<Table> <Tr> <Td> ← 2000 </Td> <Td> World Series </Td> <Td> 2002 → </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Td> ← 2000 </Td> <Td> World Series </Td> <Td> 2002 → </Td> </Tr> <P> The 2001 World Series was the championship series of Major League Baseball's (MLB) 2001 season . The 97th edition of the World Series, it was a best - of - seven playoff between the National League (NL) champion Arizona Diamondbacks and the three - time defending World Series champions and American League (AL) champion New York Yankees . The Diamondbacks defeated the Yankees, four games to three to win the series . Considered one of the greatest World Series of all time, memorable aspects included two extra-inning games and three late - inning comebacks . Diamondbacks pitchers Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling were both named World Series Most Valuable Players . </P> <P> The Yankees advanced to the World Series by defeating the Oakland Athletics, three games to two, in the AL Division Series, and then the Seattle Mariners in the AL Championship Series, four games to one . It was the Yankees' fourth consecutive World Series appearance, after winning championships in 1998, 1999, and 2000 . The Diamondbacks advanced to the World Series by defeating the St. Louis Cardinals, three games to two, in the NL Division Series, and then the Atlanta Braves in the NL Championship Series, four games to one . It was the franchise's first appearance in a World Series . </P>

Who played in the world series in 2001