"Daddy" does it again.

• Author: Barrett, Wayne M.
• Position: New York Yankees - SPORTS SCENE

THERE WAS NOTHING at the turn of the century and beyond until they finally won it all in 1923, and then produced two more before the stock market crashed. They added five in the 1930s; four more during the 1940s; bolstered their total by six in the fabulous (for them, at least) 1950s; tacked on another two in both the 1960s and 1970s; came up empty in the 1980s (a reprieve from big government and a baseball dynasty during the Reagan years--thank you, Ronnie); before copping a trio in the 1990s and another pair in the just-completed decade. Who's your daddy, indeed?

For the uninitiated, the Philadelphia Phillies' Pedro Martinez (losing pitcher of Games 2 and 6), back when he was a member of the Boston Red Sox, referenced the Bombers' dominance over him by commenting, "I just rip my cap and call the Yankees my daddy"; ever since, he has been serenaded with a relentless "Who's Your Daddy" chant by the denizens of the South Bronx. In reality, though, the New York Yankees haven't really been anyone's "daddy" for almost 10 years--having gone without a world's championship since 2000 before upending Philadelphia. In fact, had the Yanks lost to Philly, it would have marked just the second time in their history that they dropped a third straight Fall Classic appearance, having been defeated in 2001 by the Arizona Diamondbacks and 2003 by the Florida Marlins. Previously, it had happened in 1963 (LA. Dodgers), 1964 (St. Louis Cardinals), and 1976 (Cincinnati Reds).

Of course, when you have a franchise reach the World Series an unprecedented 40 times (while winning a staggering 27 titles), there will be any number of interesting wrinkles. Certainly, facing the Phils for only the second-time--they swept the "Whiz Kids" in 1950--in October (and this year, into November) was a treat for traditionalists, as it harkened back to a time (almost six decades long, actually) when there only were 16 major league teams and a mere nine big league towns: New York (Giants, Dodgers, and Yanks); Boston (Braves and Red Sox); St. Louis (Cardinals and Browns); Chicago (Cubs and White Sox); Philadelphia (Phils and Athletics); Pittsburgh (Pirates); Cincinnati (Red Legs); Detroit (Tigers); and Washington (Senators). No divisions, wild cards, or playoffs, just a pair of pennant winners meeting on early October afternoons to decide the championship of the world. (Ah, the sweet memories of a simpler, purer era.)

Moreover, until the mid 1930s, the Yankees hardly were considered...