2002 New York Yankees

The final standing	Lost the ALDS to the Angels
Regular-season record	103–58 (.640)
Post-season record	1-3
Divisional rank	1st
ALDS record and opponent	Lost 1-3 vs Anaheim Angels
AL rank	1
ALCS record and opponent	Did not play
World Series record and opponent	Did not play
Manager	Joe Torre
Captain	None
Top batter	Home runs: Jason Giambi (41), Alfonso Soriano (39), Robin Ventura (27), Jorge Posada (20) BA: Bernie Williams (.333), Jason Giambi (.314), Alfonso Soriano (.300), Derek Jeter (.297) Runs: Alfonso Soriano (128), Derek Jeter (124), Jason Giambi (120) RBI: Jason Giambi (122), Bernie Williams (102), Alfonso Soriano (102), Jorge Posada (99)
Top pitcher/ (W-L, ERA)	David Wells: 19-7, 3.75 Andy Pettitte: 13-5, 3.27 Mike Mussina: 18-10, 4.05 Roger Clemens: 13-6, 4.35
Attendance record	3,465,807 (2nd of 14)

2002 New York Yankees season: A brief summary

The tale of the 2002 New York Yankees season is not your average baseball story. Picture this: a season that began with the birth of the YES Network, showcasing the Bronx Bombers as a powerhouse ready to conquer the diamond. Led by the dynamic duo of Alfonso Soriano and Jason Giambi, the Yankees embarked on a roller coaster of highs and lows, leaving fans on the edge of their seats. This wasn’t just another season; it was a saga of resilience, heartbreak, and a team’s quest for glory. 

The season began slowly, with the 2002 New York Yankees trailing the Boston Red Sox early on. However, a dramatic turnaround in May, including a memorable game against the Minnesota Twins, showcased the team’s resilience. Giambi’s walk-off grand slam in that game became a turning point, propelling the Yankees to a stellar 19-9 record for the month.

The 2002 New York Yankees offense, featuring the likes of Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, and Bernie Williams, was a force to be reckoned with, leading the league in runs scored, OBP, and SLG. Giambi and Soriano’s combined 80 home runs added to the team’s offensive prowess. On the pitching side, the rotation boasted veterans like Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte, supported by a reliable bullpen featuring Mariano Rivera.

The mid-season trades for Raul Mondesi and Jeff Weaver aimed to strengthen the team, although Mondesi’s contributions were questionable. The 2002 New York Yankees finished the regular season 10.5 games ahead of the Red Sox, securing their place as American League favorites.

However, the postseason brought unexpected heartbreak. Facing the wild card-winning Anaheim Angels in the ALDS, the 2002 New York Yankees held leads in the 5th inning or later in every game but faltered consistently. The pitching staff, touted as one of the best of the decade, crumbled, giving up 31 runs in the four-game series. Despite a dominant regular season, the Yankees were stunned and eliminated, marking the end of their quest for a fifth consecutive World Series appearance.

The legacy of the 2002 New York Yankees includes the end of Jason Giambi’s peak performance in pinstripes and a decline in Bernie Williams’ contributions. The team experienced a transitional phase, bidding farewell to stalwarts like Paul O’Neill and Tino Martinez. Despite the disappointment, the Yankees would rebound in the following seasons, maintaining their status as perennial contenders. The season serves as a reminder that even the most dominant teams can face unforeseen challenges in the unforgiving landscape of postseason baseball.

Best moment of 2002 New York Yankees – The rainy redemption

In the annals of the 2002 New York Yankees season, one moment stands out as the epitome of Jason Giambi’s impact on pinstripes. The rain-soaked night of May 17, 2002, was more than just another regular-season game; it became the canvas for Giambi to paint his first magical moment in the iconic Yankees uniform.

Giambi had arrived in the Bronx amid a flurry of fanfare, signing a blockbuster 7-year, $120 million deal on December 13, 2001. The expectations were as immense as his contract, and as the raindrops fell on that fateful May night, Giambi stepped into the batter’s box with the chance to redefine his legacy in the pinstripes.

