Game 5: New York 6 Boston 1. In winning Series 795, New York improves its all-time best-of-7 MLB Semis series record to 3-0, tying the Washington NBA Bullets for the best MLB/NBA/NHL Semis series record in the best-of-7 format. Boston's best-of-7 MLB Semis series record falls to 1-3. New York improves its all-time best-of-7 MLB Semis game record to 12-4, while Boston's record falls to 5-15. In terms of all best-of-7 format playoff games, the Yankees improve their all-time game record to 126-78 (61.76%), leaping past the Edmonton NHL Oilers (115-72), Florida MLB Marlins (8-5), and Colorado NHL Avalanche (40-25) to second place in winning percentage, behind only the Montreal NHL Canadiens (331-204, 61.87%). In its 13-1 victory in Game 3, Boston sets an MLB (all rounds) best-of-7 Game 3 record for largest margin of victory, breaking the old record of 10 set by the New York Yankees in a Game 3 10-0 victory over Pittsburgh in the 1960 MLB Finals (World Series).

Game 4: New York 9 Boston 2. In best-of-7 MLB Semis playoff action, the Yankees' 6 runs in the top of the ninth inning is the most in the top of the ninth since Game 1 of the 1990 MLB Semis by Oakland (at Boston) -- Oakland scored 7 runs, and defeated Boston 9-1. The Yankees were also the last team to score 6 runs in the top of the ninth of a best-of-7 format playoff game, doing so in Game 2 of the 1936 MLB Finals at the New York Giants. In addition, the Yankees also registered a 7-run top of the ninth in Game 6 of that 1936 series. In 5th games of MLB best-of-7 Semifinals action through 1998, New York's record is 2-0 (100.0%) and Boston's record is 1-0 (100.0%). New York's best-of-7 Semifinals Game 5 record on the road through 1998 is 2-0; Boston is playing its first best-of-7 Semifinals Game 5 at home.

Game 3: New York 1 Boston 13. The Boston lead was four runs after two innings. In best-of-7 MLB Semis history through 1998, the home team is 7-0 when leading by four runs after two innings. The Boston lead grew to six runs after three innings: In best-of-7 MLB history (all rounds), the home team is 12-0 when leading by six runs after three innings. A comeback by the visiting Yankees from that point on was unprecedented. In best-of-7 MLB Semis history, the 13-run lead by the home team after the 7th inning was the largest since Game 7 of the 1996 MLB Series featuring St. Louis at Atlanta, and Atlanta's 15-run lead after seven innings. In 4th games of MLB best-of-7 Semifinals action through 1998, New York's record is 2-0 (100.0%) (a tie for an MLB-best) and Boston's record is an MLB-worst 0-3 (0.00%). New York's best-of-7 Semifinals Game 4 record on the road through 1998 is 2-0; Boston is playing its first best-of-7 Semifinals Game 4 at home.

Game 2: New York 3 Boston 2. Six times in MLB best-of-7 playoff history has a team won its first two games by just one run. The record of those six teams: 6-0. One of those six teams was the 1950 New York Yankees. In 3rd games of MLB best-of-7 Semifinals action through 1998, New York's record is 1-1 (50.00%) and Boston's record is an MLB-worst 0-3 (0.00%). New York's best-of-7 Semifinals Game 3 record on the road through 1998 is 1-1; Boston is playing its first best-of-7 Semifinals Game 3 at home.

Game 1: New York 4 Boston 3 (10 innings). Once before has a team won Game 1 of the MLB Semis at home by a 4-3 score: The 1993 Philadelphia Phillies did so against the Atlanta Braves. Those Phillies then lost Games 2-3, but won Games 4-6 and the series. Boston is now an MLB-worst 0-4 in first games of best-of-7 Semis series. In 2nd games of MLB best-of-7 Semifinals action through 1998, New York's record is 0-2 (0.00%) and Boston's record is 1-2 (33.33%). New York's best-of-7 Semifinals Game 2 record at home through 1998 is an MLB-worst 0-2; Boston's best-of-7 Semifinals Game 2 record on the road is 0-0.

Pre-series history. In MLB best-of-7 Semifinals (League Championship Series) action through 1998, the New York Yankees' series record is 2-0 (100.0%) and the Boston Red Sox' series record is 1-2 (33.33%). The Yankees' 2-0 best-of-7 Semis record is tied with the Minnesota Twins for an MLB-best. New York's game record is 8-3 (72.73%) and Boston's game record is 4-11 (26.67%).

New York finished 4 games ahead of Boston in the 1999 MLB regular season.

In previous MLB best-of-7 Semifinals action (through 1998), the team with the 4-game lead has a series record of 2-2. The 1990 and 1991 Pittsburgh Pirates account for both series losses. The 1996 New York Yankees account for one of the wins, thus setting a favorable precedent for their 1999 counterparts.

In previous best-of-7 action in all MLB playoff rounds (through 1998), the team with the 4-game lead has a series record of 3-3. The 1956 New York Yankees, in that year's MLB Finals (World Series), accounted for the third win, thus setting another favorable precedent for their 1999 counterparts. Setting a favorable precedent for the Red Sox are the New York Yankees in the 1996 MLB Finals (World Series); those Yankees finished 4 games behind Atlanta in the 1996 regular season standings but nevertheless defeated the Braves in the best-of-7 series.

In previous best-of-7 action in all NHL, NBA, and MLB playoff rounds, the team with the 4-game regular season lead has a series record of 26-13 (66.67%). Add the NHL Rangers (1940 Finals) and NBA Knicks (1970 Semis) to the New York teams to win in this situation. The Boston NHL Bruins (in the 1957 and 1958 Semis) won two best-of-7 series despite four-game regular season deficits to playoff foes.