1992 National League Championship Series Game 7

America’s Team

TBS, among the first of the cable television superstations, broadcast Atlanta Braves baseball games to a nationwide audience throughout the 1980s. While in-person attendance and on-field performance was sub-par, the team did develop a regional and national TV following, leading TBS to dub the Braves “America’s Team” in their promotional spots. “America’s Team?” a letter to the editors of The Sporting News asked incredulously, noting the routinely empty stands. “They’re not even Atlanta’s team!”

Fulton County Stadium

Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium (1965-1997), one of numerous multi-purpose stadiums built in the 1960s and ’70s, was nothing special in and of itself. Its proudest moment was Hank Aaron’s record-setting 715th home run in April 1974. I remember watching the national TV broadcast of the event as a 10 year-old little-leaguer. A large circular placard in straight away left field was installed to commemorate the achievement.

In February 1989 I moved to Atlanta, where my fellow baseball fan and friend Peter and his wife live. Peter and I grew up rooting for the expansion Washington Senators so losing ball-clubs were nothing new to us. Since meeting in high school, Peter and I had attended a dozen or so games together in Baltimore, the Senators having by then moved on to Texas. Living in the same town once more promised a resumption of our pilgrimages.

1989-90 Atlanta Braves

I’ve been to my share of baseball games over the years, six or seven games a year in person on average. Much to my wife’s dismay I have kept most of my ticket stubs over the years. I counted at least 16 and as many as 18 Braves games we attended that summer of 1989 (The colorful general admission stubs are undated except for handwritten notations).

The 1989 Braves finished with the worst record in the National League, 34 games under .500 and 28 games behind the division-winning Giants. It was a dismal season for them but Peter and I had a great time, usually buying the cheaper seats and sitting anywhere we wanted after the 3rd inning or so. I found myself identifying with and rooting for these lovable losers.

1990 was more of the same. Last place. Worst record. One memorable event was the March signing of free-agent first baseman Nick Esasky, who had an astronomical batting average over the course of his career at Fulton County Stadium. “Of course,” the cynical scribes wrote at the time, “that was against Braves pitching.” Predictably, it didn’t work out. More troubling, the team’s star player and good guy Dale Murphy was traded away in early August. The manager was fired mid-season and general manager (GM) Bobby Cox took over the dugout duties. I began working nights in September 1989, and have only 3-5 stubs for each of the 1990 and 1991 seasons.

Worst to First, 1991-92

What changed in that 1991 season? Leo Mazzone took over pitching coach duties mid-1990 and the team hired a proven GM in John Schuerholz. Terry Pendleton, Sid Bream, and Otis Nixon joined Ron Gant and David Justice. The young pitching staff flourished led by Tom Glavine, John Smoltz, and Steve Avery. Nine and 1/2 games back at the All-Star break, the team went on a tear in July and eventually overtook the Dodgers to claim the division by one game, and then won the pennant.

I moved to Tennessee in June 1992, still working nights but thrilling as “my Braves” overcame a slow start to pull into first place to stay by late July. Peter and I visited occasionally and spoke fairly regularly. The National League was split into two divisions, the winners of each playing a League Championship Series (LCS) for the right to move on to the World Series, both best of seven. The Braves were hosting games 1 and 2 of the LCS, then a potential game 6 and 7 if necessary. World Series games 1, 2, 6, and 7 would also be in Atlanta should they advance and the latter games be necessary.

“Lines sizzle”

When 1992 playoff tickets went on sale to the general public on September 26, Peter and I both started dialing as soon as the lines opened. As I recall, when I got through I was given the option of purchasing tickets to one of four potential games, upper deck only: games 6 or 7 of the LCS ($30/ticket) or of the World Series ($45). Providentially, I chose LCS game 7.

“You got through!!??” Peter exclaimed as I called with the good news. He sent me the newspaper clippings from the Atlanta papers to make his point.

The Roster

Starting catcher Greg Olson broke his ankle on a play at the plate September 18. Damon Berryhill was a capable replacement. Twenty-one year-old future star Javy Lopez and 25 year-old Francisco Cabrera, both September call-ups, vied to be named backup catcher on the playoff roster. Cabrera, whose August 21, 1991 9th-inning game-tying home run proved a turning point for the then-worst-to-first Braves, was considered a defensive liability. Surprisingly, both made the cut.

