Final Word: Mystique and Aura

As it turns out, Curt Schilling was wrong.

During the 2001 World Series against the New York Yankees, Arizona Diamondbacks players were asked about Mystique and Aura, the two muses who seemed to charm the Yankees into winning games 3, 4 and 5 in New York.

You have to remember, the Diamondbacks were facing the mighty Yankees. New York was not yet two months removed from the terrorist attacks of September 11th. No one gave the 4-year-old Diamondbacks a chance against the likes of Posada, Pettite, Jeter, Rivera and Clemens.

But under a full moon, the Yankees won three very late games in a row.

When asked about “Mystique and Aura” at Yankee Stadium, Schilling answered that they were just dancers in a nightclub.

It was a funny, well-delivered poke at Yankee magic.

Well, Thursday night those dancers showed up for one Derek Jeter.

Jeter, a 20-year Yankee, Mr. November, and the most well-behaved Yankee star of our generation, was playing in his last game at Yankee field.

You could feel the excitement building for weeks.

But it rained ALL DAY in New York. Fans who paid thousands of dollars to see Jeter’s last game at home wondered if they would ever see it. It looked like the game would be cancelled and never re-scheduled. It was a meaningless game for a team going nowhere in the postseason.

Yet before the game, the clouds inexplicably parted and baseball was played. And in the top of the 9th inning, Jeter’s Yankees were winning 5-2.

Jeter was at shortstop, fighting back tears.

When Yankees manager Joe Girardi chose NOT to pull Jeter from the field, the announcers wondered out loud whether the Yankees could possibly allow the game to just END without a chance to stand up for Jeter’s exit.

But then the Baltimore Orioles hit a home run. The score was 5-3.

The O’s then got a man on base and the tying run came to the plate.

And then, home run, Baltimore.

Are you kidding me?

The game goes to the bottom of the ninth, and wouldn’t you just know it, Jeter is hitting third.

Yep, you guessed it.

The Yankees got a baserunner, and in his last plate appearance at home, Jeter hits an opposite field single to win the game.

It was the saddest possible moment turned happy in an instant.

Mystique and Aura showed up at Yankee Stadium on Thursday night for a final curtain call for a man who truly deserved it.