1995 World Series recap

The Braves returned to the World Series after brief absence, while the Indians reached their first Fall Classic since 1954.

Facing Greg Maddux, the National League's best pitcher, the Indians could only muster two hits and a pair of unearned runs and that was almost enough. But the Braves manufactured two runs in the seventh, and Maddux annexed a 3-2 victory. Atlanta also captured Game 2, 4-3, thanks largely to six innings of three-hit pitching from Tom Glavine and Javy Lopez's two-run home run in the sixth.

Back home and with their backs against the outfield wall, the Tribe responded with a thrilling victory in Game 3, as Eddie Murray's 11th-inning single plated Alvaro Espinoza to give Cleveland a 7-6 decision. But Game 4 was a repeat of Game 2, as this time Braves left-hander Steve Avery contributed six frames of three-hit ball, David Justice tossed in a two-run single, and Atlanta took a commanding Series lead with their 5-3 victory.

Facing elimination in Game 5, the Indians fared better against Maddux than they had in the opener. Albert Belle got things started with a two-run homer in the first, and after the Braves tied things with single runs in the fourth and fifth, Cleveland scored twice more in the sixth. Jim Thome made it 5-2 with a solo homer in the eighth, which proved important when the Braves scored twice in the ninth to make the final 5-4.

In Game 6, Braves right fielder Justice broke a scoreless tie with a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth. That was all the Braves would score, and it was all they would need, as Tom Glavine allowed just one hit in eight innings, and Mark Wohlers pitched a perfect ninth to seal Atlanta's Championship. They would not, after all, be "the best team never to win a World Series."

Path to the World Series
ALCS: Cleveland over Seattle (4 games to 2)
NLCS: Atlanta over Cincinnati (4 games to 0)
ALDS: Cleveland over Boston (3 games to 0); Seattle over New York (3 games to 2)
NLDS: Atlanta over Colorado (3 games to 1); Cincinnati over Los Angeles (3 games to 0)

Managers: Bobby Cox, ATL; Mike Hargrove, CLE

MVP: Tom Glavine, ATL: 2-0, 1.29, 14 IP, 11 K