Here, we look back on the Diamondbacks' historic achievement and honor its 20th anniversary with our Arizona Diamondbacks shirts, specifically the new commemorative Diamondbacks 2001 World Series t shirt.
In-Depth: Arizona Diamondbacks vs. New York Yankees
Following the Diamondbacks' NLCS win over the Atlanta Braves, a banner appeared at Bank One Ballpark reading:
Yankees = History
Diamondbacks = Future
Indeed, the most famous baseball team in history would find itself in exactly that place, but the 2001 World Series was by no means a "gimme" for the Diamondbacks. Both teams brought their "A" game and made it difficult to predict who would come out on top.
Game 1
- Location: Bank One Ballpark, Phoenix, Arizona
- Date: October 27, 2001
- Final Score: 9-1 Diamondbacks
The Diamondbacks had The Big Unit, made up of star pitchers Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson, while the Yankees brought the famous Roger Clemens with them, ensuring that this series would include a battle of aces on the mound.
Curt Schilling limited the Yankees to a single run in Game One, giving the Diamondbacks the first victory of the series.
Game 2
- Location: Bank One Ballpark, Phoenix, Arizona
- Date: October 28, 2001
- Final Score: 4-0 Diamondbacks
In Game Two, the team as a whole seized on the problems the Yankees couldn't seem to shake on the field. Randy Johnson shut the Yankees out entirely, sending the Diamondbacks to a second victory.
Even so, the Yankees were on top of things in other ways, and it took Diamondbacks player Matt Williams' three-run homer off of Yankees' pitcher Andy Pettite to give Johnson some space to bring the Diamondbacks to a second win.
Game 3
- Location: Yankee Stadium, New York City, New York
- Date: October 30, 2001
- Final Score: 2-1 Yankees
Game Three moved things to Yankee Stadium, where, to casual observers, the Yankees appeared to find their stride. However, they won that game with just two runs on the scoreboard. Their problems on offense continued, and they only caught their break because of three errors on the part of the Diamondbacks.
Game 4
- Location: Yankee Stadium, New York City, New York
- Date: October 31, 2001
- Final Score: 4-3 Yankees
In Game Four, the Yankees' Tino Martinez hit the first pitch he saw from Diamondbacks pitcher Byung-Hyung Kim over the wall, revitalizing the Yankees and giving them a second win after ten innings. The series was now tied at 2-2.
Game 5
- Location: Yankee Stadium, New York City, New York
- Date: November 1, 2001
- Final Score: 3-2 Yankees
Through most of Game Five, it looked as though the Diamondbacks would claw their way back on top of the series, but things would not go their way. Despite a strong performance from Curt Schilling, the Yankees held the Diamondbacks down in part because they relieved Schilling with Kim.
Kim gave up two runs to the Yankees' Scott Brosius, tying the game in the ninth inning. The two teams continued to battle each other on the mound, with the Yankees finally winning in the 12th inning.
Game 6
- Location: Bank One Ballpark, Phoenix, Arizona
- Date: November 3, 2001
- Final Score: 15-2 Diamondbacks
Heading back to Arizona, the Diamondbacks decided they would brook no more nonsense from the Yankees, who promptly turned Game Six into batting practice. The Diamondbacks hit a stunning eight runs off of Andy Pettite in the third inning alone and proceeded to steamroll the Yankees into a shocking 13-run loss, forcing Game Seven for the first time since 1997.
Game 7
- Location: Bank One Ballpark, Phoenix, Arizona
- Date: November 4, 2001
- Final Score: 3-2 Diamondbacks
With the series tied at the championship at stake, the Diamondbacks and the Yankees again brought their "A" games to the field. The score remained 0-0 for the first six innings, with the Diamondbacks finally scoring a run in the sixth inning.
At the top of the seventh, the Yankees hit back, tying the score at 1-1. They scored again in the eighth, putting them on top with a 2-1 lead.
But all was not well. The Diamondbacks' Tony Womack hit a double to right field, bringing in Midre Cummings and the tying run. Yankees' pitcher Mariano Rivera managed to load the bases for Luis Gonzales in the ninth, who hit a single and brought Jay Bell home for a dramatic, come-from-behind win and the World Series championship. Who wouldn’t want a 2001 World Series t shirt to commemorate this event?
Influence of the 9/11 Attacks
The 2001 World Series happened just a few weeks after the 9/11 attacks that brought down the World Trade Center in New York City. The U.S. had suspended play in all sporting events across the country, so the fact that the World Series even took place is surprising.
President George W. Bush threw the first pitch of Game Three to a wildly cheering New York crowd at Yankee Stadium. For a time, the country, still reeling with shock and grief, was able to take some time off.
This particular World Series ended up helping the country begin healing from that devastating day and its aftermath, and a 2001 Diamondbacks shirt serves as a reminder of that. We know that each time you see a Diamondbacks t shirt you’ll think back to their great game.
Commemorative Vintage Diamondbacks Shirt
We at State Forty Eight are passionate about everything to do with Arizona, representing its sense of community, unique history and lifestyle, and more. Our mission is to inspire others to be loud and proud of our state and give them something to cheer and stand up for what we all believe in as Arizonans, and that’s why we love making AZ Diamondbacks shirts for men.
As proud partners with the Arizona Diamondbacks, we're helping fans relive and remember the 2001 World Series with an Arizona 20th anniversary d backs world series t shirt in the team's original colors: Purple and turquoise.
We view the Diamondbacks as one of our state's shining jewels and know that other Arizona sports fans do as well when we see them wearing a vintage Diamondbacks shirt or a Diamondbacks 2001 World Series t shirt. Wear our Diamondbacks 2001 World Series shirt with pride not just in our great state but also in the baseball team that defied the odds to become the fastest expansion team to win a World Series championship.