By TOM JONES, Associated Press
Published October 17, 2003
NEW YORK - The series between the Yankees and Red Sox was everything everyone thought it would be. Centurylong rivals playing seven games, most up for grabs until the final pitch. There were a couple of fights, plenty of gamesmanship and a few nasty words exchanged. This was classic Red Sox vs. Yankees.
"It has been incredible," Boston manager Grady Little said.
Boston Globe columnist Dan Shaughnessy called it, "hardball heaven in the Hub, potentially the greatest sports event in the long history of our city."
The players got caught up in the history they were making, but not as much as you might think.
"It really is fun, but you don't know it's fun until it's over," Yankees manager Joe Torre.
That's because the players are too busy trying to win rather than audition for ESPN Classic.
"It's a little bit different than the fans perspective," Little said. "We are down there trying to focus in on each particular game and trying to win. ... We are so busy trying to take care of business that we don't really get to step back and appreciate the whole thing like we will in the wintertime when we look at it on video completely and kind of get the feel of it."
WELCOME TO THE CLUB: Torre has been to the World Series as a manager five times, but he can appreciate what Florida manager Jack McKeon, who will be going to the World Series for the first time at age 72, must be feeling.
"I can't describe it and I know he can't other than he's tickled pink," Torre said. "I know Jack. He's a nice man. I know (Cubs manager) Dusty (Baker). He's a nice man. It was sort of a bittersweet thing for me to watch (Wednesday) night.
DROPPED: Because he was struggling, the Yankees dropped Jason Giambi, who normally hits third in the order, to seventh for Game 7.
"He just feels a great deal of responsibility," Torre said. "I just sense that he's taken on more than any one person needs to take on and I just thought I would drop him in the lineup."
Torre's one regret was not being able to tell Giambi before he saw the lineup. Things were hectic Thursday afternoon in New York because of a massive water main break that made getting to the Bronx difficult.
"But he had no problem," Torre said. "He said, "Whatever you want to do, Skip.' "
SEVENTH HEAVEN: This is hard to believe considering the Yankees' rich postseason history, but this was the first Game 7 at Yankee Stadium since 1957. Public address announcer Bob Sheppard did both games. He has worked 108 consecutive postseason games there since Game 1 of the 1951 Series. That was Mickey Mantle's first and Joe DiMaggio's last.
SUIT EXPECTED: The groundskeeper involved in a fight in the bullpen at Fenway Park expects to sue Yankees Jeff Nelson and Karim Garcia, his lawyer said. "There is an investigation ongoing and it's anticipated we'll file a civil suit," said Patrick T. Jones, hired by Red Sox employee Paul Williams.
ALL THE MARBLES: This was the third time these teams played one game for the AL pennant. All have been at Yankee Stadium. The Sox won on the last day of the 1904 season, and the Yankees won on the final day of the 1949 season. The Sox needed to win one of the final two but lost both.
