• June 19, 2001: Henry Rodríguez was released by the New York Yankees.^[9]
• June 20, 2001: Joe Oliver was released by the New York Yankees.^[4]
• July 4, 2001: Bobby Estalella was traded by the San Francisco Giants with Joe Smith (minors) to the New York Yankees for Brian Boehringer.^[14]
• July 30, 2001: Sterling Hitchcock was traded by the San Diego Padres to the New York Yankees for Brett Jodie and Darren Blakely (minors).^[15]
• August 31, 2001: Randy Velarde was traded by the Texas Rangers to the New York Yankees for players to be named later. The New York Yankees sent Randy Flores (October 12, 2001) and Rosman Garcia (October 11, 2001) to the Texas Rangers to complete the trade.^[16]

Season standings

AL East	W	L	Pct.	GB	Home	Road
New York Yankees	95	65	0.594	—	51–28	44–37
Boston Red Sox	82	79	0.509	13½	41–40	41–39
Toronto Blue Jays	80	82	0.494	16	40–42	40–40
Baltimore Orioles	63	98	0.391	32½	30–50	33–48
Tampa Bay Devil Rays	62	100	0.383	34	37–44	25–56

Season summary

August

The Yankees taking the field during a late August 2001 game at Edison Field.

Record vs. opponents

2001 American League Records Sources:
Team	ANA	BAL	BOS	CWS	CLE	DET	KC	MIN	NYY	OAK	SEA	TB	TEX	TOR	NL
Anaheim	—	4–5	4–3	6–3	5–4	5–4	5–4	3–6	4–3	6–14	4–15	7–2	7–12	5–4	10–8
Baltimore	5–4	—	9–10	3–4	1–5	4–2	5–2	3–3	5–13	2–7	1–8	10–9	2–7	7–12	6–12
Boston	3–4	10–9	—	3–3	3–6	4–5	3–3	3–3	5–13	4–5	3–6	14–5	5–2	12–7	10–8
Chicago	3–6	4–3	3–3	—	10–9	13–6	14–5	5–14	1–5	1–8	2–7	5–2	7–2	3–3	12–6
Cleveland	4–5	5–1	6–3	9–10	—	13–6	11–8	14–5	4–5	4–3	2–5	5–1	5–4	2–4	7–11
Detroit	4–5	2–4	5–4	6–13	6–13	—	8–11	4–15	4–5	1–6	2–5	4–2	8–1	2–4	10–8
Kansas City	4–5	2–5	3–3	5–14	8–11	11–8	—	6–13	0–6	3–6	3–6	4–2	4–5	4–3	8–10
Minnesota	6–3	3–3	3–3	14–5	5–14	15–4	13–6	—	4–2	5–4	1–8	1–6	4–5	2–5	9–9
New York	3–4	13–5	13–5	5–1	5–4	5–4	6–0	2–4	—	3–6	3–6	13–6	3–4	11–8	10–8
Oakland	14–6	7–2	5–4	8–1	3–4	6–1	6–3	4–5	6–3	—	9–10	7–2	9–10	6–3	12–6
Seattle	15–4	8–1	6–3	7–2	5–2	5–2	6–3	8–1	6–3	10–9	—	7–2	15–5	6–3	12–6
Tampa Bay	2–7	9–10	5–14	2–5	1–5	2–4	2–4	6–1	6–13	2–7	2–7	—	4–5	9–10	10–8
Texas	12–7	7–2	2–5	2–7	4–5	1–8	5–4	5–4	4–3	10–9	5–15	5–4	—	3–6	8–10
Toronto	4–5	12–7	7–12	3–3	4–2	4–2	3–4	5–2	8–11	3–6	3–6	10–9	6–3	—	8–10

Detailed record

Team Home Away Total Win % AL East AL Central AL West Anaheim Angels 2–2 1–2 3–4 .429 2–2 1–2 3–4 .429 NL East

Month Games Won Lost Win % April 26 14 12 .538 May 25 15 10 .600 June 27 16 11 .593 July 28 19 9 .679 August 29 15 14 .517 September 28 12 16 .429 October 7 4 3 .571 Overall: 160 95 65 .594 Games Won Lost Win % Home 79 51 28 .646 Away 81 44 37 .543