The 2002 New York Yankees found themselves in a precarious situation, trailing the Minnesota Twins 12-9 in the 14th inning. The tension in the stadium was palpable, the rain adding an extra layer of drama to the already charged atmosphere. The setup was nothing short of cinematic, the kind of scenario that Yankees fans had envisioned when Giambi inked his monumental deal.

Then, with one swing of the bat, Giambi etched his name into Yankees lore. He unleashed an ultimate grand slam, a term reserved for a player hitting a bases-loaded, walk-off homer when his team enters its final at-bat trailing by three runs. It was a rare and exhilarating feat, the kind of clutch performance that defines a player’s legacy in the Bronx.

The significance of Giambi’s heroics on that rainy night went beyond the box score. This was more than just a walk-off homer; it was a defining moment for a player burdened with immense expectations. The 14th-inning blast marked the 21st time in baseball history that a player had hit a game-ending grand slam with his team down three runs. Remarkably, Babe Ruth was the only previous Yankee to achieve this feat, doing so on September 24, 1925.

Yankees manager Joe Torre, reflecting on Giambi’s performance, captured the sentiment perfectly: “This is the setup we’ve been waiting for since we signed Jason Giambi. I don’t know how many times I’ve been asked when is he going to have his defining moment.” In the rain-soaked aftermath of that game, Giambi had delivered the defining moment that Yankees fans had longed for, cementing his place in the team’s rich history and setting the tone for a season that would be filled with highs and heartbreaking lows.

2002 New York Yankees season in videos

ALDS result

Yankees 1-3 Angels

#	Date	Opponent	Score	Win	Loss	Save	Location	Attendance	Record
1	October 1	Angels	8–5	Karsay (1–0)	Weber (0–1)	Rivera (1)	Yankee Stadium	56,710	1–0
2	October 2	Angels	6–8	Rodriguez (1–0)	Hernandez (0–1)	Percival (1)	Yankee Stadium	56,695	1–1
3	October 4	@ Angels	6–9	Rodriguez (2–0)	Stanton (0–1)	Percival (2)	Edison International Field of Anaheim	45,072	1–2
4	October 5	@ Angels	5–9	Washburn (1–0)	Wells (0–1)	—	Edison International Field of Anaheim	45,067	1–3

ALCS result

(Didn’t play)

World Series result

(Didn’t play)

