The 2021 Atlanta Braves: A Dream From The Past

If you were to ask me if I can believe that a team who had a losing record at the All-Star Break, didn't climb above .500 until the first week of August, lost two of its young All-Stars to season-ending injuries, and another player due to an off-the-field incident would go on and rally itself all the way to the World Series, I would say: yes, I can.

Looking back 30 years, the 1991 Atlanta Braves took a similar path. With a losing record at the All-Star Break (39-40) and trailing the NL West Division (trust me on this) leading Los Angeles Dodgers by as much as 9 1/2 games, things looked pretty bleak.

As many teams began to wilt in the heat of summer, the Braves finally started to heat up. Relying on a young, talented pitching staff led by Tom Glavine and John Smoltz, a talented star in David Justice and the leadership of veterans Terry Pendleton and Sid Bream, things took a turn for the better for the Braves. In August and September, the Braves posted a record of 41-22, enough to surpass the defending champion Cincinnati Reds and edge the Dodgers out by one game for the division crown and the right to play in the NLCS. However, not all was good along the way. On July 31, Deion Sanders, who had hit a big home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates to spark an Atlanta Braves comeback victory, had to fulfill contractual obligations with the Atlanta Falcons and was lost for what was essentially the rest of the season.

The Atlanta Braves would also lose another outfielder. Centerfielder and NL leading base stealer Otis Nixon failed another drug test and was suspended for 60 days, prohibiting him from playing in the playoffs.

Heading into the NLCS, the Pittsburgh Pirates, led by an All-Star outfield of Barry Bonds, Andy Van Slyke and Bobby Bonilla, were the clear favorites. NL East champions for the second consecutive season, the Pirates were looking to avenge their loss in the 1990 NLCS to the Cincinnati Reds. After splitting the first two games in Pittsburgh, the Braves returned home, taking game 3 in convincing fashion. After tough losses at home in games 4 and 5, the series shifted back to Pittsburgh. After falling behind 3-2 in the series, the Atlanta Braves would not be denied. After back to back shutouts pitched by Steve Avery and John Smoltz, the Braves, in shocking fashion, advanced to the World Series for the first time since the franchise relocated to Atlanta.

In a World Series matchup of "Worst to First" teams, the underdog Braves held 3-2 series lead over the Twins heading back to Minnesota for game 6. Two consecutive extra inning losses sealed the fate of the 1991 Atlanta Braves. When Alejandro Pena's pitch to Gene Larkin finally landed in deep left field scoring Dan Gladden, the fun run was done. The dream was over.

Fast forward 30 years, seeing the Atlanta Braves team that had to overcome several key losses to advance to the World Series as underdogs wasn't a new script. It was a dream of year's past that was finally complete. Hearing FOX play-by-play announcer Joe Buck's call of the final out in the 2021 World Series made that dream of 1991 a reality. Ironically, it was Joe's father, Jack, who called the final play of the 1991 World Series for CBS.