Free agent pitcher Mike Mussina signed with the Yankees before their 2001 season began , and the club pulled away from the Red Sox as the year progressed to claim another divisional championship , as Clemens won 20 games . The September 11 attacks interrupted the season , and the resumption of baseball in New York became a symbol of how the city recovered from the destruction of the Twin Towers . After falling behind 2 – 0 in the ALDS against the Athletics , the Yankees won three straight contests to advance to the ALCS . They prevailed in five games against the Seattle Mariners , who had tied a single-season MLB record with 116 regular season wins , for the team 's fourth straight AL pennant . The Arizona Diamondbacks gained a two-game lead in the 2001 World Series before the Yankees won three consecutive ballgames ; New York home runs with two outs in the ninth inning of Games 4 and 5 led to extra inning wins in both games , with Game 4 ended by a Jeter home run . The Yankees ' championship streak ended , though , as the Diamondbacks won the Series in seven games with a late rally in the final inning of Game 7
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
History of the New York Yankees