NEW YORK -- In his first trip to the new Yankee Stadium, John West didn't get to see Derek Jeter hit leadoff or Andy Pettitte take the hill.

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Instead, the Binghamton, N.Y., native was one of several hundred dedicated fans who braved the rainstorms to learn the news firsthand: Game 6 of the American League Championship Series between the Angels and Yankees was postponed because of rain in New York on Saturday night.

The highly anticipated matchup of Pettitte and Joe Saunders is slated to be played on Sunday at 8:20 p.m. ET, so West and his trio of companions planned on staying overnight in the city in anticipation.

"We are going to get very little sleep to work on Monday," Natalie Roney said. "If it wasn't football tomorrow with the [television ratings], they might play earlier. But what are you going to do?"

For some fans, there was nothing they could do for Saturday's rainout.

When Aaron Kanaley and his father, Joe, got into their car in Rochester, Ohio, the sun was shining and there was little reason to think their seven-hour trip would be ruined. But once they were welcomed to New York's weather, the duo still went to the stadium anyway, hoping for a miracle.

"Now we can't go [Sunday] and he can't get his money back," a visibly disappointed Joe Kanaley said of Aaron, who bought the pair of tickets on StubHub. Fans with tickets for Game 6 may use them for Sunday's game only, while tickets for Game 7 will be good for Monday's game, if necessary.

POSTSEASON POSTPONEMENTS
Since Wild Card era began in 1995
Year Game Matchup
1996 ALCS, Gm. 1 BAL at NYY
WS, Gm. 1 ATL at NYY
2003 ALCS, Gm. 4 NYY at BOS
2004 ALCS, Gm. 3 NYY at BOS
2005 ALCS, Gm. 4 LAA at NYY
2006 ALDS, Gm. 2 DET at NYY
NLCS, Gm. 1 STL at NYM
NLCS, Gm. 5 NYM at STL
2008 WS, Gm. 5* TB at PHI
2009 NLDS, Gm. 3 PHI at COL
2009 ALCS, Gm. 6 LAA at NYY
*- Rain forced the suspension of Game 5 of the 2008 World Series. The game was completed two days later.

"[Sunday], it's over, the [Yankees] will go the World Series," Aaron Kanaley said, standing below a Lou Gehrig banner by Gate 6. "But we won't be in this place. It would have been nice to actually see the game."

Although the forecast for Saturday in New York was dismal for several days prior to Game 6, the weather for Games 1 and 2 of the series was originally thought to be unplayable. Somewhat miraculously, the Yankees dodged a bullet and were able to play their first two home ALCS games to avoid any schedule disruption at the beginning of the series.

"You can't get lucky all the time, can you?" Bronx native Joyce Carshaw said. Carshaw, who was joined by her husband, Pete, was disappointed but was able to make light of the situation.

"I'm just glad I didn't buy a beer before the game," she said, gesturing instead to her half-filled soft drink. "But we will be back here tomorrow to see the Yankees go all the way to the World Series."

And while the rain certainly made for a soggy Saturday, for the most part, Yankees fans weren't letting the weather dampen their spirits.

"It will all be worth it if they win," Phabian Jara said. "I think it's going to be hard to stop them. The Angels think they have the momentum [from winning Game 5], but they don't."

"The target is on the Angels right now, because one more [loss] and they are done. The Yankees will go into Game 6 a little more confident, because they haven't lost a [playoff] game here."

"We will go all the way and win the World Series in six [games]," predicted Long Island native Bill Dishman.

But first things first.

"We better win [Sunday]," he said.