Joba Chamberlain Claims Jay-Z Was Basically Responsible for Yankees' Game 2 Win in 2009 World Series
By Adam Weinrib
The New York Yankees captured the 2009 World Series over the Phillies in six games, their most-recent title. But after Game 1 of that slate, things looked dire; Cliff Lee had buzzsawed the Yanks on their home turf, and they had the inconsistent AJ Burnett headed to the mound for Game 2. Luckily, New York had a secret weapon up their sleeves: Jay-Z, according to reliever Joba Chamberlain.
Jay Z told Joba Chamberlain to go get him a baseball before an AJ Burnett playoff start in 2009. He wanted to be the last person to touch it before AJ took the mound. When Jay Z tells you to do something, you do it. pic.twitter.com/PpYapT8tuh
— Eric Hubbs (@BarstoolHubbs) January 30, 2020
Per Joba, he of the famed Rules, Hov demanded to be the last person to hold the official game ball prior to Burnett's pivotal start, hoping to rub a bit of magic onto its hide.
Though, according to Joba's story, Jay handed the ball back to No. 62, meaning...he touched it before Burnett, too? Did he wear a glove? Regrettably, we have more questions.
Happy birthday to 2009 World Series MVP, Hideki Matsui, a.k.a. GODZILLA! pic.twitter.com/TXdBlPfy31
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) June 12, 2019
One thing is clear: the gambit worked. Burnett posted seven innings, four hits, nine whiffs, and a 3-1 victory, in what was likely the highlight of his erratic big league career. "Empire State of Mind" appears to have motivated the '09 Yanks in more ways than one.