The air is turning crisp and cool. Fall is upon us and with it comes the return of playoff baseball in the big Apple. The Yankees are primed to return to the playoffs for the 26th time in the last 30 years, a remarkable number that is sometimes lost in the shuffle of “championship or bust” baseball. But rather than write about the current state of the squad, I thought it would be a fun time for another entry in “I Was There.” The game we will feature comes from a playoff run that I think most present day Yankee fans is their favorite outside of 2009.

The 2017 Yankees were stage one of the era led by Aaron Judge and his baby bomber cohorts that is still ongoing to this day, though number 99 is all that remains. That seasons team generated buzz in spring training, with hope of returning to legitimate contention brimming amongst fans. They got off to a great start, struggled in the middle of the year, and then finished strong…sound familiar? That strong finish was enough to get them the top Wild Card spot in the AL, setting up a single elimination game in the Bronx. Now I wanted to go to this game badly, but college student Nick had classes to attend and games to broadcast so he couldn’t swing it. So I watched the game against the Twins in the dorm room of current four downs cohost, Sean Martin.

For those that don’t remember, the Bombers fell behind in the top of the first with Luis Severino giving up a pair of homers, and exiting after only recording one out. The Yanks would turn to their strong pen to bail them out and it did exactly that, getting them out of the first only down three. That stopper effort by Chad Green set up one of the most dramatic home runs in recent Yankee history. With two men on, Didi Gregorious stepped to the plate and drove one to the bleachers in right center. The ballpark went into a frenzy, reminiscent of the 90’s dynasty years. That homer catapulted the Yankees to an 8-4 win, moving them onto the division series to battle the Indians.

The 2017 Indians weren’t just any team, and they weren’t the Guardians yet either for that matter. Still minted as the lovable losers on the banks of the Cuyahoga, the Indians were coming off the heartbreaking 2016 World Series loss to the Cubs. Terry Francona’s team didn’t rest on its laurels in 17 though, as they went 102-60, a campaign punctuated with an MLB record 22 game win streak. Their pitching staff was very deep and very talented, led by ace Corey Kluber, while the lineup was keyed by superstar Francisco Lindor. They had the best record in the AL by a game over the Astros, easily surpassed the Yankees 91 wins.

Now college student Nick finally some free time on his hands and determined he would go to game three of the series. With delusions of grandeur in his mind, he bought tickets with friends Derek and Sean (yes 4 downs Sean) and dreamed about the Yanks stealing one or bot games in Ohio. Trevor Bauer quickly dashed those dreams with a dominant game one win for Cleveland. But the plucky young Yanks led game two 8-3 after chasing Kluber early. Coming home 1-1 felt like a real possibility until Lindor smashed a Grand Slam off Chad Green. To make matters worse the Grand Slam followed a play manager Joe Girardi should have challenged and didn’t. Cleveland would later tie the game on a Jay Bruce homer, and the win it on a Yan Gomes double in extras.

Of course following the letdown loss, everyone was distraught. Derek ranted about how much he hated Yan Gomes, Sean and I ranted about the no challenge and how bad the bullpen was. Talk radio wanted Joe Girardi fired and everyone asked me if I was going to sell my tickets. I scoffed at the notion of course, and my reasoning was simple, “I have to go be a part of it” I’d say. That “it” was a moment like the one you see above. See Yankee playoff baseball is high on the list of the most important things to your boy here. Why, because I’ve watched the 90’s World Series films so much I remember what the random New Yorkers say to the camera and each other (thanks for getting them for me Dad).

I shout “el DESTINO” (real ones know) and “Yankee baseball” like the gentlemen in the clip above. Those 90’s teams and the crowds that enjoyed their moments were sports bible growing up. To this point in my life I had yet to go a playoff game in the Bronx and I felt the crowd wasn’t nearly as frenzied as on tv as it was back in the “good old days.” But the 17 playoffs were different, the roar, the limbs, the beer showers, they were all back. And so I had to go be a part of it. So me, Derek, and Sean piled into my KIA Sportage and headed for the train station. We took the NJ Transit into midtown and since the game took place on an October Sunday night, we watched football at Stout by MSG. Once the early games wrapped up, we got on the D train and went up town to 161st and River and felt right at home amongst a sea of Yankee fans.

