In the month following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks involving four hijacked jetliners, baseball played a helpful role in the healing process for Americans. A Yankees club accustomed to razzing outside of New York, due to its large payroll and success, was suddenly embraced by a nation. Joe Torre's club, winners of the last three World Series and four of the last five, fed off of the support and there was an overall rallying spirit that swirled around it.

The Yankees would go back to the World Series yet again, but it took everything they had to escape the A's -- who were in the process of losing four consecutive Division Series that all went the distance. It was the second year in a row the Yankees were the ones who knocked them out.

One of the most memorable plays in postseason history -- and in Derek Jeter's personal highlight reel -- happened in Game 3 at Oakland. After the A's won the first two games at Yankee Stadium, they were back home at Network Associates Coliseum, and the Yankees were clinging to a 1-0 lead that was provided by Jorge Posada's home run off Barry Zito in the fifth.

In the home half of the seventh, with two out and Jeremy Giambi on first base, Terrence Long hit the ball to the right-field corner. As Giambi rounded second and third, right fielder Shane Spencer missed both cutoff men with his throw. Just when it seemed Giambi would score easily to tie the game, Jeter suddenly swooped across the diamond, reached out, pulled the ball in and shoveled it to Posada. The Yankees' catcher swipe-tagged Giambi, who tried to avoid the tag by jumping toward the plate.

Jeter's play changed the momentum of the series. The Yankees held onto that 1-0 lead, and Bernie Williams drove in five runs in a 9-2 victory in Game 4 to send the series back to the Bronx.

Roger Clemens struggled for the second time in the series for New York, giving Oakland an early 2-0 lead. But Alfonso Soriano's two-run single in the second inning and David Justice's solo homer in the sixth keyed New York's offense, as Mariano Rivera came on in the eighth and recorded a two-inning save to slam the door shut and clinch the Yankees' fourth consecutive American League pennant.

Path to the ALDS: New York (95-65) won the AL East by 13 1/2 games; Oakland (102-60) won the AL Wild Card

Managers: Joe Torre, NYY; Art Howe, OAK