Hideki Matsui's monster night at the plate was capped by the Yankees swarming the infield for a boisterous celebration of their unprecedented 27th World Series title, including the first for Alex Rodriguez.
Matsui tied a World Series record with six RBI in one game, Andy Pettitte threw into the sixth inning for his postseason-record 18th win and New York beat the Philadelphia Phillies, 7-3, to clinch the World Series championship in six games.
Fittingly, the game ended with the playoff's best closer of all-time on the mound, as Mariano Rivera retired Shane Victorino on a ground ball to second base.
When Joe Girardi was hired as manager of the Yankees last year, he chose to wear No. 27 on his uniform to symbolize the team's next championship, and he guided baseball's historic franchise to its first World Series title since 2000.
"For this team, they never stopped fighting," said Girardi. "They got up and they got up. It's unbelievable how this team came together in spring training and they're willingness to be unselfish. They played the game the right way and that's why they won."
It's the seventh world championship in the George Steinbrenner era and the team will celebrate the best-of-seven series victory with a ticker-tape parade through the Canyon of Heroes on Friday.
"Dad, I know you're at home watching with mom, This one is for you," said Hal Steinbrenner, son of the Yankees owner. "I think it means everything to him."
Matsui belted a two-run homer in the second inning and added a two-run single in the third, both off Pedro Martinez, and then drilled a two-run double off J.A. Happ in the fifth. Matsui became the first full-time designated hitter to win the World Series MVP.
The six RBI equals the mark set by the Yankees' Bobby Richardson in an October 8, 1960 Game 3 victory against Pittsburgh, a series in which New York lost in seven games.
"It's awesome, it's unbelievable, I'm surprised myself," Matsui said through an interpreter.
Matsui, in the final season of a four-year, $52 million contract, saved his best for ultimately the last game of 2009. The 35-year-old, a three-time MVP of the Japanese Central League (1996, 2000 and 2002), and nicknamed Godzilla for his hitting power, had a huge series, going 8-for-13 with three homers and eight RBI.
The Yankees won the World Series with just three starting pitchers - CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Pettitte (2-0), who was the third straight hurler to go on three days' rest. The southpaw allowed four hits and three runs, walked five and fanned three over 5 2/3 innings. Pettitte became the first Yankee starter to record more than one victory in a World Series since Mike Torres defeated the Dodgers twice in 1977.
"I've benefited from a lot of great teams I've been on," said Pettitte. "I've had a lot of wonderful players surrounding me. I tried to give it my all tonight, tried to get locked in. I felt like I scuffled again, but we got through it. We got a win. We got Mo closing out so it's going to be a 'W' usually."
The Yankees, who spent $423.5 million in the offseason on three players - Sabathia, Mark Teixeira and Burnett - used that in part to gain their first World Series appearance since 2003. They finished it with a title in the inaugural year of the new Yankee Stadium with shortstop Derek Jeter, catcher Jorge Posada, Pettitte and Rivera all garnering their fifth World Series championship ring. Jeter had three hits and scored twice in the series clincher.
"It's good to be back," said Jeter holding the trophy. "This is right where it belongs."
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