The 1998 Yankees split their six game series with the 1952 Yankees to stay in 5th place in 38-22. The '52 Yankees remain eight games under .500 at 65-73.
The '98 Yankees overcame a 4-3 deficit in Game One with a six run 8th inning, capped by a three-run homer by Derek Jeter for a 9-4 win. Hank Bauer carried the '52 Yankees to a 5-1 win in Game Two; Bauer drove in all five runs with two homers, including a grand slam. The '52 Yankees won Game Three 5-2, but the '98 Yankees evened the series again in Game Four in a 12-8 shootout. Paul O’Neill went 2-4 with a double and four RBI. The '98 Yankees blew a 10-4 lead in the 9th inning of Game Five when the '52 Yankees rallied for six runs, including a two-out, two-run homer by Yogi Berra off Mariano Rivera to send the game into extra innings. The '98 Yankees took an 11-10 lead in the 11th thanks to a two-out RBI single by Bernie Williams. The game ended when Mickey Mantle grounded out into a double play with the bases loaded. Mantle redeemed himself in the final game; he went 3-5 with a triple, three RBI, and two runs scored as the '52 Yankees won 10-3 for a series split.
Mantle leads the '52 Yankees in hitting at .312 with 19 home runs, 15 triples, 105 RBI, 103 runs scored, and a .930 OPS. Bauer is hitting .300 with 21 home runs and 88 RBI. Gene Woodling is hitting .298 with 101 walks, 106 runs scored, and 75 RBI. Joe Collins is hitting .277 with 32 home runs, 11 triples, 122 RBI, and 87 runs scored. Berra is hitting just .237 but has 27 home runs, 92 RBI, and 102 runs scored. Allie Reynolds is one win away from 20 wins as he improved his record to 19-8 with a 2.47 ERA.
Williams raised his average to .359 with 18 home runs, 63 RBI, 51 runs scored, 11 stolen bases, and a 1.089 OPS. Jeter’s average dropped to .347 with 15 home runs, 55 runs scored, 11 stolen bases, and a .994 OPS. The '98 Yankees will play the 63-63 1941 Yankees in the next series.