Atlanta Braves: 10 best postseason moments in franchise history
As the 2017 MLB postseason winds down, we visit some of the best postseason moments in the history of the Atlanta Braves.
The Dodgers and Astros find themselves locked in an intense World Series battle at the moment. While the Atlanta Braves season didn’t result in a postseason bid, it felt appropriate to remind Braves fans of old times.
Postseason performances from heroes such as Andruw Jones and Tom Glavine still bring back memories as well as hope that soon enough, new postseason moments will arise for the Braves. Going back through the Braves’ postseason history, numerous performances stood out. We went back and ranked them appropriately.
10. Boston Braves win 1914 World Series
While it was 1914 and only 16 teams made up the MLB, the Boston Braves won the 1914 World Series. The Braves swept legendary manager Connie Mack’s Philadelphia Athletics 4-0. Future Hall-of-Famers Johnny Evers and Rabbit Maranville led the “Miracle Braves” out of last place in July to win the pennant.
Whether or not this World Series is accepted by fans is up for debate, but the Braves claim the title as their own on their website. Any World Series win is a pretty big deal. I think Braves fans can agree it’s one of our own. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
9. Hank Aaron and Eddie Mathews lead the way in Milwaukee
After a relocation by the team in 1953, it didn’t take long for the Braves to have success in Milwaukee. Future Hall-of-Famers Hank Aaron and Eddie Mathews led the offense while staff aces in Lew Burdette and Warren Spahn anchored the pitching rotation.
In 1957, the Milwaukee Braves beat the powerhouse New York Yankees team led by Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, and Whitey Ford, just to name a few. We don’t want to call it an upset, but winning the second World Series in franchise history and just the first in 43 years over only one of the greatest teams ever is an impressive feat.
8. The “Infield Fly” Game
Yes, while painful, the infamous “Infield Fly” game deserves a spot somewhere in this rundown. (Warning: going back and watching the highlights of this game would probably be just as traumatic for you as it was for me.)
Pete Kozma lost the ball in the Turner Field lights (in the OUTFIELD, may I add…) and the Atlanta Braves seemingly had the bases loaded in the eighth inning after Andrelton Simmons‘ pop fly dropped.
However, umpire Sam Holbrook called Simmons out on the basis that Kozma camped long enough under the ball to constitute the infield fly call.
Braves fans threw trash all over the field of play, causing a 19 minute delay, and the Braves just couldn’t recover from the judgment call.
7. The Sid Slide
“They may have to hospitalize Sid Bream!” Only the legendary Skip Caray could describe Sid’s slide in such a perfect way. Baseball Digest called the Braves’ comeback the greatest of all time in a March 1993 issue.
Seldom-used Francisco Cabrera came off the bench and delivered a line drive to left field, where Barry Bonds‘ throw was off line just enough for Bream to sneak in under the tag to send the Braves to the 1992 World Series.
6. Eric Gregg’s Strike Zone
Livan Hernandez‘s Game 5 performance against the Braves in 1997 was either one of the most dominating performances of all time or one of the worst umpiring jobs in postseason history. Hernandez finished the day with 15 Ks in a complete game performance, but home plate umpire Eric Gregg’s strike zone was questionable at best.
When asked about the zone after the game, Chipper Jones said, “I’m so d**n mad I can’t even see right now. I know I swung at a couple of pitches that were a foot outside.
Gregg’s performance out-shined the performance of the players and was another chapter of postseason infamy for Braves fans.
5. Brian McCann‘s 3-run home run off Roger Clemens
As a 21-year old rookie, Brian McCann came into the World Series hitting a solid .278 on the 2005 season. His signature moment of that year came in Game 2 of the NLDS, where McCann hit a 3-run home run in his first ever postseason at-bat off Astros ace Roger Clemens.
The homer put Braves Country into a frenzy and put the Braves up 5-1 in the game early, and they went on to win the game 7-1.
4. Glavine’s Game 6 in 1995
Braves legend Tom Glavine threw just the fifth one-hitter in World Series history on October 28, 1995. While the game remained deadlocked at 0-0, Glavine pleaded with the offense, telling them “Just give me one run”.
David Justice hit a solo home run in the 6th inning, and Glavine did the rest. Glavine’s line of 8 IP and 8 Ks was enough to give the city of Atlanta its first championship in a major sport and also securing Series MVP for the pitcher.
3. Young Andruw Jones’ Veteran Performance
The Braves reached their 4th World Series in 5 years in 1996, squaring off against the New York Yankees. In game 1, while many experts expected veteran leaders like Fred McGriff and David Justice to lead the way in the series, 19-year old rookie Andruw Jones stole the show.
The outfielder from Curacao hit 2 home runs in his first 2 at-bats, making him the youngest player ever to accomplish this feat. This was just the beginning in what would turn out to be an illustrious career for Jones.
2. First World Series appearance in Atlanta
In 1991, the Braves brought the World Series to Atlanta for the first time in the city’s history. There had been two previous appearances in the playoffs for the city (1969 and 1982), yet the Braves hadn’t even won a game in either series.
1991 turned out to be an instant classic of a series, going seven games. This appearance was the start of the Braves’ domination of the 1990s decade, where the city of Atlanta was along for the ride the entire decade.
1. 1995 World Series victory
1995 was the first year the Braves finally broke through, winning their first World Series of their tenure in Atlanta and the franchise’s first since 1957.
Facing the Cleveland Indians, who had dominated the MLB going 100-44 in the regular season, the Braves used timely hitting and strong pitching to defeat the high powered Indians team.
Tom Glavine won the MVP for the series, going 2-0 for the Braves, while the team brought the title back to Atlanta.
Next: 10 best Braves never to win the World Series
This final entry definitely ranks at the top of postseason moments for the Braves, and fans hope the current core of Braves can bring the title back home in the coming years.