1991 National League Championship Series

Game 1

Wednesday, October 9, 1991 (8:41PM EDT) at Three Rivers Stadium

Three Rivers Stadium

Three Rivers Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from 1970 to 2000. It was home to the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Pittsburgh Steelers, the city's Major League Baseball franchise and National Football League franchise respectively.Built as a replacement to...

in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...

The Pirates proved they would be tough to eliminate early when they stifled the Braves offense behind 1990 Cy Young Award

Cy Young Award

The Cy Young Award is an honor given annually in baseball to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball , one each for the American League and National League . The award was first introduced in 1956 by Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick in honor of Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young, who died in 1955...

winner Doug Drabek

Doug Drabek

Douglas Dean Drabek is a former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. Known for his fluid pitching motion and sound mechanics, he won the National League Cy Young Award in 1990.-Early life:...

and won the first game 5–1. Pittsburgh center fielder

Center fielder

A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball fielding position between left field and right field...

Andy Van Slyke

Andrew James Van Slyke is a retired Major League Baseball outfielder and former first base coach for the Detroit Tigers.-Career:...

had a home run

Home run

In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...

and a double

Double (baseball)

In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....

off Braves starter and 1991 Cy Young Award winner Tom Glavine

Tom Glavine

Thomas Michael Glavine is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher.With 164 victories during the 1990s, Glavine was the second winningest pitcher in the National League, second only to teammate Greg Maddux's 176...

. David Justice

David Justice

David Christopher Justice is a former outfielder and designated hitter in Major League Baseball who played for the Atlanta Braves , Cleveland Indians , New York Yankees , and Oakland Athletics .-Early life:David was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, the son of Robert and Nettie Justice...

hit a solo home run in the ninth inning off reliever Bob Walk for the Braves' only run.

An injury to Pirates starter Doug Drabek

Doug Drabek

Douglas Dean Drabek is a former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. Known for his fluid pitching motion and sound mechanics, he won the National League Cy Young Award in 1990.-Early life:...

was to have major ramifications for the Series. Drabek slid into third and injured himself in the sixth inning, leaving the game with what appeared to be a pulled hamstring. The injury cost Drabek an early start in either Game 4 or 5, and it ensured he would not be available for a third start in Game 7 if the Series went that far as it ultimately did.

Game 2

Thursday, October 10, 1991 (8:39PM EDT) at Three Rivers Stadium

Three Rivers Stadium

in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

In Game 2, both teams were kept in check by the outstanding pitching performances of Zane Smith

Zane Smith

Zane William Smith is a former American Major League baseball player.-Career:Smith, a left-handed pitcher, played collegiately at Indiana State University. He was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 3rd round of the 1982 amateur draft and made his Major League debut on September 10, 1984 for...

for Pittsburgh and Steve Avery

Steve Avery

Steven Thomas Avery is a former left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who was a young star with the Atlanta Braves in the early 1990s.-Young Gun:...

for Atlanta. However, Avery and the Braves would come out on top 1–0, after Mark Lemke

Mark Lemke

Mark Alan Lemke is a former Major League Baseball player. Nicknamed "The Lemmer", he was a popular second baseman for the Atlanta Braves from to .-Biography:...

picked up a double and the only RBI

Run batted in

Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...

of the game in the sixth inning. David Justice

David Justice

scored from second when Lemke's seemingly routine grounder got past Pirate third baseman Steve Buechele

Steve Buechele

Steven Bernard Buechele is a former Major League Baseball third baseman. Buechele played from to for the Texas Rangers, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Chicago Cubs. He joined the Rangers in after he was named the Tom Grieve Minor League Player of the Year...

, allowing Justice to score. Alejandro Pena

Alejandro Peña

Alejandro Peña Vásquez [PEH-nya] in Cambiaso, Dominican Republic, is a former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball. Peña batted and threw right-handed...

got the save and the combined shutout was complete. The series was now tied 1–1.

The win snapped a 10-game postseason losing streak for the Braves franchise that began with Game 5 of the 1958 World Series

1958 World Series

The 1958 World Series was a rematch of the 1957 Series, with the New York Yankees beating the defending champion Milwaukee Braves in seven games for their eighteenth title, and their seventh in ten years...

