1999 World Series

The1999 World Serieswas thechampionship seriesofMajor League Baseball's (MLB)1999 season.The 95th edition of the World Series, it was abest-of-seven playoffbetween the defendingAmerican League(AL) and World Series championNew York Yankeesand theNational League(NL) championAtlanta Bravesin a rematch of the1996 World Series,in which the Yankees prevailed. The Yankeessweptthe 1999 Series in four games for their second consecutive title, third in four years, and 25th overall. It was the Yankees' third straight defeat of the Braves franchise in the Fall Classic (having beaten the Milwaukee Braves in the1958 World Seriesin addition to their 1996 victory over the Atlanta Braves). Yankees closerMariano Riverawas named theWorld Series Most Valuable Player.This was the first World Series to feature both #1 seeds from theALandNL,a phenomenon that has only occurred twice since, in2013and2020.

1999 World Series
Team (Wins) Manager(s) Season New York Yankees(4) Joe Torre 98–64,.605, GA: 4 Atlanta Braves(0) Bobby Cox 103–59,.636, GA:6+1⁄2
Dates	October 23–27
Venue	Turner Field(Atlanta) Yankee Stadium(New York)
MVP	Mariano Rivera(New York)
Umpires	Randy Marsh(NL, crew chief),Rocky Roe(AL),Steve Rippley(NL),Derryl Cousins(AL),Gerry Davis(NL),Jim Joyce(AL)
Hall of Famers	Yankees: Derek Jeter Mariano Rivera Joe Torre(manager) Braves: Bobby Cox(manager) John Schuerholz(GM) Tom Glavine Chipper Jones Greg Maddux John Smoltz
Broadcast
Television	NBC(United States) MLB International(International)
TV announcers	Bob CostasandJoe Morgan(NBC) Gary ThorneandKen Singleton(MLB International)
Radio	ESPN WABC(NYY) WSB(ATL)
Radio announcers	Jon MillerandRick Sutcliffe(ESPN) John SterlingandMichael Kay(WABC) Skip Caray,Pete Van Wieren,Don SuttonandJoe Simpson(WSB)
ALCS	New York YankeesoverBoston Red Sox(4–1)
NLCS	Atlanta BravesoverNew York Mets(4–2)
World Series program
World Series

The Yankees advanced to the World Series by defeating theTexas Rangersin theAL Division Series,three games to zero, and then theBoston Red Soxin theAL Championship Series,four games to one. The Braves advanced to the series by defeating theHouston Astrosin theNL Division Series,three games to one, and then theNew York Metsin theNL Championship Series,four games to two. The 1999 Series is remembered forChad Curtis'swalk-off home runin Game 3, which gave the Yankees a 6–5 victory, and Game 2's infamous interview ofPete RosebyJim GrayonNBC.This was the first World Series since the advent of the three-division era in 1994 to feature both number-one seeds from the AL and NL, which did not occur again until2013.The next time the Braves would make the World Series would be in2021.

Background

See also:1999 Major League Baseball postseason

This featured a rematch of the1996 World Series.It would also be the last World Series until2013in which the two teams with the best regular-season records in their respective leagues would face off. Perhaps most significantly, it was the first World Series ever in which the competing teams had played each other in the regular season. The Braves won two of three games over the Yankees at Yankee Stadium from July 15 to 17. Althoughinterleague playhad begun in1997,neither of the two previous World Series saw a rematch from the regular season.

The 1999 World Series also feted the All-Century Team, featuring the greatest players of the 20th century as voted by both fans and sportswriters. One of the players on the All-Century Team, Yankees legendJoe DiMaggio,had died in March of that year, with the Yankees honoring him by wearing a black #5 on their sleeves.

Summary

ALNew York Yankees(4) vs. NLAtlanta Braves(0)

Game	Date	Score	Location	Time	Attendance
1	October 23	New York Yankees– 4, Atlanta Braves – 1	Turner Field	2:57	51,342
2	October 24	New York Yankees– 7, Atlanta Braves – 2	Turner Field	3:14	51,226
3	October 26	Atlanta Braves – 5,New York Yankees– 6 (10 innings)	Yankee Stadium	3:16	56,794
4	October 27	Atlanta Braves – 1,New York Yankees– 4	Yankee Stadium	2:58	56,752

Matchups

Derek Jeter's single in the eighth inning with the bases loaded tied the score up for the Yankees.

