Hideki Matsui took a meaty cut, watched the ball fly and winced when it hooked a foot foul.

That's about all that went wrong for him.

Matsui put the world in World Series MVP, earning the award by homering, doubling, singling and driving in six runs Wednesday night as the New York Yankees beat the Philadelphia Phillies 7-3 to claim their 27th championship.

Matsui became the first Japanese-born player to win the award that started in 1955. He hit .615 (8 for 13) with three home runs and eight RBIs. His performance in Game 6 matched the record for RBIs in a Series game. No one, however, had done it in a clincher.

"It's awesome," Matsui said through a translator. "Unbelievable. I'm surprised myself."

Go to CBSSports.com for more analysis of the World Series :

Yankees Hit Jackpot
Phillies Fail to Show Last Year's Talent
Matsui Enters Yankee Lore

Standing on a podium in shallow center field, Matsui waved his new championship hat and shook hands with commissioner Bud Selig. Matsui won three titles in Japan and was eager to celebrate his first in the Bronx.