After a run scoring drought in their last series, the 1999 Yankees bounced back to win their series with the 1941 Yankees four games to two. The '99 Yankees improved their record to 49-41 while the '41 Yankees fell to 55-53.
After scoring only 16 runs in their last series (11 in regulation), the '99 Yankees doubled that output with 32. That said, the first few games were low scoring. In Game One, David Cone pitched a three hit shutout as the '99 Yankees prevailed 2-0. The '99 Yankees scoreless streak ended at 32 innings after Paul O’Neill’s two run double in the second, which would be the only runs scored in the game. They hit four homeruns as a team in Game Two for a 5-4 win. Chuck Knoblauch hit two of them, the second gave them a 5-4 lead in the 8th. The '41 Yankees won a tight Game Three 4-1; Tommy Henrich and Joe Dimaggio hit back-to-back homeruns in a three run 8th inning to break a 1-1 tie. The final three games were dominated by Bernie Williams. Over Games Four, Five, and Six, Williams hit safely in 10 consecutive at bats! His heater started in Game Four, a 7-5 win by the '99 Yankees. Williams and O’Neill homered to give them an early 3-0 lead. The '41 Yankees came roaring back with five runs on six hits in the 5th inning to take a 5-3 lead. The '99 Yankees struck back in the 7th with three runs to go back out in front; Williams tripled in the tying run and scored on a sac fly. In Game Five, Williams was a perfect 5-5 with a double, two RBI, and two runs scored in a 10-7 win. He ended the series with a 3-5, homerun, three RBI and three runs scored performance in a losing cause as the '41 Yankees won the final game 8-6.
Williams hit a ridiculous .625 in the series (15 for 24) with three homeruns and 11 RBI. He raised his average 21 points to .330 with 25 homeruns, 85 RBI, 63 runs scored, and a 1.026 OPS. Derek Jeter held steady at .328 with 13 homeruns, 56 RBI, 69 runs scored, and a .941 OPS. O’Neill raised his average to .317 with 11 homeruns and 61 RBI. Knoblauch now has 15 homeruns and 73 runs scored. Mariano Rivera picked up three saves to give him 21 for the season. Cone’s shutout improved his record to 9-8 with a 4.50 ERA.
Dimaggio leads the '41 Yankees in hitting at .354 with 39 homeruns, 107 RBI, 97 runs scored, and a 1.164 OPS. Charlie Keller is hitting .279 with 25 homeruns, 89 RBI, 78 runs scored, and a .959 OPS. Henrich is hitting .239 with 25 homeruns, 80 RBI, and 92 runs scored. Johnny Murphy picked up his 25th save in this series. The '41 Yankees will battle the 46-38 1947 Yankees in the next series.
