2. 1996 World Series, Game 3: Following two defeats at Yankees Stadium (by a combined score of 16-1), Joe Torre faced a huge game in his career. Torre won this game with his decisions. He ordered rookie Derek Jeter to sacrifice Tim Raines to second base in the first inning. It paid off, as Bernie Williams scored Raines with a base hit. And later in the game, the manager faced an even more crucial decision. Yankees starter David Cone nursed a 2-0 lead through five innings, but Atlanta threatened in the bottom of the sixth. Glavine walked, and Grissom singled. Lemke moved the runners over with a bunt. Chipper Jones walked. The Braves had the bases loaded and one out with the heart of the order (left-handed hitters Fred McGriff and Ryan Klesko) coming up. Torre, who had managed for years in the National League, could have made a double-switch and replaced Cone (due to bat third in the 7th inning). He had lefty Graham Lloyd and reliable Rivera ready in the pen. Instead, Torre let Cone continue to pitch. McGriff popped to short. Klesko walked in a run. Javy Lopez popped to the catcher. Rivera retired the Braves in the seventh. Bernie Williams hit a two-run homer for insurance in the eighth. The Yankees were back in the World Series. ...

4. 1998 A.L.C.S., Game 4: The Yankees won 114 games during the season, but their season could have ended for the second straight season in Cleveland. The Yankees won Game 1 in New York, but the Indians took the next two games. Torre could have panicked, and gone back to ace David Wells (18-4). Wells had beaten the Indians in Game 1, and was at that point 12-3 lifetime against the Tribe. He even offered to pitch on three days rest. Torre refused the offer. Instead, he selected Orlando Hernandez, a 32-year old rookie (and no one believed his age) who had fled Castro's Cuba and had never before pitched in the freezing Cleveland temperatures. "El Duque" shutout the Indians, and pitched the Yankees back into the series.