Game 1

Saturday, October 23, 1999 8:05pm (EDT) atTurner FieldinAtlanta,Georgia51 °F (11 °C), clear

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
New York	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0	4	6	0
Atlanta	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	2	2
WP:Orlando Hernández(1–0)LP:Greg Maddux(0–1)Sv:Mariano Rivera(1) Home runs: NYY: None ATL:Chipper Jones(1)

The 1999 series opened withGreg MadduxfacingOrlando Hernándezin Game 1, becoming the latest a World Series has ever begun (October 23) beating the previous record by 2 days (1995 World Series, October 21). The Braves got on the board first in the series whenChipper Joneslauncheda home run down the right field line in the fourth inning. That would be the only hit thatEl Duquewould allow through seven innings while striking out ten Atlanta batters. It would also be the only home run by the Braves in the series. Maddux had not originally been scheduled to start this game.Tom Glavinewas the scheduled starter, but was scratched with a stomach virus the night before the game. Maddux--pitching on shorter rest than he was originally expected to have and with less than 24 hours' notice--had pitched scoreless three-hit ball through seven before tiring and running into major trouble in the eighth, which began whenScott Brosiussingled for the third time in the game. Pinch hitterDarryl Strawberrywalked andChuck Knoblauchreached when Braves first basemanBrian Huntermishandled hissacrifice buntattempt. Maddux was still allowed to pitch toDerek Jeter,who stroked a single into left with the bases loaded driving in a run. With still nobody out and thebases juiced,Maddux was finally removed, but too late. Atlanta relieverJohn Rockergave up a two-run single toPaul O'Neillthrough the right side making it 3–1 Yankees. Later in the inning, Rocker walkedJim Leyritzwith the bases loaded to force home another run. All four runs were charged to Maddux, though two were unearned due to Hunter's error.Mariano Riverapicked up the save to wrap up the 4–1 victory.

David Cone,the winning pitcher in Game 2.

Game 2

Sunday, October 24, 1999 8:05pm (EDT) atTurner Field in Atlanta, Georgia 50 °F (10 °C), clear

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
New York	3	0	2	1	1	0	0	0	0	7	14	1
Atlanta	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	2	5	1
WP:David Cone(1–0)LP:Kevin Millwood(0–1)

Game 2 featured the presentation of theAll-Century teamand an explosion of Yankees runs off Atlanta starter Kevin Millwood. In the first inning, Knoblauch, Jeter, and O'Neill opened the game with singles with O'Neill driving in Knoblauch. After a double-play groundout, both Tino Martinez and Scott Brosius drove in a run with singles each to give the Yankees a 3–0 lead in the first. In the third,Bernie Williamsand Martinez hit leadoff singles before the former scored onRicky Ledee's double.Terry Mulhollandrelieved starterKevin Millwoodand after getting two outs, shortstopOzzie Guillén's error onDavid Cone's ground ball allowed Martinez to score. The Yankees added to their lead off of Mulholland on Martinez's groundout that scored Jeter in the fourth, who led off the inning with a double, and Knoblauch's single in the fifth that scored Brosius, who also doubled to lead off the inning. Cone shutout the Braves for seven innings whileRamiro Mendozapitched a scoreless eighth, but in the ninth inning, allowed a leadoff single toChipper Jones.After a two-out walk, Jones scored onGreg Myers's single.Jeff Nelsonrelieved Mendoza and allowed an RBI double toBret Boonebefore gettingOtis Nixonto ground out to end the game and give the Yankees a 2-0 series lead. This was the last victory of a World Series Game 2 on the road until the Texas Rangers won Game 2 of the2011 World Seriesin St. Louis, and the last time the road team won the first two games of the World Series until2019when the Washington Nationals accomplished the feat against the Houston Astros.

GolferPayne Stewart,a good friend of Braves third basemanChipper Jones,diedbetween Games 2 and 3. Yankees right fielderPaul O'Neill's father died a few hours before Game 4.

Chuck Knoblauchhit a game-tying two-run home run in the eighth inning for the Yankees.

