Well, to say that yesterday’s game was a dream for me would be understating.

For me, hopefully as we close out the 2012 regular-season New York can hang on just a little longer for the AL East crown if they lose however, they’ll still get a spot in the American League wild card. Either way, even as a diehard Yankee fan they have fought, scratched, and clawed their way to the postseason and that my friends is what baseball is all about.

I have to step back and look at the bigger picture, rather than just one team.

I look at the rivalry overall, these two teams are absolutely legendary their rosters stacked with Hall of Famers through the years since their first meeting on April 26, 1901.

Each game, whether it be in the beginning of the regular season or later on in the year takes on an aura now depending on who you talk to that or a could be described as a “playoff” vibe or something much more meaningful. It is these games between these two fierce rivals that give baseball the power it has today.

Would you believe that these teams have met a total of 2,105 soon-to-be 2, 106 and 7 times?

Here are some facts and figures for you:

The largest victory in the rivalry was a 22 to 1 Yankee victory on June 19, 2000.

The longest New York Yankees winning streak in the rivalry was twelve from May 27 to August 23, 1936, and again from August 16, 1952 to April 23, 1953.

Not to worry, the boys from Beantown have had an even longer winning streak against their rivals from the Bronx. Their longest winning streak was seventeen from October 3, 1911 to July 1, 1912.

These two titans of the American League have also met in the postseason.

In the 1999 American League championship series, the New York Yankees downed their rivals from Boston 4-1.

All of you who watch baseball…Remember, Aaron Boone’s historic shot which crushed the Red Sox postseason hopes in 2003 as the boys from the Bronx defeated their rivals from Boston once again this time 4-3.

The biggest turning point in the rivalry came in 2004 when Harry Frazee’s beleaguered spirit could finally rest. The boys from Boston stunned the New York Yankees after they were down 3-0 in the American League championship series, David Ortiz, known as “Big Papi” led the charge.

As I write this. I remember how shocked I was then that I could not believe “the curse of the Bambino” had finally been broken after an agonizing eighty-six years. I also remember seeing some great baseball, even if my team was on the wrong end of it.

An even bigger insight I seem to have as each major-league season rolls on is that I’ve seen
moments that may never happen again. I’ve witnessed perfect games, no-hitters, long hitting streaks, and unbelievable home runs that have fans like me in awe.

Baseball also has a way of bringing us together.

I will never forget September 21, 2001 ten days after the tragedy that was 9/11. With one swing of the bat Mike Piazza sent New York indeed, the nation into a joyous euphoria that was badly needed in the early and dark days in downtown Manhattan.