Braves–Mets rivalry

Atlanta Braves – New York Mets
History
First meeting	May 11, 1962
Last meeting	August 7, 2011
Next meeting	2012
Number of meetings	665
Regular season series	361–302–1, ATL
Largest victory
Current streak	5, ATL
Longest Braves win streak	13
Longest Mets win streak	7
Post-season history
1969 NLCS	Mets defeat Braves, 3–0
1999 NLCS	Braves defeat Mets, 4–2

The Braves–Mets rivalry is a rivalry between two teams in Major League Baseball's National League East, featuring the Atlanta Braves and the New York Mets, that was particularly fierce during the late 1990s and early 2000s.^[1]

Background

Although their first major confrontation occurred when the Mets swept the Braves in the 1969 National League Championship Series, en route to their first World Series championship, the first playoff series won by an expansion team (also the first playoff appearance by an expansion team), the rivalry did not become especially heated until the 1990s, when division realignment put the Mets and the Braves in the same division.^[2][3]

During this time period, the Braves became one of the most dominant baseball teams in professional baseball. The rivalry came to a visible head with the John Rocker controversy, where Atlanta pitcher Rocker made a number of derogatory comments about residents of New York City in 1999.^[4] This led to incidents of items such as full cups of beverages, and even batteries being thrown at Braves players, namely Rocker, when visiting the Mets.^[5] With the end of the Braves' fourteen-season National League East winning streak in 2006, when the Mets won their first division title since 1988,^[6] the rivalry hit a cooling period.^[7][8]

Division Realignment: Rivalry established

The main cause of the rivalry was division realignment. With the Colorado Rockies and Florida Marlins entering play as expansion teams in the National League in 1993, MLB Commissioner Fay Vincent ordered realignment of the league,^[9] ordering the Braves and the Cincinnati Reds moved to the NL East, and the Chicago Cubs and rival St. Louis Cardinals to the NL West to rectify the geographical mistakes MLB made when realigning in 1969.^[10][11][9] However, the Mets and the Cubs voted against the plan.^[11][9]

Although Vincent's vision never really came into fruition, as he resigned shortly after announcing plans to realign the NL,^[12] MLB did in fact realign in 1994, albeit in the form of three divisions in each league, and the addition of an expanded playoff format.^[13] When agreeing on the realignment, the Pittsburgh Pirates switched to the newly-created Central Division and gave up their spot in the NL East to the Braves.^[2][3]

The Braves had already established themselves as one of the dominant teams in baseball prior to realignment with appearances in two World Series prior to the move. The Mets had a reverse of fortune from their dominance in the late 1980's to one of the worst teams in baseball during the early 1990's.

Joe Torre managed the Yankees to four championships in 1990s, three of which came against the Mets and the Braves, two teams he played for and managed.

1995: Atlanta's First Championship

See also: 1995 Atlanta Braves season, 1995 New York Mets season, and 1995 World Series

In 1995, the Braves won the National League East by 21 games,^[14] and were the only team in the division to post a winning record.^[14] However, the Mets were the only team in the league to post a winning record against the eventual champions, posting an 8-5 record with a 5-1 mark at Shea Stadium,^[15] propelled by a sweep on the final weekend of the season, helping the Mets finish the season tied for second with the Philadelphia Phillies (Mets won the tie-breaker, having won the season series against the Phillies.^[15]).^[16][17]

Just a year after realignment the Braves won their first championship in Atlanta by defeating the Cleveland Indians in the 1995 World Series. It was the franchise's first World Series victory in Atlanta and allowed the franchise to become the first ever to win a World Series in three different cities. The Braves' dominance over the National League would continue as they would go on to win the pennant again in 1996 behind the pitching of Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and John Smoltz.

1996–2000: Yankees dynasty

The Braves' World Series win in 1995 was only time either team was able to win a World Series. All the other World Series appearances by both teams were losses to the Mets cross-town rivals, New York Yankees.

