Yankees Win 40th American League Pennant, Head to World Series Against Phillies

William C. Rhoden:

Beginning Wednesday, the Yankees will try to win their first championship since 2000 when they take on the defending champion Philadelphia Phillies.

At a number of levels, this will be a fascinating confrontation. You get the sense that Philadelphia — the fans, not the team — has been looking forward to taking on a glamour franchise that routinely fields the best team that money can buy. New Yorkers and Philadelphians regularly commute to, and hang out, in each other’s backyard.

It’s an epic matchup. The last NL team to win back-to-back championships was the 75-76 Cincinnati Reds. So either the Phillies become back-to-back champs by beating the Yankees, the most storied franchise in the sport and the team with the best record this season, or, the Yankees return to form and win their first championship in nine years, doing so against the returning champs.

★ Monday, 26 October 2009