Oct 28 2008
Thirteen years later, memories of Braves’ Series clincher still shine
By Bud L. Ellis
braves.today.com
ATLANTA — I’m sure many of you watched in amazement last night, as the rains poured down and the puddles formed on the infield at Citizens Bank Park, until finally, sanity prevailed and Game 5 of this weird World Series was suspended until Wednesday.
I’m sure there are some out there who looked at the thousands of Philadelphia Phillies fans sitting in the drenching, wind-swept downpour, and thought to yourself, “Why in the world would anybody sit outside in something like that?”
I have your answer: When your team is playing for a world championship, you don’t leave. Plain and simple.
Thirteen years ago tonight, I sat inside frosty old Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium and watched Tom Glavine one-hit the Cleveland Indians through eight innings, David Justice blast a sixth-inning solo homer, and Mark Wohlers get the nerve-wracking final three outs as the Atlanta Braves won the World Series.
That wonderful night, 13 long years ago, culminated in the greatest moment a sports fan can be blessed to experience: Being in your home stadium, watching the world championship trophy being paraded onto the field. The mere thought of that night, of Marquis Grissom gloving the final out, of the way the stadium shook and the tears exploded at 10:27 p.m., give me chills to this day.
Because that’s the summit right there, folks. Nothing beats it. We love the sport. We love the games. We love our kids being involved. We have our favorite players, our favorite memories, the things about our favorite sports team that resonate through the years.
But man, if you’re lucky enough to see your team win the world championship in person, that’s the peak right there. Nothing, and I mean nothing, can top that exhilarating feeling of seeing the players pour out of the dugout and race to the center of the infield, knowing their long eight-month journey from spring training to the World Series championship is complete.
Your team stands in the hall of champions for the next year, but in your heart, in your soul, it is a champion always and forever. And you were there to see it.
There are a few moments that surpass seeing the Braves win the World Series in person, events such as my marriage, the birth of my two sons, and graduating from college. But after that, it’s right there, that wonderful night 13 years ago on this date, when the Braves danced their way into the annuals of champions.
And the ticket stub framed on my office wall serves as a daily reminder: Aisle 323, Row 8, Seat 2. Game 6, 1995 World Series.
I was there. I realize how fortunate and blessed I was to have seen it with my own eyes. And I’ll never forget it.
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