Not many photos taken during the Braves’ 1991 season better portray the worst-to-first finish like this one.
The photo was taken by Atlanta Journal-Constitution staff photographer Frank Niemeir on Saturday. Oct. 5, 1991, at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. While the picture of catcher Greg Olson jumping into the arms of John Smoltz at the end of the game that day maybe be the more popular image, it’s not the actual shot of the Braves celebrating the division title.
Here is what happened: With two games left in the season, the Braves went into the day of a game against Houston with a one-game lead in the NL West over Los Angeles, which was playing that weekend in San Francisco.
The Braves beat Houston 5-2, their eighth straight victory, on a complete-game win from Smoltz, which led to Olson jumping into Smoltz’s arms. But that only clinched a tie for the division. A Giants win in one of their final two games against the Dodgers would clinch the title.
Their game was still going on when the Braves had finished and the Giants-Dodgers game was put on the big screen.
Not many of the 44,994 at the park left. Players stood on the field, gazing up at the final inning in San Francisco. When the Giants nailed down a 4-0 win, this photo was taken after the final out.
Ron Gant, jumping up in the air over Bobby Cox’s right shoulder — Brian Hunter is over the other shoulder — had a huge game, going 2-for-3 with a homer. When asked about that day’s celebration, he said recently, “That is something I will never forget. The crowd was crazy and we were just waiting for the final out. I remember getting some air on that celebration.’’
For Cox, this photo beautifully describes his managing demeanor, always in control with a confident smile behind his glasses.
As general manager John Schuerholz said: “There is no feeling in the world like this … nothing, no way. It has to be one of baseball’s all-time stories.’’
