Iam sure that when some read this post, I will get the inevitable, oh, 14 straight division titles, and one World Series. While that may be true, I still love my Atlanta Braves, and always will, playoff frustration or not. I just wanted to provide a bit of historical perspective on this run, and how it has spanned the course of time, and how some things have changed, while others have remained the same.
In 1991, when the Braves started their run, there was a president named George Bush in the White House, and we had been to war with Iraq. Well, things havent changed much here, there is a president named George Bush in the White House, and we are at war with Iraq.
In 1991, I was a 21 year old college student taking a year's hiatus from college, and attending court hearings, waiting for my parents divorce to become final. Now, Iam a 35 year old business man, and my parents are both senior citizens. To put into perspective how long this run has gone on, our 18 year old forum members were only 4 years old back then, and not even in kindergarten!
In 1991, Greg Maddux was just a good pitcher tolling for the Chicago Cubs, at 25 years old, not having reached his prime yet. Well, Greg is back with the Chicago Cubs, now at age 39, at the end of his career, after 4 Cy Youngs, 300 plus wins, 10 division titles, and a World Series Ring. Almost 200 of Greg's wins came with the Braves over the 11 years he was with them from 1993-2003.
In 1991, the internet was just getting started, not many had it, and cell phones were yet to come into general use. Now, everyone has a cell phone, and most of us have the internet. 14 years is a long time.
In 1991, Yankee owner George Steinbrenner was in exile, having been served a suspension from baseball, and the Yankees were awful. Now, Mr Steinbrenner is 75, and the Yankees are making another playoff push, in their own incredible run since 1996, which is a hell of a long time!
In 1991, when the Braves started their run, Bobby Cox was a 50 year old manager who had never won a major baseball title or award in his life, and General Manager John Scherholtz was just getting started on his decade and a half of mega success. We didnt have names like Maddux, Millwood, Neagle, and Andruw Jones who had passed through Atlanta back then. Nobody knew who Chipper Jones was. In fact, back when the Braves started their run, Chipper was only a teenager, and Andruw Jones was a 14 year old boy in Curcao, yet to make his name as he did against the Yankees in the 1996 World Series with his 2 homeruns in Game 1.
Okay, Iam done. Folks, let me just say that whoever makes fun of the Braves, feel as you wish, but stop for a second, and think that 14 years is a long time! Both in the span of baseball, and history. I hope the Braves win the World Series this year, but, even if they fall short, Iam still a proud fan. I have the satisfaction of knowing that I root for a team that has been a tremendous success over almost a decade and a half, through three presidential adminstrations. I would say I can hold my head high as a fan of this team. I wish them all the best this year, congratulate Bobby and the Braves on upcoming division title 14, and hope they go all the way in the playoffs. Iam a proud Braves fan, who roots for a team that has given me incredible times for almost half of my life.
Mitch
In 1991, when the Braves started their run, there was a president named George Bush in the White House, and we had been to war with Iraq. Well, things havent changed much here, there is a president named George Bush in the White House, and we are at war with Iraq.
In 1991, I was a 21 year old college student taking a year's hiatus from college, and attending court hearings, waiting for my parents divorce to become final. Now, Iam a 35 year old business man, and my parents are both senior citizens. To put into perspective how long this run has gone on, our 18 year old forum members were only 4 years old back then, and not even in kindergarten!
In 1991, Greg Maddux was just a good pitcher tolling for the Chicago Cubs, at 25 years old, not having reached his prime yet. Well, Greg is back with the Chicago Cubs, now at age 39, at the end of his career, after 4 Cy Youngs, 300 plus wins, 10 division titles, and a World Series Ring. Almost 200 of Greg's wins came with the Braves over the 11 years he was with them from 1993-2003.
In 1991, the internet was just getting started, not many had it, and cell phones were yet to come into general use. Now, everyone has a cell phone, and most of us have the internet. 14 years is a long time.
In 1991, Yankee owner George Steinbrenner was in exile, having been served a suspension from baseball, and the Yankees were awful. Now, Mr Steinbrenner is 75, and the Yankees are making another playoff push, in their own incredible run since 1996, which is a hell of a long time!
In 1991, when the Braves started their run, Bobby Cox was a 50 year old manager who had never won a major baseball title or award in his life, and General Manager John Scherholtz was just getting started on his decade and a half of mega success. We didnt have names like Maddux, Millwood, Neagle, and Andruw Jones who had passed through Atlanta back then. Nobody knew who Chipper Jones was. In fact, back when the Braves started their run, Chipper was only a teenager, and Andruw Jones was a 14 year old boy in Curcao, yet to make his name as he did against the Yankees in the 1996 World Series with his 2 homeruns in Game 1.
Okay, Iam done. Folks, let me just say that whoever makes fun of the Braves, feel as you wish, but stop for a second, and think that 14 years is a long time! Both in the span of baseball, and history. I hope the Braves win the World Series this year, but, even if they fall short, Iam still a proud fan. I have the satisfaction of knowing that I root for a team that has been a tremendous success over almost a decade and a half, through three presidential adminstrations. I would say I can hold my head high as a fan of this team. I wish them all the best this year, congratulate Bobby and the Braves on upcoming division title 14, and hope they go all the way in the playoffs. Iam a proud Braves fan, who roots for a team that has given me incredible times for almost half of my life.
Mitch