, when the team was still in Milwaukee

1958 Milwaukee Braves season

The Milwaukee Braves season was a season in American baseball. The Braves finished first in the National League with a 92-62 record and returned to the World Series for the second consecutive year, losing to the New York Yankees in seven games.-Offseason:...

Game 3

Saturday, October 12, 1991 (3:00PM EDT) at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium

Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium

Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, often shortened to "Fulton County Stadium," was a multi-purpose stadium that formerly stood in Atlanta, Georgia, United States.-History:...

in Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...

With the Series tied at one game apiece, John Smoltz

John Smoltz

John Andrew Smoltz is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher and active sportscaster. He is best known for his prolific career of more than two decades with the Atlanta Braves, in which he garnered eight All-Star selections and received the Cy Young Award in 1996...

faced off against the Pirates' twenty-game winner, John Smiley. Orlando Merced

Orlando Merced

Orlando Luis Merced Villanueva is a former Major League Baseball first Baseman and outfielder. He played all or part of thirteen seasons in the majors for the Pittsburgh Pirates , Toronto Blue Jays , Minnesota Twins , Boston Red Sox , Chicago Cubs , Montreal Expos , and Houston Astros...

hit Smoltz's first pitch over the right field wall for a home run and a 1–0 lead. But the Braves rallied with four runs in the bottom of the first, topped off by Greg Olson's two-run homer to left. Smiley was gone by the third inning with the Braves leading, 6–1. In the seventh, with the score 7–3, Alejandro Pena

Alejandro Peña

Alejandro Peña Vásquez [PEH-nya] in Cambiaso, Dominican Republic, is a former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball. Peña batted and threw right-handed...

struck out Jay Bell

Jay Bell

Jay Stuart Bell is a former Major League Baseball shortstop and second baseman who played for the Cleveland Indians , Pittsburgh Pirates , Kansas City Royals , Arizona Diamondbacks and New York Mets .He played his high school baseball at J.M...

with the bases loaded to end the Pirates' last threat. Ultimately, the Braves won 10–3 with home runs from Ron Gant

Ron Gant

Ronald Edwin "Ron" Gant is a former American Major League outfielder and second baseman earlier on who played for the Atlanta Braves , Cincinnati Reds , St...

, Greg Olson, and Sid Bream

Sid Bream

Sidney Eugene "Sid" Bream is an American former Major League Baseball player. He played his entire 11-year career in the National League...

. Many believed it was all over for the Pirates.

Game 4

Sunday, October 13, 1991 (8:38PM EDT) at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium

Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium

Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, often shortened to "Fulton County Stadium," was a multi-purpose stadium that formerly stood in Atlanta, Georgia, United States.-History:...

in Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta, Georgia

The lone extra-inning game of the Series came in Atlanta before 51,109 fans. Many said that this was one of the best playoff games of all time. The score was tied 2–2 after nine innings. The scoring in the first nine innings was over after the fifth inning. The Pirates had gotten their runs on a Don Slaught

Don Slaught

Donald Martin Slaught is a former catcher in Major League Baseball who had a 16-year career from to...

single and a Jay Bell

Jay Bell

single along with a Braves error. The Braves earned their two runs in the first inning on three straight singles and an error.

The Pirates tied the series with a run in the top of the tenth when Mike LaValliere

Mike LaValliere

Michael Eugene "Mike" LaValliere , nicknamed Spanky, is a former catcher in Major League Baseball whose 11-year career included tenures in both the National and American Leagues...

singled in Andy Van Slyke

Andy Van Slyke

Andrew James Van Slyke is a retired Major League Baseball outfielder and former first base coach for the Detroit Tigers.-Career:...

, who had stolen second after being walked by Kent Mercker

Kent Mercker

Kent Franklin Mercker is a retired Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. He played for nine teams over his seventeen-year career....

. The Braves batted out in the bottom of the tenth.

