Yankees: 3 Forgotten Moments of 2009 World Series Run

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The New York Yankees won the 2009 World Series in memorable fashion.

Winning the World Series remains uniquely special — even if you’re a Yankees fan who’s got plenty of experience in your back pocket.

It rarely happens, after all — only once in 19 years, and who’s counting? — and it never happens the same way twice.

For many of us, 2009 was the first title of our “adult” fandom. For some of us, sure, it was simply the latest cap on a lifetime of success — and those folks won’t let us forget it. But this magical walk-off-filled season truly resonated with a lot of younger fans who finally had a non-dynasty team prove they could do it all again, too.

Some of the moments will last forever, and get replayed on MLB Network ad nauseam — A-Rod and Teixeira vs. the Twins, Johnny Damon’s double steal, and the Matsui Game 6 party. But what about those you haven’t thought about in a decade that combined to make No. 27 possible?

Honorable Mentions: Mark Teixeira’s Ice-Breaking Home Run off Pedro in Game 2 of the WS, Jose Molina’s Snap Throw Pickoff, Andy Pettitte’s RBI Single, Damaso Marte Doin’ the Damn Thing

3. A-Rod’s Camera Well Home Run

New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /

A-Rod’s home run off the camera well helped kickstart the 2009 World Series.

This use of replay review went better for Alex Rodriguez than the time he tried to slap Bronson Arroyo’s hand off his body.

Down 3-0 early in Game 3 on Halloween Night in Philadelphia, New York was dangerously close to losing control of the World Series entirely, with two more road games ahead of them.

Instead, they piled up two runs on one swing of the bat from A-Rod off Cole Hamels in the fourth inning. Initially ruled a double, Rodriguez was correctly awarded a home run when it was revealed that his ball had nestled itself inside the hood of a FOX camera.

Before replay review was really part of our lives, here it was, correctly delivering the Yankees new life in ’09.

Just like that, New York was back in the series, riding the momentum of that dinger all the way to consecutive road wins, capped by A-Rod’s far more famous double off Brad Lidge.

2. A-Rod Takes Brian Fuentes Deep

Alex Rodriguez #13 of New York Yankees celebrates his solo home run. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

Alex Rodriguez continued his clutch ways in the 2009 ALCS against the Angels.

Look at silly little Erick Aybar up there! He thinks he’s tagging out a wandering A-Rod in the…middle…of extra innings? He thinks he’s got a Luis Castillo-like gift here. No, my friend. That’s called a home run trot.

Anyway, the Angels were about to DO IT. They were going to DO WHAT THE TWINS COULDN’T and steal a win on the road at Yankee Stadium! Head home with their collective head held high! Minnesota couldn’t retire A-Rod in the ninth with a two-run lead, which doomed them, but whatever. Brian Fuentes isn’t Joe Nathan.

With a one-run lead in extras, Fuentes left an 0-2 PITCH far too high, and Rodriguez simply flicked it over Bobby Abreu and the right field wall.

New York would go on to win this one on a Jerry Hairston Jr. mad dash a few innings later, a moment that serves as another phenomenal candidate for this list. 2009 was awesome.

1. David Robertson Becomes Houdini

David Robertson #30 of the New York Yankees got a new identity in 2009 (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

David Robertson became Houdini one night in the 2009 ALDS.

So many things don’t happen if a young David Robertson doesn’t emerge from his shell during Game 2 of the 2009 ALDS.

Mark Teixeira doesn’t walk the game off with a laser off bug-eyed Jose Mijares in the bottom of the 11th. Nobody gets pied that seamlessly. Maybe D-Rob never becomes a closer, and forever remains the kid from ‘Bama with the 3.30 ERA in One Good Year.

I’m pretty sure, though there’s no way to prove it, that we don’t have a ring in ’09 without his yeoman’s work sending the Twins packing, right on the brink of piling up more runs.

After Michael Cuddyer shot his single to center, Delmon Young and Carlos Gomez used one pitch each to slice balls to Mark Teixeira for improbable outs. In any other year, Young’s ball shoots through the hole. If Young’s in a Tigers uniform, it probably does too. But look at Ron Gardenhire after the second out — he knows it. It’s already over.

When Brendan Harris took his cut, Francisco Cervelli knew it was all over, too. Look at that confident point. There are so many iconic mini-moments baked into one timeline here.

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I truly think this inning set the entire ’09 team back on course, and helped make David Robertson’s career what it was. And don’t you ever forget it.

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