The New York Yankees Postseason

By: Kayden Martinez Since 1903, the New York Yankees have won a total of 27 World Series titles, 41 American League pennants, and have appeared in the playoffs 58 times. But the 2024 Postseason for the Bronx Bombers was a special one. Although they didn’t claim the title of World Series champions, they gave baseball fans a season to remember for years to come.

Anthony Volpe celebrating with teammates after a game-winning sacrifice fly ball for a run in the tenth-inning versus the Orioles.

Before we dive into the Yankees postseason, for a bit of context, let's talk about their regular season. They finished the regular season with a 94-68 record, taking the number one spot in AL East. Yankees star center fielder, Aaron Judge, had played a total of 158 games, was at bat 559 times, had 122 runs, 180 hits, 58 home runs, an RBI of 144, 133 walks, and him hitting .322. Juan Soto, Yankees right fielder, played 157 games, was at bat 576 times, had 128 runs, 166 hits, 41 home runs, an RBI of 109, 129 walks, and hitting .288. Anthony Rizzo had broken two of his fingers and managed to play incredibly through the pain through the postseason. 

The MLB Postseason started in early October. The Yankees faced the Kansas City Royals in the Division Series. The first game was set in the Bronx and went their way, with the Bronx Bombers winning 6-5. But the Royals tied the series two days later. They took their series to Kansas City and the Yanks closed out the series there, fortunately, for native New Yorkers, winning the next two games, and finishing the series with a 3-1 record.

The ALCS was up next for the Yanks, and at this point, fans were ecstatic. The Cleveland Guardians would be traveling to the Bronx for the first two games of the series. Carlos Rodón pitched for their first game, which they won, 5-2. Juan Soto and Giancarlo Stanton, being the stars of game one, were the two to score for the Yanks. They would also go ahead and win game two the next day, the final score being 6-2. Two days later, they would be playing in Cleveland and the Guardians would make the series record 2-1, with the final score being 7-5. But the bombers wouldn’t let that stop them from winning the next two games, claiming the title of ALDC champions, and heading to the World Series at a chance to add to their 27 World Series championships.

Six days after they clinched their spot in the World Series, the New York Yankees would fly out to Dodger Stadium to face the LA Dodgers in the World Series for the first time since 1981. Now, we can’t start talking about the World Series without talking about the rivalry between these two teams. The first time these teams met for the World Series was back in 1941 when the Yanks won the series. The two teams proceeded to meet 11 more times after that! The Yankees won eight of the 12 World Series games against Los Angeles. 

New York Yankees celebrate advancing to the ALCS after winning game five against the Kansas City Royals.

That brings us to the 2024 World Series. The first two games are set in LA, in Dodger Stadium. People from around the world are anticipating what this amazing matchup will bring to the table. Game one starts Dodgers Pitcher Jack Flaherty pitches the top first inning till Giancarlos homerun at the top of the sixth. Gerrit Cole pitched from the bottom of the first to the bottom of the seventh after Teoscar Hernandez led off with a hit. Tommy Kahnle comes in for Cole and Shohei Otahni Immediately gets to third base. Yankees manager, Aaron Boone, pulls Kahnle and puts in his closing pitcher, Luke Weaver. Dodgers tie the game at 2-2 when Mookie Betts hits a sacrifice fly ball for Otahni to score. The top of the ninth starts and Gleyber Torres hits a home run, but umpires decided a fan interfered with the play, so they placed Torres at second base, but Judge ended the inning with a pop-up ball. In the bottom of the tenth, with two strikes for the Dodgers, Enrique Hernandez hits a fly ball, but Alex Verdugo makes a dive for the catch. That sends them into extra innings. Stanton strikes out, but Jazz Chisholm Jr. hits a single. Anthony Rizzo is put on first intentionally. Anthony Volpe is next at bat and Chisholm steals third. Volpe hits a ground ball, steals first, and Chisholm scores for the Yanks to take the lead. But Austin Wells strikes out to end the inning for the Yankees. Jake Cousins replaces Luke Weaver for pitching, but he doesn't stay in for long when two bases are loaded and Boone puts in Nestor Cortes Jr.. Alex Verdugo dives into the first row of seats to catch a ball from Otahni. Bases are loaded when Freddie Freeman is at bat and hits a home run instantly. This puts the Dodgers to lead the series 1-0. 

Yankees outfielder, Aaron Judge, hits a two-run home run making his first home run of the postseason against the Cleveland Guardians in game two of the ALCS.

The Dodgers go on to win the next two games, with a 3-0 series record. Game four would be set in the Bronx and for the Yanks to stay alive, they must win this next game, and that's what they did. Luis Gil, Yankees rookie pitcher, would be starting the game off. Freddie Freeman hits yet another home run in the first. Freddie Freeman hit a home run every game in the series. Anthony Volpe hits a grand slam at the bottom of the third to put the Bronx Bombers in the lead, 5-2. Will Smith for the Dodgers hits a home run in the top of the fifth. Then Austin Wells for the Yankees at the bottom of the sixth. Anthony Volpe scores at the bottom of the eighth. Gleyber Torres hits a home run right after. They finish up the game with a win, the final score being 8-6, and Yankee fans are elated now more than ever.

Game five comes around and the Yankees are still fighting despite the series record. They continue to play in Yankee Stadium. Fans for both teams are hoping their team will come through with a win....

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(Updates from the Editors: The Dodgers won the World Series. Ugh. There's always next year. Go Yankees!) BIBLIOGRAPHY MLB Postseason schedule MLB 2024 regular season standings  "Aaron Judge, Anthony Volpe propel Yankees past Orioles despite Gerrit Cole’s rough night" nydailynews.com, May. 2023, p.1. Regular Season Anthony Volpe picture "Yankees beat Royals, advance to American League Championship Series" syracuse.com, Oct. 2024, p.1. Yankees after advancing to the ALCS "Yankees’ Aaron Judge breaks through with first homer of postseason in ALCS Game 2 win over Guardians" westhawaiitoday.com, Oct. 2024, p.1. Aaron Judge hitting a two-run homerun in game two of the ALCS