The Yankees 1990s dynasty is another highlight of the rivalry.^[18] Although they won four championships during their dynasty, three of them came against either the Mets or the Braves.^[18] The only championship not to come against either team was 1998, which came against the San Diego Padres.^[18] Joe Torre, manager of the Yankees during that time, was once a player and manager for both the Braves and Mets.^[19][20] Torre began his managerial career with the Mets in 1977 and just a few years later would lead the Braves to a division title as manager, the last Braves manager to do so before Bobby Cox, whose first ejection in his career came against a Torre-managed team, on May 1, 1978, when the Braves played the Mets.^[21] (Torre made his first playoff appearance with the Braves, in his first year as manager there, in 1982).^[19]

Joe Torre with the Braves as manager in 1982, the year of his first playoff appearance

With the exception of 1996, when the Mets were near the bottom of the National League East, both franchises fielded contenders until deep into each season during this period. In 1997, the Mets overcame a shaky start to the season and were a wild card contender until the final week of the season.^[22] Ultimately, though, they finished third place in the NL East and thirteen games back of Atlanta.^[23] From 1998 to 2000, the Mets finished second in the standings to the Braves,^[18] eighteen,^[24] six and a half,^[25] and one game behind in those respective seasons.^[26][18] With the St. Louis Cardinals sweeping the Braves in the NLDS, it made the Mets run to their first World Series appearance since their championship season of 1986 much easier.^[18][27] The Braves had eliminated the Mets from wild-card contention on the final day of the 1998 season and in six games in the 1999 NLCS.^[18]

1999 NLCS

Main article: 1999 NLCS

See also: Grand Slam Single

The NLCS was along the backdrop of Atlanta power hitter Chipper Jones cementing his MVP award that year by crushing Mets pitching for 4 home runs in three games, and 5 walks in the last days of the regular season the Braves swept the series and moved 4 games ahead of the Mets with 9 games to play to their eventual division crown. Despite the setback, the Mets made the playoffs for the first time in 11 years. Both had moved forward in the 1999 NLDS to see each other for the first time in post-season history since division realignment and the first time since their initial post-season meeting during the 1969 NLCS and the "Miracle Mets."

The drama of the series was intensified in Game 5 when Robin Ventura hit a walk-off Grand Slam Single to win the game. The Grand Slam Single was ranked the third Greatest Moment in Mets history, behind only the team's two World Series Championships, which included Game 6 in 1986.^[28] The Braves, however, would go on to win the series from the Mets to win their 5th National League pennant of the decade. At the end of the 1999 NLCS, Bob Costas closed out his NBC telecast by saying, "It was closing night for the greatest Mets show since (their championship season of) 1986." Despite their hard fought win against the Mets, the Braves would go on to get swept by the Mets' cross-town rivals, the New York Yankees in the 1999 World Series.

2000: Mets win NL pennant

The rivalry saw some great moments early on in the new millenium. In June 2000, the Mets achieved a 10 run comeback, ^[29] In 2000, both the Mets and the Braves defeated each other at Shea Stadium to clinch playoff spots in successive days. First, the Braves won the NL East, defeating the Mets.^[5] The next day, the Mets beat the Braves to win the wild card, eliminating the Los Angeles Dodgers.^[30] Both teams went on to play in the 2000 NLDS, but the Braves wound up losing to the St. Louis Cardinals who would in turn lose to the Mets in the 2000 NLCS. In defeating the Cardinals, the Mets clinched their first pennant since they defeated the Houston Astros in 1986. The Mets would go on to lose the 2000 World Series to the Yankees in the first ever post-season Subway Series since the 1956 World Series.

2001 to Present: The rivalry cools

Twice during the 2001 season, the rivalry saw peace. The Mets opened the 2001 season playing the Braves at Turner Field. When the Mets walked into their clubhouse prior to their workout before opening day, officials at the stadium greeted them by writing on the clubhouse message board: "Welcome to the National League champion New York Mets."^[8] A week later, the Mets hosted the Braves at Shea Stadium when they raised their 2000 National League Champions banner.^[31] During pre-game festivities on September 21, 2001 at Shea Stadium, both the Braves and Mets paused to remember the victims of the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington ten days before.^[32] This was the first professional sporting event held in New York since the attacks.^[32] With the Mets down 2-1 in the bottom of the eighth inning, Piazza hit a two-run home run to help the Mets win. The significance of his spirit-lifting home run has been cited as one of the greatest moments in Major League Baseball history.^[33]

