Yankees celebrated with staggering number of champagne bottles

by Felix Pantaleon

Details on the Yankees’ celebration after they clinched a playoff berth with a 3-2, 11-inning win over the Orioles at Yankee Stadium on Saturday night.

NEW YORK — The Yankees‘ clubhouse crew had almost no time to prepare.

Plans had been drawn out for how the prepare the Yankees’ clubhouse for a celebration — replete with 120 bottles of Moet & Chandon — if they were to clinch a playoff spot this weekend. And they didn’t need much time to be put into action.

But a little heads up would surely have been nice.

Instead, Aaron Hicks doubled, Didi Gregorius scored, and the Yankees won, 3-2, in the 11th inning over the Orioles at Yankee Stadium to clinch at least a spot in the American League Wild Card Game.

From there, it was a mad dash to set up the clubhouse, according to Rob Cucuzza, the team’s equipment manager.

WATCH: Hicks’ walk-off clinches playoff spot

Cucuzza said it would probably have taken the crew a little less than an inning to prepare the clubhouse for the party.

But since the Yankees won in walk-off fashion, the 40 players entered the clubhouse with it looking how it always does, and they changed and did what they had to do before celebrating with each other for a bit in the players’ lounge behind the clubhouse.

That let the staff hang huge sheets of plastic and cover the carpet with it, too.

Then at least four big red tubs filled with bubbly were rolled in, and a couple tables were set up.

At least one table was filled with goggles to prevent the champagne from burning players’ eyes.

And after manager Aaron Boone briefly spoke to the team – ending with, “Let’s go finish this deal this week and go beat some ass!” — the Yankees popped bottles and partied.