The Miracle Braves (1914): The Boston Braves floundered with a 26-40 record in July. Boston had been terrible for over a decade and 1914 was nothing new. Then, the team rattled off 36 wins in 46 games and finished the season on a 25-6 run. They met the defending World Champion Athletics in the World Series. The A’s had won three of the last four World Series. In 1914, the Braves swept the A’s shocking the baseball world.
Joe Adcock totals 18 total bases (7-31-54): Adcock blasted four home runs, a double, and tallied 18 total bases on July 31, 1954. The feat is often forgotten and was surpassed by Shawn Green in 2002. However, only one person in history has had a better offensive day than Joe Adcock in 1954.
Eddie Mathews’ World Series Walk-Off (October 6, 1957 Game 4 World Series): The Yankees led the World Series two games to one and held a 5-4 lead in the 10th inning of Game 4 against Milwaukee. Johnny Logan’s double tied the score and Eddie Mathews’ two-run shot won the game and tied the series. A defeat would have put the Braves down 3-1.
Burdette wins his third (October 10, 1957 World Series Game 7): Lew Burdette defeated the New York Yankees for the third time in the 1957 World Series. In Game 7, he tossed a 7 hit shutout and defeated 1956 World Series hero Don Larsen 5-0. It was the Braves’ second world title and first in Milwaukee.
715 (April 8, 1974): Hank Aaron’s pursuit of Babe Ruth’s home run record made him the target of racists and those not wanting to see the Bambino’s name surpassed in the record books. On April 8, 1974, Aaron hit #715 to become Major League Baseball’s all time home run leader. Two fans jumped onto the field and rounded the bases with Aaron. Vin Scully summed it up as only he could:
"What a marvelous moment for baseball; what a marvelous moment for Atlanta and the state of Georgia; what a marvelous moment for the country and the world. A black man is getting a standing ovation in the Deep South for breaking a record of an all-time baseball idol. And it is a great moment for all of us, and particularly for Henry Aaron. … And for the first time in a long time, that poker face in Aaron shows the tremendous strain and relief of what it must have been like to live with for the past several months."
Aaron was passed by Barry Bonds, but many fans still consider him the all-time home run king because Bonds cheated.
Garber ends Rose’s streak (August 2, 1978): Pete Rose hit safely in 44 straight games going into the August 2 contest in Atlanta. Braves starter Larry McWilliams held Rose hitless in his first three at bats. Gene Garber relieved McWilliams in the 7th. The first time the two squared off, Rose lined out to third. In the 9th inning, Garber and Rose faced off a second time. Garber struck out Rose and the Atlanta partisans roared in delight. It was one of the few highlights of the 1970s for Atlanta. After the game, Rose complimented Garber for challenging him with a fastball.
13-0 (April 21, 1982): The Braves opened the 1982 season with a 1-0 win at San Diego on April 6. They swept the Padres and then the Astros. In fact, Atlanta did not lose until April 22. The team started 1982 with 13 straight victories en route to the NL West title. The Braves lost the NLCS to St Louis in three straight.
Bob Horner hits four home runs (July 6, 1986): Ted Turner began the Goodwill Games to promote world peace and broadcast them live on his television network. As a result, baseball fans were forced to watch Bob Horner’s four home run game on tape delay. By 1986, the Braves were a terrible team. Unfortunately, the farcical Goodwill Games preempted one of the team’s greatest moments to stroke Turner’s inflated ego.
Francisco Cabrera single (October 14, 1992 Game 7 NLCS): Pittsburgh led the Braves 3-0 in the 9th inning of Game 7 of the 1992 NLCS with their ace, Doug Drabek, on the mound. Drabek failed to record an out in the 9th and manager Jim Leyland brought in Stan Belinda to save the game and the pennant. Belinda recorded two outs while surrendering one inherited runner. With two out and two on, Bobby Cox turned to little used Francisco Cabrera to keep the season alive. Cabrera promptly singled to left scoring David Justice with the tying run. The incredibly slow Sid Bream chugged at top speed to home and eluded the tag to win the pennant. Pittsburgh never recovered.
Justice is served (October 28, 1995 Game 6 World Series): The Braves lost the World Series in 1991 and 1992 and the NLCS in 1993. In 1995, they led Cleveland three games to two going into Game 6. Starter and future 300-game winner Tom Glavine pitched his greatest game allowing one hit through eight innings. David Justice homered off of Cleveland reliever Jim Poole for the game’s solitary score. Mark Wohlers pitched a perfect 9th and the Braves won their first title in Atlanta and first as a franchise since 1957. Glavine was named World Series MVP with two victories.
