“Last year was an incredible year for our team and I’m proud to be here today to commemorate our 2009 World Series championship,” Joe Girardi said on June 15 at the unveiling of the granite sidewalk marker celebrating the Bronx Bombers’ unprecedented 27th World Series championship. “There are almost no words to describe the energy and excitement that was in the air on that special day we all shared last November up the Canyon of Heroes. We are so grateful that each and every member of our team was able to share that feeling with our fans and the great people of the City of New York.”
 
The black strips set into the Broadway sidewalk were unveiled in 2003 to commemorate each and every ticker tape parade that has taken place at the location. Everyone from members of our military to a virtuoso pianist has taken their turn there.
 
Also in attendance was Downtown Alliance President Elizabeth H. Berger, who commented, “The iconic corridor of lower Broadway has provided a dramatic setting for 204 parades and we’re thrilled to count the 2009 world champion Yankees among the heroes who have been showered with ticker tape and confetti. This marker will remind New Yorkers for generations to come of the Yankees’ magical run in 2009 – their first world championship in the new Yankee Stadium.” 
 
Berger’s words were sincere and accurate, as the Yankees topped off their 107th season with one that was dominant much of the time. They finished at 103-59, easily winning the American League East. Subsequent playoff series wins versus the Minnesota Twins and Los Angeles Angels gave them the pennant, and the Yankees disposed of the Philadelphia Phillies, four games to two, in the Fall Classic.
 
Along the way, Derek Jeter surpassed Lou Gehrig to become the all-time hits leader for the franchise with 2,722. Alex Rodriguez - who began the campaign under scrutiny for steroid use and was on the shelf following hip surgery, bounced back to have a productive summer - hit the team’s 243rd home run of the season to break the previous record set only five years earlier. A-Rod wasn’t through etching his name in the record book when he hit a grand slam later that same inning to break an American League mark with seven RBI in one inning.
 
This team was clearly the best in baseball and they proved it time and time again. To be invited to the White House and the Canyon of Heroes is no small feat, and Girardi may have had his eye on where the next granite marker can go.