Worst Atlanta pro sports collapses

Sports

Photos of some of the most notable pro sports collapses in Atlanta history: 1969 Braves, 1980 Falcons, 1996 Braves, more.

Here are some of the other great disappointments in Atlanta pro sports history: 1969 Braves -- In the National League Championship Series against the upstart Mets, manager Luman Harris' favored Braves took a 5-4 lead in Game 1 on Hank Aaron's solo homer in the seventh. But the Braves fell apart in the eighth, giving up five runs, and proceeded to get swept. The "Miracle Mets" went on to upset Earl Weaver's Baltimore Orioles 4-1 in the World Series.

1973 Falcons -- With a defense featuring linebacker Tommy Nobis and end Claude Humphrey, the Falcons seemed a lock to make their first playoff appearance after seven mostly losing seasons. They beat undefeated Minnesota on Monday Night Football and were 8-3 after a seven-game win streak. But they lost two of their last three, including 32-10 at home to the lowly St. Louis Cardinals. It took five more years for the Falcons to make their playoff debut.

1980 Falcons -- Steve Bartkowski threw 31 touchdown passes as the Falcons earned their first division title and home field advantage throughout the playoffs. But on Jan. 4, 1981, after building a 24-10 fourth-quarter lead over Dallas in front of 60,000-plus at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, the Falcons gave up three touchdowns and lost 30-27. Lawrence got turned around on Danny White's 23-yard score to Drew Pearson with 47 seconds left.

1996 Braves -- The Braves were five outs from taking a 3-1 World Series lead when Mark Wohlers surrendered a shocking, game-tying three-run homer to journeyman Jim Leyritz. The Yankees, who had trailed 6-0, won 8-6 in 10 innings and took the series in six games. This, after the Braves embarrassed the Yanks by a combined 16-1 in the first two games at Yankee Stadium.

1998 Falcons -- The night before the Falcons' first Super Bowl, safety Eugene Robinson (41, right) -- who had just won the Bart Starr Award for his "high moral character" -- was arrested for soliciting oral sex from an undercover officer. He started anyway and got burned for an 80-yard touchdown catch. Denver won 34-19.

2006-07 Thrashers -- Ilya Kovalchuka and Marian Hossa combined for 85 goals as the Thrashers made the playoffs for the first (and only) time, winning the Southeast Division and earning a No. 3 seed. But they were swept in four games by the No. 6-seeded New York Rangers, getting outscored 17-6.

2009-2010 Hawks -- The team trailed in its first-round series 3-2 and risked elimination by the undermanned Bucks, considered the weakest of the 16 playoff entries. They won two straight to advance, but things ended there. The Magic swept the next series 4-0.

Brian McCann and the Braves are out of contention falling to the Phillies 4-3 in 13 innings at Turner Field in Atlanta on Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2011.

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Here are some of the other great disappointments in Atlanta pro sports history: 1969 Braves -- In the National League Championship Series against the upstart Mets, manager Luman Harris' favored Braves took a 5-4 lead in Game 1 on Hank Aaron's solo homer in the seventh. But the Braves fell apart in the eighth, giving up five runs, and proceeded to get swept. The "Miracle Mets" went on to upset Earl Weaver's Baltimore Orioles 4-1 in the World Series.

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