It is their third Series win in four years and a record 25th in the 95-year history of the competition.

Wednesday night's victory was set up by Yankee pitchers, Roger Clemens and Mariano Rivera, who dominated the Brave's batters.

Rivera was named most valuable player of the season after stretching his scoreless span to 43 innings over three months.

"It means a lot to win back-to-back championships. It just feels tremendous to be the guy to get the last outs." Rivera said.

"We're all the most valuable player - managers, coaches and the 25 guys on the team."

Excitement in the eighth

Roger Clemens finally wins a World Series

Clemens, who was making his first Series appearance in 13 years, struck out four and allowed only two hits before being replaced in the eighth.

The Braves scored off relief pitcher Jeff Nelson from a Bret Boone single to cut New York's lead to 3-1, but Rivera came on and ended the threat.

As if to reinforce the Yankee dominance, Jim Leyritz then hit the first pinch-hit Series home run in seven years off Braves relief pitcher Terry Mulholland to restore the three-run lead.

Atlanta starting pitcher John Smoltz had struck out 11 in seven innings, but the damage was done in the third, when he conceded three runs.

Chuck Knoblauch and Derek Jeter opened with singles and a one-out intentional walk to Bernie Williams loaded the bases.

Tino Martinez followed with a hard grounder and, perhaps screened by Williams, first baseman Ryan Klesko let the ball skip off his forearm for a two-run single. With two outs, Jorge Posada hit an RBI single.

Back-to-back sweeps

The victory meant the Yankees were the first team to complete back-to-back Series sweeps since the 1939 Yankees.

It was their 18th victory in 19 playoff games, and the 12th in a row in the World Series - putting them on a par with the great Yankees side of the 1930s.

Clemens said: "I feel blessed to be part of this team. This is what everyone said it was. I finally know what it feels like to be a Yankee."

Clemens had been in the Boston Red Sox side which blew the 1986 World Series against the New York Mets.

Atlanta manager Bobby Cox said the win put the Yankees "right up there".

"You've got to tip your hat. It's hard to go all the way every year. It's amazing," he said.

It was the Braves fourth World Series defeat in nine years.

Muted celebrations

The celebrations were muted because Yankees' rightfielder Paul O'Neill's father died earlier in the day. He kept his customary starting spot but went hitless in four times at bat.

Reserve infielder Luis Sojo, who played in the final two innings, had missed the first two games of the Series after his father died last week and third baseman Scott Brosius' father passed away last month.

"It has just been strange that it has happened a few times with us this year," Yankee manager Joe Torre said.

"There's nothing higher than playing in a World Series and nothing lower than having to mourn the death of a family member."