Sid Bream = our generation's Bill Mazeroski ...

[FergieJ31]

.. well, sorta .. ok, not really lol

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKZVpktzAys&NR

 

apologies to Jake and other Bucs fans. I'm not a Braves fan but this play was just straight-up electrifying; one of the most vivid memories I have of watching post-season baseball.

[Mizzou]

That's so awesome. I don't think I'll ever forget that play.

[RonnieWooWooSanto]

That was a great moment. Also, that was the year Atlanta busted out "the chop". There wasn't much to root for before that.

 

When it comes to playoff baseball, this is what I think of most in terms of pure electricity.....................

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZ17awQG1EM&search=Kirk%20Gibson

 

The person who did this video ruined the feeling of that moment with the editing and music instead of just showing it in its original manner with the call of Vin Scully. But, here's the moment.

Edited August 4, 2006 by RonnieWooWooSanto

[UMFan83]

Our generation? That was 15 years ago! Think of all the people who are like 16-18 on this board that were 1-3 when that happened.

 

Alas, even though I was only 8 I remember that play quite well. Good stuff. Actually, I loved the Pirates back then and was pretty disapointed when they lost. I used to LOVE Andy Van Slyke.

[UK1679666180]

Those were some interesting and bad Braves teams before their surge...

 

Hubbard, Oberkfell, Virgil, Murphy, Horner, Washington.

[chuckywang]

Watching that was kinda painful. I think it's just that knowing the Pirates organization right now, I feel kinda sorry for them. I wish they had gotten their World Series in the early 90s just so they aren't so frustrated right now.

[bhogg]

might as well put sid in the HoF. . . . he can't be any worse than maz.

[QcCubFan]

I'm pretty sure Jack Buck was doing the PBP at that time as CBS was the channel for Game of the week and the playoffs.

[RynoRules]

For those of us who are 30 or older (ouch it hurts to say that), it was our generation, so I say it was awesome.

 

Still not the best moment in baseball that our generation (Generation X; most on this bd. belong to Gen. Y I guess) has seen. That happened in 1988:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZ17awQG1EM

 

He never should have been the MVP that year, but its still a great story.

 

EDIT: BTW, prior to joining the Braves, Bream was a long time member of the Pirates. Ouch.

[soccer10k]

Random bit of information. The left fielder for the Pirates in that game who made that great throw to the plate was none other than Barry Bonds.

[RynoRules]

Random bit of information. The left fielder for the Pirates in that game who made that great throw to the plate was none other than Barry Bonds.

 

Pirates had a great trio with Bonds, Bonnilla and Van Slyke, and some nice complimentary guys like Lind, Merced, Buechele, and the immortal Dom Slaught.

[minnesotacubsfan]

. belong to Gen. Y I guess) has seen. That happened in 1988:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZ17awQG1EM

 

quote]

 

 

that was amazing considering EVERYONE KNEW he cold only hit a HR. both his knees were toast. like Roberts againdt NY in 2004.

 

 

and yes, Ima Gen X-er

 

lol

[minnesotacubsfan]

Random bit of information. The left fielder for the Pirates in that game who made that great throw to the plate was none other than Barry Bonds.

 

yes it was. thats when I liked him as a ballplayer

[UK1679666180]

Random bit of information. The left fielder for the Pirates in that game who made that great throw to the plate was none other than Barry Bonds.

 

Pirates had a great trio with Bonds, Bonnilla and Van Slyke, and some nice complimentary guys like Lind, Merced, Buechele, and the immortal Dom Slaught.

 

I believe Johnny Ray was their 2B, Pena wat at C, and the Joe Orsulak was the CF'er before Bonds. Where's Larry McWilliams now?

 

I just watched the '84 clincher recently.

[RonnieWooWooSanto]

Random bit of information. The left fielder for the Pirates in that game who made that great throw to the plate was none other than Barry Bonds.

