Notebook

After six decades in baseball, McKeon a champion at last

Jack McKeon is the oldest manager to win a World Series title -- by five years. Al Bello/Getty Images

NEW YORK (AP) -- After 54 years in professional baseball, Jack McKeon is a World Series champion at last.

The 72-year-old Florida Marlins skipper had never even been to the postseason as a manager before this year. But his surprising young team took home the title with a 2-0 victory over the New York Yankees in Game 6 on Saturday night.

"I am elated. I hadn't even had time to think about being in the World Series," he said. "It happened so quick. It hasn't even sunk in yet that we won it."

The Marlins had a losing record when McKeon took over for the fired Jeff Torborg in May. "Trader Jack" was the general manager of the 1984 San Diego Padres, who won the NL pennant before losing to the Detroit Tigers in the World Series.

He also won the NL Manager of the Year Award in 1999 with the Cincinnati Reds, who fell just short of the playoffs.

But nothing ever compared to this.

"Saint Theresa has been looking after me," he said. "I really appreciate it. I will make sure she gets a payback."

Thinking dynasty

Maybe the Marlins could be more than just a one-year wonder. Florida catcher Ivan Rodriguez would love to see ownership keep the team intact the next few years.

"We have very good players in this clubhouse and I think if this team stays together the way it is, I think they can be like the Yankees, they can win pretty much every year in the playoffs and win more World Series," Rodriguez said.

The Marlins won the Fall Classic with a 2-0 victory over New York in Game 6 on Saturday night.

"I think this team right now is the thing that a lot of teams want to have, a team that can do everything: guys that can bunt, good pitching, guys that can move the guy over, power in the middle of the lineup," Rodriguez said. "I think overall, this team has all that and if you have a team like this, you should keep this team for two or three or four years."

One key component is Rodriguez, a 10-time All-Star and Gold Glove winner. He is on a $10 million, one-year contract and can become a free agent again this offseason.

"We don't talk about that right now," he said. "In the offseason, let's see what happens."

Aching back

SI.com's John Donovan Yes, it was one ugly World Series for the New York Yankees. Losing to the Marlins at home? Spending what, $180 million. For this? Ooooo, is The Boss gonna be hacked off about this one. SPOTLIGHT HERO: Josh Beckett Pitching on three days' rest, the Marlins' 23-year-old ace threw the first complete-game shutout in a deciding World Series game since Jack Morris in 1991. GOAT: Derek Jeter The Yankees' captain is human after all. Jeter went 0-for-4 and his first error in 27 career World Series games allowed the Fish to tack on an insurance run. CLOSER LOOK Two strikes? Two outs? No problem. The Fish were clutch with a capital C throughout the World Series and Game 6 was a textbook example. GO FIGURE 2 -- Managers who have led their teams to a title after taking over midseason: Jack McKeon and the Yankees' Bob Lemon in 1978. 2.13 -- ERA compiled by the Yankees, the lowest for a losing team in the World Series since the St. Louis Browns (1.49) in 1944. 17 -- Runs scored by the Marlins in the six games, the fewest for a winning team since Toronto had 17 in a six-game victory in 1992. SERIES RECAP • Game 1:  Pierre, Marlins run Yanks ragged • Game 2:  Pettitte pulls Yankees even again • Game 3:  After rain delay, Yanks pour it on • Game 4:  Rocket takes bow; Fish win in 12 • Game 5:  Penny pinches N.Y. with arm, bat • Game 6:  Beckett, Marlins finish off Yankees

Yankees manager Joe Torre said left-hander David Wells was still in pain and unavailable out of the bullpen for Game 6.

Wells left his Game 5 start Thursday night after only one inning because of lower back spasms.

"He's really still suffering today," Torre said. "Sometimes this thing let's him go a little bit, but there was as much tightness today as he had the other day."

View from the top

Even before Game 6 of the World Series was played, commissioner Bud Selig viewed the postseason as a success.

Selig said the highlights for him thus far were Aaron Boone's home run off Boston's Tim Wakefield that won the AL pennant for the New York Yankees, and Ivan Rodriguez's tag of San Francisco's J.T. Snow, which won Florida's first-round series.

"It's been stunning and remarkable," Selig said. "The drama has continued to build."

Back in the ballgame

Yankees manager Joe Torre had a simple explanation for why he put slumping second baseman Alfonso Soriano back in the lineup.

"My feeling was that we won 101 games this year, and just about all of them were won with him in the lineup," Torre said. "I think he has the right to be on the field."

Soriano, who didn't start Game 5, was dropped to ninth in the batting order by Torre. Derek Jeter hit leadoff for the second straight game and Nick Johnson was moved up to second.

Soriano singled twice, raising his average in the World Series to .227.

Fish on parade

There will be several celebrations of the Marlins' World Series championship in Florida next week.

Two street parades in honor of the team are set for Tuesday in Miami, to be followed by a boat parade in Fort Lauderdale.

"The celebration is going to be snappy, colorful and done in the style of Fort Lauderdale," said Elaine Fitzgerald, spokeswoman for the MDM Group production company. "The Marlins are our heroes, and we're going to help South Florida celebrate them."

Partisan Cadets

Some 3 1/2 hours before Game 6, rookie Dontrelle Willis was the first Florida Marlins player on the field, giving him a chance to visit with six fans who are cadets at West Point.

Willis signed autographs for the cadets, who said they were rooting for the Marlins. One was from Florida and had a Marlins cap.

"Y'all keep your shoes clean," Willis told the cadets as they departed. "I know you get in trouble for that."

Around the horn

The Yankees had a 2.13 ERA in the World Series, the best for a losing team since the 1944 St. Louis Browns (1.49), who lost in six games to the crosstown Cardinals. ... Marlins right-hander Josh Beckett, 23, became the youngest pitcher to win a clinching game in the World Series since 21-year-old Bret Saberhagen for Kansas City in Game 7 against St. Louis in 1985. ... New York is 4-7 all-time at Yankee Stadium when facing World Series elimination. ... The Marlins are 6-0 in postseason series, and 6-1 when they have a chance to clinch a series. ... Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter went 0-for-4, his first hitless game in this World Series. ... Yankees great Whitey Ford threw out the ceremonial first pitch to former teammate and fellow Hall of Famer Yogi Berra. ... Florida's Luis Castillo snapped an 0-for-14 drought with an RBI single in the fifth inning.