Bob Costas repeats the call verbatim 20 years later, even if he doesn’t realize it.
“The New York Yankees: world champions, team of the decade, most successful franchise of the century.”
That was his call after the final out of the Yankees’ sweep of the Braves to win the 1999 World Series, their third championship in four years.
“I think Keith Lockhart was the last batter against Mariano Rivera,” Costas said. “It occurred to me while the ball was in the air that the outcome of the game and the series was not in doubt. I tried to kind of put the ribbon to tie around it.