Atlanta, October 28, 2025 – Thirty years ago tonight, Tom Glavine etched his name in Braves immortality. On October 28, 1995, the 29-year-old lefty—fresh off a 16-7 regular season—tossed six innings of one-hit brilliance, outdueling Cleveland’s Dennis Martínez in a 1-0 Game 6 clincher at Fulton County Stadium. David Justice’s sixth-inning solo homer off Jim Poole was the dagger, and Mark Wohlers slammed the door with three hitless frames for the save. The Braves—after 126 years of Atlanta baseball heartbreak (since the 1871 Boston Red Stockings)—finally hoisted the Commissioner’s Trophy. “This is for Atlanta,” Glavine said, champagne-soaked, as 51,875 fans erupted in tomahawk chops. From worst-to-first in 1991 to this crowning glory, Glavine’s gem wasn’t just a shutout—it was redemption. Braves Country, raise a glass: 30 years ago, your ace delivered the dream.
The Build-Up: From Heartbreak to Hope
The 1995 Braves were a juggernaut: 90-54 in a strike-shortened season, NL East champs by 21 games. Glavine (16-7, 3.08 ERA), Greg Maddux (19-2, 1.63 ERA), and John Smoltz (12-7, 3.18 ERA) formed the greatest rotation ever. The playoffs? Dominant: NLDS sweep of Colorado, NLCS 4-2 over Cincinnati (MVP: Mike Devereaux’s .308). But the World Series vs. Cleveland—AL champs with 100 wins—was a slugfest: Braves dropped Games 1 and 2 in Atlanta, clawed back with 5-2 and 4-3 wins in Cleveland, then fell 5-4 in Game 5.
Game 6 loomed: Win or go home. “We knew one pitch could end it,” manager Bobby Cox said. Glavine, 1-1 in the Series (2.16 ERA), took the mound with ice in his veins.
The Masterpiece: One Hit, One Run, One Title
Glavine was surgical: Six innings, one hit (Tony Peña’s infield single in the 5th), no walks, eight strikeouts. His changeup danced, his fastball located—Cleveland’s vaunted lineup (Albert Belle, Manny Ramirez, Jim Thome) managed .143 against him. Justice’s blast—a 405-foot laser to right-center off Poole—broke the scoreless tie. “I saw it leave the bat and knew,” Justice recalled.
Wohlers entered in the 7th: Three innings, three Ks, no hits. Final out: Eddie Murray’s grounder to third—Chipper Jones to Ryan Klesko. Bedlam. “World Series champions!” Skip Caray bellowed on TBS.
| Pitcher | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glavine | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| Wohlers | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
The Legacy: Atlanta’s First, and a Dynasty’s Dawn
The 1995 title ended decades of pain: No Atlanta championship since the 1957 Milwaukee Braves. Glavine earned Series MVP (.250 BA, 0.00 ERA in two starts). The core—Maddux, Smoltz, Justice, Jones—cemented a 14-year division dynasty. TBS beamed the celebration to 30 million homes, “America’s Team” born.
Glavine’s gem inspired generations: “That’s the standard,” Spencer Strider said in 2025. The trophy resides in Truist Park, a beacon for 2026 dreams.
Other October 28 Highlights
- 1953: Red Barber jumps from Dodgers to Yankees broadcast booth.
- 1968: Bob Gibson wins first Cy Young (1.12 ERA).
- 1989: A’s sweep Giants in earthquake-delayed Series.
- 2001: Randy Johnson shuts out Yankees; Matt Williams makes WS HR history.
Conclusion
October 28, 1995, wasn’t just a win—it was Atlanta’s coronation. Tom Glavine’s one-hitter, Justice’s moonshot, Wohlers’ lockdown: The recipe for the Braves’ first World Series. Thirty years later, the chop echoes. Braves fans, your title was born tonight—here’s to many more.
