2001 may have been the perfect baseball season. Barry Bonds set the single season home run, walks, slugging, and on-base percentage records, Rickey Henderson set the all-time runs and walks records, and the Mariners tied the all-time record in regular season wins with 116. The Twins, Phillies, and the Mets all participated in exciting pennant races, even if they fell short. And in a year when New York City was shaken to its foundation, its team came through in the clutch. And while the Yankees had won in 1996, 1998, 1999, and 2000, no championship was as important for the team and the city as 2001. So as the Yankees began their sixth straight postseason against the upstart A's, I bought tickets to Games 2 and 5 of the ALDS. And when the Yankees fell down 0-2 after losing the first two games at home, I bought tickets for the ALCS too.

The only highlight of Game 2 against the A's was a 20-minute pre-game speech by the U.S. President. It delayed the game, which ended as a 2-0 disappointment. Despite superb pitching by Andy Pettitte, the Yanks couldn't push a run across against Tim Hudson and found themselves in a postseason hole no team has ever climbed out of before. Then again, no team is the Yankees. I watched Games 3 and 4 from Fire Island and Brooklyn, knowing that I would be sitting in my seat for Game 5 and my ALCS tickets would not go to waste. Justin, a longtime Bombers fan like myself, and Thea, a newfound fan of the sport joined Beth and I for the clincher in Game 5. The Yanks fell down 2-0 in the 3rd inning, but came back to score 5 as the A's self-destructed in the awe of the Yankee mystique (and a pinch hit David Justice home run.) The score was 5-3 when Rivera came out in the 8th. I have never heard a sports crowd so loud before. The frenzy was simply outrageous. Every attendee was standing for the last two innings, knowing that the Yankees were about to pull off an unprecedented comeback. The Yankee spirit seemed to reflect that of the city; everyone knew that if we could get through this, we could get through anything. .

Above are images of the Game 5 ALDS clincher over the A's. We had learned earlier in the day that our opponent was going to be the record-breaking Mariners, as they beat the Indians in 5 that afternoon. It didn't matter. After steamrollering the A's, we were on top of the world, even if we didn't win 116 games. Even if we didn't even win 100. In the postseason, none of that matters. The Yanks know that. That's when they turn it up. That's why they're the best. Ever.

My Dad and I went to Game 3 of the ALCS, knowing that a victory would ensure a World Series berth, already up 2-0. But this game was Lou Pinella's revenge, a 14-3 drubbing of El Duque. I paid $70 (face value!) for the ticket and let my best chance at a foul ball pass me by. It was not a good day. But when Alfonso Soriano's ninth inning two-run home run won game 4, we knew our date for Game 5 was to be revenge. Revenge for Game 3, and more importantly, revenge for 1995. Game 5 of the ALCS was truly perfect. Pettitte was in control again, but this time he had a lead. The score in the sixth inning was 9-0 in favor of the good guys, the same score of the Giants football game at the same time. The M's, the supposed "best team of our generation" was going to lose to the Yankees again and never see the World Series. There were great signs and chants for that game. One poster read "1998 Yankees: 125 wins, 2001 M's: 120 wins," proving that it's not the regular season victories that count. (And 1998's 125-50 overall season is still the best ever.)

Chants included "No Game 6", teasing Lou for his "guarantee" of returning the series to Seattle and "Over-rated", for obvious reasons. During Ichiro's last at-bat of his pathetic postseason, the whole place chanted "Saya-nara!" In fact, the stadium was literally shaking after Tino's 3-run shot put the game to 12-3. I have never felt the House that Ruth Build actually vibrate before. If it wasn't so much fun, it might have been scary.

Check out highlights from the 2000 ALCS!

Check out highlights from the 2003 ALCS!