 

Pirates had a great trio with Bonds, Bonnilla and Van Slyke, and some nice complimentary guys like Lind, Merced, Buechele, and the immortal Dom Slaught.

 

I believe Johnny Ray was their 2B, Pena wat at C, and the Joe Orsulak was the CF'er before Bonds. Where's Larry McWilliams now?

 

I just watched the '84 clincher recently.

 

And ss Dale Berra. He was horrible.

[J.R.]

Gibson, Jack Morris and Bream: the fathers of dramatics at the dawn of my interest in the game.

 

Joe Carter doesn't even register.

[minnesotacubsfan]

For those of us who are 30 or older (ouch it hurts to say that), it was our generation, so I say it was awesome.

 

Still not the best moment in baseball that our generation (Generation X; most on this bd. belong to Gen. Y I guess) has seen. That happened in 1988:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZ17awQG1EM

 

He never should have been the MVP that year, but its still a great story.

 

EDIT: BTW, prior to joining the Braves, Bream was a long time member of the Pirates. Ouch.

 

wasn't Orel Hershiser (sp?) #55??? why is he dancing around in circles??

 

:shock:

 

 

thats weid

[chuckywang]

For those of us who are 30 or older (ouch it hurts to say that), it was our generation, so I say it was awesome.

 

Still not the best moment in baseball that our generation (Generation X; most on this bd. belong to Gen. Y I guess) has seen. That happened in 1988:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZ17awQG1EM

 

He never should have been the MVP that year, but its still a great story.

 

EDIT: BTW, prior to joining the Braves, Bream was a long time member of the Pirates. Ouch.

 

That Kirk Gibson highlight is so overplayed that it doesn't do anything for me anymore. Sure, it was a great moment, but it's just become so saturated.

[Balsa]

The pirates were good?

[soccer10k]

My dad (Dodgers fan and Bonds hater) loves that play and remembers it like it was yesterday. Bonds couldn't throw out Bream and his two horrible legs. Everybody talks about Bonds' great arm (not true) but he couldn't throw out a guy who was slower than most of the catchers in the league. Purely awesome.

 

EDIT: And wouldn't Francisco Cabrera be the Bill Mazeroski of our generation because he got the hit to drive in Bream?

[RynoRules]

Random bit of information. The left fielder for the Pirates in that game who made that great throw to the plate was none other than Barry Bonds.

 

Pirates had a great trio with Bonds, Bonnilla and Van Slyke, and some nice complimentary guys like Lind, Merced, Buechele, and the immortal Dom Slaught.

 

I believe Johnny Ray was their 2B, Pena wat at C, and the Joe Orsulak was the CF'er before Bonds. Where's Larry McWilliams now?

 

I just watched the '84 clincher recently.

 

Johnny "The Crooner" Ray, Tony Pena and Orsulak were their guys in the 80's, no? That may have been what you meant. They also had the immortal RJ Reynolds and a 3B named Jim Morrison (that's not a joke) who absolutely killed the Cubs but couldn't hit against anyone else.

 

Since were on the topic, we should see if Candy Maldanado will come back as our 4th OFer next year.

[RynoRules]

For those of us who are 30 or older (ouch it hurts to say that), it was our generation, so I say it was awesome.

 

Still not the best moment in baseball that our generation (Generation X; most on this bd. belong to Gen. Y I guess) has seen. That happened in 1988:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZ17awQG1EM

 

He never should have been the MVP that year, but its still a great story.

 

EDIT: BTW, prior to joining the Braves, Bream was a long time member of the Pirates. Ouch.

 

That Kirk Gibson highlight is so overplayed that it doesn't do anything for me anymore. Sure, it was a great moment, but it's just become so saturated.

 

Did you see it live when it happened? If not, I can undersatand why I doesn't effect you as it does many of us. You truly had to be there and understand the context.

