What's your favorite aspect of this championship?

[KayForPresident]

Is it that Arod finally got his due? A 5th ring for the core four? Finally beating the Angels and finally moving on from the 2004 debacle? What was the best part of this championship for you?


For me, it's two things:

First, it's seeing Andy Pettitte redeem himself after the HGH stuff from last year. He's always been a bulldog and even now, after all he's been through, after nearly retiring, he came up huge and proved once again that it's not about who throws the hardest or who gets paid the most money - it's about having that competitive fire and passion for the game.

Second, it's the greatness of Mo. Every year for the past 5 years or so I think to myself "OK, this could be the year that he comes down to Earth" and every year he just keeps on throwing that impossible cutter. Many great athletes win championships in their prime and then flame out and many athletes don't get to play for a championship until late in their careers. Mo has done both and he has sustained greatness throughout. Here's to however many more years Mo has left in that magical right arm of his. We are truly lucky to be witness to his greatness!

[scine20]

For me it's easily the whole "ARod can't win the big one nonsense" finally going away.

I also am glad they won it when they did to secure themselves as the team of the decade.

This season should shut Red Sox fans up for a while.

[pleasepassthesoup]

Absolutely everything.

[StatenIslandYankee]

A-Rod proving he's the best player in baseball.

[GeorgeCostanza85]

Absolutely everything.

same here

[Jim F.]

I like the fact that they did it in the first year of the new ballpark.

[YankeesFanJS]

same here

ditto, absolutely everything

[PeteRFNY]

The fact that this year more than any of the non-World Series years, the team returned to the "team-first" method of winning. Girardi, for all his occasional brain farts, stressed the "team" mentality on these guys and it paid off with interest.

[KayForPresident]

I like the fact that they did it in the first year of the new ballpark.

Ah, yes...that's a good one!

(Good to see you, Jim. I was beginning to wonder if you were just an empty figurehead these days. Also good to see a familiar name. I don't know anyone here anymore! )

[Soriambi]

I've been a Yankee fan for as long as I've been a baseball fan, which started when I was early in elementary school, so I got to experience and I remember the titles in 1996, 1998, 1999, and 2000. However, at that point I wasn't actively watching as many games as I could like I do now (I started watching/listening to as many games as I could in around 2002.) I would always check to see if the Yanks won or lost, but I didn't watch baseball that often during the regular season before 2002, finding out what happened on Sportscenter or in the papers instead. In addition, I was much younger.

This is the first time that the Yankees have won a title where I saw a vast majority of the team's regular season games, so it's a different feeling than the others. I cared a ton about those teams, too, but when you follow more closely and watch a team day in and day out, you get a lot more attached to them, so this one is pretty special to me for that reason. In addition, when I started liking baseball the Yankees were still bad, but they got good a couple of years later and started winning the titles within around 4 years of my baseball fan life. I don't think I appreciated those championships nearly as much due to my age (I was only 12 when the Yanks won in 1996) and due to the fact that I almost got used to it, and at times they made it look easy and inevitable, so while I was thrilled after each of those titles, I almost expected them after 1996 until the loss in 2001.

I know that for most teams 2001-2008 would not be a huge WS drought, but I think not winning for that many years made me appreciate this accomplishment even more. I really got a perspective on how difficult it is to make the post-season and then to make it all the way through the playoffs, so doing it is that much sweeter.

So that's what I'd say. My favorite aspect of this title is the fact that it's my first since I started really watching the team day in and day out. In many ways it's my favorite of all the titles I've seen for that reason. It's far different when you watch maybe 5-10 games and then the playoffs than it is to watch 145 and the playoffs. It really feels like your time and energy investment has paid off, and it's just such a great feeling.

[b_joseph]

1) Monkey off the back of the franchise. Boston winning 2 titles really was a kick to the groin for this franchise and there has clearly been a desperation to get back to the mountain top since that awful ALCS in 2004.
Now, the entire franchise can breathe and we can start to build a team truly from the inside out. Montero, Jackson, Joba and Hughes can have more patience to build their careers without having a Ringless drought over their heads.

2) Alex getting the monkey off his back. The tears he shed in the field after the game was just a clear indication of how much this meant to him. The greatest player should always have a title and not having it really allowed people to tee off on his legacy..for the worse.
Now he can be free and become the best player of all time.

3) Parades!!! I love the parades for my sports teams

[KayForPresident]

I've been a Yankee fan for as long as I've been a baseball fan, which started when I was early in elementary school, so I got to experience and I remember the titles in 1996, 1998, 1999, and 2000. However, at that point I wasn't actively watching as many games as I could like I do now. I would always check to see if the Yanks won or lost, but I didn't watch baseball that often during the regular season, finding out what happened on Sportscenter or in the papers instead. In addition, I was much younger.