Roster

2001 New York Yankees
Roster
Pitchers 57 Carlos Almanzar 41 Brian Boehringer 38 Randy Choate 22 Roger Clemens 65 Adrian Hernández 26 Orlando Hernández 41 Sterling Hitchcock 60 Brett Jodie 48 Randy Keisler 62 Brandon Knight 61 Ted Lilly 55 Ramiro Mendoza 35 Mike Mussina 43 Christian Parker 46 Andy Pettitte 42 Mariano Rivera 29 Mike Stanton 56 Todd Williams 45 Jay Witasick 39 Mark Wohlers		Catchers 36 Bobby Estalella 43 Todd Greene 14 Joe Oliver 20 Jorge Posada Infielders 57 Erick Almonte 18 Scott Brosius  2 Derek Jeter 60 Nick Johnson 24 Tino Martinez 19 Luis Sojo 33 Alfonso Soriano 25 Randy Velarde 14 Enrique Wilson		Outfielders 12 Clay Bellinger 17 Darren Bragg 13 Michael Coleman 28 David Justice 11 Chuck Knoblauch 59 Donzell McDonald 21 Paul O'Neill 48 Robert Perez 48 Juan Rivera 47 Shane Spencer 51 Bernie Williams 17 Gerald Williams Other batters 45 Henry Rodríguez 48 Scott Seabol		Manager  6 Joe Torre Coaches 40 Tony Cloninger (Bullpen) 52 Gary Denbo (Hitting) 54 Lee Mazzilli (First Base) 30 Willie Randolph (Third Base) 34 Mel Stottlemyre (Pitching) 53 Don Zimmer (Bench)

Game log

{| align="center" border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="1" style="border:1px solid #aaa"

|- ! colspan="3" | Legend |- ! bgcolor="ccffcc" | Yankees Win ! bgcolor="ffbbbb" | Yankees Loss ! bgcolor="bbbbbb" | Game Postponed |}

2001 Game Log (95–65) Home: 51–28 Away: 44–37
April (14–12) Home: 9–6 Away: 5–6 # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Location Attendance Record
May (15–10) Home: 5–3 Away: 10–7 # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Location Attendance Record
June (16–11) Home: 11–7 Away: 5–4 # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Location Attendance Record
July (19–9) Home: 9–4 Away: 10–5 # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Location Attendance Record
August (15–14) Home: 9–6 Away: 6–8 # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Location Attendance Record 109 August 3 Angels 4–2 Pettitte (12–6) Washburn (9–5) Rivera (36) Yankee Stadium 40,490 66–43 110 August 4 Angels 5–4 Rivera (4–5) Levine (5–6) Yankee Stadium 46,416 67–43 111 August 5 Angels 3–4 Ortiz (10–7) Mendoza (7–3) Percival (29) Yankee Stadium 48,978 67–44 112 August 6 Angels 1–3 Pote (2–0) Hitchock (1–1) Percival (30) Yankee Stadium 40,232 67–45 129 August 24 @ Angels 2–6 Hasegawa (4–4) Pettitte (14–8) Edison International Field of Anaheim 43,489 75–54 130 August 25 @ Angels 7–5 Clemens (17–1) Valdez (8–8) Rivera (40) Edison International Field of Anaheim 43,398 76–54 131 August 26 @ Angels 6–7 (10) Percival (4–2) Stanton (8–4) Edison International Field of Anaheim 41,660 76–55
September (12–16) Home: 5–2 Away: 7–14 # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Location Attendance Record
October (4–3) Home: 3–0 Away: 1–3 # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Location Attendance Record

Postseason Game log

{|align="center" border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="1" style="border:1px solid #aaa"

|- ! colspan="3"|Legend |- ! bgcolor="bbffbb" | Yankees Win ! bgcolor="ffbbbb" | Yankees Loss ! bgcolor="bbbbbb" | Game Postponed |}

2001 Postseason Game Log (10–7)
ALDS vs Athletics (3–2) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Location Attendance Record
ALCS vs Mariners (4–1) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Location Attendance Record
WS vs Diamondbacks (3–4) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Location Attendance Record

Player stats

Batting

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs; H = Hits; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; Avg. = Batting average; SB = Stolen bases

