HOLY COW BRAVES FANS!!
It looks like we might have a winner as the hottest team in the league (who may play in the hottest place!) strives towards the National League championship. It brings back memories of 1991, the year the magical run of championships began after the miseries of the 1980s.
There are some similarities between the two. The first, and obvious is the skipper, Bobby is still over there watching over things. The hair is a little grayer and the classic walk a little slower when he makes his way to the mound but he is still the best manager in the game. Put Chipper Jones in the place of Terry Pendleton. That year Pendleton was the old guy playing third base leading a bunch of youngsters. I am not sure but I feel like Chipper was somewhere in the Braves minor league system dreaming of "The Show."
Now he is the savy veteran trying to point guys half his age towards a pennant. There were a lot of young guys on that team, as there are on this one. The major difference is where they play. My favorite stadium in the world, Fulton County stadium, is nothing but a baseball stadium shaped parking lot now. It is a parking lot for Turner field. I know all about modern change, etc., etc. That doesn't mean it is always better.
Another difference is I likely won't be there this year. Traveling down to Georgia with my dad, staying in a Motel 6, eating hot fudge Sundays at Shoney's and enjoying two games in two days was one of my best memories as a teenager. Both dad and I have different lives now, maybe someday.
Also on the sentimental side, there will be no Skip Caray calling the games. He has gone on to the big announcers chair in the sky along side his dad. He has to be enjoying this year's edition of the Braves.
Lets go Brave's nation. Lets get the Tomahawk Chop going. Lets win one for Bobby in his last year. Lets win one for the "Chipper" regardless of his plans for next season.
1 comment:
Thats Chipper Jones in 1991, his rookie card, I have it on the wall at home! Maybe we can make a trip down before the end of the season to watch bobby in his final season!
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