Yanks and Angels post-season history extends nearly back to turn of the century

When NY and LA clash Friday, it will be the latest chapter in one of baseball's great rivalries, a feud that extends all the way back to 2002, the shadowy, pre-Twitter era of Raul Mondesi and Scott Spezio.

Back then, the California team was not even called the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, or whatever it calls itself, and was only beginning its longstanding tradition of the Rally Monkey whipping fans into a hurricane froth.

Some time capsule gems from that bygone era? Let's go back...

George W. Bush is president!

The Iraq war hasn't even begun!

Sir Rudolph Giuliani -- in his pre-Redsock fan era -- is knighted by the Queen of England!

Ruh-roh! The first of the Scooby-Doo movies is made!

Whoopi Goldberg hosts the Oscars!

Thomas Edison invents the light bulb!

Ha ha. Just kidding on that last one.

But hey, that's fun with ancient history! And back then, wikipedia couldn't even be trusted!

So, enjoy the series, old chums.

When the two ancient warrior teams take the field Friday, it's just the latest salvo in a campaign that now spans 8 earthly revolutions around the sun!

Alas, it seems like only yesterday.