Joe Adcock totals 18 total bases (7-31-54): Adcock blasted four home runs, a double, and tallied 18 total bases on July 31, 1954. The feat is often forgotten and was surpassed by Shawn Green in 2002. However, only one person in history has had a better offensive day than Joe Adcock in 1954.
Eddie Mathews’ World Series Walk-Off (October 6, 1957 Game 4 World Series): The Yankees led the World Series two games to one and held a 5-4 lead in the 10th inning of Game 4 against Milwaukee. Johnny Logan’s double tied the score and Eddie Mathews’ two-run shot won the game and tied the series. A defeat would have put the Braves down 3-1.
Burdette wins his third (October 10, 1957 World Series Game 7): Lew Burdette defeated the New York Yankees for the third time in the 1957 World Series. In Game 7, he tossed a 7 hit shutout and defeated 1956 World Series hero Don Larsen 5-0. It was the Braves’ second world title and first in Milwaukee.
715 (April 8, 1974): Hank Aaron’s pursuit of Babe Ruth’s home run record made him the target of racists and those not wanting to see the Bambino’s name surpassed in the record books. On April 8, 1974, Aaron hit #715 to become Major League Baseball’s all time home run leader. Two fans jumped onto the field and rounded the bases with Aaron. Vin Scully summed it up as only he could:
"What a marvelous moment for baseball; what a marvelous moment for Atlanta and the state of Georgia; what a marvelous moment for the country and the world. A black man is getting a standing ovation in the Deep South for breaking a record of an all-time baseball idol. And it is a great moment for all of us, and particularly for Henry Aaron. … And for the first time in a long time, that poker face in Aaron shows the tremendous strain and relief of what it must have been like to live with for the past several months."
Aaron was passed by Barry Bonds, but many fans still consider him the all-time home run king because Bonds cheated.
Garber ends Rose’s streak (August 2, 1978): Pete Rose hit safely in 44 straight games going into the August 2 contest in Atlanta. Braves starter Larry McWilliams held Rose hitless in his first three at bats. Gene Garber relieved McWilliams in the 7th. The first time the two squared off, Rose lined out to third. In the 9th inning, Garber and Rose faced off a second time. Garber struck out Rose and the Atlanta partisans roared in delight. It was one of the few highlights of the 1970s for Atlanta. After the game, Rose complimented Garber for challenging him with a fastball.
13-0 (April 21, 1982): The Braves opened the 1982 season with a 1-0 win at San Diego on April 6. They swept the Padres and then the Astros. In fact, Atlanta did not lose until April 22. The team started 1982 with 13 straight victories en route to the NL West title. The Braves lost the NLCS to St Louis in three straight.
Bob Horner hits four home runs (July 6, 1986): Ted Turner began the Goodwill Games to promote world peace and broadcast them live on his television network. As a result, baseball fans were forced to watch Bob Horner’s four home run game on tape delay. By 1986, the Braves were a terrible team. Unfortunately, the farcical Goodwill Games preempted one of the team’s greatest moments to stroke Turner’s inflated ego.
Francisco Cabrera single (October 14, 1992 Game 7 NLCS): Pittsburgh led the Braves 3-0 in the 9th inning of Game 7 of the 1992 NLCS with their ace, Doug Drabek, on the mound. Drabek failed to record an out in the 9th and manager Jim Leyland brought in Stan Belinda to save the game and the pennant. Belinda recorded two outs while surrendering one inherited runner. With two out and two on, Bobby Cox turned to little used Francisco Cabrera to keep the season alive. Cabrera promptly singled to left scoring David Justice with the tying run. The incredibly slow Sid Bream chugged at top speed to home and eluded the tag to win the pennant. Pittsburgh never recovered.
Justice is served (October 28, 1995 Game 6 World Series): The Braves lost the World Series in 1991 and 1992 and the NLCS in 1993. In 1995, they led Cleveland three games to two going into Game 6. Starter and future 300-game winner Tom Glavine pitched his greatest game allowing one hit through eight innings. David Justice homered off of Cleveland reliever Jim Poole for the game’s solitary score. Mark Wohlers pitched a perfect 9th and the Braves won their first title in Atlanta and first as a franchise since 1957. Glavine was named World Series MVP with two victories.
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