GaryMrMets
10-29-2003, 08:20 PM
http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/atl/news/atl_news.jsp?ymd=20031017&content_id=583988&vkey=news_atl&fext=.jsp&c_id=atl
10/17/2003 1:21 PM ET
Revisiting 1995: Braves roll
By Mark Bowman / MLB.com
ATLANTA -- Shattered dreams have filled many recent Octobers in Atlanta.
But still, the jubilant memories created in October 1995 give Braves fans reasons to joyfully reminisce when it comes time for the World Series every year.
When the Yankees and Marlins begin their World Series showdown in the Bronx on Saturday night, it will mark the fourth straight season the Fall Classic doesn't involve the Braves. They have advanced into the postseason's final round five times during the previous decade.
But one of the finer aspects of sports is the fact that although the reality of disappointment can be erased, joyful memories like those created on Oct. 28, 1995, in Atlanta Fulton-County Stadium seem eternal.
On that October evening eight years ago, David Justice and Tom Glavine ensured the city of Atlanta its first -- and still only -- professional championship in any major professional sport.
"It was like New Year's Eve," long-time Braves announcer Pete Van Wieren said of the celebration after the 1995 World Series. "You had people dancing everywhere. I remember walking into a party and seeing Newt Gingrich dancing and everyone just having a great time. It was just a terrific feeling."
The 1995 World Series was one in which the Braves' formidable starting rotation was forced to neutralize a mighty Indians offense that had hit .291 with 207 home runs in the strike-shortened, 144-game regular season.
But the fact that the Braves had easily slipped by the Rockies in the Division Series and swept the Reds in the National League Championship Series gave Greg Maddux, Glavine, John Smoltz and Steve Avery the opportunity to be at full strength when their showdown against the Indians began.
"I always felt that was one of the biggest things going into the World Series," Van Wieren said. "There was a sense of confidence because everybody had been given the chance to rest and we [the Braves] were given the chance to set our rotation."
Maddux began the World Series in fine fashion with a complete-game, two-hit effort that enabled the Braves to win Game 1, 3-2. Fred McGriff's second-inning homer -- in his first career World Series at-bat -- and a key Rafael Belliard seventh-inning sacrifice squeeze gave Atlanta all the offense it needed to overcome Orel Hershiser and three Indians relievers.
"We've never seen pitching like that," then-Indians manager Mike Hargrove said.
Hargrove's troops once again put together a strong effort when Glavine limited them to two runs in six innings and set the stage for Mark Wohlers to record his first of two saves in the Series. Javy Lopez's sixth-inning two-run homer provided the game's decisive runs.
With a 2-0 Series advantage, the Braves traveled to the frigid conditions in Cleveland for Games 3, 4 and 5. Ryan Klesko homered in all three games at Jacobs Field, but Atlanta was able to win just one of those three games against an Indians team that fed off the emotion of its raucous fans.
Justice and Glavine gave Atlanta fans something to cheer about in Game 6. "All I was trying to do was to get our fans to prove me wrong, to be like [1991], the first time here," Justice said in reference to Atlanta's first trip to the World Series. "It felt so good to hear them screaming. They proved me wrong."
Justice brought the Tomahawk choppers to their feet when he began the sixth inning with a solo homer off Indians reliever Jim Poole. The memorable homer was the only run Glavine and Wohlers needed to ensure the Braves their Series-clinching Game 6 win.
Glavine allowed just one hit -- a soft, sixth-inning single by Tony Pena -- in eight scoreless innings. Wohlers tossed a scoreless ninth that included a dazzling Belliard catch in foul territory and ended with Marquis Grissom catching a Carlos Baerga fly ball in left-center field.
Pandemonium began as soon as the ball hit Grissom's glove. The celebratory pileup on the infield soon filtered out as Braves players ran around the field basking in the glory and their jubilant fans savored a moment they will forever cherish.
