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3 Braves Who Deserve More Credit for 1995 World Series Run

By Scott Rogust

These three Braves deserve way more credit for helping the team win the 1995 World Series.
These three Braves deserve way more credit for helping the team win the 1995 World Series. / DOUG COLLIER/Getty Images

Later this fall, it will be the 25th anniversary of the Atlanta Braves winning their first-ever World Series in 1995. It's an important sports memory to commemorate, as this is the first and last championship that the city has won. Plenty of credit is given to the likes of Chipper Jones, Fred McGriff, and Tom Glavine, but there are some players that are wrongfully ignored in the minds of baseball fans around the globe.

Here are three unsung heroes of the 1995 Braves.

3. Marquis Grissom

Marquis Grissom was a machine for the Braves throughout the NLDS.
Marquis Grissom was a machine for the Braves throughout the NLDS. / Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

To reach the World Series in 1995, the Braves had to go through a hellish NLDS against the Colorado Rockies. While many will remember Chipper Jones hitting the Game 1-winning home run in the ninth inning, we simply can't forget about the performance of Marquis Grissom. In that series, Grissom posted an insane .524 batting average, .524 on-base percentage, and 1.048 slugging percentage, along with 11 hits, three home runs, and four RBI. Would it have changed the result of the NLDS if he'd been eliminated? Who knows. But you better put some respect on Grissom's name for this stat-line!

2. Mike Devereaux

The NLCS was cake for the Braves, as they completely had their way with the Cincinnati Reds. If there's one person to credit for advancing to the World Series, it's outfielder Mike Devereaux. In the four-game series, Devereaux slashed .308/.357/.615 with four hits and five RBI. His most important hit of the series came on a three-run bomb in Game 4 to help clinch the World Series berth. Thanks to this performance, Devereaux was named MVP of the NLCS.

1. Pedro Borbon Jr.

The 1995 World Series lasted six games, but there was a huge chance that it would've reached seven. In Game 4, the Braves held a 5-1 lead over Cleveland entering the bottom of the ninth inning, and manager Bobby Cox sent in often-reliable closer Mark Wohlers to end the game. However, Wohlers surrendered a huge solo homer to a young Manny Ramirez and subsequently allowed a double to Paul Sorrento. Cox had seen enough, and opted to bring in rookie Pedro Borbon Jr. Many young relief pitchers would be shaking at the knees after being called on to face Cleveland's triple threat of Jim Thome, Sandy Alomar Jr., and Kenny Lofton. But not Borbon. The youngster struck out Thome and Alomar, and forced Lofton to line out to David Justice to secure the victory. This was the only appearance Borbon had in the World Series, but man, did he ever make the most of it.