» June 4, 1990:
The Braves wisely select Florida high school SS Chipper Jones with the first pick in the annual free-agent draft. The Tigers follow with Tony Clark and the Phils use the 3rd pick on Mike Lieberthal. The A's use their 14th choice to take the much sought after Todd Van Poppel, passed over because of his stated intention to pitch at the University of Texas. The A's change his mind and he signs on July 16th for $1.2 million. Picking 20th, the Orioles take Stanford's Mike Mussina. Late in the 6th round, the independent Class A Miami Miracle drafts Mike Lansing under a never-before-used rule. The rule will be abolished, but Lansing will play two years with the Miracle and make the majors with the Expos. Troy Percival (Angels) and Mike Hampton (Mariners) go in the 6th round, Rusty Greer (Rangers) in the 10th, and on the 12th round, the Twins take SS Pat Meares. The White Sox end up with the best draft, taking Alex Fernandez (1st round), Bob Wickman (2nd), Robert Ellis (3rd), James Baldwin (4th), Ray Durham (5th), Brandon Wilson (18th), and Jason Bere (36th). After selecting Carl Everett with the 10th overall pick, the Yanks pull two winners out of the low rounds: Andy Pettitte in the 20th round and Jorge Posada in the 24th.
» May 6, 1998:
In a wild game, the Yankees (22–6) beat the Rangers, 15-13, after jumping out to a 9-0 lead with two in the 1st and seven in the 2nd. But the Rangers came back with seven in the 3rd. After the Yankees score four in the top of the 4th, the Rangers score three to cut the lead to 13-10, then tie it with three in the 6th. Jorge Posada's RBI single gives the Yankees the lead in the 8th. Derek Jeter has four hits, including a triple and homer, and five RBI, while Paul O'Neill contributes three hits, two runs, two RBI, a double and a home run. Juan Gonzalez has three hits, five RBI, three runs and a home run for the Rangers. The game is a turning point for David Wells. After Wells allows seven runs on seven hits in two 2/3 innings, he receives a tongue lashing from Joe Torre which proves therapeutic.
» October 6, 1998: The Yankees jump on Cleveland starter Jaret Wright for five runs in the 1st inning and hold on to defeat the Indians, 7–2, in the 1st game of the ALCS. Jorge Posada homers for NY, while Manny Ramirez connects for the Tribe.
» October 18, 1998: New York strikes early, scoring three runs in each of the 1st two innings. They go on to cruise to a 9–3 win in Game two behind Orlando Hernandez. Bernie Williams and Jorge Posada connect for homers.
» October 18, 1999: The Yankees defeat the Red Sox, 6-1, to win the ALCS and their 36th American League pennant. Orlando Hernandez wins the clincher for NY, and is named MVP of the LCS. Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada homer for the Yanks.
» April 23, 2000: The Yankees score seven runs in the 4th inning on their way to a 10-7 win over the Blue Jays. NY OF Bernie Williams and C Jorge Posada each hit home runs from both sides of the plate, marking the 1st time in major league history that a pair of teammates accomplish the feat in the same game.
» May 29, 2000: The Yankees defeat the A's Olivares, 4-1, on Pettitte's 2-hitter. In the 6th inning, Oakland 2B Randy Velarde turns an unassisted triple play, just the 11th in history, on a line drive by Shane Spencer. With runners on 1st and 2nd running with the pitch, Velarde tags Jorge Posada as he nears 2B, then touches the bag to retire Tino Martinez. In 1995, while with the Yankees, Velarde turned an unassisted triple play against the Dodgers in spring training following the strike.
» October 11, 2000:
The Yankees score seven runs in the 8th inning to defeat the Mariners, 7-1, and tie the ALCS at one game apiece. Bernie Williams' hit breaks NY's 21-inning scoreless streak. Jorge Posada hits a home run later in the inning. Orlando Hernandez' record improves to 7-0 in postseason play.
» April 8, 2001:
In the Yankees 16–5 win over Toronto, Yankee pinch-hitter Scott Seabol becomes the lowest-drafted player (88th round in 1996) to ever appear in ML. This distinction will last just 11 days before Travis Phelps -- the Tampa Bay Devil Rays' selection in the 89th round, also in 1996 -- makes his debut on April 19. Roger Clemens is the winner as batterymate Jorge Posada belts his first grand slam, one of 20 Yankee hits.
» May 1, 2001:
Mike Mussina 3-hits the Twins to win, 4–0, for the Yankees. David Justice has a solo home run in the 6th off Eric Milton, the losing pitcher, and Jorge Posada adds ribbie singles in the 7th and 9th.
» July 15, 2001: The battle of two first place teams draws 59,470 at Philadelphia as the Yanks lose a sloppy game to the Phils, 9–3. In the 5th, Jimmy Rollins takes 2B on a PB, then swipes 3rd for his 26th straight successful steal. Jorge Posada has three passed balls and should have been charged with a 4th, while Derek Jeter makes a critical error. Posada will lead the majors in PBs this year with 18.
» October 13, 2001:
Jorge Posada's 5th inning solo homer accounts for all the scoring as the Yankees defeat Oakland, 1-0, to stay alive in their Division Series. Mike Mussina gives up just four hits in seven innings to get the win.
» October 30, 2001: Roger Clemens and Mariano Rivera hurl the Yankees to a 2-1 victory in Game Three of the World Series. Jorge Posada homers for New York while Scott Brosius' 6th-inning single drives home the winning run. Brian Anderson takes the loss for Arizona.
» October 5, 2002: The Angels shock the Yankees by scoring eight runs in the 5th inning and going on to a 9–5 victory. The win give Anaheim its first postseason series victory ever, as they win their divisional matchup, three games to 1. Shawn Wooten homers for Anaheim while Jorge Posada adds a round–tripper for NY. Jarrod Washburn gets the victory for the Angels.
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