IMMORTAL PITCHING: How The Braves’ ‘Big Three’ Finally Forged an Empire in the 1995 World Series.vc
ATLANTA, GA — Baseball witnessed an eternal moment on October 28, 1995, as the Atlanta Braves finally shed the label of postseason heartbreak and claimed their first World Series title for the city of Atlanta. This wasn’t just a championship; it was a legend born, orchestrated by the pitching immortality of The Big Three: Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, and John Smoltz.
For years, the Braves—led by this Hall of Fame rotation—had suffered devastating losses in the 1991 and 1992 World Series. The 1995 win against the powerful Cleveland Indians (who led the majors in offense) was the moment that validated their dominance and forever reshaped the city’s sports landscape.
Game 6: Glavine’s Masterpiece and Justice’s Jolt
The clinching victory in Game 6 perfectly encapsulated the team’s reliance on elite pitching and timely hitting:
- Tom Glavine’s Gem: Left-hander Tom Glavine, who had endured fan criticism over his role in the 1994-95 labor dispute, authored one of the greatest performances in World Series history. Pitching with a title on the line, Glavine threw eight innings of one-hit shutout baseball, allowing just three walks and one harmless single to Tony Peña in the sixth inning. He held the Indians’ formidable lineup utterly helpless with his trademark changeup and pinpoint control.
- The Lone Run: In the bottom of the sixth, right fielder David Justice—who had controversially criticized the home crowd’s lack of support hours before the game—stepped up. He smashed a curveball from reliever Jim Poole deep to right field at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium for a solo home run, giving the Braves the only run they would need.
- The Final Out: Glavine, having thrown 109 pitches and stiffening up after a long offensive inning, turned the ball over to closer Mark Wohlers in the ninth. Wohlers, who had finally stabilized the bullpen, retired the top of the Indians’ order—Kenny Lofton, Paul Sorrento, and Carlos Baerga—in order. When center fielder Marquis Grissom squeezed Baerga’s fly ball for the final out, a wave of relief and celebration erupted, confirming the 1–0 victory.
Tom Glavine was unanimously named the World Series MVP, having gone 2-0 with a stellar $1.29$ ERA over 14 innings in the Series.
The 1995 World Series wasn’t just a win; it was the final, triumphant act of a pitching dynasty, etching the names of Maddux, Glavine, and Smoltz into baseball immortality.
