Braves win fourth World Series crown with an easy 7-0 Game 6 victory over the listless Astros in Houston: Jorge Soler, Dansby Swanson, and Freddie Freeman power Atlanta to title with massive home runs
- The Atlanta Braves won their fourth World Series title with a 7-0 Game 6 win over the Astros in Houston
- Atlanta last won a World Series in 1995, but the Braves also won titles in Milwaukee (1957) and Boston (1915)
- Braves designated hitter Jorge Soler put Atlanta up 3-0 in the third inning with a 446-foot homer to left field
- Shortstop Dansby Swanson followed in the fifth inning with his own two-run homer to give Atlanta a 5-0 lead
- First baseman Freddie Freeman pushed the Braves' lead to 6-0 with a fifth-inning double that scored Soler
- In the seventh, Freeman added another home run - this one to left-center field - give the Braves a 7-0 lead
- Atlanta starting pitcher Max Fried yielded just four hits while striking out five over six innings of work
- The Braves succeeded in 2021 despite major injuries to star slugger Ronald Acuña Jr. and pitcher Mike Soroka
- Team legend Hank Aaron passed away in Atlanta back in January at 86. The club dedicated its season to him
- The Braves were stripped of July's All-Star Game when MLB decided in April to bow to pressure from civil rights advocates, who opposed Georgia's new voter ID law, which they say limits voting access to minorities
For only the fourth time in the club's 146-year history, and just the second since moving to Atlanta in 1966, the Braves are champions of baseball.
Atlanta's 7-0 Game 6 win over the Astros in Houston on Tuesday was the perfect finish for a franchise that lost its most iconic player, Hank Aaron, at age 86 back in January. His death from natural causes was the start of a turbulent year for the Braves, who faced injuries to stars like Ronald Acuña Jr. and Mike Soroka, as well as several controversies over the last 10 months.
In April, amid pressure from civil rights groups, MLB moved the 2021 All-Star Game away from Atlanta's Truist Park because of Georgia's new voting law, which critics say limits voter access. MLB's draft, also slated to be held in Atlanta, was relocated as well over the objections of the Braves front office.
Then in May, outfielder and former All-Star Marcell Ozuna was arrested for aggravated assault strangulation and misdemeanor family violence after allegedly threatening to kill his wife during a physical altercation. He was subsequently placed on administrative leave.
More recently, the team has taken criticism for refusing to drop its name and the fans' 'tomahawk chop' chant, both of which have been labeled as offensive to Native Americans.
There were a few 'tomahawk chops' sprinkled throughout the stands in Houston on Tuesday. But in Atlanta, where the Braves blew a 4-0 lead with a chance to clinch on Sunday, the fans were seen doing the chant and gesture en masse at the club's suburban stadium, Truist Park.
It could have been a nervous night for Braves fans. Only 14 Major League teams have ever blown a 3-1 lead in a best-of-seven series, and a loss on Tuesday would have put Atlanta in danger of becoming the 15th.
Instead, thanks to a massive home runs from Jorge Solar, Dansby Swanson, and soon-to-be free agent Freddie Freeman, as well as six scoreless innings from starting pitcher Max Fried, the Braves cruised to an easy win.
