2001 World Series Game 4

Lore & Background

The series was tied 2-2 entering Game 4. Derek Jeter hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 10th inning, earning the nickname 'Mr. November' because the game began on October 31 and ended in the first minutes of November 1. The home run was called by Yankees broadcaster Michael Kay, who said 'See ya! See ya! See ya! A home run for Derek Jeter! He is Mr. November! Oh what a home run by Derek Jeter!' after noticing a fan's sign that said 'Mr. November'.

In Their Own Story

The air in Phoenix was thick with humidity and tension as the count moved to two strikes against Luis Gonzalez. Mariano Rivera stood on the rubber, his signature cutaway motion smooth and unhurried, a man who had stared down giants for nearly a decade. The Yankees dugout erupted in celebration as the final out seemed imminent; they were so close to the crown. But then, the crack of the bat echoed differently—a sharp, clean line drive that sliced through the infield dirt. Gonzalez's eyes widened as he saw the ball roll past Scott Brosius and into right field. The roar from the Arizona crowd was deafening, a sudden eruption of disbelief turning into jubilation. Rivera stood frozen on the mound, watching the runner cross home plate, the dream of four-peat dissolving in seconds under the desert lights.

Reader's Guide

The Yankees were seeking their fourth consecutive championship, having won the pennant for a fourth straight year in 2001. The Yankees had won eleven consecutive postseason series over a four-year period.

Did You Know?

• Derek Jeter batted under .200 for the series overall.
• The Yankees lost the World Series in a dramatic 7-game series to the Arizona Diamondbacks.