(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a relatively new team.
They were introduced to the league in the 1998 expansion, together with the Tampa Bay Rays (then Devil Rays).
In 2001, the Diamondbacks earned their first, and only, World Series championship thanks to a formidable one-two punch in the rotation: Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling.
They defeated the New York Yankees in seven games.
Now, the D-Backs are playing in the 2023 Fall Classic, 22 years later.
They find themselves down 3-1 in the series against the Texas Rangers, and already have their backs against the wall.
To win it all, Arizona will need to go the full seven games.
The current squad is trying to find inspiration anywhere they can and the 2001 D-Backs are the perfect source: they did this before.
“The ’01 team won it in 7. Guess we gotta do that too,” the team tweeted.
The ’01 team won it in 7. Guess we gotta do that too. pic.twitter.com/4o0FTUEmtj
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) November 1, 2023
In fact, that 2001 team also found itself down in the series: in their case, they won the first two in Arizona and lost three straight in New York to return to Arizona down 3-2.
Game 6 was a 15-2 laugher in favor of the Snakes, which set up a huge Game 7.
Johnson started, and Schilling pitched in relief on short rest.
Of course, we all remember the Luis Gonzalez walk-off hit against Mariano Rivera that clinched the series for Arizona.
The 2023 D-Backs are young and hungry, but don’t have two workhorses like Johnson and Schilling.
They have had a hard time stopping the Rangers offense, but do have some exciting young talent and intangibles.
Zac Gallen will take the ball in Game 5 on Wednesday, their last game at home.
Winning that will be the first step in their quest to come back from their hole.
It’s difficult, but not impossible.
The post Diamondbacks Seeking Inspiration From 2001 Team appeared first on The Cold Wire.