The 2009 Yankees made one last ride together — this time up the Canyon of Heroes.
After 177 games, 114 victories, nine months and one world title, the Yankees sat together on a stage at City Hall Plaza yesterday celebrating a championship, but also realizing this would be their last time together as a team.
“I think I probably think about it more than a lot of other guys because I know how teams change quite a bit during the offseason,” said Johnny Damon, who will soon become a free agent. “This team was good enough to win the whole thing and that’s the memory I’m always going to take with me. We’re champions. You can’t take that away. It’s going to be that way for history.”
Signs along the parade route implored the Yankees to bring back free agents Damon, Hideki Matsui and Andy Pettitte. Those three enter the winter unsure of their futures with the team, but each played an important role in the World Series for the Yankees. Damon had the double steal in Game 4 that changed the Series. Matsui was the MVP, clubbing six RBIs in Game 6. And Pettitte won two games, including the clincher.
“That’s just the reality of our game,” Alex Rodriguez said. “You hope, obviously, as many guys come back as possible. That’s why you have to savor things. I’ve done that.”
The Yankees all did that on their way up Broadway to receive the keys to the city from Mayor Bloomberg. For the first time in nine years, the Bronx Bombers were showered with confetti, toilet paper and various flying objects on a cold, autumn day.
Pettitte, Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada and Derek Jeter have been through this before. But a nine- year drought made some of them for get just how incred ible a sea of Yankees fans — 2,000,000 strong — taking over downtown Manhattan looks.
“This is what makes it all worthwhile — all the hard work, the 200 and something games,” Jeter said. “It shows how much support we have.”
Jeter, who rode on a float with girlfriend Minka Kelly, said he tried to connect with as many fans as possible.
“You feel like the president, waving,” Jeter said. “You wish you could thank every single fan individually, but you can’t. I know they know we appreciate it.”
The players took in the sights of people leaning out windows and those lined up on the streets. Several players mentioned one sign a fan held up featuring Matsui holding a baby with Pedro Martinez’s face.
“A magical day,” Yankees general managing partner Hal Steinbrenner said. “New York just has the best fans in the world, period.”
The Yankees were well represented on stage from Jeter to Jay-Z, but one notable absence was George Steinbrenner. The 79-year-old team owner has not been in good health for several years and stayed home in Tampa, Fla., to watch on TV.
“You can’t help but to think about The Boss,” Jeter said. “We wouldn’t have this stadium, we wouldn’t have this team without him. That’s just the bottom line. I’m happy we were able to win one for him.”
Yankees manager Joe Girardi said he spoke with George Steinbrenner before the ceremony at City Hall.
“He told me this morning . . . the only thing greater than this celebration is doing it two years in a row,” Girardi told the crowd. “So he asked me to remind everyone, pitchers and catchers report in 96 days. Be ready to defend it.”