Atlanta Braves: Marquis Grissom the forgotten face of the WS

Marquis Grissom played for the Atlanta Braves just two years and was on two World Series teams. His performance was headline worthy both years but he walked away with only one ring.

How smooth and graceful was Marquis Grissom? Whether he was running the bases or tracking down fly balls, Grissom ran swiftly like a gazelle.

Early in his career, he led the league twice in stolen bases while playing for the Montreal Expos. His All-Star campaign of 1993 saw him hit 19 home runs and drive in 95 runs while also swiping 53 bases.

He went to the All-Star game in the strike-shortened ’94 season and the cash strapped Expos were forced to trade him. Grissom, who was born in Atlanta and went to high school in nearby College Park, was acquired by the Atlanta Braves before the start of the ’95 season.

The Braves had been to the postseason three of the previous four years (there was no postseason in 1994 because of the player’s strike, the Braves were in second place behind the Expos at the time of strike), though had tasted defeat in two World Series’ and one League Championship Series.

With Marquis Grissom leading off, the Braves made it to another postseason in 1995, by winning the National League East. The Braves would finally win their World Series ring and Tom Glavine would be named Most Valuable Player, and rightly so. Grissom’s offensive exploits should not be overlooked. He led the team with nine hits and three stolen bases and wreaked havoc for the Cleveland Indians pitching staff at the top of the Braves order.

Grissom returned to the Braves in 1996 and hit .308 for the year while earning his fourth straight gold glove. He set career highs in hits, triples, runs, and home runs and propelled the Braves to another division title.

Appearing in the World Series again, this time against the New York Yankees, Grissom led the team with 12 hits, had an OPS over 1.000, hit the Braves only triple, and stole one of three bases the team swiped. The Braves lost in 6, but not because of a lack of production out of the leadoff spot.

Marquis Grissom had solid numbers in two seasons with the Braves, put up great numbers in two World Series, and then was dealt away from Atlanta. The Atlanta Braves didn’t make it back to the World Series in 1997, had they still employed Grissom, they may have