This is the first time that the Yankees have won a title where I saw a vast majority of the team's regular season games, so it's a different feeling than the others. I cared a ton about those teams, too, but when you follow more closely and watch a team day in and day out, you get a lot more attached to them, so this one is pretty special to me for that reason. In addition, when I started liking baseball the Yankees were still bad, but they got good a couple of years later and started winning the titles within around 4 years of my baseball fan life. I don't think I appreciated those championships nearly as much due to my age (I was only 12 when the Yanks won in 1996) and due to the fact that I almost got used to it, and at times they made it look easy and inevitable, so while I was thrilled after each of those titles, I almost expected them after 1996 until the loss in 2001.

I know that for most teams 2001-2008 would not be a huge WS drought, but I think not winning for that many years made me appreciate this accomplishment even more. I really got a perspective on how difficult it is to make the post-season and then to make it all the way through the playoffs, so doing it is that much sweeter.

So that's what I'd say. My favorite aspect of this title is the fact that it's my first since I started really watching the team day in and day out. In many ways it's my favorite of all the titles I've seen for that reason. It's far different when you watch maybe 5-10 games and then the playoffs than it is to watch 145 and the playoffs. It really feels like your time and energy investment has paid off, and it's just such a great feeling.

Good for you to have had that experience. That's what I experienced during the '95-'01 seasons. I probably watched and/or listened to 90% of the games during those seasons (especially '98) and went to a ton of them as well. I'm old and married now so I can't do that any longer but I watch whenever I can and keep up with scores and news and such. It's not the same for me as it was back then so I know exactly where you're coming from. Enjoy it now and don't take it for granted. You may not have this luxury in the future!

[BronxYanks45]

favorite aspects:

1. Got the best record in baseball, and won the championship at home in the first season of the new ballpark

2. Girardi bounced back from 2008 and made the team a winner

3. ARod proved he can hit in the postseason

4. Mo shows he is still unhittable

5. Andy sets postseason record for wins and basically crushes the record

[Lifelong Fan]

How we played with class!

In my opinion, several signings that we have been able to pull off are because those players wanted to be Yankees...Tex, CC and Andy(resigning). With the class we showed this year and the fun everyone had, it should put us in a great position to recruit the next additions to the 2010 roster.

[LongLiveBernie51!]

So many things:

1. Arod shutting up the haters for good and doing it over and over and over again.
2. Pettitte coming home and winning it all again and Matsui going out in style.
3. Watching this team come together and feeling like they all pulled for each other.
4. Seeing Cashman vindicated for his moves and watching all the new acquisitions blend seamlessly into the team.
5. Any red sox fan that clings to "we won twice this century" while bringing up 2004 will sound ridiculously bitter.
6. Breaking the new ballpark in with some style.
   

I only wish Moose was a part of this.

I'm also happy for Wang. He had a down year and it ended early for him but he earned it for all the years he was our number 1 ace and carried the team. I'd like to see him come back next year and pull a 2009 Arod in the postseason.

and I can't forget CC. This postseason was about shutting up the haters and Arod and CC did just that.

[jeterdaman]

The best part of this for me is just that I have missed the winning. It's been a long 9 years and it's great to have the Yankees as champions again.

[HerbieLee20]

I am happy for everybody involved with the Franchise -- especially George, and most happy that those core, homegrown players have earned a fifth ring. Joe G now has 4 (+1) so far

I remember following the awesome TEX thread on here as it all transpired -- A Very Cashman Christmas it was -- and congratulations to him

I asked someone earlier today to name ONE Major League ballclub with FOUR homegrown players since the 1990s. They couldn't.

The kicker: How many of which will go straight to Cooperstown?!! (While other teams let their stars and potential futures just walk....)

Very happy today. Congratulations!
Enjoy the Parade!

[spyglass]

ALL of the things you guys have already posted.


This certainly wasn't the crowning moment, but proving Rollins wrong was also pretty sweet.

[Sam18]

That Joe Torre is playing golf in LA.

[CanoForPresident]

I agree with everything posted in here already but I enjoyed the fact that this team had to battle a bit in the world series for the first time since 1996. It made it tougher on my heart but it makes it so much more enjoyable when you come out on top.

[JDPNYY]

I like the fact that they did it in the first year of the new ballpark.

Agreed.

Now I hope they win 25 more championships in the next 77 years again.

[pleasepassthesoup]

Celebrating in a bar in Boston with over 100 other Yankee diehards was pretty high up there on my list of favorite things about this championship.

[genius-24]

1. ARod, ARod, ARoddddddddddddddddddddd!!!!!!

[Maynerd]

Absolutely everything.

Yeah. What Soup said.

One additional thing. Derek Jeter will be a Hall of Famer. So will Mo. And Alex. Tex certainly has a chance if he keeps playing MVP-calibre baseball. But there are two guys who have credentials comparable to some who are enshrined in Cooperstown, but are anything but locks for the Hall: Andy Pettitte and Jorge Posada. And, this additional World Championship is one more thing in the plus column for each of them.

