Yankees Grab AL Pennant, Road Continues to 28th World Title
Stanton ALCS MVP
NOTE: This article was first published online at The Sports Column on Sunday, October 20, 2024.
The Yankees were on a mission all season long: to make it to the World Series. That mission was accomplished on Saturday when the Yankees beat the Guardians 5-2 in ten innings to claim the American League pennant.
The Yankees last won the World Series in 2009. They then had a 15-year drought but came close in 2017, losing the ALCS to the Houston Astros in seven games. This season, at one point in the middle of July, they were three games behind the Orioles and fighting to stay in contention. They then turned it around and finished in first place with a 94-68 win-loss record, three games ahead of the Orioles.
Aaron Boone speaking to reporters after Saturday’s series-clinching win: “I am proud of this group and this organization. It is very special to do it with these guys daily and see what they have. I’m looking forward to seeing who we play.”
Front-office commitment contributed significantly. When the Yankees traded for Juan Soto, their message was simple: they were all in. They also traded for Alex Verdugo, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Mark Leiter, Jr., and signed Marcus Stroman. During the season, they also called up rookie sensations, such as Jasson Dominguez and Ben Rice from the Minors.
All that said, Giancarlo Stanton was the ALCS MVP, propelling the Yankees with four home runs, five runs, and seven RBIs. Perhaps more importantly, Stanton enabled the Yankees to overcome deficits. Traded to New York in December 2017, Stanton has battled injuries and was even booed by fans at Yankee Stadium. But he is also a five-time all-star with career statistics of .257 BA, 429 home runs, 1551 hits, and 1103 RBIs … and you can’t boo those numbers.
Known as the most successful sports team in history, the Yankees have earned 27 World Series Championships, 41 American League Pennants, and 21 American League East Division Titles. General Manager Brian Cashman told reporters, “We’re right where we are.”
Translated? It’s where they want to be … pursuing excellence … again.