For only the fourth time in the club's 146-year history, and just the second since moving to Atlanta in 1966, the Braves are champions of baseball
Designated hitter Jorge Soler hit a three-run home run 446 feet to left off of Houston starter Luis Garcia in the top of the third
Atlanta Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson celebrates after hitting a two-run homer 411 feet over the left-field bleachers
Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman celebrates a seventh-inning solo home run in Game 6 of the World Series on Tuesday
Jorge Soler of the Atlanta Braves hits a three-run home run against the Houston Astros during the third inning of Game 6
Astros fans look on as Jorge Soler launches a Luis Garcia offering 446-feet over the left-field bleachers and out of the park
Houston right fielder Kyle Tucker robs Atlanta leadoff hitter Eddie Rosario of a hit in the top half of the first inning of Game 6
Houston Astros' Michael Brantley steps on Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Max Fried on the way to first during the first inning
Max Fried attempts to pick off a runner during a scoreless first inning in Game 6 of the World Series on Tuesday in Houston
A young Atlanta Braves fan gets a close-up look at warm ups before Game 6 of the World Series on Tuesday night in Houston
Luis Garcia started for Houston and got some help right fielder Kyle Tucker, who robbed Braves leadoff hitter Eddie Rosario
Ozzie Albies (left) speaks with coach Ron Washington of the Atlanta Braves batting practice prior to Game 6 on Tuesday
Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker Jr. arrives for batting practice before Game 6 on Tuesday at Minute Maid Park
Fans watch during batting practice before Game 6 of baseball's World Series between the Astros and the Braves on Tuesday
An Atlanta Braves fan holds up a sign during batting practice before Game 6 of the World Series on Tuesday night in Houston
A fan catches a fly ball during batting practice before Game 6 on Tuesday night at Minute Maid Park in Houston
The World Series has its highest broadcast viewership since 2019 — with 13.9 million tuned in during Sunday's Game 5 alone across Fox platforms.
Atlanta's 3-2 win over Houston on Saturday night received a 5.65 rating, 15 share and 10,511,000 viewers on Fox, the network said Tuesday.
That was up 12 percent over the roughly 9.38 million who watched Tampa Bay's 8-7 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 4 of last year's neutral-site World Series in Arlington, Texas. It's also 2 percent more than the approximate 10.28 million viewers for the Astros' 8-1 rout of Washington in Game 4 of 2019.
When taking into account Fox Deportes and people who streamed the games, Fox said there were 10,771,000 viewers for Game 4 and 13,933,000 for Game 5.
Houston's come-from-behind 9-5 win in Game 5 on Sunday drew a 7.38 rating, 18 share and 13,644,000 viewers.
That marked a 35 percent increase over the 10.1 million for the Dodgers' 4-2 win in Game 5 last year and a 19 percent rise over the 11.45 million viewers for the Astros' 7-1 win in Game 5 of 2019.
The rating is the percentage of television households tuned in to a broadcast. The share is the percentage viewing a telecast among those households with TVs on at the time.
Baseball fans look out from the outfield before game six of the 2021 World Series between the Astros and Braves in Houston
Country music artist Carly Pearce performed a rousing rendition of the National Anthem before the start of Game 6, where Minute Maid Park's retractable roof was open on a beautiful 72-degree night.
Local furniture store owner Jim McIngvale, better known as Mattress Mack, who has gained celebrity status for his wild promotions and philanthropy in the community, joined a rally nun on the field as she threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
The rally nuns, from the Dominican Sisters of Mary Immaculate Province, got their name when they began attending games during the ALCS and Houston won every game they attended.
McIngvale has a lot riding on this Series. Those who bought a mattress priced at $3,000 or more at one of his three Gallery Furniture stores before the series started will get their money back if the Astros win the Series.
To hedge that bet, the 70-year-old made a huge wager on the Astros to win it all. McIngvale has said he placed a $3.2 million bet that will pay $36 million if Houston earns another title.
Houston native rapper Travis Scott, whose Astroworld music festival is this weekend at NRG Park, wrapped up the pregame festivities by saying: 'Let's go Houston. It's our time. Let's play ball.'
Scott wore a gray Astros jersey with his nickname 'La Flame' printed on the back with the No. 1.
Country music artist Carly Pearce performed a rousing rendition of the National Anthem before the start of Game 6, where Minute Maid Park's retractable roof was open on a beautiful 72-degree night
The Braves faced their share of adversity this season, starting with the death of franchise legend Hank Aaron at age 86 in January. Aaron, a member of the club's 1957-title winners in Milwaukee, famously broke Babe Ruth's record of 715 home runs in Atlanta in 1974.
In April, amid growing pressure from civil rights advocates, MLB decided to move the 2021 All-Star Game away from Atlanta's Truist Park because of Georgia's new voting law. MLB's draft, which was slated to be held in Atlanta, was also relocated.
