The Sandlot was six months away from being released. But the line where the ghost of Babe Ruth says, “Heroes get remembered, but legends never die” would go on to be memorable. On the seventh game of the National League Championship Series in 1992, Atlanta Braves First Baseman Sid Bream did just that.
In 1991, the Braves had gone from being one of the worst teams to one of the best going to the World Series against the Minnesota . It was their first appearance since relocating to Atlanta in 1966. Unfortunately, they lost. But the next year they were looking for a repeat season.
The series started out with the Braves leading 3-1 over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Then they lost Game 5 and Game 6, with the Pirates tying the series 3-3 with a brutal 13-4 win. And for much of Game 7 at the now demolished Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, e Braves were scoreless as the Pirates were 2-0 by the end of eight innings.
So, it would be no surprise that some people decided to beat the traffic or those watching at home turned off the TV and went to bed. A live-feed from a sports bar in Pittsburgh had people cheering. The Pirates didn’t score in the top of the ninth but it was just three outs away.
But as Yogi Berra said, “It ain’t over till it’s over.”
Braves Terry Pendleton hit a double. And then Dave Justice got on first with a grounder to Pirates Jose Lind but Lind misplayed on an error and Pendleton advanced to third base. Ron Grant did a deep fly that was caught by Barry Bonds but it allowed Pendleton to score. The Braves were on the board.
Bream came up and was intentionally walked moving Justice to second. Bream was not a good runner. This isn’t an opinion. Just about everyone knew this, even his own teammates. Then, Pirates pitcher Doug Drabek was taken out as Stan Belinda came in to close it.
Belinda threw three balls and one strike to Braves Damon Berryhill at the plate. The next pitch appeared to cross the strike zone but was called a ball and Berryhill advanced on a walk. The bases were now loaded. Justice could tie the game. Bream could win it.
John McSherry, home plate umpire. had been complaining of dizziness and been replaced by Randy Marsh. Some prople later speculated that McSherry might have called a second strike instead of ball four. That would make the next play questionable as Braves Brian Hunter came up to bat and was retired on a pop up.
All the Pirates needed now was one out. And then Francisco Cabrera, a third-string catcher who had only come up to bat 10 times during the regular season and Belinda pitches two balls and a strike. On the next pitch, Cabrera belted it over shortstop Jay Bell into left field. Justice easily scored. The game was tied.
But Bream was running toward third. Regardless third-base coach Jimy Williams waved him home as Bonds went after the ball and threw it but it bounced toward the first base line which gave Bream the time he needed. Catcher Mike LaValliere got and tried to lung after Bream to tag him out.
But Bream would slide and was touched home plate mere milliseconds before LaValliere tag him. Marsh called it safe. Braves broadcaster Skip Caray screamed “BRAVES WIN!! BRAVES WINS!! BRAVES WIN!!” Justice was the first to congratulate Bream but both would become swallowed up as the rest of the team crowded them. People in the stands, mere strangers hours earlier, were now hugging and high-fiving each other.
However, at the Pittsburgh bar, there was no celebration as people stared blanking at the TV screens. Did that just happen? Surely Bream was out? The way they looked it was as if Mr. Rogers had been shot live on TV.
The lost would lead to over 20 years of mediocre seasons as the Pirates wouldn’t have a winning season again until 2013. The Braves went on to play the Toronto Blue Jay’s in the World Series. But they lost again. The Braves would win the World Series in 1995.
But there was no way to beat The Slide or The Sid Bream Slide as it would be called. The only way the Braves could overcome that in 1992 was to win the World Series.
Bream wasn’t with the Braves in 1995. He played for the Houston Astros in 1994 and that was his last season as a professional as the strike ending the season early. He had come to Atlanta in 1991 from Pittsburgh which added more insult to injury. Bream retired to the Pittsburgh suburbs where he is still close friends with fellow Pirates players, including Drabek.
The reason it’s still remembered is a reminder that sometimes you’re down but never out. While good players like Bonds and Lind can make errors or mistakes, we shouldn’t underestimate Bream nor Cabrera who showed what they were capable of when they needed to go above and beyond. Drabek and Bream can be on opposite teams on the field but shake hands and still consider each other good friends at the end of the day.
It’s also a reminder of the value of teamwork as well a reminder that it’s really just a game.
