Wide World Of Sports: Memorable Moments Involving NY Teams On Foreign Soil

Hideki Matsui
Photo credit Tom Hauck/Getty Images

There is one language that translates throughout the world.

Sports.

Because of this international love and passion, many American sports leagues have wanted to expand their global reach and play games overseas or across borders, much like Major League Baseball is doing by sending the Yankees and Red Sox across the pond to play a two-game series in London this weekend.

Here are some of the most memorable international games New York teams have played during the regular season.

Mets vs. Cubs, March, 30, 2000, Tokyo

After the Cubs took the first game of the two-game international series the night before, the bats fell quiet for both teams in the Land of the Rising Sun. Game 2 was tied 1-1 after 10 innings. Then in the top of the 11th, pinch hitter Benny Agbayani took Danny Young deep with the bases loaded for a game-winning grand slam. Closer Armando Benitez came in to shut the door on the Cubs in the bottom half of the inning.

Related

Yankees vs. Devil Rays, March 31, 2004, Tokyo

The Yankees dropped the first game of the two-game series at the Tokyo Dome, but they more than made up for it the following day when their offense exploded in 12-1 win over Tampa Bay. Jorge Posada homered twice, and Tony Clark went yard once. But the highlight of the game came when Hideki Matsui hit a two-run homer in his homeland. 

Giants vs. Dolphins, Oct. 28, 2007, London

The Giants had the honor of playing in the NFL's inaugural regular-season game in the United Kingdom. The now staple of the football season featured a battle between the Giants and the Dolphins in a rainy Wembley Stadium. The Giants got off to a hot start, leading 13-0 at halftime. And though unable to score in the second half, the now-legendary defense of Big Blue that year was able to hold off the Dolphins to secure a 13-10 win. The Giants are still the only team to win in London and win the Super Bowl in the same season.

The Giants' Brandon Jacobs carries the ball against the Miami Dolphins on Oct. 28, 2007, at Wembley Stadium in London. Al Bello/Getty Images

Devils vs. Oilers, Oct. 6, 2018, Gothenberg, Sweden

The most recent entry on this list was a part of the NHL Global Series that has been played throughout Europe since 2017. The Devils got their chance to play on foreign soil against the Connor McDavid-led Oilers to open the 2018 season. The Devils got right to work, with Kyle Palmieri scoring the first goal of the season less than a minute after the first puck drop, and he didn’t stop there. Palmieri added another goal early in the second period, as he and Travis Zajac skated away with two goals apiece in the season-opening 5-2 win.

Nets vs. Raptors, March, 5, 2011, London

Playing a back-to-back on foreign soil is probably not fun for players who are still battling jet lag. The last thing they are probably looking for is overtime in that second game, so it’s hard to imagine how players felt after this international contest went three OTs. Toronto's DeMar DeRozan hit a layup with 20 seconds left in regulation to send it to overtime, the Nets' Sasha Vujacic made a 3-pointer with nine seconds left in the first extra period to extend the game, New Jersey's Deron Williams connected with nine seconds left in the second OT, and Travis Outlaw converted two free throws to seal the a 137-136 win for the Nets.

The Nets' Deron Williams runs past the Raptors defense at the O2 Arena in London on March 4, 2011. Julian Finney/Getty Images

Though the games above were fun and memorable wins, not all of the New York teams have fared well while traveling abroad.

Knicks vs. Bucks, Jan. 15, 2015, London

The Knicks kicked off 2015 with the hopes of ending a miserable 15-game losing streak. Maybe a change of scenery would do them some good, some wondered. Could TSA confiscate the Knicks' bad luck before they boarded the plane for England? Well, not quite. The Knicks lost their game abroad to the Jason Kidd-coached Milwaukee Bucks 95-79. But on the bright side, it was the last loss of that 16-game skid. 

Rangers vs. Ducks, Oct. 8, 2011, Stockholm

Opening with a game in Sweden was a homecoming for Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, forward Carl Haglin and defenseman Anton Stralman. However, the Blueshirts couldn’t quite put the show on they were hoping for after falling behind early to the Anaheim Ducks. It took until there were just over two minutes left in regulation for the Rangers' Brandon Dubinsky to finally find the back of the net and force overtime. However, after a scoreless extra period, only Ducks winger Bobby Ryan was able to connect during the shootout.