= Indicates team leader

Pos.	Player	G	AB	R	H	HR	RBI	Avg.	SB
C	Jorge Posada	138	484	59	134	22	95	.277	2
1B	Tino Martinez	154	589	89	165	34	113	.280	1
2B	Alfonso Soriano	158	574	77	154	18	73	.268	43
3B	Scott Brosius	120	428	57	123	13	49	.287	3
SS	Derek Jeter	150	614	110	191	21	74	.311	27
LF	Chuck Knoblauch	137	521	66	130	9	44	.250	38
CF	Bernie Williams	146	540	102	166	26	94	.307	11
RF	Paul O'Neill	137	510	77	136	21	70	.267	22
DH	David Justice	111	381	58	92	18	51	.241	1

^[17]

Other batters

Player	G	AB	H	Avg.	HR	RBI	Avg.	SB
Darren Bragg	5	4	1	1	0	0	.250	0
Bobby Estallela	3	4	1	0	0	0	.000	0
Nick Johnson	23	67	6	13	2	8	.194	0
Donzell McDonald	5	3	0	1	0	0	.333	0
Joe Oliver	12	36	3	9	1	2	.250	0
Juan Rivera	3	4	0	0	0	0	.000	0
Henry Rodríguez	5	8	0	0	0	0	.000	0
Scott Seabol	1	1	0	0	0	0	.000	0
Luis Sojo	39	79	5	13	0	9	.165	1
Shane Spencer	80	283	40	73	10	46	.258	4
Randy Velarde	15	46	4	7	0	1	.152	2
Enrique Wilson	48	99	10	24	1	12	.242	0

Starting pitchers

Player	G	IP	W	L	ERA	CG	SO	BB
Mike Mussina	34	228.7	17	11	3.15	4	214	42
Roger Clemens	33	220.3	20	3	3.51	0	213	72
Andy Pettitte	31	200.7	15	10	3.99	2	164	41
Ted Lilly	26	120.7	5	6	5.37	0	112	51
Orlando Hernández	17	94.7	4	7	4.85	0	77	42
Randy Keisler	10	50.7	1	2	6.22	0	36	34
Sterling Hitchcock	10	51.3	4	4	6.49	1	28	18

^[17]

Other pitchers

Player	G	IP	W	L	ERA	SO

Relief pitchers

Player	G	IP	W	L	SV	ERA	SO	BB
Mariano Rivera	71	80.7	4	6	50	2.34	83	12
Mike Stanton	76	80.3	9	4	0	2.58	78	29
Ramiro Mendoza	56	100.7	8	4	6	3.75	70	23
Randy Choate	37	48.3	3	1	0	3.35	35	27
Jay Witasick	32	40.3	3	0	0	4.69	53	18

ALDS

Series Summary:

• Game 1 @ Yankee Stadium: Athletics 5, Yankees 3
• Game 2 @ Yankee Stadium: Athletics 2, Yankees 0
• Game 3 @ Network Associates Coliseum: Yankees 1, Athletics 0
• Game 4 @ Network Associates Coliseum: Yankees 9, Athletics 2
• Game 5 @ Yankee Stadium: Yankees 5, Athletics 3

Yankees win series 3-2, becoming the first team in MLB history to win the ALDS after dropping the first two games at home.

ALCS

Game	Score	Date	Location	Attendance
1	New York – 4, Seattle – 2	October 17	Safeco Field	47,644
2	New York – 3, Seattle – 2	October 18	Safeco Field	47,791
3	Seattle – 14, New York – 3	October 20	Yankee Stadium	56,517
4	Seattle – 1, New York – 3	October 21	Yankee Stadium	56,375
5	Seattle – 3, New York – 12	October 22	Yankee Stadium	56,370

World series

President Bush tosses out the ceremonial first pitch before a 2-1 Yankee victory in Game 3 of the 2001 World Series.