The Braves won games 1 and 2 against the Eastern Division Pirates, then took 1 of 3 in Pittsburgh for a 3-2 lead. If the Braves won game 6 in Atlanta, our tickets would be useless. Braves ace and 20-game winner Tom Glavine gave up 8 runs in the second inning, and the rout was on. Peter and I donned our Braves gear and took the MARTA rail to the stadium for the decisive game 7: John Smoltz vs. Doug Drabek.

The Game

Peter takes over the narrative. “There definitely was a buzz in the stadium I had not ever felt before. We sat in the very top row on the first base side [I remember it being about five rows from the top]. We had a few cold ones on the walk to the stadium. We usually didn’t purchase beer or concessions but traveled loaded down with them [true, sadly!].  The weather was perfect. Smoltz left before Drabek, and Jeff Reardon, the closer, pitched the 9th. The Pirates scored first and held the lead throughout. Atlanta had seemingly used all their position bench players by then and it became apparent that “Frankie” Cabrera would be the final option as the Braves had the bases loaded down 2-1 with 2 outs. Drabek was removed for Stan Belinda at some point in the 9th. By chance, I had had a conversation with Cabrera at spring training earlier that season and I remembered him being very friendly although English appeared to be a challenge for him. He was a very positive guy and appreciated the attention. So as the stage set, we started chanting his name. I believe I was even chanting his name before this in the 9th as I realized that he might be making an appearance. [True again. I remember that distinctly.]

The 9th Inning

The Braves trailed 2-0 going to the bottom of the 9th. Pendleton led off with a long double to the right field corner, then Justice reached on a sharply hit ground ball mishandled by the 2nd baseman. After Drabek walked Bream to load the bases, he was lifted for Belinda. Gant’s long fly ball to left looked like it might end it, but it was caught at the wall, scoring Pendleton. Berryhill walked to load the bases again and utility infielder Brian Hunter pinch hit in the #8 spot, leaving the catchers Lopez and Cabrera as the only position players available on the bench. Hunter looped an 0-1 pitch to short center that caused us to leap again but the same 2nd baseman, cheating deep, ranged out for the catch. We slumped again, though not to our seats. The tying run remained on third and the potential winning run on second – represented by the slow-footed Sid Bream – but now with two out.

Frankie!

Peter was nodding his head in approval at the announcement that Cabrera would pinch hit in the pitcher’s spot. “FRANKIE!” he hollered. “CABRERA!” I answered. A woman near us looked at Peter and smiled, but cocked her head and asked, “Who’s he?” Good question. Cabrera had appeared only once in the series, lining out to deep left to lead off the bottom of the 9th the previous night. He had a paltry 10 big league at-bats during the regular season with 3 hits including 2 home runs. After punishing a 2-0 pitch deep but foul, Cabrera slapped the next offering through the left side of the infield. Pandemonium. Justice scored easily, and Bream lumbered around third for an incredibly close play at the plate. When the umpire signaled “safe” it became a joyous riot. “I remember hugging you and a bunch of other people,” Peter remembered. Everyone around us was jumping up and down, hugging, high-fiving, back-slapping, and laughing. The players and coaches on the field were doing the same. In the midst of this joy Peter mentioned, “I recall looking at the field and seeing the Pirates center fielder Andy Van Slyke sitting on the ground motionless.”

The Slide

We walked back to the MARTA on a high, talking and laughing with strangers as Peter occasionally yelled out “Frankie!!” Francisco Cabrera’s clutch single is by no means forgotten, but it was the slide that was memorialized as only baseball can. The promotional giveaway some years later was a commemorative bobblehead depicting Sid Bream grinning up at the umpire’s safe call (Note: Pirates fans claim the bobblehead didn’t beat the tag either). In my opinion, bobbleheads are cheesy, space-stealing knickknacks better off on someone else’s shelf. Peter gifted this one to me, and it will likely occupy the same place of honor in my living room until my eyes grow dim.