Yanks parade takes downtown by storm

Yanks captain, Jeter, speaks to assembled crowd at City Hall

By Tom Singer / MLB.com

Derek Jeter lifted the 27th Yankees World Series trophy on Friday at City Hall. (AP)

11/06/2009 1:52 PM EST

• Jeter speaks at victory parade »

The City That Never Sleeps took a major break Friday to salute its latest band worthy of the steel-and-concrete canyon that has served as the gauntlet for heroes.

The New York Yankees' victory parade snaked among a million fans along Broadway in lower Manhattan, making its confetti-drenched way to City Hall, where mayor Michael Bloomberg presented members of the re-crowned World Series champions with the symbolic keys to the city.

"We welcome you all to the biggest party in town!" Bloomberg exclaimed on the City Hall steps, kicking off the crowning celebration of a day of celebrations sincerely dedicated to owner George Steinbrenner.

Yankees players, coaches and executives trooped in to new crescendos of roars and strands of Queen's "We Are The Champions" and took their places on seats atop the erected stage.

The honor of walking in with the World Series trophy befell, naturally, team captain Derek Jeter, who held it aloft on his way to his seat between Bloomberg and Yankees manager Joe Girardi.

Under a giant cardboard baseball affixed to a balcony with the notation "27!" Girardi attributed his team's success to players who exhibited "the pulse of New York."

When his turn came, Jeter, amid shouts from the crowd of "Twenty-eight! Twenty-eight!" said, "It's been too long. It feels good to be back."

Then, with Yankees broadcasters John Sterling and Michael Kay doing the introductions, team personnel and executives one-by-one accepted their keys from the mayor.

While a select few fans gained admission into the limited space on the hall grounds for an up-close look at the proceedings, a larger throng watched, with frequent cheers, on huge monitors set up outside.

Scaling the steps to enter City Hall, Hal Steinbrenner, the Yankees' managing general partner, had shaken his head in wonder and noted, referring to the team's last title prior to Wednesday night, "Nine years ... you forget. It's just incredible. A magical day, it's hard not to enjoy that. New York has the best fans in the world."

Thanks to those "best fans," the City Hall ceremonies were set up by a two-hour triumphant, emotional rolling celebration of the men who put the latest shine on the Big Apple.

The Yankees waited nine years between World Series wins. But their city wasted no time to celebrate the 27-time champions.

So, what better way to commemorate that record number of World Series titles than with another record -- their ninth ticker-tape parade in the bed of the Canyon of Heroes.

Thirty-five hours and 11 minutes after Shane Victorino dribbled the final pitch of the baseball year to Robinson Cano to trigger one party, fans lined up 25-deep along sidewalks to shower the Yankees with confetti and adoration.

One after the other, trucks, floats and ritzy convertible coupes were welcomed into the canyon by waves of the million-plus fans jamming sidewalks. The passengers of every vehicle were guilty of DUI: Driving under the influence of joy.

Leading the parade, Hal and Hank Steinbrenner rode atop a truck with a scrolling message in orange bulbs along its hood: "Congratulations to the Steinbrenner Family."

Fans who have been floating in air since the Yankees finished off the Philadelphia Phillies in the 105th World Series watched their heroes take turns on their own floats.

Players and their families rode aboard wide-open floats decorated with blue-and-white garlands, taking their turns in the spotlight by enthusiastically waving to fans.

Johnny Damon cradled his infant daughter, Danica, while surrounded by his three other kids and TP-ed the crowd.

Members of the Yankees' newest generation, Mark Teixeira and CC Sabathia, shared one float-bed and waved to fans with one arm while holding up "2009 World Champions" signs with the other.

Alex Rodriguez shared another float with Jay-Z, the celebrated rapper and entrepreneur at one point slapping an open-palm greeting into A-Rod's gut.

Core Four charter member Jeter proudly rode along with his mom and dad.

Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, the unofficial No. 1 Yankees fan, rode in the parade -- although considerably behind the current mayor, Bloomberg, whose weighty chain presumably included the keys-to-the-city he would later hand over to the Yankees.

Various bands marched among the floats, including the NYPD Marching Band. There wasn't a band of Pinstripers, but there was one of bagpipers -- close enough.

While most of the celebrants rode standing atop the floats, Yankees legend Yogi Berra rolled along comfortably seated in a classic convertible.

Other former Yankees, the very essence of the team's legacy and tradition, joined the procession. Reggie Jackson, who shares a name with the month of the World Series and thus has been showered in the canyon many times, took another bow in the chilly sun.

The delirious roars of fans at one point prompted World Series MVP Hideki Matsui to mount a pedestal at the head of his float to wave to the throng.

The World Series Trophy that has returned to its rightful home in the Bronx prominently rode shotgun on one of the floats -- until, again cued by demanding and joyful fans, it was held up high for all to see.

The floats carrying the players announced their arrival with banners across the nose reading, "The Pride of New York."

That pride clearly infused the million lining Manhattan streets, who were in the process of raining 36 tons of confetti on and around the Yankees. Needless to say, "Do Not Litter" signs and ordinances were suspended.

Quickly, the confetti collected against curbs, looking like mounds of swept snow.

Fans leaned out of office-building windows, perched precariously on building ledges and lampposts and held up posters depicting pictures of their favorite players or appropriate slogans.

The number 27 was prominent on many of the homemade signs.

Pockets of the throng alternately chanted the names of the players -- Jeter, Andy Pettitte, Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada, Teixeira, Rodriguez -- a la the game-start tradition of Yankee Stadium's Bleacher Creatures.

So the 179th ticker-tape parade in New York's history was off to a raucous start.

The first such parade in honor of the Yankees was actually held the spring after they had lost a World Series, on April 10, 1961, six months after Bill Mazeroski's iconic home run had given the Pittsburgh Pirates the 1960 title.

It's not ticker tape -- stock tickers became obsolete about the same time as The Twist, in the 1960s; instead, the high-rise office buildings along Broadway were issued stacks of shredded recyclable paper to dump atop their heroes.

The parade route began at Battery Place -- giving Girardi a slight moment of indecision about whether to have Posada or Jose Molina ride with A.J. Burnett.

Players milled about Battery Park while awaiting their turns to climb aboard the floats that would roll them into the belly of the ball. They mingled with dazzled fans, exchanging waves and smiles, until their rides were ready.