Atlanta Braves: The new titans of tragedy
Atlanta Braves: Titans of Tragedy
1991: Kirby Puckett Goes “Angels in the Outfield”
For many, this was the beginning. The 1991 World Series (Often called the “Cinderella Series”) is described by many as one of the greatest played in recent memory, and for good reason.
Seven closely contested games between two teams who just a season ago, sat on the bottom of their respective leagues standings. Either team would have been worthy to take home the trophy, but as is the unfortunate case in baseball, someone has to win.
It would be Jack Morris who outlasted John Smoltz in an incredible seventh game to win the series for the Twins, but for many, it was Kirby who lifted them to victory. The portly outfielder made an incredible catch and walk-off home run in the 11th inning of the sixth game to help put down the Atlanta Braves.
The catch was a miraculous feat, with Puckett seemingly floating off the ground, defying the very laws of physics to ensure that Ron Gant didn’t get a hit, and also nearly doubling off Terry Pendleton in the process.
1997: The Strike Zone as Big as a Truck
It was the 1997 National League Championship Series. In the run of dominance that the Braves enjoyed in the 1990s, this team may have been one of its best. Let by MVP Chipper Jones and the best rotation in baseball, the Florida Marlins were outclassed by the Braves in every facet.
Or ya know, so they thought. It was Game 5 when things really started going off course for the Braves, with the series knotted at 2 games each.
The culprit, in this case, was umpire Eric Gregg, who gave Livan Hernandez a strike zone wide enough that many pitches that were virtually unhittable were called strikes. Gregg would defend his strike zone, and Fangraphs would later do an analysis on it (mostly defending it), but regardless, Hernandez went on to strike out 15 batters on the way to a 2-1 Marlins win.
They would eventually go on to beat the Indians in the World Series, and the Braves would have to watch from home… again.