September
Wang returned with a strong start after missing two months, giving the Yankees another healthy arm. With the divisional race getting tight, the Big Unit and Giambi led the Yanks to a crucial win over the Red Sox on Sept. 11, putting New York in position to win the AL East. Bubba Crosby did his part, too, beating the Orioles with a walk-off home run. A-Rod tied Joe D. with his 46th homer, then passed the Hall of Famer with No. 47. Small’s magical season was capped off with one more win, as he finished with a perfect 10-0 record.

October
It took until Game 161, but the Yankees clinched the AL East with a win over Boston. After falling behind 2-1 in the ALDS against the Angels, the Yankees won Game 4 to force a Game 5 back in Anaheim. But the Halos ended the Yankees’ season, as A-Rod took a lot of the blame for the early postseason exit. Giambi earned Comeback Player of the Year honors, completing his storybook season. Mel Stottlemyre announced his departure as pitching coach, but Torre decided to return and Brian Cashman signed a new contract.

November
Jeter won his second consecutive Gold Glove, kicking off the awards season. Cano finished second to Huston Street in Rookie of the Year voting, while Rivera was the runner-up to Bartolo Colon in the Cy Young Award race. The Yankees finally took home some hardware when A-Rod won his second AL MVP Award, after which he spoke to MLB.com in an exclusive Q&A. Larry Bowa, Lee Mazzilli, Tony Pena and Ron Guidry were added to Torre’s coaching staff. With a deadline looming, the Yankees came to an agreement with Hideki Matsui on a new four-year contract.

December
With Tom Gordon bolting for the Phillies, the Yankees bolstered their bullpen with the signing of Kyle Farnsworth as Rivera’s new setup man. Top prospect Eric Duncan earned MVP honors in the Arizona Fall League, receiving the award at the Winter Meetings. The Yankees had some business of their own at the meetings as well, signing Mike Myers, trading Tony Womack, offering Bernie Williams arbitration. Later in the month, the Yanks acquired Ron Villone from the Marlins.

Then on Dec. 23, Yankees fans got an early holiday gift as Johnny Damon slipped on his No. 18 pinstriped jersey for the first time.

Damon was officially introduced as the Yankees’ new center fielder at a Yankee Stadium press conference, as the former face of the Red Sox swapped in his “Idiot” look for a Yankees hat, which sat atop his nicely trimmed hair and clean-shaven face.