Game 3

Tuesday, October 26, 1999 8:20pm (EDT) atYankee StadiuminBronx,New York63 °F (17 °C), mostly cloudy

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	R	H	E
Atlanta	1	0	3	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	14	1
New York	1	0	0	0	1	0	1	2	0	1	6	9	0
WP:Mariano Rivera(1–0)LP:Mike Remlinger(0–1) Home runs: ATL: None NYY:Chad Curtis2 (2),Tino Martinez(1),Chuck Knoblauch(1)

Game 3 in New York matched up lefties Andy Pettitte and Tom Glavine, who had been scheduled to start Game 1 but was scratched and moved back to Game 3 due to a stomach virus. Pettitte was rocked early. Bret Boone drove in Gerald Williams with a RBI double in the first. The Yankees tied the game in bottom of the inning onPaul O'Neill's RBI single, but in the third, Brian Jordan had an RBI single scoring Boone, and Jose Hernandez doubled in Jordan and Andruw Jones. In the fourth inning, Bret Boone doubled in Gerald Williams for a second time in the game to make the score 5–1. He then was called out trying to steal third. Replays appeared to show that he slid in just ahead of the tag, and this call likely cost the Braves a run, asChipper Jonesdoubled two pitches later. Glavine was sharp through seven innings but gave up homers toTino Martinezin the fifth andChad Curtisin the 7th, trimming the Braves lead to 5–3. The Yankees bullpen was solid, holding the Braves scoreless after Pettitte left the game. For the second time in three games, managerBobby Coxmade the decision to count on a tiring starter to hold a lead in the 8th inning despite having a solid middle-relief core that had proven extremely reliable at holding late-inning leads throughout the season, and a closer who sometimes pitched two innings. Instead, Glavine surrendered a two-run homer to Knoblauch to tie up the game at 5–5. Video of serious conversation in the dugout the previous inning made clear that there had been significant question as to whether to leave Glavine in for that inning. Glavine later explained that, while he had only thrown 72 pitches, he felt like his body was tiring coming off the illness that sidelined him from his scheduled Game 1 start, and felt hesitant to go back out but said he would try for one more inning when there was continued indecision on the matter. Glavine would be replaced byJohn Rocker,but again too late. Rocker shut out the Yankees until he was relieved after the ninth. The score remained knotted until the bottom of the tenth when Chad Curtis blasted a walk-off home run—his second home run of the game—off Mike Remlinger, giving the Yankees a commanding 3–0 lead in the Series.

Roger Clemens' strong pitching effort in Game 4 allowed New York to sweep the World Series for a second straight year.

Game 4

Wednesday, October 27, 1999 8:20pm (EDT) atYankee Stadium in Bronx, New York 51 °F (11 °C), mostly clear

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Atlanta	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	5	0
New York	0	0	3	0	0	0	0	1	X	4	8	0
WP:Roger Clemens(1–0)LP:John Smoltz(0–1)Sv:Mariano Rivera(2) Home runs: ATL: None NYY:Jim Leyritz(1)

Game 4 featured the presentation of theRoberto Clemente AwardtoTony Gwynn,followed by a battle of hard-throwing Cy Young Award winners, Roger Clemens and John Smoltz. In the third inning, the Yanks broke through when Tino Martinez singled off Ryan Klesko's foot with the bases loaded, driving in two runs. Jorge Posada followed with another RBI single, making the score 3–0. Clemens, seeking his first World Series victory, was outstanding, the only Braves scoring coming in the eighth when Boone singled in Walt Weiss. Jim Leyritz added another Yankees run with a shot in the eighth, adding to his legacy as a great postseason performer and as one of the thorns in the side of Braves fans. Rivera, who was named Series MVP, got Keith Lockhart to fly out to LF Curtis for the final out of the season.

The 1999 New York Yankees became the first team to win the World Series in consecutive sweeps since the 1938–1939 Yankees. It was the first sweep by a team without home-field advantage since1966when Baltimore swept the Dodgers. The Yankees' 11–1 postseason record was the best ever in the wild card era, which was later tied by theChicago White Soxin2005(the1976 Redsfinished a perfect 7–0 in the postseason, which preceded the permanent introduction of the wild card andDivision Series). The Yankees players were each paid $326,000 for this World Championship.