Glavine being introduced at Turner Field in his first game back with the Braves in 2008 after a 4 year stint with the Mets

In 2003, the Mets signed legendary Braves pitcher Tom Glavine for four years, $42.5 million. Glavine had poor success in his first year with the team, but did help the Mets reach the 2006 NLCS against the St. Louis Cardinals where they fell in the 7th game. Towards the end of his tenure with the Mets, Glavine started to make grumblings about signing with them and not staying in Atlanta. In his final appearance as a met on the last day of the 2007 New York Mets season, Glavine would give up 7 runs in the first inning of a loss to the Florida Marlins. This would cause the Mets to lose the game and the division to the Philadelphia Phillies, forcing them to miss a playoff spot despite being in first place by 7 games as late as September. Glavine would leave the Mets following that season back for the Braves. The Braves collapsed in a similar way in 2011, for the National League Wild Card, blowing a 8 ¹⁄₂ lead for the National League Wild Card in September and losing the wild card by one game to the St. Louis Cardinals.^[34]

In 2004, Chipper Jones named his child "Shea" after the Mets' home Shea Stadium, citing his great success and memories of playing there.^[35]

See also

• Major League Baseball rivalries

References

1. ^ Olson, Lisa (July 8, 2003). "Crazy scene at Shea takes luster off Mets-Braves rivalry". New York Daily News. http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/sports/2003/07/08/2003-07-08_crazy_scene_at_shea_takes_lu.html?print=1&viewall=1. Retrieved 01-09-2009. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Chass, Murray (September 16, 1993). "Pirates Relent on New Alignment". New York Times: p. B14. http://www.nytimes.com/1993/09/16/sports/baseball-pirates-relent-on-new-alignment.html?pagewanted=print. 
3. ^ ^{a b} Bodley, Hal (September 16, 1993). "Pirates OK new realignment". USA Today: p. 1C. "The Pirates will switch from the East next season. They opposed the move last week when realignment was approved, but agreed to allow Atlanta to move to the East." 
4. ^ Associated Press (01-09-2009). "Rocker to play for Long Island Ducks". ESPN. http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/print?id=2036947&type=news. 
5. ^ ^{a b} "Braves clinch NL East over Mets". CBC Sports. November 10, 2000. http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2000/09/26/braves-mets000926.html. Retrieved 01-09-2009. 
6. ^ Shpigel, Ben (September 19, 2006). "It's All Good. No, It's Better Than That". New York Times: p. D1. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/19/sports/baseball/19mets.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print. 
7. ^ Chick, Chop (April 20, 2007). "Can this rivalry be saved?". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. http://www.ajc.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/ajc/bravesfans/entries/2007/04/20/can_this_rivalr.html. Retrieved 01-09-2009. 
8. ^ ^{a b} Kepner, Tyler (April 3, 2001). "Mets-Braves Rivalry May Have Lost Some of Its Edge". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2001/04/03/sports/baseball-mets-braves-rivalry-may-have-lost-some-of-its-edge.html?sec=health&pagewanted=print. Retrieved 01-09-2009. 
9. ^ ^{a b c} Chass, Murray (July 7, 1992). "4 Teams to Change Divisions As Baseball's Map Is Redrawn". New York Times: p. A1. http://www.nytimes.com/1992/07/07/sports/4-teams-to-change-divisions-as-baseball-s-map-is-redrawn.html?pagewanted=print. 
10. ^ Strauss, Joe (July 7, 1992). "Geographically Correct: Braves Sent to NL East". Atlanta Journal-Constitution: p. A1. 
11. ^ ^{a b} Newhan, Ross (July 7, 1992). "Vincent Orders a Realignment of NL Baseball". Los Angeles Times: p. 1. 
12. ^ Chass, Murray (September 8, 1992). "Vincent, Bowing to Owners' Will, Resigns as Baseball Commissioner". New York Times: p. A1. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CE7DC1630F93BA3575AC0A964958260&scp=2&sq=fay+vincent&st=nyt&pagewanted=print. 
