Watching the Braves lose the fourth and final game of the NLDS last week took me back to 1992 when they conquered the Pirates 3-2 to win the NLCS . In this year’s playoff game, trailing 3-1, manager Brian Snitker sent up little used Vaughn Grissom as a pinch hitter with two outs and two on in the ninth with hopes for a miracle. The 21 year old Grissom had batted 11 times during the season. In 1992, manager Bobby Cox sent up little used Francisco Cabrera with two on and two outs, trailing 2-1 in the ninth. Cabrera had batted 10 times during the season.
Grissom struck out to end the season. Cabrera, however, managed to hit a hard single to left fielder Barry Bonds. The runner on second, who represented the winning run, was slow-footed 1B Sid Bream. Bream slid into home plate to beat Bond’s throw, and the City of Atlanta celebrated. There have been many one hit wonders in the history of baseball, but certainly, to Braves fans, this one is the most glorious. He was awarded a key to the city by Mayor Maynard Jackson and an Espy Award for Play of the Year. Cabrera‘s baseball career, however, was not glorious. The next season was his last in the major leagues. He played sparingly for the Braves that season , followed by five years of traveling through 8 teams in eight countries, trying to catch hold of the magic of 1992 before retiring to his native Dominican Republic. But he remains a legend in Atlanta where still he attends alumni and old timer events.