2. Empire Strikes Back – 1996
I could have gone with 1996 or 1999 here, but the connection is the same as the Evil Empire struck back against the good guys.
But with the way the 1996 World Series played out it makes more sense to go with the 1996 season.
Even though the 1999 team was probably a better team, at least the 1996 team had a chance in the World Series.
The same can be said for Luke Skywalker and his friends in the Empire Strikes Back.
After escaping danger at the beginning of the movie and hiding in an asteroid — much like the Braves ran ahead with a 2-0 lead — the good guys looked good.
But it was all a trap.
They were led astray by Boba Fett and Darth Vader, springing a trap for Luke Skywalker. And then bam, just like that Jim Leyritz home run the tide turned in the favor of the bad guys.
In the end, the Braves crawled away from the battle just like Luke did with his hand cut off.
It seemed like victory was right there but it was taken away from them and seemingly froze the Braves for the next 20-plus year like Han Solo was frozen in carbonite.
Why does anybody like this movie?