Wednesday night’s win marks the beginning of a renaissance for the New York Yankees.

It’s one that originated in a new stadium with lots of new players and a new manager, but there’s no denying that the core four players paved the way to world championship number 27.

Yankees haters can talk all they want about how the Yanks win because they spend the most money, but there’s a few constants between this year’s winning team and 1996’s, and they certainly didn’t cost the big bucks: Andy Pettitte, Mariano Rivera, Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada.

The Yankees earned and won this championship because of talent, and not the kind that’s bought. If you follow the logic that spending large translates into wins, then the Mets, who have the second biggest budget, should be doing a lot better than they have in the last 23 years.

Sure, A-Rod and CC were huge throughout the season, but the team couldn’t have done it without the leadership, skill and strength that those four exhibited.

And the homegrown talent doesn’t stop there. Factor in Robinson Cano, Melky Cabrera, Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain, all of whom the Yankees have developed from their days as rookies, and it’s obvious that that Yankees won the series for all the right reasons.

They had the chemistry that so many teams lack, they had the heart and they had the most passion — none of which can be bought.

It wasn’t long ago that Girardi was behind the plate, and his experience with the intensity it takes to win definitely sparked something for his ball club. Don’t get me wrong, Joe Torre served us well during his years, but Girardi is a breath of fresh air and a comforting, familiar face all at once.

And when it comes to familiar faces, Pettitte’s is my absolute favorite. Seeing him on the mound last night triggered images of him sitting in the dugout back in the late ’90s — face buried in his Yanks jacket, expression set in stone as he no doubt prayed for a New York victory.

Pettitte was calm and collected Wednesday though, and that’s because we didn’t need the prayers this year. The Yanks had it from the start. The energy and experience of those four guys carried the rest of the players into a World Series, setting the tone for what hopefully turns into another slew of wins across the street from The House That Ruth Built.

That energy is what makes being a Yankees fan so amazing. Whether you’re at the stadium, watching from a bar or sitting on the couch at home, there’s something about pinstripes that makes baseball that much more amazing, so I guess I can understand why people who aren’t a part of it love to hate them.

I could say that it’s getting old and there’s no reason to hate the Yanks, which is all good and true, but honestly, it’s part of what makes being a fan so awesome. We’ve rallied against it for 27 world championships, and the veterans have made sure that the tradition continues into the new stadium.