Atlanta Braves Leaving Fulton County: The Catch
By Dan Horton
1992 – “The Catch” – Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium
***UPDATED; CORRECTION MADE TO WALL HEIGHT***
A few days ago, I teased of a series of moments from the Atlanta Braves. These memories would comprise memories from Fulton County Stadium and Turner Field.
Since the Braves will soon be leaving Fulton County, for Cobb County after the 2016 season, and moving into SunTrust Park, I would like to kick this off with a little pizzazz.
Everyone loves it when guys flash the leather, including me. On July 25th, 1992, Otis Nixon flashed some serious leather. There have been plenty of phenomenal defensive plays over the course of Fulton County Stadium. This one was just a little bit more special.
In July of 1992, the Braves were in the midst of an extended winning streak, to this point to be exact, it stood at 12 games.
In 1992, the Braves eventually won the NL West and the National League title for the second of their 14 consecutive division titles.
The game was against the rival Pirates. Andy Van Slyke was the hitter. The stadium known as the ‘Launching Pad’ almost swallowed up another home run, but fleet-footed Otis Nixon stood in center field and had other plans.
In the top of the 8th inning, the Braves held on to a one-run, 1-0 lead. Jay Bell was on first base. Van Slyke almost gave the Bucs the lead and jeopardized the Braves winning streak.
Nixon is 6′ 2″ tall and fast. The right-center gap was 385 feet from home plate and the wall stood at 10 feet. Van Slyke launched a rocket to that very gap. Then this happened …
Watching this on television, I was simply blown away. Nixon made that wall look at least 2 feet shorter. And in true Skip Caray fashion, we were treated to one of the great moments in Atlanta Braves and Fulton County Stadium lore.
What makes this even more awesome, is David Justice‘s reaction.
In my humble opinion, I don’t think any of the moments and memories I have of the Braves, aren’t as special without Skip, Pete Van Wieren, or Ernie Johnson, Sr. calling the action.
This moment from Nixon is 10 times more memorable because of Caray’s call.
Next: Fantasy Insight - Catchers
Keep close to Tomahawk Take, when the next moment goes back a little bit further. Offense takes center stage, where a certain blonde-headed masher gets some screen time.
***CORRECTION MADE TO HEIGHT OF THE WALL, UPDATED: According to the website Seamheads.com, the wall height went form 6 feet to 10 feet for the 1983 season.