2002 New York Yankees roster

Name	Age	B	T	Ht	Wt	DoB	Yrs	G	GS	WAR	Salary
Alex Arias	34	R	R	6′ 3″	185	Nov 20, 1967	11	6	2	-0.1
Alberto Castillo	32	R	R	6′ 0″	184	Feb 10, 1970	8	15	12	-0.4	$650,000
Randy Choate	26	L	L	6′ 1″	205	Sep 5, 1975	3	18	0	-0.2	$223,350
Roger Clemens	39	R	R	6′ 4″	205	Aug 4, 1962	19	29	29	2.7	$10,300,000
Ron Coomer	35	R	R	5′ 11″	195	Nov 18, 1966	8	55	36	-0.7	$750,000
Karim Garcia	26	L	L	6′ 0″	210	Oct 29, 1975	8	2	1	-0.1
Jason Giambi	31	L	R	6′ 3″	240	Jan 8, 1971	8	155	155	7.1	$10,428,571
Drew Henson	22	R	R	6′ 5″	222	Feb 13, 1980	1st	3	0	0
Adrián Hernández	27	R	R	6′ 1″	185	Mar 25, 1975	2	2	1	-0.3
Orlando Hernandez	36	R	R	6′ 2″	210	Oct 11, 1965	5	24	22	3.7	$3,200,000
Sterling Hitchcock	31	L	L	6′ 1″	200	Apr 29, 1971	11	20	2	-0.2	$4,936,719
Derek Jeter HOF	28	R	R	6′ 3″	195	Jun 26, 1974	8	157	157	3.7	$14,600,000
Nick Johnson	23	L	L	6′ 3″	235	Sep 19, 1978	2	129	109	0.8	$220,650
Steve Karsay	30	R	R	6′ 3″	210	Mar 24, 1972	8	78	0	2.5	$4,000,000
Brandon Knight	26	L	R	6′ 0″	175	Oct 1, 1975	2	7	0	-0.3
Ted Lilly	26	L	L	6′ 0″	195	Jan 4, 1976	4	16	11	2.1	$237,150
Ramiro Mendoza	30	R	R	6′ 2″	154	Jun 15, 1972	7	62	0	1.5	$2,600,000
Raúl Mondesí	31	R	R	5′ 11″	202	Mar 12, 1971	10	71	71	-0.2
Mike Mussina HOF	33	L	R	6′ 2″	185	Dec 8, 1968	12	33	33	4.6	$11,000,000
Andy Pettitte	30	L	L	6′ 5″	235	Jun 15, 1972	8	22	22	3.3	$9,500,000
Jorge Posada	31	B	R	6′ 2″	215	Aug 17, 1970	8	143	136	4	$7,000,000
Juan Rivera	23	R	R	6′ 2″	220	Jul 3, 1978	2	28	25	0
Mariano Rivera HOF	32	R	R	6′ 2″	195	Nov 29, 1969	8	45	0	1.6	$9,450,000
Alfonso Soriano	26	R	R	6′ 1″	195	Jan 7, 1976	4	156	154	4.9	$630,000
Shane Spencer	30	R	R	5′ 11″	210	Feb 20, 1972	5	94	77	-0.1	$885,000
Mike Stanton	35	L	L	6′ 1″	190	Jun 2, 1967	14	79	0	2.3	$2,500,000
Jay Tessmer	30	R	R	6′ 3″	190	Dec 26, 1971	4	2	0	0	$210,000
Marcus Thames	25	R	R	6′ 2″	220	Mar 6, 1977	1st	7	2	0
Mike Thurman	28	R	R	6′ 4″	190	Jul 22, 1973	6	12	2	0.2
John Vander Wal	36	L	L	6′ 1″	180	Apr 29, 1966	12	84	65	0.4	$1,850,000
Robin Ventura	34	L	R	6′ 1″	185	Jul 14, 1967	14	141	130	3.7	$8,500,000
Jeff Weaver	25	R	R	6′ 5″	200	Aug 22, 1976	4	15	8	1.4
David Wells	39	L	L	6′ 3″	187	May 20, 1963	16	31	31	3.7	$2,250,000
Rondell White	30	R	R	6′ 1″	193	Feb 23, 1972	10	126	115	1.4	$4,500,000
Chris Widger	31	R	R	6′ 3″	195	May 21, 1971	7	21	18	0.2
Bernie Williams	33	B	R	6′ 2″	180	Sep 13, 1968	12	154	153	4.5	$12,357,143
Gerald Williams	35	R	R	6′ 2″	190	Aug 10, 1966	11	33	2	-0.5	$2,000,000
Enrique Wilson	28	B	R	5′ 11″	160	Jul 27, 1973	6	60	20	-0.9	$720,000

2002 New York Yankees player additions, transactions, and trades

November

• November 5, 2001: Free agency granted to Scott Brosius, Chuck Knoblauch, Tino Martinez, Randy Velarde, and Mark Wohlers.
• November 6, 2001: Sterling Hitchcock and Luis Sojo granted free agency.
• November 13, 2001: Melky Cabrera signed as an amateur free agent.
• November 19, 2001: Free agency granted to Paul O’Neill.

December

• December 7, 2001: Steve Karsay signed as a free agent. David Justice traded to the New York Mets, receiving Robin Ventura.
• December 13, 2001: Jay Witasick traded to the San Francisco Giants, receiving John Vander Wal.
• December 17, 2001: Rondell White signed as a free agent.
• December 18, 2001: Jason Giambi and Sterling Hitchcock signed as free agents. Bernie Castro traded to the San Diego Padres, receiving Kevin Reese.
• December 21, 2001: Alberto Castillo and F.P. Santangelo signed as free agents.
• December 31, 2001: Jalal Leach signed as a free agent.