With the Yankees' sweep of the Braves, this was the second time in 1999 that a New York City team had swept a team from Atlanta out of a playoffs; theKnickshad swept theHawksin the second round of theNBA Playoffsduring theirCinderellarun to theNBA Finals,where they lost to theSan Antonio Spurs.It would also mark the final time the Yankees clinched the championship at the old Yankee Stadium.

The powerhouse Braves batted just.200 in the 4-game Series. Despite this,John Smoltzlater referred to this series as "the closest four-game sweep you could ever have,"given the fact that even with their anemic offensive showing, the Braves were still quite possibly two more prudent decisions on bullpen use away from a 2-1 lead after the first three games, with two starters blowing 8th inning leads despite very clearly visible situational red flags about their fitness to be left in the games that long.

Composite box

1999 World Series (4–0):New York Yankees(A.L.)beatAtlanta Braves(N.L.).

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	R	H	E
New York Yankees	4	0	5	1	2	0	1	7	0	1	21	37	1
Atlanta Braves	1	0	3	2	0	0	0	1	2	0	9	26	4
Total attendance:216,114Average attendance:54,029 Winning player's share:$307,809Losing player's share:$203,542

Aftermath

In comparing the success of teams in the five major North American sports leagues, this series win brought the Yankees' World Series total to 25, putting them two titles ahead of the NHL Montreal Canadiens' 23 Stanley Cup victories for most championships (Montreal also won the Stanley Cup in 1916 as part of the National Hockey Association for a total of 24).

This was the fifth and final World Series appearance in the 1990s for Atlanta, but the new decade would not be as favorable to them, the closest they got to returning to the World Series in theBobby Coxera was in the2001 NLCSwhere they lost to the eventual world championDiamondbacksin five games (Cox stepped down as manager after the 2010 season). In total, the Braves went to the World Series five times under Cox in a nine season span and won the World Series once. Atlanta would reach the NLCS again in2020where they fell to eventual world championLos Angeles Dodgersin 7 games after leading the series 3-1. The Braves would get their revenge on the Dodgersthe next yearby beating them in 6 games. 1999 World Series was the Braves' last Fall Classic until2021,where they won in 6 games over theHouston Astros.Game 2 also marks the second and final time that Turner Field hosted a World Series game.

The Yankees would continue their dynasty by defeating theNew York Metsinthe next year's World Series.They won a fourth straight pennant in 2001, but they lost to theArizona Diamondbacksinthat season's World Series.They would reach the World Series again in2003(losing to theFlorida Marlins) and2009(defeating the defending champions, thePhiladelphia Phillies).

On October 11, 2005, A&E Home Video released theNew York Yankees Fall Classic Collectors Edition (1996–2001)DVD set. Game 3 of the 1999 World Series is included in the set.

Media coverage

This wasNBC's 39th and final World Series telecast to date, asFoxaired the next World Series as part of the contract in place, and acquired the exclusive broadcast rights of Major League Baseball beginning in 2001.Bob Costasprovidedplay-by-playwhileJoe Morganserved as analyst for the series.Hannah Stormserved as pre-game host with thenCincinnati RedsshortstopBarry Larkinserving as the analyst. Thefield reporterswereJim Gray(Yankeesdugout) andCraig Sager(Bravesdugout) on loan fromTurner Sports.

With theKnickshaving played in theNBA Finalsin June, this was the second championship series in 1999 that NBC broadcast involving teams from New York City. Bob Costas, Jim Gray, and Hannah Storm were involved both times: Costas with play-by-play, Gray as a reporter, and Storm as pre-game host. This was the most recent year that a city hosted both the NBA Finals and the World Series in the same year, until Cleveland did so in 2016.

Once again,ESPN Radioprovided coverage of the World Series. Play-by-play manJon Millerwas joined in the booth byRick Sutcliffe,who substituted for the unavailable Joe Morgan.

See also

• 1999 Japan Series

External links

• 1999 World SeriesatWorldSeries.comviaMLB.com
• 1999 World SeriesatBaseball Almanac
• 1999 World SeriesatBaseball-Reference.com
• The 1999 Post-Season Games(box scores and play-by-play) atRetrosheet
• History of the World Series - 1999atThe Sporting News.Archived fromthe originalin May 2006.
• 1999 World Series Coverage
• 1999 NLCS | Game 5ArchivedNovember 29, 2006, at theWayback Machine