Here’s a card design based off the 1973 template:
The Yanks went 99-52, easily taking home their 20th American League pennant with an 8.5 game lead over second place Cleveland.
Once in the Fall Classic, they faced their National League nemesis Brooklyn Dodgers, who took them to seven games in the previous year’s series.
But the Yankees would prevail, taking home their unprecedented FIFTH straight crown, topping the four straight of the 1936-1939 Yankees.
With a balanced attack at the plate from guys like Mantle, Berra and Gil McDougald, and a pitching staff that had five pitchers chip-in 13 or more wins (Ford, Raschi, Lopat, Sain and Reynolds), this wasn’t the “usual” Bronx Bomber team which would have a stand-out offensive or pitching great leading the way. This was more of a “team-effort” than most of the other championships.
Anyway, I remember when Alfonso Soriano hit that dang homer off Curt Schilling in the seventh game of the World Series in 2001, thinking “Holy crap they’re going to win their fourth straight series”, only to be GROSSLY disappointed. Yet that would have been four straight, with another series win in 2002 to even MATCH this team’s accomplishment, let alone try to break the record with SIX straight. Crazy.
Granted with the playoffs (heck, the EXPANDED playoffs), it’s tougher to find yourself in the Series these days than in 1953, But nevertheless five straight is something else!
I’m sure non-Yankee fans were not too pleased though!