Has it been that long?
Has it really been 25 years?
It has indeed been a quarter of a century since the Braves reached the highest summit in baseball and brought the city of Atlanta a World Series championship in 1995. The crowning achievement came early in the team’s run of 14 straight division titles. It came after two World Series losses in 1991, the magical worst to first season, and 1992. It came before two more World Series losses in 1996 and 1999 to those damn Yankees.
There have been so many highs and lows since the Braves defeated the Indians 1-0 in Game 6 on Oct. 28, 1995. That was the game in which winner pitcher Tom Glavine infamously said “Just give me one run.” David Justice did just that with a sixth-inning home run. There would be a wild celebration when the final out was recorded.
However, so much happened before the famous dog pile on the mound of Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. The 1994 season ended prematurely by a strike. The 1995 began with replacement players. There were two spring trainings, a second coming after a settlement was finally reached. There were trades. There was controversy with the manager — and then an contract extension. There was a surge to the top of the National League East standings, a race that ended with the Braves holding a 21-game lead. There was a division clinched on a plane ride in mid-September. There were playoff series wins over the Rockies and Reds. There was the dismantling of the powerful Indians.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution will spend this season looking back at it all. In a season-long series that will begin in February and end in October, we will capture all the key moments and hear from the participants as they share their memories. You’ll hear from the big three of Greg Maddux, John Smoltz and Glavine and Chipper Jones, Marquis Grissom, Justice and many others on the field, in the front office and in the press box.
We look forward to telling these stories and bring back these memories. Join us.
Chris Vivlamore
Sports Editor
MORE FROM THE SERIES
» FURMAN BISHER: Atlanta's finest moment
» SPRING TRAINING: Starting with replacement players
» MARK BRADLEY: A subdued season, a giddy ending
» ROSTER: Team built through trades, draft and free agents
» CHIPPER JONES: 'We were a force to be reckoned with'
» SEASON DELAYED: 1995 season started later
» CHAMPIONSHIP CALL: 'Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!'
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