On October 14th in sports history, one significant event took place in 1992 during the National League Championship Series (NLCS) between the Atlanta Braves and the Pittsburgh Pirates.
In the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 7, with the score tied 2-2, the Braves had runners on second and third base with two outs. At the plate was Francisco Cabrera, a little-known backup catcher who had only batted ten times during the regular season. The Pirates pitcher, Stan Belinda, delivered the pitch, and Cabrera connected, sending a line drive into left field.
David Justice, the runner on third, easily scored the tying run. Meanwhile, Sid Bream, a slow-footed runner on second base, was waved home by the third base coach. Pirates left fielder Barry Bonds fielded the ball and made a strong throw to the plate, but Bream miraculously slid just under the tag of catcher Mike LaValliere, scoring the winning run and sending the Braves to the World Series.
The play, known as the "Sid Bream Slide," became an iconic moment in baseball history and is still remembered as one of the most exciting finishes to a postseason series. The Braves went on to lose the World Series to the Toronto Blue Jays, but the NLCS victory remains a cherished memory for Braves fans.
Interestingly, Sid Bream had played for the Pirates from 1985 to 1990 before joining the Braves in 1991. His game-winning slide against his former team added an extra layer of drama to an already incredible moment in sports history.
