NEW YORK - Notice how it ended the way it began, the World Series' first decade of the 21st century? The New York Yankees with a championship, already looking for the next one.
Between the Yankees running over neighbors - the next-door Mets in 2000, the down-the-road Phillies in 2009 - other teams of various pedigrees took the stage. Eight different franchises have won the World Series since the dawn of 2000. Nine have lost.
Here are 10 World Series since the scary days of Y2K - was that really 10 years ago? - ranked in order of significance.
2001 - Barely six weeks after Sept. 11, baseball threw a national healing party, and all the better that three games were in Yankee Stadium, just up the river from a still horrific Ground Zero.
The Series matched the moment, with three walk-off wins and the rarest sight of all; Mariano Rivera blowing a lead and the Diamondbacks winning in the ninth inning of Game 7. All things considered, possibly the best World Series ever.
2004 - Notice how the most important involve Yankees misfortune? The Red Sox made enormous history before setting foot in the World Series, coming from 3-0 back to win the American League Championship Series and stun the world - not to mention the Yankees.
The World Series itself was almost an afterthought, the Red Sox never trailing in a sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals. But the fact they were champions after decades of vowing not to be cursed by Babe Ruth elevated the moment to surreal status.
2005 - The Chicago White Sox were champions in 1917, fixed the World Series in 1919, and never won again for the next eight decades, fate refusing to grant early parole. That their misery ended just one year after Boston — with a sweep of Houston — was extraordinary. It also left the Cubs as the lone cursed team still in need of an exorcism.
2009 -The storylines were more compelling than the games. There were only three lead changes, and not a single one-run decision.
But still. The Yankees' return to power in a new stadium, Alex Rodriguez' redemption, the do-it-one-more-time lan of Jeter and Rivera and Pettitte and Posada, George Steinbrenner's poignant place on the periphery of it all, as the torch passed to a new Steinbrenner generation.
Yep, it fits here.
2000 - Subway Series. Magical words for New York when it was the Yankees vs. the Dodgers or Giants. An updated version with the Mets was fascinating, even if much of the rest of the nation cringed.
The Mets put up a fight but were gone in five games.
2002 - By this point, the Angels had gone through several first names but no championships. They were the Los Angeles Angels, then California, then Anaheim. Whatever.
They beat the San Francisco Giants in the second and last seven-game World Series of the decade — a slugfest that included 21 home runs, the Giants blowing a 5-0 lead in the seventh inning in Game 6, and Barry Bonds' only World Series appearance.
2003 - The Yankees had 22 championships before the Florida Marlins were even created. Their blue blood didn't matter, as the Marlins won their second title in their 11th year. When young Josh Beckett closed out New York 2-0 in Game 6, it was the last World Series bow for old Yankee Stadium.
At 90 years of age, the stadium was the only participant in the World Series older than 72-year-old Florida manager Jack McKeon.
2008 - The Phillies won only their second championship. More memorable was their opponent. Tampa Bay, a last place team nearly its entire history, showed up in the World Series.
2006 - The Cardinals' 83-78 record would most seasons not even get a team a sniff of October. But given an inch, these Cardinals took the whole month, beating Detroit in five games.
Signifying mark of the World Series? Five errors by the Tigers' pitchers.
2007 - The Colorado Rockies won 20 of 21 games to absolutely storm into the World Series as Cinderella. Unfortunately, waiting there were the unsentimental Red Sox, who outscored the Rockies 29-10 in a brisk sweep.
So baseball's decade ended Wednesday night with two teams owning multiple championships since 2000. The Yankees and Red Sox. The rivalry goes on.
Contact Mike Lopresti at mlopresti@gannett.com
Quote: "Of course, I have to say who won. But I'd better say more. If not, I'm useless. They don't need me. I have to give readers something extra than what they've seen on TV. Or why read?"
Favorite sport: college basketball.
Career: Sportswriter, (Richmond, Ind.) Palladium-Item, 1970-1981; Gannett News Service and Gannett ContentOne, since 1982.
First GNS assignment: Super Bowl XVI.
Born: Richmond, Ind.
Ball State University graduate.
Married since 1976.
In the press box
World Series: 27
Final Four: 28
Super Bowl: 26
NBA Finals: 25
Masters: 25
Olympics: 14
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