Game 4: New York 4 Atlanta 1. In best-of-7 MLB playoff series, the Yankees improve their series record to 28-10 (73.68%) and their MLB Finals (World Series) record to 25-10 (71.43%) -- the most Finals series wins by any MLB, NBA, or NHL team (the Montreal NHL Canadiens are next with 20). The Atlanta Braves' series record (all rounds) falls to 6-7 (46.15%) and their MLB Finals (World Series) record falls to 1-4 (20.00%). In best-of-7 MLB playoff games (all rounds), the Yankees game record improves to 130-78 (62.50%), while the Atlanta Braves' game record falls to 37-41 (47.44%). The Yankees' new best-of-7 format winning percentage (winning 62.50% of games played) is now the best in the MLB, NBA, and NHL -- better than the Montreal NHL Canadiens (61.87%), Colorado NHL Avalanche (61.54%), Florida MLB Marlins (61.54%), and Edmonton NHL Oilers (61.50%).

Game 3: New York 6 Atlanta 5. New York won a game it never led. In terms of best-of-7 format MLB Finals (World Series) through 1998: After 4 1/2 innings, home teams down by four runs had been only 1-21, with the 1982 Milwaukee Brewers in Game 4 (vs. St. Louis) the sole home team to rebound from that deficit to win a game. In MLB Finals fourth games under the best-of-7 format through 1998, the Yankees have an 20-14 (58.82%) record, while the Atlanta Braves have a 2-2 (50.00%) record.

Game 2: New York 7 Atlanta 2. The Yankees become the 13th team in the best-of-7 format MLB Finals to win the first two games of its series on the road. The series record of such teams is 9-3, however, the last three teams to do so (St. Louis, 1985; Boston, 1986; Atlanta, 1996) lost the series. After 5 1/2 and 6 innings, there had been a favorable precedent for a home-team best-of-7 World Series win when down seven runs (Game 4 of the 1929 Series, in which the Cubs led the Athletics in Philadelphia 7-0 after 5 1/2 and 6 innings but lost 10-8), but Atlanta did not follow this precedent. In MLB Finals third games, the Yankees have an 22-12 (64.71%) record, while the Atlanta Braves have a 1-3 (25.00%) record.

Game 1: New York 4 Atlanta 1. With their Game 1 victory, New York improves its best-of-7 MLB/NBA/NHL-leading Finals Game 1 victory total to 22 (against a leading 13 losses). Atlanta falls to 3-2 in best-of-7 MLB Finals first games. How big was the Yankee comeback? Through 1998, MLB home teams in a best-of-7 playoff series had a 59-16 (78.67%) game record when leading by one run after seven innings. The last road team to win a best-of-7 format MLB playoff game when down one run after seven innings? The New York Yankees, in Game 3 of the 1998 MLB Finals in San Diego. In MLB Finals second games, the Yankees have an 18-16 (52.94%) record, while the Atlanta Braves have a 2-2 (50.00%) record.

Pre-series history. In MLB best-of-7 Finals (World Series) action through 1998, the New York Yankees' series record is 24-10 (70.59%) and the Atlanta Braves' series record is 1-3 (25.00%). The 24 Finals series victories and the 34 Finals series appearances by New York are MLB/NBA/NHL Finals highs. New York's game record is 114-74 (60.64%) and Atlanta's game record is 11-14 (44.00%). The 114 Finals game victories and 74 Finals game losses by New York are MLB/NBA/NHL Finals highs.

In 1st games of MLB best-of-7 Finals action through 1998, New York's record is 21-13 (61.76%) and Atlanta's record is 3-1 (75.00%). New York's best-of-7 Finals Game 1 record on the road is 5-9; Atlanta's best-of-7 Finals Game 1 record at home is 2-0. The 21 wins, 13 losses, 5 road wins, and 9 road losses by New York are all MLB/NBA/NHL Finals Game 1 highs.

Atlanta finished 5 games ahead of New York in the 1999 MLB regular season.

In previous MLB best-of-7 Finals action through 1998, the team with the 5-game regular season lead has a series record of 1-1. The winner? The 1948 Cleveland Indians in a sweep. The loser? The 1965 Minnesota Twins in seven games.

In previous best-of-7 action in all MLB playoff rounds through 1998, the team with the 5-game lead has a series record of 3-1. Joining the two previously cited teams are the 1987 St. Louis Cardinals in the MLB Semis, and the 1995 Atlanta Braves in the MLB Semis; both the Cardinals and the Braves won their series (the Cardinals in seven games; the Braves in a sweep).

In previous best-of-7 action in all NHL, NBA, and MLB playoff rounds through July 1999, the team with the 5-game regular season lead has a series record of 28-13 (68.29%).