January

• January 4, 2002: Brett Jodie selected off waivers from the San Diego Padres.
• January 8, 2002: Luis Sojo signed as a free agent.
• January 17, 2002: David Wells signed as a free agent. Clay Bellinger released.
• January 20, 2002: David Manning signed as a free agent.
• January 22, 2002: Jay Tessmer signed as a free agent.
• January 28, 2002: Ron Coomer signed as a free agent.

February

• February 1, 2002: Chris Widger signed as a free agent.
• February 4, 2002: Manny Alexander signed as a free agent.
• February 14, 2002: Ben Rivera and Ruben Rivera signed as free agents.

March

• March 11, 2002: Ruben Rivera released.
• March 12, 2002: Ben Rivera released.
• March 15, 2002: Mike Thurman signed as a free agent. Manny Alexander granted free agency.
• March 27, 2002: Bobby Estalella and Todd Greene released.
• March 30, 2002: David Manning released.

April

• April 2, 2002: Karim Garcia signed as a free agent.
• April 8, 2002: Billy McMillon and Bill Pulsipher signed as free agents.
• April 12, 2002: Brian McNichol signed as a free agent.
• April 13, 2002: F.P. Santangelo released.
• April 23, 2002: Matt Beech signed as a free agent.
• April 30, 2002: Wilton Lopez signed as an amateur free agent.

May

• May 23, 2002: Bill Pulsipher released.

June

• June 4, 2002: Matt Carson, Brad Halsey, Eric Hacker, Dane De La Rosa, Phil Coke drafted in the amateur draft.
• June 5, 2002: Gerald Williams released.
• June 6, 2002: Craig Dingman received from the Cincinnati Reds as part of a conditional deal. Alex Arias and Robert Perez signed as free agents. Bob Scanlan purchased from the Colorado Rockies.
• June 7, 2002: Kurt Abbott signed as a free agent.
• June 12, 2002: Nate Field selected off waivers from the Kansas City Royals.
• June 14, 2002: Kurt Abbott released.
• June 25, 2002: Brian McNichol released.

July

• July 1, 2002: Scott Wiggins traded to the Toronto Blue Jays, receiving Raul Mondesí.
• July 2, 2002: Karim Garcia released.
• July 5, 2002: Jason Arnold, John-Ford Griffin, and Ted Lilly traded to the Oakland Athletics, receiving Jeff Weaver from the Detroit Tigers.
• July 11, 2002: Seth Etherton selected off waivers from the Cincinnati Reds.
• July 23, 2002: The previous waiver selection of Seth Etherton from the Cincinnati Reds voided, and player returned.

September

• September 2, 2002: Brett Jodie released.

October

• October 10, 2002: Alberto Castillo released.
• October 11, 2002: Mike Thurman granted free agency.

2002 New York Yankees player debuts

• Drew Henson – 09-05-2002 – 22 years old
• Marcus Thames – 06-10-2002 – 25 years old

2002 New York Yankees team stats (batting)

Pos	Name	Age	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA
C	Jorge Posada	31	143	598	511	79	137	40	1	20	99	1	0	81	143	0.268
1B	Jason Giambi	31	155	689	560	120	176	34	1	41	122	2	2	109	112	0.314
2B	Alfonso Soriano	26	156	741	696	128	209	51	2	39	102	41	13	23	157	0.3
SS	Derek Jeter	28	157	730	644	124	191	26	0	18	75	32	3	73	114	0.297
3B	Robin Ventura	34	141	562	465	68	115	17	0	27	93	3	1	90	101	0.247
LF	Rondell White	30	126	494	455	59	109	21	0	14	62	1	2	25	86	0.24
CF	Bernie Williams	33	154	699	612	102	204	37	2	19	102	8	4	83	97	0.333
RF	Raúl Mondesí­	31	71	302	270	39	65	18	0	11	43	6	4	28	46	0.241
DH	Nick Johnson	23	129	441	378	56	92	15	0	15	58	1	3	48	98	0.243
OF	Shane Spencer	30	94	329	288	32	71	15	2	6	34	0	3	31	62	0.247
RF	John Vander Wal	36	84	245	219	30	57	17	1	6	20	1	1	23	58	0.26
3B	Ron Coomer	35	55	156	148	14	39	7	0	3	17	0	0	6	23	0.264
IF	Enrique Wilson	28	60	119	105	17	19	2	2	2	11	1	1	8	22	0.181
OF	Juan Rivera	23	28	91	83	9	22	5	0	1	6	1	1	6	10	0.265
C	Chris Widger	31	21	68	64	4	19	5	0	0	5	0	0	2	9	0.297
C	Alberto Castillo	32	15	41	37	3	5	1	1	0	4	0	0	1	12	0.135
OF	Gerald Williams	35	33	19	17	6	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	2	4	0
OF	Marcus Thames	25	7	13	13	2	3	1	0	1	2	0	0	0	4	0.231
IF	Alex Arias	34	6	8	7	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	2	0
OF	Karim Garcia	26	2	5	5	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0.2
DH	Drew Henson	22	3	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
	Team Totals	30.1	161	6377	5601	897	1540	314	12	223	857	100	38	640	1171	0.275
	Rank in 14 AL teams				5	1	3	4	14	2		6	7	1	14	3

