Last night, with the Mets victory over the Florida Marlins, one of the greatest dynasties in sports history officially came to an end, with the Atlanta Braves being mathematically eliminated from the National League East race.
Fifteen years ago, when I was 21 years old, and on a year's sabbatical from college, I, along with the rest of the Braves fans in the country, was taken to the edge of my seat, with a stunning National League West victory over the LA Dodgers, and Tom Lasorda. It was a victory that would end in heartbreak, with a 10th inning, seventh game loss to the Minnesota Twins in the World Series. From there, one could only wonder what would happen next. Little did any of us know.
The memories are so many, so great, and sometimes, oh so painful. There was the Fransisco Cabrera hit against the Pirates in 1992, as I, along with a friend from Atlanta who had bet thousands on the playoffs, and many others, watched in disbelief, as the Braves claimed another National League Championship, in thrilling fashion. There was the ultimate, October 28, 1995, Carlos Barega's fly ball to Marquis Grissom, capping the team's World Championship.
From there, still many wins, many division titles, so many faces. The moment that might have been the most painful in all of Braves history, eighth inning, Game Four, 1996 World Series, Mark Wohlers, the loser, hangs a slider to Yankee reserve catcher Jim Leyritz, for a game tying three run homer, after the Braves had beaten the Yankees badly two games in New York. The Yankees win the game, and the series. I, along with many others, believe that if Atlanta had won that game, and taken a three game to one lead, they would have had back to back Championships. Alas, it was not to be.
Since then, only one moment of glory for me. Game 6, 1999 National League Championship Series. The Braves defeat my archrival Mets, to earn a place in the World Series, only to be steamrolled by the Yankees in four straight games, even though Atlanta had the home field advantage that year.
Then, the defections start. 2002, Glavine and Millwood. You think:" Well, it's over" Nope, they win another division title. Then goes Maddux, and JD Drew, you're thinking:" That's gotta be it". Nope, they win yet another divsion. Gary Sheffield leaves, and they still win the division. Finally, last year, they play mostly rookies, and still claim a record 14th straight division title.
It spanned five presidential administrations, from Bush 41, to two full terms of Clinton, Bush 43's first term, and nearly two years into his second. It was a streak like no other in sports history, and then, on a routine night, September 12, 2006, with a Mets victory over the Marlins in Florida last night, it is over.
I congratulate the New York Mets on their imminent division title, which should be wrapped up in the next day or so, and I salute my Braves. Maybe, just maybe, in a crazy way, if it had to end, ending like this was appropriate. There was no close nailbiting race, no back and forth with the Mets. Just Mets dominance, from day one, and a Braves team that never really seemed to jell in 2006, as a result of injuries mostly, and many other factors, primarially, I think, the loss of Leo Mazzone to the Orioles.
Now, with the division title hopes gone, Atlanta fans must turn their attention to the wild card, a scenario, that, unless we get red hot over the next two plus weeks, and a bunch of teams collapse, isnt likely either. More likely, for the first time since October, 1990, the Braves will be home watching baseball this October, instead of participating in it.
So, when I think of the Braves streak, am I disappointed that they didnt win more than one World Series? Of course! Do I think them "losers" or "chokers" for it? Absolutely not. They either ran into a team that was hot, or themselves didnt perform well in a particular series, but no team that "chokes" is perpetually back, year after year, to fight in October as they were. They were a dynasty, and now, it is over, but I tip my hat to them with absolute pride, and a sense of awe. Thanks for the memories. The Streak went on longer than anyone could have possibly dreamed. All this from a little October, back in 1991, where a team from last place, that no one cared about, made us all tip our hats in awe. I am in awe of them, for how long in lasted, and, I congratulate them, for keeping the dynasty alive for so many years, in spite of the odds, and all the naysayers who insisted it could never be done.
Mitch
Fifteen years ago, when I was 21 years old, and on a year's sabbatical from college, I, along with the rest of the Braves fans in the country, was taken to the edge of my seat, with a stunning National League West victory over the LA Dodgers, and Tom Lasorda. It was a victory that would end in heartbreak, with a 10th inning, seventh game loss to the Minnesota Twins in the World Series. From there, one could only wonder what would happen next. Little did any of us know.
The memories are so many, so great, and sometimes, oh so painful. There was the Fransisco Cabrera hit against the Pirates in 1992, as I, along with a friend from Atlanta who had bet thousands on the playoffs, and many others, watched in disbelief, as the Braves claimed another National League Championship, in thrilling fashion. There was the ultimate, October 28, 1995, Carlos Barega's fly ball to Marquis Grissom, capping the team's World Championship.
From there, still many wins, many division titles, so many faces. The moment that might have been the most painful in all of Braves history, eighth inning, Game Four, 1996 World Series, Mark Wohlers, the loser, hangs a slider to Yankee reserve catcher Jim Leyritz, for a game tying three run homer, after the Braves had beaten the Yankees badly two games in New York. The Yankees win the game, and the series. I, along with many others, believe that if Atlanta had won that game, and taken a three game to one lead, they would have had back to back Championships. Alas, it was not to be.
Since then, only one moment of glory for me. Game 6, 1999 National League Championship Series. The Braves defeat my archrival Mets, to earn a place in the World Series, only to be steamrolled by the Yankees in four straight games, even though Atlanta had the home field advantage that year.
Then, the defections start. 2002, Glavine and Millwood. You think:" Well, it's over" Nope, they win another division title. Then goes Maddux, and JD Drew, you're thinking:" That's gotta be it". Nope, they win yet another divsion. Gary Sheffield leaves, and they still win the division. Finally, last year, they play mostly rookies, and still claim a record 14th straight division title.
It spanned five presidential administrations, from Bush 41, to two full terms of Clinton, Bush 43's first term, and nearly two years into his second. It was a streak like no other in sports history, and then, on a routine night, September 12, 2006, with a Mets victory over the Marlins in Florida last night, it is over.
I congratulate the New York Mets on their imminent division title, which should be wrapped up in the next day or so, and I salute my Braves. Maybe, just maybe, in a crazy way, if it had to end, ending like this was appropriate. There was no close nailbiting race, no back and forth with the Mets. Just Mets dominance, from day one, and a Braves team that never really seemed to jell in 2006, as a result of injuries mostly, and many other factors, primarially, I think, the loss of Leo Mazzone to the Orioles.
Now, with the division title hopes gone, Atlanta fans must turn their attention to the wild card, a scenario, that, unless we get red hot over the next two plus weeks, and a bunch of teams collapse, isnt likely either. More likely, for the first time since October, 1990, the Braves will be home watching baseball this October, instead of participating in it.
So, when I think of the Braves streak, am I disappointed that they didnt win more than one World Series? Of course! Do I think them "losers" or "chokers" for it? Absolutely not. They either ran into a team that was hot, or themselves didnt perform well in a particular series, but no team that "chokes" is perpetually back, year after year, to fight in October as they were. They were a dynasty, and now, it is over, but I tip my hat to them with absolute pride, and a sense of awe. Thanks for the memories. The Streak went on longer than anyone could have possibly dreamed. All this from a little October, back in 1991, where a team from last place, that no one cared about, made us all tip our hats in awe. I am in awe of them, for how long in lasted, and, I congratulate them, for keeping the dynasty alive for so many years, in spite of the odds, and all the naysayers who insisted it could never be done.
Mitch
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