1997 WORLD SERIES
NEW YORK YANKEES VS SAN DIEGO PADRES
Entering the 1997 World Series, the Yankees were favorites, but nobody was willing to count the Padres out. Tony Gwynn was playing out of his mind and Manny Ramirez was playing awesome as well. But this was the New York Yankees, who looked unbeatable too. Like they say, something had to give.
Game 1 at Yankee Stadium would see Paul O'Neill hit a leadoff homer to give the Yanks an early lead they would never relinquish, taking it 7-3. Game 2 would be a different story, as Ramirez hit 2 round-trippers, including a go-ahead shot in the top of the 9th to give the Padres a 6-5 win heading to California.
In San Diego for game 3, Derek Jeter hit a grand slam in the first to give the Yanks an early lead. It wouldn't last long, as Tony Gwynn hit a grand slam of his own off of Andy Pettitte. From there, Pettitte and his counterpart, Tim Scott matched each-other out for out. The game went to the 12th inning still tied at 4 when Wally Joyner hit a walk off single to score Ruben Rivera to win it. Game 4 would see the Yankees recover, winning 6-2 on the strengh of a Scott Brosius two-run homer in the seventh that iced it. In game 5, Pedro Martinez was throwing a masterpiece for San Diego, allowing just 2 hits, but his team left 14 men on base and failed to score. In the 9th, Martinez left the game due to complaining of pain. The bullpen did not do there job, as the Yankees scored 6 runs, capped of by a Jeter three-run shot to put the Yankees one win away from there first title since 1978.
The celebration would have to wait, however, as the Padres won game 6 8-5 thanks to a pair of Tony Gwynn doubles that each scored two runs, as well as a Manny Ramirez homer in the eighth for insurance. Could the Padres do the unthinkable and beat the Yankees twice at Yankee Stadium and win their first title?
No. As we all know, the Padres are cursed.
San Diego basically forgot to show up for game 7, as the Yankees took it 7-1 to win their first crown in 19 years.
What else in Sports in 1997?
NFL: Brett Farve and the Green Bay Packers win their first Super Bowl in 29 years, knocking off the upstart Jacksonville Jaguars in Super Bowl XXXI 23-7. The Houston Oilers also announced a move to Tennessee.
NBA: Michael Jordan returns to the NBA, only to fall in the NBA Finals to the Houston Rockets in seven games.
NHL: In a rematch of the previous years Stanley Cup Final, the Florida Panthers repeat as champions, beating the Detroit Red Wings in six games. The Hartford Whalers also announced they would be moving to Charlotte, NC for the 1997-98 season and beyond.
CFL: The Toronto Argonauts knock off the Baltimore Stallions in the 85th Grey Cup by a score of 26-23. The CFL also added teams in St Louis (the Rams stayed in LA) and Orlando.
MLS: DC United repeats as champs, beating the Dallas Burn in the MLS Cup 3-0.
NASCAR: Jeff Gordon wins his second Winston Cup, edging out Dale Jarrett.