2002 New York Yankees team stats (pitching)

Pos	Name	Age	W	L	W-L%	ERA	G	GS	GF	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	R	ER
SP	Mike Mussina	33	18	10	0.643	4.05	33	33	0	2	2	0	215.2	208	103	97
SP	David Wells	39	19	7	0.731	3.75	31	31	0	2	1	0	206.1	210	100	86
SP	Roger Clemens	39	13	6	0.684	4.35	29	29	0	0	0	0	180	172	94	87
SP	Orlando Hernandez	36	8	5	0.615	3.64	24	22	1	0	0	1	146	131	63	59
SP	Andy Pettitte	30	13	5	0.722	3.27	22	22	0	3	1	0	134.2	144	58	49
SP	Ted Lilly	26	3	6	0.333	3.4	16	11	1	2	1	0	76.2	57	31	29
CL	Mariano Rivera	32	1	4	0.2	2.74	45	0	37	0	0	28	46	35	16	14
RP	Ramiro Mendoza	30	8	4	0.667	3.44	62	0	14	0	0	4	91.2	102	43	35
RP	Steve Karsay	30	6	4	0.6	3.26	78	0	38	0	0	12	88.1	87	33	32
RP	Mike Stanton	35	7	1	0.875	3	79	0	25	0	0	6	78	73	29	26
RP	Sterling Hitchcock	31	1	2	0.333	5.49	20	2	11	0	0	0	39.1	57	29	24
	Jeff Weaver	25	5	3	0.625	4.04	15	8	3	0	0	2	78	81	38	35
	Mike Thurman	28	1	0	1	5.18	12	2	6	0	0	0	33	45	21	19
	Randy Choate	26	0	0		6.04	18	0	11	0	0	0	22.1	18	18	15
	Brandon Knight	26	0	0		11.42	7	0	5	0	0	0	8.2	11	12	11
	Adrián Hernández	27	0	1	0	12	2	1	0	0	0	0	6	10	8	8
	Jay Tessmer	30	0	0		6.75	2	0	0	0	0	0	1.1	0	1	1
	Team Totals	33.2	103	58	0.64	3.87	161	161	152	9	5	53	1452	1441	697	625
	Rank in 14 AL teams		1	14		4				4	5	2	2	6	4	4

2002 New York Yankees record vs. opponents/ team splits

Opponent (Games)	Won	Lost	WP
Anaheim Angels (7)	4	3	0.571
Arizona Diamondbacks (3)	2	1	0.667
Baltimore Orioles (19)	13	6	0.684
Boston Red Sox (19)	10	9	0.526
Chicago White Sox (6)	4	2	0.667
Cleveland Indians (9)	6	3	0.667
Colorado Rockies (3)	2	1	0.667
Detroit Tigers (9)	8	1	0.889
Kansas City Royals (6)	5	1	0.833
Minnesota Twins (6)	6	0	1.000
New York Mets (6)	3	3	0.500
Oakland Athletics (9)	5	4	0.556
San Diego Padres (3)	2	1	0.667
San Francisco Giants (3)	2	1	0.667
Seattle Mariners (9)	4	5	0.444
Tampa Bay Devil Rays (18)	13	5	0.722
Texas Rangers (7)	4	3	0.571
Toronto Blue Jays (19)	10	9	0.526

