<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 97th edition of Major League Baseball's championship series, 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 best - of - seven series . Considered one of the greatest World Series of all time, memorable aspects included two extra-inning games and three late - inning comebacks . It ended on a Game 7 walk - off hit in the form of a bases - loaded blooper single off the bat of Luis Gonzalez . This was the third World Series to end in this way, following 1997 and 1991 . This was also the Yankees' fourth consecutive World Series appearance, after winning it in 1998, 1999, and 2000 . </P> <P> This was the first World Series ever played in the state of Arizona and the Mountain Time Zone . With the All - Star Game format change in 2003, the World Series would not open in the city of the National League champion again until 2010 . This was the last World Series not to feature a wild card team until 2008 . This was also the first World Series to end in November, due to the delay in the regular season after the September 11 attacks . </P>

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