 

No one got runs off Eck that year - he was impossible to hit. The Dodgers were decided underdogs who beat the Mets in the NLCS with smoke and mirrors and for the most part without Gibson, who strained his hammy sliding into second. The rest of their lineup was unimpressive - guys like Marshall, Sax, Mike Davis, Sosccia (sp?), Alfredo Griffin, John Shelby, Jeff Hamilton, etc. If you look at their team hitting stats they are far worse than the 06' Cubs.

 

As for pitchging, besides Orel and his season for the ages, it was Leary and Belcher pitching way over their heads, and a great bullpen lead by Howell, Pena and Orosco. On paper, they had no business even being in the WS, nevermind standing up to the A's with The Juice...I mean Bash Brothers and a solid staff of veteran starters, plus Eck, the MVP and Cy Young winner.

 

When he hobbled up and there and feebly fouled off a couple of picthes I recall thinking that this would be over fairly quickly. Then he reached out over the plate and took what looked like a desperation "make some contact" swing. When the ball took off it looked like a routine fly...but then Canseco kept on drfiting back. At first I thought he was settling under the ball deep in RF, but it never stopped going. It was nothing short of amazing.

[CubColtPacer]

Wow..I just looked up that 1991 Braves team-we thought we were worried about our offense next year.

 

Greg Olsen-411 AB's, .241/.316/.345

Sid Bream-265 AB's, .253/.313/.423

Mark Lemke-269 AB's, .234/.305/.312

Rafeal Belliard-353 AB's, .249/.296/.286

Otis Nixon-401 AB's, .279/.371/.327

That's 5 of the listed starters (the other 3 are Pendleton, Gant, Justice)

 

Total Team OBP: .327

Total Team SLG: .393

Total Team OPS: .720

 

To compare-the 2006 Chicago Cubs

Total Team OBP: .320

Total Team SLG: .416

Total Team OPS: .736

 

Somehow that Braves offense managed to score 749 runs...I'm just not sure exactly how.

 

Edit: Two things: I have another site that lists the Braves OBP as .331 for that season-so I'm not sure which one it is. Also, that .331 was the second best in the National League that year-to compare, it would be tied for 12th in the National League today-although .333 was 5th best last year. It appears that this year is a huge year for OBP-league OBP is way up so far this season.

[TB_11]

That Kirk Gibson highlight is so overplayed that it doesn't do anything for me anymore. Sure, it was a great moment, but it's just become so saturated.

 

Did you see it live when it happened? If not, I can undersatand why I doesn't effect you as it does many of us. You truly had to be there and understand the context.

 

No one got runs off Eck that year - he was impossible to hit. The Dodgers were decided underdogs who beat the Mets in the NLCS with smoke and mirrors and for the most part without Gibson, who strained his hammy sliding into second. The rest of their lineup was unimpressive - guys like Marshall, Sax, Mike Davis, Sosccia (sp?), Alfredo Griffin, John Shelby, Jeff Hamilton, etc. If you look at their team hitting stats they are far worse than the 06' Cubs.

 

As for pitchging, besides Orel and his season for the ages, it was Leary and Belcher pitching way over their heads, and a great bullpen lead by Howell, Pena and Orosco. On paper, they had no business even being in the WS, nevermind standing up to the A's with The Juice...I mean Bash Brothers and a solid staff of veteran starters, plus Eck, the MVP and Cy Young winner.

 

When he hobbled up and there and feebly fouled off a couple of picthes I recall thinking that this would be over fairly quickly. Then he reached out over the plate and took what looked like a desperation "make some contact" swing. When the ball took off it looked like a routine fly...but then Canseco kept on drfiting back. At first I thought he was settling under the ball deep in RF, but it never stopped going. It was nothing short of amazing.

 

Completely agree with this post. Gibson's HR was the most exciting non-Cubs baseball moment I've ever seen (with Puckett's and Morris's heroics in 1991 ranking a close second). Eck was moving into his unhittable years; Gibson, who became the heart of that team after coming from Detroit, looked lost in that at-bat until he connected; and everyone thought that the A's would make quick work of the Dodgers. Jack Buck's classic line was icing on the cake.