Most Disappointing Moments in Atlanta History, October 24, 1992. Toronto 4, Atlanta 3.
The Braves used the heartbreak of the 1991 World Series as motivation for 1992. Atlanta’s sole mission was to win the World Series. Anything less would be considered a failed season. The Braves didn’t make significant changes heading into the 1992 season and that proved to be a wise move.
Atlanta coasted in the regular season, comfortably taking the NL West crown by 8 games over second place Cincinnati. But GM John Schuerholz thought he needed to bolster the bullpen so in July, he acquired closer Jeff Reardon from Boston for a minor leaguer. The Braves were banking on Reardon being the final piece of the World Series puzzle.
In a rematch of the previous year’s NLCS, the Braves would face Pittsburgh for a place in the Fall Classic. The difference being the Braves were the favourites in 1992 compared to the underdog they embraced in 1991. The Braves blew out the Pirates in the first two games and most were expecting a sweep. But Pittsburgh came back winning three of the next four to force a seventh and deciding game. In one of the most dramatic games in Braves history, Francisco Cabrera delivered a clutch two-run single in the bottom of the ninth to give the Braves their second straight NL pennant and a date with the Toronto Blue Jays.
The Jays were a team on the cusp of greatness for the last seven seasons but had the label of chokers in big moments. Unlike the Braves, the Jays made significant additions to their team prior to the 1992 season. The Jays signed designated hitter Dave Winfield from California to give them extra power in the lineup. But the biggest move was luring 1991 World Series MVP Jack Morris away from Minnesota to join the Jays thus giving them a pure ace on the staff.
The Jays fought off a late charge by Milwaukee to win their second straight AL East division title. The Jays went on to eliminate Oakland in 6 games in the ALCS to win their first ever pennant and insuring that a Canadian based team would be in the World Series for the first time.
There was history between these two clubs as well. Braves manager Bobby Cox and third base coach Jimy Williams were managers with the Blue Jays and were very familiar with the Blue Jays organization.
Game 1 would feature both aces in a classic pitching matchup. The Braves had sour memories of what Morris did to them in Game 7 of the 1991 World Series and they wanted revenge. Meanwhile, Tom Glavine was hoping to set the tone for the Braves as they wanted to overcome the demons from last year. The Braves gained the upper hand as Damon Berryhill cranked a three-run homer off Morris while Glavine spun a four-hit complete game with a Joe Carter solo homer being the lone blemish of an otherwise sterling performance.
Game 2 saw tensions rise before the first pitch. The United States Marine Corps were presenting the colours before the national anthems but made a bit of a booboo. They accidentally hung the Canadian flag upside down. To make matters worse, Tom Cochrane sang the wrong lyrics to “Oh Canada” using an old, bygone line instead of the updated version. Life can be a highway but for Cochrane, he was on the lookout for the lunatic fringe of Canadians who weren’t happy with his rendition.
The game itself was a close affair that gave the Braves a chance to bring in Reardon to shut the door in the ninth inning with Atlanta clinging to a slender one run lead. But Reardon couldn’t get the job done. After Derek Bell walked, pinch hitter Ed Sprague belted a two-run homer that left Fulton County Stadium in a stunned silence.
