Everything about the 1998 Yankees ’ season was incredible. They are among the most celebrated teams in baseball history for a good reason, and on top of rostering such an impressive group of All-Stars, it really felt like one of those years when everything that could go right did go right. If the 1996 team that launched the dynasty represented a hard-fought catharsis for spending the entire Donnie Baseball Era in championship wilderness, then ‘98 was a 125-win magic carpet ride to the finish line.
This generation of Yankees learned the hard way in ‘97 that repeating was no walk in the park. They narrowly lost the AL East crown to Baltimore, and though they took the Wild Card, Cleveland rallied to crush their dreams in the Division Series. Things like this just happen.
For over two decades now , MLB teams have been trying and failing to repeat. So it would have been a daunting task for the 1999 Yankees to repeat regardless. Again though, they weren’t following any normal champion; they were following those unbelievable ‘98 Yankees.
Expectations were sky-high, especially after they acquired the two-time defending AL Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens on the first day of spring training . In the eyes of most Yankees fans, there were no excuses to miss out on another title. The path to October glory was not nearly as clear this time around, though.
Some aspects of the team remained elite. Derek Jeter continued his breakout with perhaps his career year. Bernie Williams .