[Rocketbooster]

It’s the idea that some found redemption (Alex, CC, Marte, AJ), some rediscovered their past glory (Jeter, Po, Mo, Andy), some got to experience winning for the first time (Hairston) and some kids found huge ways to contribute to their team’s success and can use this to bolster their confidence in the future (Phil, D-Rob, Cervelli, etc….).

Also, this team was the most enjoyable to follow and had the most fun on and off the field.

[PinstripeDynasty]

For me it's that 2001 can no longer be considered the "last night of the Yankee dynasty".

I'm not suggesting that 1996-2009 is a dynasty, the 1996-2000 era is different from this year's team, but it seemed like a strong possibility that none of those players from 1996-2000 would ever win a ring again.

Now Jeter, Pettitte, Rivera and Posada all won another championship together, which is an amazing thing when you consider that their last WS win was 9 years ago. And the window was closing for these players, so it's great to have been able to do it now with these players when we still had the chance.

[Rocketbooster]

What's amazing about the core is not just that they've lasted, but that they have lasted and remained remarkably productive. I'm not sure we'll see this again.

[Poeman]

everyone anti-yankees just got a taste of STFU

[KayForPresident]

everyone anti-yankees just got a taste of STFU

Unfortunately, that's not the case - they've got even more to cry about.

[gill2k]

Lots:
- Domination by A-Rod in the postseason
- Core Four getting another one
- CC proving to be a true ace...
- ... and on that note, owning the baseball world in the postseason with only 3 starting pitchers
- Matsui proving that he is Godzilla
- Mo showing every other closer in the league how it's really done
- Johnny Damon helping us win after spanking us in '04
- G.I. Joe not as clueless as others thought he'd be. Awesome management in September just to give everyone fresh legs and arms in October/November.
- Marte being a complete beast in the postseason.

[diehardyankeefan]

This was absolutely awesome in every way. Seriously this team when A-Rod came back was on a mission to #27. In mid-summer after the Yankees swept the Red Sox for the 4-game series, I was just like when will October come. It came and this time into the early days of November, I witnessed a great group of guys who beat the Angels (a team that had our number till this year) and the Phillies (the defending champions but also I live in Phillie country so this is extra-sweet). This was one awesome season and this team deserved #27. Thank you New York Yankees for a memorable season and maybe next year we can get #28!

[LongLiveBernie51!]

Unfortunately, that's not the case - they've got even more to cry about.

Yes but they will always cry. This time it is the type of tears that are so tasty sweet to us Yankee fans.

I want to hear this type of whining as much as possible.

[BobLoblaw]

Everything. Some guys added to their ring collection, some got their first one. A-Rod finally got his due. Matsui may have closed his Yankee career in the best possible way. Mo was Mo. It all happened in the christening of the new stadium.

I love this team!

[wexy]

Going to Metsrefugees.com and seeing how much they hate us now that we won again.

Francisco Cervelli's home run turning around the season.
Seeing the core guys win again
A parade tomorrow down the street.

[R.V.47]

Seeing this group win it was really great. The late 90s team will always be special but this one was extra special because they had a lot of years of failed trys before this win and had to endure a ton more scrutiny and doubts.

[Mark19]

Being proven wrong about my dire concerns time and time again

[Bozidar]

the less-corporate more-fun atmosphere for this team.

in the past it's felt a LITTLE like rooting for US Steal, i'll admit that. This year it's been a lot more fun watching them win because they look like THEY'RE having more fun winning.

I like that, i like that a lot.

[MooseKnuckle]

Complete domination of Jimmy rollins

[ansky4]

I think the best is that this teams mentality reminds me of the 98 team. You could really tell after they won that they all care a lot about each other, and I think that thats important for a team to be able to win. i think this year probably had more superstar caliber players than 98, but I think they knew what it meant to work toward team goals, and could "share the wealth" as they say... this team is awesome!!!

[gill2k]

Complete domination of Jimmy rollins

I forgot to add that to my list... Jimmy Rollins' prediction and his genius able to solve Mo

[JeterRodriguezSheff]

The redemption of A-rod, and laying waste to the Angels.

