Yesterday, we reminisced on Derek Jeter and the New York Yankees' 1998 World Series win, but today's Performance Sneaker History brings a less celebratory fate for the historic franchise.
Heading into Game 4 of the 2003 World Series on October 22, the Yankees held a 2-1 advantage over the Florida Marlins. However, that would all change quickly as Florida powered through a 12 inning battle to come out with a 4-3 win. The game had been tied since the ninth inning, but in the 12th, shortstop Alex Gonzalez blasted a home run off of Jeff Weaver's pitch.
This go-home win fueled Gonzalez and the Florida Marlins, who were able to ride the momentum out and defeat the Yankees in six games, 4-2. October 22, 2003's Game 4 is also noteworthy because it was set to be Roger Clemens final game on the mound after he had announced plans to retire at the end of the season. In actuality, Clemens would return the next season, then retire again which was followed up with yet another return before finally hanging up his glove in 2007.
For this crucial Game 4 win and decisive home run, Alex Gonzalez got it done in a pair of Nike cleats. If you're interested in acquiring this exact pair, they're available used on eBay. Otherwise, you can shop Nike's current baseball selection here.
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