Giancarlo Stanton adds another level — and trophy — to his growing October legacy

CLEVELAND — Giancarlo Stanton was happy to accept the ALCS MVP award and pose for some pictures with his family as the Yankees celebrated their series win over the Guardians to reach the World Series for the first time since 2009.

But Stanton already had his eyes on another prize.

“This is a special moment for me,’’ Stanton said during the celebration on the outfield grass at Progressive Field after a 5-2, 10-inning win in Game 5 . “But this ain’t the trophy I want. I want the next one.”

That, of course, is the Commissioner’s Trophy for winning the World Series, the one Stanton has eyed since his days with the lowly Marlins and the one he and Aaron Judge were expected to bring back to The Bronx after he was traded to the Yankees.

Stanton didn’t have the game-winning homer on Saturday night and yet he managed to add to his growing October legacy .

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First came the game-tying two-run homer in the top of the sixth, his fourth homer of the ALCS and fifth of the season.

And after the Yankees finished off the Guardians on the shoulders of Juan Soto’s go-ahead three-run shot, it was Stanton who was named MVP of the series.

“That guy’s gotten booed so many times in the Stadium, on the road, everything,’’ Judge said. “He’s battled some tough injuries along the way, but the guy always shows up when we need him.’’

Though there have been plenty of ups and downs throughout Stanton’s Yankee tenure, with injuries and some disappointing performances in the regular season, Stanton has consistently come through in the playoffs.

That’s never been more true than in this postseason, as he’s often carried the Yankee offense.

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With Saturday’s homer, Stanton has 16 in 36 playoff games.

And none were more massive than the one he hit off Cleveland right-hander Tanner Bibee.

Sure, Soto’s three-run homer to center with two outs in the top of the 10th was the one that everyone will remember.

Prior to that, though, the Yankees once again relied on Stanton to provide the offense in an October game, as he hit his fourth homer of the series, a two-run shot with two outs in the top of the sixth inning that tied the game at 2-2.

It came after Gleyber Torres and Soto opened the inning with singles, but Judge hit into a double play, with the Yankees still looking for their first run.

Stanton had whiffed twice before in the game against Bibee, but it was still somewhat of a surprise when Cleveland opted to pitch to Stanton with the slumping Jazz Chisholm Jr. on deck.

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Instead of chasing, he went deep, as Stanton made them pay, with a 446-foot homer that caused an eruption in the Yankee dugout, something of a regular occurrence this postseason when Stanton is at the plate.

Soto finished the job, but as Stanton said of reaching the World Series, “To get there doesn’t mean much. We need to win it.”

It’s been a season of redemption for Stanton, who had a miserable 2023 — along with the rest of the Yankees, who barely finished above .500.

A leaner Stanton showed up at spring training, and though he couldn’t stay healthy for the entire season, he was on the field most of the year and delivered.

But he’s taken it to a new level during these playoffs, as he continues to come up with clutch hits — and usually home runs.

This one was another no-doubter and helped send the Yankees to the World Series for the first time since 2009.

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