Game 5

Monday, October 14, 1991 (3:08PM EDT) at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium

Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium

Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, often shortened to "Fulton County Stadium," was a multi-purpose stadium that formerly stood in Atlanta, Georgia, United States.-History:...

in Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta, Georgia

Zane Smith

had his second excellent game of the Series, but this time he won, beating Tom Glavine

Tom Glavine

and the Braves 1–0 in almost a mirror image of Smith's start in Game 2. However, in Game 2, Smith had given up the one run and lost.

Controversy surrounded this game when David Justice

David Justice

scored on a single to left, but he appeared to miss third base and was called out on an appeal. Replays were inconclusive, but Justice did stumble over third base, and the umpires called him out, preserving Smith's shutout.

The lone run in this game came when José Lind

José Lind

José Lind Salgado, nicknamed "Chico", is a former Major League Baseball player, and former manager of the Atlantic League's Bridgeport Bluefish. He is the cousin of Onix Concepcion, another MLB player. Primarily a second baseman, Lind was highly regarded for his defensive skills, winning a Gold...

hit a simple RBI single in the fifth.

Game 6

Wednesday, October 16, 1991 (8:39PM EDT) at Three Rivers Stadium

Three Rivers Stadium

in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh hosted one of the best pitcher's duels of all-time on October 16, 1991 between Steve Avery

Steve Avery

Steven Thomas Avery is a former left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who was a young star with the Atlanta Braves in the early 1990s.-Young Gun:...

and Doug Drabek

Doug Drabek

Douglas Dean Drabek is a former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. Known for his fluid pitching motion and sound mechanics, he won the National League Cy Young Award in 1990.-Early life:...

. In the end, identical to Avery's last start, a combination of Avery and Alejandro Pena

Alejandro Peña

Alejandro Peña Vásquez [PEH-nya] in Cambiaso, Dominican Republic, is a former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball. Peña batted and threw right-handed...

shut out the Pirates for all nine innings. The Pirates only got four hits. However, this time the Braves didn't score a run all the way through eight innings. Drabek matched Avery, pitch for pitch. But in the ninth inning, with the score tied 0–0, Olson doubled to left to score Gant and take the lead off a weary Drabek. He had pitched a complete game

Complete game

In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were...

, but was the loser after the Pirates couldn't get Gary Varsho

Gary Varsho

Gary Andrew Varsho is a former Major League Baseball player, formerly serving as a coach for the Pittsburgh Pirates...

home from third in the bottom of the ninth. The Braves had not scored a run since the first inning of Game 4, a futility streak that reached innings before Gant scored the winning run.

Game 7

Thursday, October 17, 1991 (8:39PM EDT) at Three Rivers Stadium

Three Rivers Stadium

in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The Braves scored three runs in the first inning, partly on a Brian Hunter two-run home run, and never looked back. Twenty-game winner John Smiley made the start, fared poorly, was yanked after two-thirds of an inning and lost to John Smoltz

John Smoltz

, who shut out the Pirates. Although Bob Walk was masterful in middle relief, it was too little, too late, even though he pulled his groin trying to help his cause attempting to stretch a single into a double in the bottom of the seventh. The Braves won 4–0 and nabbed the pennant. After Atlanta had gone innings without scoring, the Pirates themselves went the final innings without scoring. That streak would reach 30 innings before José Lind

José Lind

snapped it with a home run in the eighth inning of Game 1 in the 1992 NLCS.

Avery won the Series MVP award. Pitching 16.1 innings, the Braves starter did not allow a run, giving up nine hits and walking four while striking out seventeen. Avery said, "It's been the best time of my life."

The Braves scored fourteen runs in the games Smiley pitched (Game 3 and 7), including nine off Smiley, but only five runs in the other five games combined. Smiley had been the Pirates' biggest winner in 1991, notching twenty victories for the only time in his career .

The Atlanta Braves World Series

1991 World Series

The 1991 World Series pitted the Minnesota Twins of the American League against the Atlanta Braves of the National League. The series was played from Saturday, October 19 to Sunday, October 27....

appearance was the first in franchise history since moving to Atlanta in . The Braves lost a memorable and dramatic seven-game series to the Minnesota Twins

Minnesota Twins

The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...

Composite box

1991 NLCS (4–3): Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....

over Pittsburgh Pirates

Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...

External links

1991 NLCS at Baseball Reference

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