2002 New York Yankees monthly record

Month (Games)	Won	Lost	WP
April (27)	17	10	0.630
May (28)	19	9	0.679
June (26)	14	12	0.538
July (25)	17	8	0.680
August (28)	17	11	0.607
September (27)	19	8	0.704

2002 New York Yankees All-Stars

• Jorge Posada
• Jason Giambi
• Alfonso Soriano
• Mariano Rivera
• Robin Ventura
• Derek Jeter
• Joe Torre (as Manager)

2002 New York Yankees awards and honors

Silver Slugger Awards

• Bernie Williams – AL Silver Slugger
• Jason Giambi – AL Silver Slugger
• Jorge Posada – AL Silver Slugger
• Alfonso Soriano – AL Silver Slugger

Single-Season Record

Alfonso Soriano set the record for the most home runs in one season by an American League second baseman (39).

Other Achievements

• Alfonso Soriano finished 3rd in AL MVP Voting.
• Jason Giambi finished 5th in AL MVP Voting.
• Bernie Williams finished 10th in AL MVP Voting.
• Joe Torre finished 4th in AL Manager of the Year Voting.

The 2002 New York Yankees’ heartbreaking ALDS collapse

In the storied history of the New York Yankees, the 2002 season marked an uncharacteristic twist—a tale of missed opportunities. After a regular season that saw the Yankees lead baseball with an impressive 103 wins, their journey took an unexpected turn in the American League Division Series (ALDS) against the Anaheim Angels.

Facing the Wild Card-winning Angels, who hadn’t tasted postseason success since Dave Henderson’s home run cost them the American League pennant in 1986, the Yankees were poised for another deep playoff run. However, destiny had other plans, and the 2002 ALDS became a narrative of missed chances and untimely collapses.

The 2002 New York Yankees found themselves in a matchup against a resurgent Angels team that embraced the role of underdogs. Despite the Yankees leading in the 5th inning or later in every single game of the series, the pitching staff crumbled at crucial moments, unraveling the dreams of a fifth consecutive World Series appearance.

Game 1 set the tone for the series, with Roger Clemens, arguably the 2002 New York Yankees’ weakest full-time starter, delivering a mediocre performance. Although the Yankees rallied, tying the game with a Jason Giambi single and sealing the victory with Bernie Williams’ three-run homer, it was merely a prelude to the heartbreak that awaited them.

In Game 2, the 2002 New York Yankees showcased their resilience, led by Soriano’s two-run homer and a late-game surge. However, the bullpen faltered in the 8th and 9th innings, allowing the Angels to snatch an 8-6 victory. The Yankees, usually masters of postseason comebacks, fell short in their bid to regain control of the series.

The series moved to Anaheim for Game 3, where the Yankees held a commanding 6-1 lead. Yet, the pitching staff, once considered one of the best of the decade, crumbled. Mike Mussina’s early exit, coupled with a lackluster bullpen performance, paved the way for the Angels’ comeback, securing a 9-6 win. The Yankees, now on the brink of elimination, faced an uphill battle.

Game 4 in Anaheim became the epitome of the 2002 New York Yankees’ postseason heartbreak in 2002. Despite Derek Jeter’s stellar performance, going 8-for-16 with two homers and six runs scored in the series, the Angels surged ahead with an eight-run inning. The Yankees, staring at elimination, saw their dreams of a fifth straight World Series appearance shattered.

The 2002 ALDS marked the end of an era for the Yankees, signaling the conclusion of a dynasty that had dominated the baseball landscape. For the first time since 1997, the Yankees failed to advance to the World Series, putting an end to their bid for a fifth consecutive pennant. The Angels, fueled by the Year of the Wild Card magic, moved forward on their journey, leaving the Yankees to grapple with an unexpected and painful two-year title drought.

How do you rate the 2002 New York Yankees?