Top Sports Feats.LAST YEAR AT THIS TIME, everyone (myself included) was compiling "Top 10" lists to mark the close of the millennium and start of the new century. Well, the 21st century indeed became a reality on the first day of 2000, but technically, the much-anticipated third millennium didn't become fact until Jan. 1, 2001. As such, here's our "Top 3" sporting feats of the second millennium.
The New York Yankees appear in 37 World Series, winning 26 of them, including the last three and four of the last five. Where to begin? To save space, time, and an endless trip through baseball history, let's just concentrate on the last half-decade of accomplishments.
Within those four championships--over the Atlanta Braves (1996), San Diego Padres (1998), Braves again (1999), and New York Mets (2000)--were 14 straight Series victories, shattering the old mark of 12 held by the 1927/28/32 Yankees of Babe Ruth fame.
Adding to the luster of this remarkable run is the fact that the Yanks' latest reign of dominance comes in an era where the repeat champion is virtually nonexistent. In the 17 full seasons leading up to 1996--remember, 1994 was wiped out by the players' strike--there were 14 different World Series winners. Only the Toronto Blue Jays (1992-93), Los Angeles Dodgers (1981, 1988), and Minnesota Twins (1987, 1991) won more than once.