[sweet_lou_14]

Here's my list:
1. Erasing some of the heartbreak of the last eight years
2. Firmly cementing the legacy of Derek Jeter (this includes his regular-season milestones as well) and the other three players from the dynasty years
3. Winning one more for George Steinbrenner
4. Winning in the first year of the new ballpark
5. Hideki Matsui deserved a ring, period
6. Watching Rivera continue his shockingly brilliant postseason career
7. Putting the Red Sox back in their place
8. Finally beating the Angels
9. Vindication for Brian Cashman and Joe Girardi
10. Giving the next generation of Steinbrenners a taste of winning so that they feel motivated to keep up their father's passion for doing it again and again
11. Getting to really love CC, Tex, Swisher, and yes even you too AJ
12. Knowing that this team is capable of building on this and starting another memorable run

I find it interesting how many fans -- I am assuming mostly the younger fans but would be curious to know? -- hang so much of their satisfaction on A-Rod. It's clear to me that a lot of people really identify with him in a way that I simply don't. Don't get me wrong, I am extremely happy for him on a personal level and he really showed me something this year. He deserved this win as much as anybody. He was simply brilliant in the postseason -- probably the overall MVP of the three playoff rounds. But when I think of the things that give me the most personal satisfaction about this championship, he's not in my top 10, even though several people are listing him as their #1.

[Ram Man]

the less-corporate more-fun atmosphere for this team.

I agree with that. In the past, there were always a few "rent-a-players" or possibly more accurately, baseball mercenaries, who were there to do a job and that's all - until their contracts were up and they moved on. This year's team, while still "baseball mercenaries" in the truest sense of the phrase (that is, they play for the Yankees until traded, released, etc. and then end up playing for another team) seemed to really come together as a team and really had fun.

From the post-game pies to the shots of players in the dugout during the games, anyone could see that this team really liked playing together, were supportive of each other and didn't seem to have any players that were just there to do their job, collect their check and then move on.

I was also very gratified to have been there for Opening Day, for Jeter's record breaking hit and for two games in the World Series.

[NYYDragoon]

After years of failed free agent signings and disappointing postseason exists, everything finally came together perfectly.

[LongLiveBernie51!]

I find it interesting how many fans -- I am assuming mostly the younger fans but would be curious to know? -- hang so much of their satisfaction on A-Rod. It's clear to me that a lot of people really identify with him in a way that I simply don't. Don't get me wrong, I am extremely happy for him on a personal level and he really showed me something this year. He deserved this win as much as anybody. He was simply brilliant in the postseason -- probably the overall MVP of the three playoff rounds. But when I think of the things that give me the most personal satisfaction about this championship, he's not in my top 10, even though several people are listing him as their #1.

For me it had something to do with the endless "arod chokes in the post season" for 4 straight agonizing years and made it even worse with the Verducci SI article and the Torre Book.

This was closure.

[bostonyankeefan]

1. Making the "can't win in the postseason" label go away.
2. Cementing Mo's legacy as the best ever.
3. Beating the Angels.
4. Beating the Angels.
5. Beating the Angels.
6. Beating the umpires.
7. Making the pain of 2004 go away.
8. Knowing that this team will be stronger in the years that follow.

It was a great season in so many ways.

While getting the ring is the goal, what this team did in the regular season cannot go overlooked. 103 wins in the toughest division in baseball is amazing. Getting a decent lead in August was the key to winning the WS because it allowed Girardi to rest CC, AJ and Andy a lot during September, allowing them to be effective, for the most part, during the WS. It also allowed the regulars to get some rest, and this is very important with an older team. For several years the Yankees made great comebacks, only to be gassed going into the postseason.

It is a wonderful day.

[lestat24]

Since I live near Philly, I would have to say the best part of this win is that it was against the Phillies. I never have to hear again how the Phillies beat the Yankees in interleague play as if it meant something. Also, the Philly fans are so defeated that they are less annoying.

I am also very happy for Arod, who I have been very critical of, and Joe Girardi.

Another favorite is that there are so many people on the team from '96.

Wow, I guess I have a lot of favorites. It was that kind of year!!!!

[Yankee Tripper]

favorite aspect? No more "got rings, lately"

favorite moment? Easily the Marte 3 pitch strikeout of utley with 2 on to end the 7th. The only time I literally jumped off the couch and streamed "YES!" - kind of pissed off my wife with that. She's like "It's just a strikeout" She didn't grasp that the world series was over with that pitch. The final 6 outs seemed like a formality to me after that.

[The Q Bomb]

I have to agree with pleasepassthesoup - everything.

From the continued greatness of Mariano Rivera and Derek Jeter, to the talent, effort, focus, and heart of Andy Pettitte on display to the world again; the way Posada came back early from major surgery; to the way the new guys came through; to the way Matsui came back as "Matsui" - the same clutch, classy, guy he has been since his first day with this team; to the fun the guys seemed to have; to the way the new Stadium finally seemed to settle in; to the walk-off pies; to A-Rod's so-called redemption (although I think folks dismissed how hard he always played; the one big difference is his production more than anything else). I loved all the Hope Week activity. I especially loved the classy tributes to teammates, fans, owners, made by the players. (Notice how the players and Girardi stressed how special the fans were this year.)

It's all been great!

The only thing not to like were the ticket prices!

[hellonewman]

Burying 2004 forever.