Steinbrenner wins 7th title as Yankees owner

Derek Jeter (FSY) and the New York Yankees said throughout the postseason they wanted to win another title for George Steinbrenner.

The frail owner wasn't around when New York beat Philadelphia 7-3 on Wednesday night to win the World Series, but there's no doubt the outcome brought a smile to his face.

It was the 79-year-old Steinbrenner's seventh crown since he bought the team in 1973 and first since turning over the day-to-day operation of the team to his son, Hal, last November. Hal Steinbrenner was expected to accept the championship trophy.

George Steinbrenner has made few public appearances since his health deteriorated in recent years. He attended the first two games against the Phillies, returning to the new Yankee Stadium for the first time since opening day.

The Yankees' objective to win one for Steinbrenner was never more obvious than the Series opener last Wednesday, when the grounds crew donned T-shirts that read "WIN IT FOR THE BOSS" on the front and 27 on the back — New York won its 27th crown overall.

World Series ratings rebound from '08 record low

World Series television ratings bounced back from last year's record lows.

The Yankees' six-game victory over the Phillies on Fox averaged an 11.7 rating and 19 share. That's the highest since a 15.8/26 in 2004, when the Red Sox swept the Cardinals to end an 86-year championship drought.

It's up 39% from the record-low 8.4/14 for the 2008 Phillies-Rays series. Fox said Thursday that was the biggest one-year increase ever.

Game 6 on Wednesday night earned a 13.4/22.

The rating is the percentage of households with televisions tuned to a program. The share is the percentage of homes watching among those with TVs in use at the time.

NYC to host ticker-tape parade for Yankees

New York City will host a ticker-tape parade and ceremony in honor of the World Series champion New York Yankees.

The parade, scheduled for Friday will begin on Broadway at Battery Place at 11 a.m. and continue northbound up the Canyon of Heroes to City Hall Plaza where Mayor Michael Bloomberg will present the Bronx Bombers with the keys to the city.

Yankees fans had waited nine years since the team's previous World Series title, a Subway Series against their crosstown rivals, the Mets, in 2000.

Series records

Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira (FSY) was hit by a pitch in the third inning Wednesday night, tying two World Series records.

Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez (FSY) each were plunked three times against the Phillies, joining Pittsburgh's Max Carey in 1925 as the only players to be hit three times in a single Series.

The 2009 Yankees, 1909 Pirates and 2001 Diamondbacks are the only clubs with six HBPs as a team in a Series.

Too late

Ryan Howard (FSY) broke out of his World Series slump but it wasn't enough for the Phillies to force a Game 7.

Howard hit an opposite-field, two-run homer to left off Andy Pettitte (FSY) in the sixth inning to cut New York's lead to 7-3 but that was it for the Philadelphia offense. The big first baseman batted just .174 (4 for 23) against the Yankees with a Series-record 13 strikeouts.

Howard, who was MVP of the Phillies' NL championship series victory over Los Angeles, did finish with 17 RBIs in the postseason, tying the National League record set by San Francisco's Rich Aurilia (FSY) in 2002 and equaled by Florida's Ivan Rodriguez (FSY) in 2003.

Numbers game

When Joe Girardi became manager, he took uniform No. 27, putting the quest for the New York Yankees' 27th title right on his back.

If the Yankees win the World Series, will he switch over the No. 28, last used by Shelley Duncan late in the season?

"I really haven't thought a whole lot about that," Girardi said. "I don't like to think too far ahead."

There has been some sadness along the way. His father Jerry was diagnosed with Alzheimer's more than a decade ago. He's not sure his dad is even aware he's managing in the World Series.

"I got a few words out of him," Joe Girardi said. "There's a glimmer of hope."

Contributing: Mel Antonen, wire reports