Pettitte went to Houston for three years (when the Yankees didn’t win a championship) and came back, but last night The Big Four won their fifth title in 14 years.

In an age when teams are assembled and disassembled based on the whims of owners and the mathematical calculations of new-wave general managers, will we ever see this situation again, in which a team stays loyal to a core group of players and builds around them? Probably not. A group might stay together for a few years, but the likelihood of winning five championships is hard to imagine.

Unless, of course, Jeter, Rivera, Pettitte, and Posada do it a sixth time.

Pettitte outpitched Pedro Martinez in winning his 18th playoff game, adding to a record number of postseason victories that may never be matched. He won his fifth World Series game and has won six clinchers in the postseason. The affable lefthander was serenaded with chants of “Andy Pettitte! Andy Pettitte!’’ before he tired in the sixth inning pitching on three days’ rest. Ryan Howard belted a one-out, opposite-field, two-run homer and Raul Ibanez doubled with two outs. When Yankees manager Joe Girardi came out for the second time in the inning, Pettitte was surrounded by his infield teammates who affectionately patted him on the head. When Pettitte raced off the mound, he received a standing ovation and got a roar from the appreciative partisan crowd.

“I did the best I could for as long as I could,’’ Pettitte said after the victory. “It’s just an amazing feeling to be able to experience this again. It never gets old. Thank goodness we got such a great performance from Hideki [Matsui]. He made it easier for me to go out there and throw strikes.’’

The Big Four used to be the Big Six, but center fielder Bernie Williams was finished after the 2006 season and Joe Torre, who managed the first four championships, rejected a low-ball offer following a disappointing 2007 season.

The Big Four came together from different paths.

Pettitte was a tall, chunky kid when he was taken in the 22d round of the 1990 draft. He went to San Jacinto College North for a year before signing with the Yankees in 1991. He was the first of the four to reach the majors, on April 29, 1995.

All he’s done is be the winningest pitcher in baseball from 1995-2009, with 229 victories, and he has that record of 18 postseason wins.

Rivera, a fringe prospect out of Panama who received a $3,000 bonus in 1990, followed on May 23, 1995. Rivera hailed from a small fishing village, and it was actually his cousin Ruben, a talented outfielder, that the Yankees were more interested in.

Rivera was actually a shortstop, then became a starting pitcher. It wasn’t until he had elbow surgery and came back strong from it in 1992 that the Yankees felt he would be a factor for them. In fact, Rivera was left unprotected in the 1992 expansion draft, and both Colorado and Florida passed.

Rivera was almost thrown into the package the Yankees offered the Tigers to obtain David Wells, but when the New York brass started to see Rivera’s velocity getting up into the mid 90s after his surgery, he was pulled back. He has produced 526 saves and remains, at age 39, the best closer in baseball.

Jeter debuted next on May 29, 1995, after being the sixth overall pick in the 1992 draft. What a career he has had. He has a .317 lifetime average and before all is said and done, he will become the first Yankee to reach the 3,000-hit mark.

Posada didn’t debut until Sept. 4, 1995, after being converted to catcher from second base. He became a clutch hitter with a .277 career average and is looked upon, with Jeter, as one of the true leaders of the Yankee dynasty.

That 1995 team was managed by Buck Showalter and went 79-65, finishing in second place, seven games behind Kevin Kennedy’s Red Sox. The starting shortstop early in the season was Tony Fernandez. Mike Stanley was the starting catcher. John Wetteland was the closer, and Pettitte managed to have a fine rookie campaign with a 12-9 record.

They won championships in 1996, ’98, ’99, and 2000. They experienced the heartbreak of 2001 and the disappointing end to the 2003 World Series, when Florida pulled off the upset. Posada, Jeter, and Rivera went through the awful ’04 collapse against the Red Sox in the American League Championship Series.

When the Yankees clinched the AL East title against the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium, Posada, Jeter, Rivera and Pettitte all hugged and danced together on the field during the celebration. They got to celebrate together again last night.

“People bring it up to us a lot, so we’re aware of the bond between us,’’ said Posada. “It’s not something we talk about a lot, but we know what it is and we know how it’s something that will always be there between us.

“The relationship with Derek and Mariano and Andy, you know, it’s special because we’ve shared great moments and disappointing moments. We’ve been through the good, bad, and the ugly, and when you go through things together like that, you develop something that’s unspoken.

“You know those guys will always have your back. All of our teammates are special to us, but, sure, there’s that little something extra with the four of us.’’

As the catcher, Posada has enjoyed a great working relationship with Pettitte and Rivera.

“Mariano is the greatest closer,’’ said Posada. “Nobody can really match his success. Andy is one of the best pitchers of his day. All he does is win games and probably hasn’t received the credit for what he’s done over the years and how consistent he’s been.’’

For Jeter, the bond has made his tenure with the Yankees even more enjoyable.

“You’d love to have 25 guys with you for your whole career, but I’m just thankful I’ve had the chance to play with Jorge and Mariano and Andy for so long,’’ he said. “It was great to get Andy back when we did.

“To be in the World Series with familiar faces again - what? six years later - that’s great. We’ve had a taste of it and that’s why we want to do it again so badly.’’

Last night, Pettitte started and won, Posada caught, Jeter, of course, manned shortstop, going 3 for 5, and Rivera pitched a scoreless 1 2/3 innings. When he got Shane Victorino to ground to second to end the game, the tumult crashed and the Yankees poured out of the dugout to surround him and celebrate.

It had been six long years since they’d been to a World Series together - nine longer years since they won one.

Pettitte gushed when talking about his longtime teammates.

“You can always count on them,’’ he said. “They’re always there performing at an incredible level. That’s why they’re here for so long. They keep performing.’’

And last night, the Big Four did it one more time.

Nick Cafardo can be reached at cafardo@globe.com.