I had a feeling they’d win that night…why? Well there were a few reasons. Number 1, they had Masahiro Tanaka on the hill, who despite having a so so season statistically, always pitched well for the team in big spots. Number 2, this team had character and charm, enough to make you believe they could do anything. 3, it’s October in the Bronx…mystique don’t fail me now baby!

The crowd was buzzing as Tanaka took the mound and with a rocking 48,000+ behind, number 19 went about carving up Cleveland. Tanaka established himself as a big time playoff pitcher that night, and would earn the first of many a postseason victory in pinstripes. He was simply masterful, all his pitches were moving and the Indians couldn’t touch him. He got into trouble twice over his seven innings of work, as he scattered three hits and a walk. He stranded a couple of runners with a big punch out that brought his emotion, and he got some much needed help in right field.

With Lindor in the box and a man on, the shortstop laced a ball to right field. It looked like it would clear the porch, and fall into the waiting arms of noted annoying fan, professional home run ball catcher, Zack Hample. But all of a sudden, seemingly out of nowhere, Aaron Judge saved the day and brought back a sure fire homer. The out bailed Tanaka out and kept the game scoreless, as yours truly exhaled in the upper deck of left field.

You may be asking yourself, “why was it so tense?” Well, that’s because the Yankees couldn’t string together anything on offense against righty Carlos Carrasco. Carrasco was so sharp that as he left the game, most fans were excited…until the bullpen door opened. Former Yankee and all around stud reliever Andrew Miller entered the game for Francona in the 7th, tasked with keeping it tied at 0-0. He was notoriously tough on lefties, and was due to face Yankee lefty first baseman, Greg Bird who led off. Bird was once a promising piece for the Yanks back in 2015, but an array of injuries robbed him of much of 2016 and 17. But he was swinging a good bat around the time of the playoffs, and the Yankees needed a magic moment. So on a 1- 1 pitch, with Sean and I begging for a base runner and Derek on line for a beer, Greg Bird swung…and then it happened.

The Yankee playoff moment I had waited my whole life to be a part of finally happened. Everything went flying in the stands. Drinks, hats, gloves you name it. Sean leapt onto me, I hugged some random strangers around me, as Bird rounded the bags. It was a moment straight out of 1998, just swap out Bird for Tino Martinez and an upper deck blast becomes eerily familiar. The blast made it 1-0 Yankees, and Derek walked back up and sat down next to me only to say “I can’t believe I missed that.” I don’t think anyone sat down the rest of the night. Aroldis Chapman got the last six outs, the Yanks were far from dead yet. In fact, if you need a refresher, they’d blow Cleveland out in game 4, win game five back in Ohio, and then take Houston to seven games before going out in the ALCS.

Sure 2017 has stung more and more over the years. That team was lovable in every way. They overachieved well ahead of schedule. Sure the Astros scandal added a cloud over the proceedings and the regression of key players made it even worse, but it’s a run we’ll always look back fondly on. It was the October the Stadium got its voice back, and it made me go back to two more playoff games since, in 2019 and 2024. Because I just have to be a part of it. Sure it’s expensive, sure it takes energy and time…but you just might get the experience of a lifetime if you go…and this time I did because I was there in the 90’s Time Machine.

The playoffs are right around the corner, and while I will be out of country I’ll do what I can to provide coverage from my hotel in Italy. Most normal people go on vacation and relax…I sit in the room at night wondering how many relievers the Yanks can trust. In the meantime Ty and Mike have you covered with gambling picks and fresh content while I get some R&R. We’ll have Rangers centennial season coverage kicking off soon along with the Knicks, so stay tuned everyone!

On twitter you can find Mike @Mike_Sheerin, Tyler @TMon_19 and Sean @SeanMartinNFL. Subscribe to the site by hitting the follow button in the bottom right corner and entering your email address. Check out our Instagram feed @thebroadwaybreakdownsports for special gameday and promotional content. Our podcasts are available on Spotify. Visit the Rangers Ed Shop by clicking the link on our homepage. Check out our mailbag page to join the conversation here on the site and on our partners show, The Rangers Ed Podcast! We’ll be back with more soon.