The Arizona Diamondbacks are the fastest expansion team to win it all. It took them just four years from the beginning of their existence to taste the champagne. But, you to let you all know, it only took five years to build Rome. But two pitchers helped build the D-Backs.
There was just something great about this team from the get-go. After winning 65 games in their inaugural season (Terrific for an expansion team), they jumped to an amazing 100 wins in only their second season. They slipped back to 85 the next season. Maybe they weren't that good.
But in 2001, they sure were. Arizona won 92 games, and had two amazing pitchers. For offence, Luis Gonzalez hit 57 home runs that year. Okay, that wasn't all they got from the bats. But how about Randy Johnson's 21 wins? Not enough to match Curt Schilling's team-leading 22. That is an amazing 1-2 punch. The best lefty-righty combo since Koufax and Drysdale? Maybe. Glavine and either Smoltz or Maddux was pretty good. But in the postseason, there was nobody better.
The D-Backs edged the St. Louis Cardinals, 3-2 in the National League Division Series, then took out Glavine, Smoltz and Maddux in just five games. Now, only the New York Yankees stood in the way of a World Series win after just four seasons. It would not prove easy.
Schilling got them off on the right foot in the opening act at home. And that offence? Amazing! They scored nine runs and Curt held New York to a run in the top of the first. When Johnson spun a three-hitter in game two, a 4-0 Arizona win, it looked like this was going five games at the most.
But when the Series headed to New York, the momentum shifted. The Yankees took game thee, 2-1, as Roger Clemens and Mariano Rivera combined on a three-hitter of their own. Then, New York dug deep, taking game four in ten innings and game five in twelve. It was back to the desert. And had fate deserted the D's?
Randy Johnson kept 'em alive. Their offence sizzled. Arizona scored fifteen (Count 'em!) runs by the end of the fourth. Johnson left after seven, having allowed the Yankees only two meaningless runs. The bullpen didn't allow any Yankees to touch home. So it was on to game seven, and Johnson was needed again.
Schilling carried a 1-0 lead into the top of the seventh, but New York had proven in games four and five that they were no strangers to dramatics. The tied it in the top of the seventh, then moved ahead in the top of the eighth. Randy Johnson came in to get the last out of that inning. He pitched a scoreless ninth, but Rivera was in the game now with the Yankees ahead.
Down by a run, Mark Grace singled to start things. Then, an error by Tino Martinez put two on! Jay Bell batted for Johnson, and got 'em to second and third with a sac bunt. A dramatic double by Tony Womack dramatically tied this thing. Rivera, shaken, hit the next batter. Bases loaded. Luis Gonzalez at the dish. Arizona needed not a home run, but just a ball to the outfield.
On the second pitch, Gonzalez did that.. Actually, it was a single. The walk-off hit won this most dramatic of Fall Classics. There didn't seem to be any end in sight for it, but it was the underdogs D-Backs that had pulled it off.
The Diamondbacks hadn't been around a long time, but Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling sure had. They had provided the experience and pitching that Arizona needed. Add to that some veterans like Mark Grace and Matt Williams, and this team was no ordinary expansion team. They had a lot of character and heart. And that's what wins championships, even for cities that are new to the big league stuff!
There was just something great about this team from the get-go. After winning 65 games in their inaugural season (Terrific for an expansion team), they jumped to an amazing 100 wins in only their second season. They slipped back to 85 the next season. Maybe they weren't that good.
But in 2001, they sure were. Arizona won 92 games, and had two amazing pitchers. For offence, Luis Gonzalez hit 57 home runs that year. Okay, that wasn't all they got from the bats. But how about Randy Johnson's 21 wins? Not enough to match Curt Schilling's team-leading 22. That is an amazing 1-2 punch. The best lefty-righty combo since Koufax and Drysdale? Maybe. Glavine and either Smoltz or Maddux was pretty good. But in the postseason, there was nobody better.
The D-Backs edged the St. Louis Cardinals, 3-2 in the National League Division Series, then took out Glavine, Smoltz and Maddux in just five games. Now, only the New York Yankees stood in the way of a World Series win after just four seasons. It would not prove easy.
Schilling got them off on the right foot in the opening act at home. And that offence? Amazing! They scored nine runs and Curt held New York to a run in the top of the first. When Johnson spun a three-hitter in game two, a 4-0 Arizona win, it looked like this was going five games at the most.
But when the Series headed to New York, the momentum shifted. The Yankees took game thee, 2-1, as Roger Clemens and Mariano Rivera combined on a three-hitter of their own. Then, New York dug deep, taking game four in ten innings and game five in twelve. It was back to the desert. And had fate deserted the D's?
Randy Johnson kept 'em alive. Their offence sizzled. Arizona scored fifteen (Count 'em!) runs by the end of the fourth. Johnson left after seven, having allowed the Yankees only two meaningless runs. The bullpen didn't allow any Yankees to touch home. So it was on to game seven, and Johnson was needed again.
Schilling carried a 1-0 lead into the top of the seventh, but New York had proven in games four and five that they were no strangers to dramatics. The tied it in the top of the seventh, then moved ahead in the top of the eighth. Randy Johnson came in to get the last out of that inning. He pitched a scoreless ninth, but Rivera was in the game now with the Yankees ahead.
Down by a run, Mark Grace singled to start things. Then, an error by Tino Martinez put two on! Jay Bell batted for Johnson, and got 'em to second and third with a sac bunt. A dramatic double by Tony Womack dramatically tied this thing. Rivera, shaken, hit the next batter. Bases loaded. Luis Gonzalez at the dish. Arizona needed not a home run, but just a ball to the outfield.
On the second pitch, Gonzalez did that.. Actually, it was a single. The walk-off hit won this most dramatic of Fall Classics. There didn't seem to be any end in sight for it, but it was the underdogs D-Backs that had pulled it off.
The Diamondbacks hadn't been around a long time, but Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling sure had. They had provided the experience and pitching that Arizona needed. Add to that some veterans like Mark Grace and Matt Williams, and this team was no ordinary expansion team. They had a lot of character and heart. And that's what wins championships, even for cities that are new to the big league stuff!
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