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On this day in history | 2003

10 years ago today, Aaron Boone entered himself into Yankees and baseball lore. His eleventh inning walk-off home run gave New York their 39th American League pennant, and it gave the Red Sox and their fans more heartache.

Boone’s home run was the culmination of a classic series between two of the biggest rivals in sports. Usually, game sevens never live up to the hype – but this one surpassed all expectations. With Roger Clemens and Pedro Martinez starting, we were in for a treat.

Clemens lasted only three plus innings, giving up four runs. Mike Mussina relieved him and induced a huge double play to get out of a jam in the fourth inning. Behind two home runs from Jason Giambi, the Yankees were able to cut the lead to 4-2. However, a David Ortiz home run off David Wells in the eighth pushed the deficit to three runs.

With Pedro still in the game, Nick Johnson popped out to start the bottom of the eighth for the Yankees, as the Red Sox needed just five more defensive outs to advance to the World Series. Derek Jeter then doubled, and was brought home on a single by Bernie Williams. Hideki Matsui hit a ground rule double, putting runners on second and third for Jorge Posada. Red Sox manager Grady Little visited the mound, and was expected to take Martinez out of the game. His pitch count was high, and he was clearly beginning to get hit hard. However, Little left Pedro in – a move that would later cost him his job.

Rivera hugs the mound as Boone circles the bases

Posada blooped a ball into center field as Bernie and Matsui came around to score. The Yankees completed one of the greatest comebacks ever to tie the game at five. Pedro was taken out of the game in favor of Alan Embree. The Yankees would load the bases, but couldn’t push across the go-ahead run. Game seven moved into the top of the ninth, as Mariano Rivera came on to pitch.

In one of the most memorable moments of his career, Rivera pitched three scoreless innings, giving up two hits and striking out three. He was named the ALCS MVP, and deservedly so. It was his performance that allowed the Yankees to stay in the game. Boone, who had pinch ran in the eighth inning, was the first batter in the eleventh inning. The rest is history.

Boone became just the fifth player ever to end a playoff series on a home run. Joe Torre, who would end up managing the Yankees for 12 years, said that this game was his all-time favorite. Ask any Yankee fan who remembers watching it, and they’ll tell you it was their favorite as well.