Yankees: 6 Greatest World Series Pitching Performances of All Time

The New York Yankees have won several World Series thanks to excellent starting pitching.

When you think “Yankees World Series victory,” odds are you envision a clutch hit, towering homer, or Derek Jeter single through the right side first.

But the Bombers never get it done if they don’t have the pitching to match. Remember 2002-2008?

Whether it’s fair or not (it’s fair), Yankees starters are judged on whether they’re able to hold the fort in October. If you’re an ace, you’d better dominate when the lights are brightest. If you’re an innings-eater, you’d better be at your most beguiling.

Though plenty of pitchers have owned October in the pinstripes, these six individual performances stand out. After all, they changed the course of Yankees history.

6. Ron Guidry, Game 4, 1977 World Series

One year before his Cy Young season, Ron Guidry took down the Dodgers on the road.

Staring down a 15-year World Series drought, the ’77 Yankees headed to Dodger Stadium with a 1-1 series split, with LA in the driver’s seat.

Two games later, New York had an inexplicable 3-1 series lead, thanks in large part to Ron Guidry’s dominant Game 4 performance.

Against the most power-packed lineup in the Senior Circuit, Lousiana Lightning tossed a complete game in a 4-2 road win. He allowed four hits, walked three, and whiffed seven Dodgers, including Steve Garvey and Bill Russell twice each.

Two games later, Reggie Jackson socked a triplicate of homers, and the Dodgers were done. But that never happens if Guidry doesn’t buck up in Game 4 and change the equation for LA.

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4. Orlando Hernandez, Game 1, 1999 World Series

El Duque was an underrated key to the Yankees dynasty in the 1990s.

You can’t write a “Yankees postseason dominance” list without including Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez.

Well, maybe you can, but I choose not to.

The Cuban dandy with the funky leg kick and signature dance that left David Cone embarrassed and practicing in a bathroom was riding high entering his second postseason in the states. In ’98, Duque saved the season for the greatest team in modern baseball history, winning Game 4 of the ALCS with seven shutout innings in Cleveland, evening that series en route to a title.

His encore in ’99 was even more impressive. After New York won all three of his postseason starts (two against Boston, one against Texas), Hernandez traveled to Atlanta to lock horns with Greg Maddux in Game 1 of the World Series, and did not blink.

A fourth-inning Chipper Jones solo shot was the only hit Hernandez allowed in seven innings, whiffing 10 Braves in the process. In the top of the eighth, the Yankees rallied against a tiring Maddux, taking a 4-1 lead and securing the Cuban righty’s reputation for being absolute nails.

This battle for “Team of the Decade” status quickly turned into a rout, with the Yankees polishing off a sweep in the Bronx. That history-changing swing was due almost entirely to Hernandez’s tenacity.

3. Whitey Ford, Game 1, 1961 World Series

Whitey Ford is a Hall of Famer because he was nails for the Yankees in the postseason.

The 1961 Yankees were known for their prodigious offense, but it took Whitey Ford at his absolute best to get the team off on the right foot against Frank Robinson and the Cincinnati Reds.

Backed by only two solo homers by Elston Howard and Moose Skowron (Jim O’Toole also spun an exceptional game), Ford went the distance, shutting out the powerful Reds on just two hits. He walked a single man (Frank Robinson in the seventh, wisely), and struck out six along the way. Ford was a postseason virtuoso, and this was his best work.

With only the World Series at his disposal (no ALCS in Ford’s days, and he would’ve puked at the thought of an ALDS), the Chairman of the Board appeared in 11 playoff series, and went 10-8 with a sterling 2.71 ERA in 22 starts. That mark was even inflated a bit by his final outing in 1964 against the Cardinals, a 5.1-inning outing with five earned runs allowed.

While it’s almost impossible to pick a singular Ford start for a list like this, the ’61 opener stands out as an impressive tone-setter against an elite team that appeared to have tamed the Yankees offense and neutralized their biggest advantage. Not so fast.

2. Andy Pettitte, Game 5, 1996 World Series

Andy Pettitte led the ’90s Yankees to their first World Series with an unbelievably gutsy outing.

Yes, Andy Pettitte’s dynasty kickoff in Game 5 of the 1996 World Series really was the second-best World Series start in Yankees history. It was almost No. 1, except…you know. You’ll see. If you want to click over there, I won’t be mad.

This is the rare start that gets mythologized in our collective memory, but the actual effort absolutely lives up to the mental picture, and it was as improbable as it was breathtaking.

Coming off a dud-of-the-century, Pettitte had allowed seven earned runs in 2.1 innings in the series opener at home, leading to a 12-1 Braves win and Andruw Jones’ coming out party. Surely, he’d fade even worse on short rest on the road, right?

Well, about that. Pettitte bit his lip and shoved for 8.1 innings, out-dueling John Smoltz in a 1-0 nerve-frayer.

With things at their most dire in the bottom of the sixth, clinging to the smallest possible lead, Pettitte gave up a leadoff single to Smoltz (don’t do that!), and then another single to Marquis Grissom. Mark Lemke laid down a bunt, but instead of advancing the runners, Pettitte fielded the ball, whipped around, and caught Smoltzie at third. One double play later, and the composed lefty had to cover up the steam emerging from his nose. Legend.

John Wetteland replaced Pettitte with one out in the ninth — he exited with a runner on third and one out. Two sweat-soaked outs later, though, and the most legendary single game in modern Yankees history was in the books.

Not a huge deal or pivot point, all things considered. Only four rings followed in the immediate aftermath.

So, what could top that?

1. Don Larsen, Game 5, 1956 World Series

Don Larsen threw a literal perfect game for the Yankees.

Don Larsen throwing a perfect game in 1956 was about as likely as Mitch Trubisky quarterbacking a flawless Super Bowl, or Dwight Howard polishing off Game 7 of the Finals from half court.

Just a journeyman in search of recognition, Larsen toed the rubber in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series at home, trying to avenge the Yankees’ loss to Brooklyn in the previous year’s final round (yes, it finally happened).

Two hours and six minutes later, Larsen froze Dale Mitchell, embraced Yogi Berra, and entered baseball history with a gilded exclamation point. It’s still the only perfect game in postseason history, one of only two no-hitters (thanks, Doc Halladay), and the singular spotless World Series game. Point blank, it’s the most impressive performance in Series history, and it comes from a man who had gone 3-21 in Baltimore two seasons prior.

Relax and watch Vin Scully on the call. You’ve earned it.

Larsen, who passed away in 2020, will never be forgotten, and has done everything possible to earn your remembrance.

Honorable Mentions

The Yankees, uh, have a ton of great World Series performances in their history, y’all.

Herb Pennock, Game 3, 1927 World Series: CG, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 K

Waite Hoyt, Game 1, 1928 World Series: CG, 3 H, 1 ER, 6 K

Johnny Kucks, Game 7, 1956 World Series: 9-0 CG to send Brooklyn packing at Ebbets

Whitey Ford’s Pair of Shutouts in 1960 World Series (Damn you, Mazeroski)

Ron Guidry, Game 3, 1978 World Series: Seven walks “downgrade” this CG win

Andy Pettitte, Game 4 1998 World Series: 7.1 shutout sealed a sweep in San Diego