By Shayna Jacobs, Nicole Bode and Jim Scott
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer and Associate Editors
MANHATTAN — Alex Rodriguez is "so proud" the Yankees won their 27th championship Wednesday night after beating the Philadelphia Phillies 7-3 in Game 6 of the World Series.
No, not the Yankees third baseman (though he's pretty excited, too). This Alex Rodriguez works in the catering department at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital and lives in Washington Heights.
"It was about time for us to win the World Series," Rodriguez said after watching the game at Coogan's bar in Washington Heights. "I think that the city of New York deserves it."
From uptown to Times Square, fans danced and raised their glasses in triumph as the Yanks won their first championship since 2000. Traffic came to a standstill in Times Square as hundreds of New Yorkers celebrated in the streets after the Yankees recorded the final out of the baseball season.
“Oh my God, it’s unbelievable!" said Jose Ramirez, 26, of Washington Heights, at Coogan's. "Amazing! Amazing!”
At the South Street Seaport Yankees store, manager Dan Kankowski, 41, stayed up late to watch the team win, and then raced to set up World Series victory T-shirts, hats and programs.
He opened the store at 7 a.m., three hours earlier than ususal.
“We probably got fifty calls this morning, asking what time do we open," Kankowski said. "We’re going to run out of hats and shirts today if we don’t get a second shipment.”
Customer Doug Beauchamp, 25, a software developer from New Jersey, stopped by at 8:45 a.m. to pick up a pair of $29.99 World Series hats for himself and his dad.
“He said if you’re going, pick me up a hat," Beauchamp said. "I got out at the World Trade Center, went straight to Modell’s, they were all sold out. So I came straight here.”
Friday morning, expect plenty of New Yorkers to be wearing those hats in the Canyon of Heroes when the Yankees victory parade kicks off at 11 a.m.
“It just makes me feel even more at home," said Juilliard student Carla Jablonski, 23, said up at Coogan's. "Complete strangers are here and everyone’s just all happy together.”
“I’m elated," said Moe Gomez, who also works at the hospital. "I’m celebrating for New York. To have it the way it was and to have the Yankees do it at home this time.”
“All the camaraderie, everyone is celebrating together, from the stadium to the bars," Gomez said.
Bartenders at Coogan's sported Yankee jerseys and hustled all night to keep up with drink and food orders at the overflowing bar.
Fans there got to see Hideki Matsui tie a World Series record with six RBIs to power the Bombers. He got things started for the Yanks when he crushed a Pedro Martinez fastball into the second deck in right field for a two-run homer in the second inning.
"It's awesome," Matsui said through a translator during the post-game ceremonies. "Unbelievable. I'm surprised myself."
Bobby Richardson was the only other player with six RBIs in a World Series game, doing it for the Yankees in Game 3 against Pittsburgh in 1960.
Matsui, who batted .615 (8-for-13) with three home runs in the series, became the first Japanese player and full time designated hitter to win the World Series Most Valuable Player trophy.
The Yankees also got key contributions from other familiar faces.
Derek Jeter had three hits, Andy Pettitte tossed 5 2/3 strong innings and closer Mariano Rivera closed out the game as all three Yankees legends earned their fifth World Series titles with the Bronx Bombers.
For the first time in since 2000, the Yankees will be the toast of the town as hundreds of thousands of fans will line the streets of Manhattan Friday for a ticker tape parade down the Canyon of Heroes.
"We're looking forward to this parade," Jeter said.