Game 1

October 27, 2001 at Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix, Arizona

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
New York	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	3	2
Arizona	1	0	4	4	0	0	0	0	x	9	10	0
W: Curt Schilling (1-0)   L: Mike Mussina (0-1)
HR: ARI – Craig Counsell (1), Luis Gonzalez (1)

Game 2

October 28, 2001 at Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix, Arizona

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
New York	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0
Arizona	0	1	0	0	0	0	3	0	x	4	5	0
W: Randy Johnson (1-0)   L: Andy Pettitte (0-1)
HR: ARI – Matt Williams (1)

Game 3

October 30, 2001 at Yankee Stadium in New York City

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Arizona	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	3	3
New York	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	x	2	7	1
W: Roger Clemens (1-0)   L: Brian Anderson (0-1)  S: Mariano Rivera (1)
HR: NYY – Jorge Posada (1)

Game 4

October 31, 2001 at Yankee Stadium in New York City

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	R	H	E
Arizona	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	2	0	0	3	6	0
New York	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	2	1	4	7	0
W: Mariano Rivera (1-0)   L: Byung-Hyun Kim (0-1)
HR: ARI – Mark Grace (1)    NYY – Shane Spencer (1), Tino Martinez (1), Derek Jeter (1)

Game 5

November 1, 2001 at Yankee Stadium in New York City

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	R	H	E
Arizona	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	8	0
New York	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	1	3	9	1
W: Sterling Hitchcock (1-0)   L: Albie Lopez (0-1)
HR: ARI – Steve Finley (1), Rod Barajas (1)    NYY – Scott Brosius (1)

Game 6

November 3, 2001 at Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix, Arizona

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
New York	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	2	7	1
Arizona	1	3	8	3	0	0	0	0	x	15	22	0
W: Randy Johnson (2-0)   L: Andy Pettitte (0-2)

Game 7

November 4, 2001 at Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix, Arizona

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
New York	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	2	6	3
Arizona	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	2	3	11	0
W: Randy Johnson (3-0)   L: Mariano Rivera (1-1)
HR: NYY– Alfonso Soriano (1)

Awards and records

• Roger Clemens became the first pitcher to reach his 20th win with only 1 loss.^[18]
• Roger Clemens, AL Cy Young Award

Farm system

Level	Team	League	Manager
AAA	Columbus Clippers	International League	Trey Hillman
AA	Norwich Navigators	Eastern League	Stump Merrill
A	Tampa Yankees	Florida State League	Brian Butterfield
A	Greensboro Bats	South Atlantic League	Mitch Seoane
A-Short Season	Staten Island Yankees	New York–Penn League	Joe Arnold
Rookie	GCL Yankees	Gulf Coast League	Derek Shelton

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: GCL Yankees; LEAGUE CO-CHAMPIONS: Tampa^[19]

References

1. Nemec, David; Flatow, Scott. Great Baseball Feats, Facts and Figures (2008 ed.). New York: Penguin Group. p. 234. ISBN 978-0-451-22363-0.
2. Olney, Buster (November 5, 2001). "In Final Twist, New York Falls in Ninth". New York Times. p. A1.
3. Walker, Ben (November 5, 2001). "Diamondbacks 3, Yankees 2". Associated Press. The other two all-home victory Series were both won by Minnesota, 1987 and 1991.
4. http://www.baseball-reference.com/o/olivejo01.shtml
5. http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mussimi01.shtml
6. Dwight Gooden Statistics Baseball-Reference.com
7. http://www.baseball-reference.com/s/sojolu01.shtml
8. http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/knighbr01.shtml
9. http://www.baseball-reference.com/r/rodrihe02.shtml
10. http://www.baseball-reference.com/h/hensodr01.shtml
11. Glenallen Hill Statistics Baseball-Reference.com
12. John-Ford Griffin Statistics Baseball-Reference.com
13. Bronson Sardinha Statistics Baseball-Reference.com
14. Bobby Estalella Statistics Baseball-Reference.com
15. Sterling Hitchcock Statistics Baseball-Reference.com
16. http://www.baseball-reference.com/v/velarra01.shtml
17. http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYY/2001.shtml
18. Great Baseball Feats, Facts and Figures, 2008 Edition, p.372, David Nemec and Scott Flatow, A Signet Book, Penguin Group, New York, ISBN 978-0-451-22363-0
19. Johnson, Lloyd, and Wolff, Miles, ed., The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball, 3rd edition. Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America, 2007

• 2001 New York Yankees
• 2001 World Series
• 2001 New York Yankees at Baseball Almanac