October 28th, 1995
World Series, Game 6
Cleveland Indians at Atlanta Braves
Fulton County Stadium, Atlanta
In
1995, the American media dubbed the Atlanta Braves the “Team of the 90s.” That
moniker was a bit confusing considering (a) the decade was only half over and
(b) the Braves had yet to win a World Series. They had won their division three
consecutive seasons (1994 was the strike-shortened season) but had lost two
World Series (to Minnesota in 1991 and Toronto in 1992) and the 1993 NLCS to
Philadelphia. The real reason for the “Team of the 90s” name was because the
media was merely trying to take the focus away from the fact that a team from
Canada had won two consecutive World Series. After the Toronto Blue Jays
underachieved in 1994 and 1995, the media was eager to belittle the Jays’
accomplishments and focus on the Braves.
Don’t
get me wrong, the Braves had a solid team but to crown a team without a
championship the best team of the decade was ludicrous and delusional.
On
the American League side, the Cleveland Indians, after decades of futility, had
put together a solid team that won the A.L. pennant for the first time since
1954. They had won 100 games in a regular season that was 18 games short of 162
due to the players’ strike extending into March and April.
The
first two games in Atlanta were well-pitched games that ended in the Braves
winning both by one run: 3-2 in Game 1 and 4-3 in Game 2. In danger of falling
behind three games to none, the Indians gritted out a 7-6 eleven-inning victory
in Game 3, but lost 5-2 in the fourth game. However, facing elimination, the
Tribe managed to stay alive with a 5-4 win sending the Series back to Atlanta.
The
Game 6 pitching matchup was Dennis Martinez for the Indians and Tom Glavine for
the Braves. But the talking point before the game was David Justice and his
criticism of the Atlanta fans. Basically, Justice had said the fans were a bit
subdued and didn’t match their enthusiasm from past Atlanta postseasons. He was
criticized in the papers and booed during player introductions.
The
booing intensified when he came to bat for the first time in the second inning.
But being lost in the Justice controversy was a great pitching matchup from
Martinez and Glavine. The Atlanta left-hander had a no-hitter going through five
innings and had only yielded two walks. “El Presidente”, meanwhile, had been in
trouble throughout the game but did not surrender any runs. However, he was
relieved with two out in the bottom of the fifth by Jim Poole.
After
Glavine finally surrendered a hit in the top of the sixth, the Braves came to
bat in their half of the inning with the game still scoreless. Justice was the
leadoff batter and, amidst the boos, had walked in his first at bat and doubled
his second time up. While the crowd still showed a bit of displeasure as he
came to bat in the sixth, the Atlanta right-fielder quickly turned them around
when he ripped a 1-1 pitch over the right field wall for a 1-0 Braves lead.
Glavine
made the lead hold up for the next few innings and didn’t allow another hit.
The Braves didn’t score in their next at bats so Atlanta took the 1-0 lead into
the top of the ninth and handed the ball to their closer, Mark Wohlers.
The
Indians went in order the Braves finally had their World Series Championship.
The
farcical “Team of the 90s” name wouldn’t last, however, as the resurgent New
York Yankees would win three championships of their own before the decade
ended.
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