Turn Back The Clock: October 13th, 2001-The Flip Play

On this day, thirteen years ago, the nation was in mourning. It had been just over a month since the tragic attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and the field in Pennsylvania. Terrorists had changed our world forever, and the wounds were still fresh. The New York Yankees, were the three-time defending World Series champions, and had become the “unofficial” team for the nation. A symbol of everything great about America, a pillar of strength for those in New York City and around the country who desperately needed something to take their minds off of the tragic events of just a month prior. While baseball and the Yankees were minuscule in comparison to what was happening in the U.S. at the time, the Yankees and the rest of the teams in the postseason provided some temporary relief.

Back to baseball, where the Yankees opened their title defense against an upstart Oakland A’s squad that was loaded with talent. Pitching in the likes of Barry Zito, Tim Hudson, and Mark Mulder. Hitters such as Jason Giambi, Eric Chavez, and Miguel Tejada. The A’s were hungry, and they wanted to slay the beast, known as the most recent dynasty in baseball, the mighty New York Yankees. 

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By the time Game Three of the 2001 American League Division Series rolled around, it looked like that was exactly what the A’s were about to do. The Athletics had the Yankees on the ropes, up two games to none, and looking for the knockout blow in Game Three in Oakland. Two of the best pitchers in the game faced off that night in the Bay Area. For the A’s, it was the aforementioned Zito and for the Yankees, it was first year in pinstripes hurler, Mike Mussina.

Yankees’ catcher Jorge Posada gave the Yankees a slim, 1-0 lead on a fifth inning blast. It was all that Moose would need, as he would toss 7 scoreless innings, allowing only four hits, while striking out four hitters. The key play not only of the game, but of the series, one that has been considered one of the greatest postseason moments of the last half century, occurred in the seventh inning of Game Three.

Mussina retired the first two hitters of the inning without much effort. Jermaine Dye popped out to shortstop Derek Jeter, and Eric Chavez hit a long fly ball out to Bernie Williams. Now, this is where everything got interesting in a hurry. Jeremy Giambi, brother of feared slugger Jason, singled to right field to keep the inning alive for the A’s. The next hitter was outfielder Terrence Long. Long, roped a ball into the right field corner of the spacious Network Associates Coliseum.

With Mussina dealing, and runs being at a premium, along with an opportunity to swing the momentum Oakland’s way, and perhaps open up a big inning to finish the Yankees off, Giambi came trucking around third base as the tying run. Yankees’ right fielder Shane Spencer fielder the ball, and tossed is towards home plate, missing not one, but both cut-off men in the process. As Giambi was just about to cross home plate with the tying run, Yankees’ shortstop Derek Jeter came out of nowhere, crossing the infield diamond, intercepting the errant throw and in one motion, “flipping” it to catcher Jorge Posada, who was blocking home plate, received the pitch the Jeter, and placed a perfect swipe tag on Giambi’s leg. Why Giambi chose not to slide is up for debate to this very day. Some say it was because he thought he was easily safe, while others believe he was shocked to see the ball coming to Posada.

The home crowd was shocked and stunned. I know this for a fact, because I was at the game that night. In terms of momentum, it not only increased for the Yankees that game, as Mariano Rivera pitched the final two innings to preserve the shutout victory, but the series might as well have been over at that point. The A’s were never the same, the beast gained the edge they needed, they drew blood with the “Flip Play” and went on to win Games Four and Five as well.

Jeter, bench coach Don Zimmer, and others claimed thereafter, that the play was scripted, and that it was something the Yankees always worked on in spring training. Manager Joe Torre would grin when it was mentioned, but regardless, the play, the player, and the dynasty remained intact, that was until a feisty team from Arizona derailed them in seven games in the Fall Classic. It was on this day, 13 years ago, that another piece of Derek Jeter’s legend was firmly cemented forever, with the “Flip Play.”