The Braves: 2021 World Series Champions

1995. This was the last time the Braves won the World Series, but that changed Tuesday night as the Atlanta Braves were crowned champions of the MLB.

 In one of the most improbable World Series wins in recent history, the Braves rallied from a .500 record in August to become World Series champions. After Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. was injured in a July regular season game, the Braves playoff chances looked slim. But the team united around Atlanta native, Dansby Swanson, and long time Brave, Freddie Freeman to hoist the World Series Commissioner's trophy. After the Braves blew a 4-0 lead with a 3-1 edge in the series, it seemed like the Braves, like a plethora of other Atlanta sports teams, would choke away a championship opportunity. As the series progressed, the “28-3” jokes rang through the voices of Atlanta sports fans, referencing the 2017 Super Bowl, where the Falcons notoriously blew a 25 point lead.  Partially joking, partially terrified of another championship being squandered, Atlanta fans held their breath until the final out.

But the Braves did not choke. They did not sputter. They shut out the Astros, killing any momentum Houston had built from their 9-5 Sunday win. As Dansby Swanson completed the last out of the MLB season, it felt as though a weight had been lifted. The curse had been broken. The first Atlanta major sport championship since the Braves won it all in 1995 was as gratifying as ever. 

Here’s how it happened: at the top of the third inning, Jorge Soler silenced a buzzing Houston crowd as he hit a three-run home run to give the Braves a 3-0 lead. Later, in the top of the seventh, Freddie Freeman, who has been with the Braves since 2007, iced the World Series with a one-run homer to give Atlanta a 7-0 lead, the eventual final score. Will Smith, the polarizing Braves closer, provided all the necessary drama before Dansby Swanson and Freddie Freeman ended any hope of a Houston comeback on a routine out. Swanson made the final play of the series, getting Astros first baseman Yuli Gurriel out to bring a trophy back to Atlanta.

These playoffs provided so many memorable moments for the loyal fans of Atlanta. From back-to-back walk-off home runs by Austin Riley and Eddie Rosario, to multiple shutout victories in the World Series, Braves fans were not disappointed. On the night of the Atlanta mayoral elections, the Braves rejuvenated a city. They instilled hope in Atlanta. This victory means so much more than a trophy. This means a new era of Braves baseball and an enthralled fanbase to go along with it. Go Braves!

By Sawyer Sugarman