Associated Press
NEW YORK ó Crowds roared, church bells rang and streams of paper rained down on Broadway Friday as the New York Yankees celebrated their 27th championship in a way only this city can, with a parade down the Canyon of Heroes.
The players, joined by celebrity fans, drank it all in as they rode on floats through Manhattan’s financial district.
It has been years since the city used actual ticker-tape to celebrate its World Series wins, but the experience was still authentic to the multitude who packed the sidewalks near Wall Street.
“I love it!” said city sanitation worker John Freeman, as he raked up confetti and toilet paper rolls thrown from skyscrapers.
Whole families skipped work and school to be there. Players recorded the crowd with their cameras as the rode, en route to a second celebration at City Hall, where the mayor was to present them with keys to the city.
Yankees of the past were on hand too.
“Enjoy it,” former Yankees slugger Reggie Jackson said in an interview with WABC-TV. “Take it all in. You never know if it’ll happen again. It’s a special time and special thing.”
Matsui’s six RBIs helped the Yankees to the 7-3 win over the Philadelphia Phillies.
Revelers arrived early Friday to get a good spot along the route though many were forced to pack surrounding streets.
Gov. David Paterson and rapper Jay-Z were among those in the parade.
Jackson said the Yankees’ 27th title has him thinking “a lot” about owner George Steinbrenner.
“I wish he was here,” Jackson said.
George Steinbrenner has made few public appearances since his health deteriorated in recent years. He attended the first two games against the Phillies, returning to the new Yankee Stadium for the first time since opening day.
His son, Hal, took over the day-to-day operations of the team last November.