13. ^ Blum, Ronald (September 10, 1993). "Baseball Opts for 6 Divisions". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Associated Press: p. C1. 
14. ^ ^{a b} "1995 National League Team Statistics and Standings". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1995.shtml?redir. 
15. ^ ^{a b} "1995 New York Mets Schedule, Box Scores and Splits". Baseball-Reference.com. http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYM/1995-schedule-scores.shtml. Retrieved September 15, 2010. 
16. ^ Willis, George (October 2, 1995). "Mets Finish With a Flourish". New York Times: p. C9. "With the Marlins' victory over the Phillies yesterday, the Mets moved into a second-place tie with Philadelphia behind the Braves." 
17. ^ Carchidi, Sam (October 2, 1995). "Phils Ends with Loss and Second-Place Tie". Philadelphia Inquirer: p. C5. "Yesterday's 8-2 loss to the Florida Marlins...coupled with New York's third straight win over Atlanta, caused the Phils to end up in a second-place tie with the Mets. Both teams finished with 69-75 records." 
18. ^ ^{a b c d e f g} The subway series: the Yankees, the Mets and a season to remember. St. Louis, Mo.: The Sporting News. 2000. ISBN 0-89204-659-7. 
19. ^ ^{a b} "Joe Torre". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Publishing LLC. http://www.baseball-reference.com/managers/torrejo01.shtml. Retrieved March 10, 2011. 
20. ^ "Joe Torre". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Publishing LLC. http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/torrejo01.shtml. Retrieved March 10, 2011. 
21. ^ Lake, Thomas (July 26, 2010). "Thumbing his Way back home". Sports Illustrated (Time Inc.): 49. 
22. ^ Withers, Tom (September 29, 1997). "Mets, fans won't soon forget 1997". Associated Press. 
23. ^ "1997 National League Team Statistics and Standings". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1997.shtml?redir. 
24. ^ "1998 National League Team Statistics and Standings". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1998.shtml?redir. 
25. ^ "1999 National League Team Statistics and Standings". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1999.shtml?redir. 
26. ^ "2000 National League Team Statistics and Standings". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/2000.shtml?redir. 
27. ^ Chass, Murray (October 17, 2000). "From Wild Card to World Series". New York Times. 
28. ^ "Mets Ten Greatest Moments". newyork.mets.mlb.com. http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/nym/history/nym_history_greatestmoments.jsp. Retrieved February 21, 2011. 
29. ^ Kepner, Tyler (July 1, 2000). "The Mets Instigate Their Own Disturbance; METS 11 BRAVES 8 Fireworks Night at Shea The Mets Instigate A Victory". The New York Times: p. D1. 
30. ^ Kepner, Tyler (September 28, 2000). "At Shea, October Still Holds Promise". New York Times: p. D1. http://www.nytimes.com/2000/09/28/sports/baseball-at-shea-october-still-holds-promise.html?pagewanted=print. 
31. ^ Kepner, Tyler (April 10, 2001). "Mets Raise Banner and Throw Down Gauntlet". New York Times: p. D1. http://www.nytimes.com/2001/04/10/sports/baseball-mets-raise-banner-and-throw-down-gauntlet.html?pagewanted=print. 
32. ^ ^{a b} Kepner, Tyler (September 22, 2001). "Mets' Magic Heralds Homecoming". New York Times: p. D1. http://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/22/sports/baseball-mets-magic-heralds-homecoming.html?pagewanted=print. 
33. ^ "BB Moments: Piazza's Healing HR". MLB.com. July 30, 2008. http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=18684885&topic_id=16401516&c_id=nym. Retrieved September 9, 2011. 
34. ^ Bloom, Barry M. (September 29, 2011). "Red Sox, Braves suffer concurrent collapses". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110929&content_id=25381150&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb. Retrieved September 29, 2011. 
35. ^ ESPN news services (August 31, 2004). "Jones has 17 home runs at Shea Stadium". ESPN.com. http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/print?id=1871546&type=story. Retrieved 01-09-2009.