As he celebrated, Mark Lemke proclaimed, "We are the champs. This time nobody can knock us down. We are the champs."
Mark Bowman is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
10/17/2003 1:21 PM ET
Revisiting 1995: Braves roll
By Mark Bowman / MLB.com
ATLANTA -- Shattered dreams have filled many recent Octobers in Atlanta.
But still, the jubilant memories created in October 1995 give Braves fans reasons to joyfully reminisce when it comes time for the World Series every year.
When the Yankees and Marlins begin their World Series showdown in the Bronx on Saturday night, it will mark the fourth straight season the Fall Classic doesn't involve the Braves. They have advanced into the postseason's final round five times during the previous decade.
But one of the finer aspects of sports is the fact that although the reality of disappointment can be erased, joyful memories like those created on Oct. 28, 1995, in Atlanta Fulton-County Stadium seem eternal.
On that October evening eight years ago, David Justice and Tom Glavine ensured the city of Atlanta its first -- and still only -- professional championship in any major professional sport.
"It was like New Year's Eve," long-time Braves announcer Pete Van Wieren said of the celebration after the 1995 World Series. "You had people dancing everywhere. I remember walking into a party and seeing Newt Gingrich dancing and everyone just having a great time. It was just a terrific feeling."
The 1995 World Series was one in which the Braves' formidable starting rotation was forced to neutralize a mighty Indians offense that had hit .291 with 207 home runs in the strike-shortened, 144-game regular season.
But the fact that the Braves had easily slipped by the Rockies in the Division Series and swept the Reds in the National League Championship Series gave Greg Maddux, Glavine, John Smoltz and Steve Avery the opportunity to be at full strength when their showdown against the Indians began.
"I always felt that was one of the biggest things going into the World Series," Van Wieren said. "There was a sense of confidence because everybody had been given the chance to rest and we [the Braves] were given the chance to set our rotation."
Maddux began the World Series in fine fashion with a complete-game, two-hit effort that enabled the Braves to win Game 1, 3-2. Fred McGriff's second-inning homer -- in his first career World Series at-bat -- and a key Rafael Belliard seventh-inning sacrifice squeeze gave Atlanta all the offense it needed to overcome Orel Hershiser and three Indians relievers.
"We've never seen pitching like that," then-Indians manager Mike Hargrove said.
Hargrove's troops once again put together a strong effort when Glavine limited them to two runs in six innings and set the stage for Mark Wohlers to record his first of two saves in the Series. Javy Lopez's sixth-inning two-run homer provided the game's decisive runs.
With a 2-0 Series advantage, the Braves traveled to the frigid conditions in Cleveland for Games 3, 4 and 5. Ryan Klesko homered in all three games at Jacobs Field, but Atlanta was able to win just one of those three games against an Indians team that fed off the emotion of its raucous fans.
Justice and Glavine gave Atlanta fans something to cheer about in Game 6. "All I was trying to do was to get our fans to prove me wrong, to be like [1991], the first time here," Justice said in reference to Atlanta's first trip to the World Series. "It felt so good to hear them screaming. They proved me wrong."
Justice brought the Tomahawk choppers to their feet when he began the sixth inning with a solo homer off Indians reliever Jim Poole. The memorable homer was the only run Glavine and Wohlers needed to ensure the Braves their Series-clinching Game 6 win.
Glavine allowed just one hit -- a soft, sixth-inning single by Tony Pena -- in eight scoreless innings. Wohlers tossed a scoreless ninth that included a dazzling Belliard catch in foul territory and ended with Marquis Grissom catching a Carlos Baerga fly ball in left-center field.
Pandemonium began as soon as the ball hit Grissom's glove. The celebratory pileup on the infield soon filtered out as Braves players ran around the field basking in the glory and their jubilant fans savored a moment they will forever cherish.
As he celebrated, Mark Lemke proclaimed, "We are the champs. This time nobody can knock us down. We are the champs."
Mark Bowman is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.