Georgia's new voting law, which limits voting access, had prompted calls from as high as the White House to move the midsummer classic out of Atlanta.
Then in May, outfielder and former All-Star Marcell Ozuna was arrested for aggravated assault strangulation and misdemeanor family violence after allegedly threatening to kill his wife during a physical altercation.
Police found bruising on is wife Gensis's body and although there were no red marks on her neck, 'the strangulation was witnessed by an officer,' according to a police affidavit. The argument originated over alleged infidelities, police say, although the specifics of the disagreement remain unclear.
In July, they lost star center fielder Ronald Acuña Jr. to a torn ACL in his right knee, which could keep him out until well into next season.
A month later, starting pitcher Mike Soroka tore an Achilles tendon, which ended his season as well.
The Braves had their share of adversity this season, starting with the death of franchise legend Hank Aaron at age 86 in January. Aaron, a member of the club's 1957-title winners in Milwaukee, famously broke Babe Ruth's record of 715 home runs in Atlanta in 1974 (pictured). Aaron was teammates in Atlanta with current Astros manager Dusty Baker
Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman (C) with Billye Aaron (R), widow of legend, Major League Baseball hall of famer Atlanta Braves Hank Aaron, after Hank Aaron Jr. (L), threw out the ceremony first pitch before Game 3
More recently, indigenous peoples advocacy groups ramped up accusations of racism over the Braves' name and 'tomahawk chop' chant after commissioner Rob Manfred defended both last month by citing support from southeastern Native American communities.
'The name ''Braves,'' the tomahawk adorning the team's uniform, and the ''tomahawk chop'' that the team exhorts its fans to perform at home games are meant to depict and caricature not just one tribal community but all Native people, and that is certainly how baseball fans and Native people everywhere interpret them,' National Congress of American Indians President Fawn Sharp said in a statement.
'In our discussions with the Atlanta Braves, we have repeatedly and unequivocally made our position clear -- Native people are not mascots, and degrading rituals like the 'tomahawk chop' that dehumanize and harm us have no place in American society,' Scott added.
The Braves are among the last holdouts using Native American branding in professional sports after both the Washington Football Team (nee: Redskins) and the Cleveland Guardians (nee: Indians) agreed to change their names in 2020.
Atlanta Braves fans do the tomahawk chop cheer during the first inning of Game 5 on Sunday night
A fan holds a sign stating 'the chop is racist' during the ninth inning in Game One of the World Series during the ninth inning at Minute Maid Park on Tuesday in Houston
Previously, in July of 2020, Braves Chairman Terry McGuirk and team president Derek Schiller said they spoke with various leaders from the Eastern Band of Cherokees, based in North Carolina, who remained in favor the name and chant.
Manfred was, presumably, referencing that 2020 exchange on October 26, when he cited local support for the name and chant during a press conference.
'The Native American community in that region is wholly supportive of the Braves program, including the chop,' Manfred. 'For me, that's kind of the end of the story. In that market, we're taking into account the Native American community.'
But the Atlanta Indigenous Peoples Association disagrees, saying they were not consulted and vehemently oppose the chop chant.
'We are frequently faced with that misrepresentation or that warrior savage imagery that our ancestors were killed for,' said Laura Cummings Balgari, co-director of the association, as quoted by CNN. 'Generally, we are represented as artifacts, people that aren't really real... but we are very much still a part of our tribal communities. We are living, breathing, evolving people just like any other group of people and we'd like to be recognized as that.'
Atlanta Indigenous Peoples Association co-director Laura Cummings Balgari, (right) rejects Manfred's claim, saying her group was not consulted and vehemently oppose the chop chant. Crystal EchoHawk (left), executive director and founder of IllumiNative, said the chop chant is both 'racist' and 'dehumanizing.' (Left) A fan holds up a sign proclaiming the 'chop' is 'racist.'
There is some disagreement over the Braves' team name, with the Atlanta Indigenous People Association and other groups supporting it, but the tomahawk chop chant is reviled by many organizations.
'This does not honor Cherokee traditions, nor do they honor our fellow tribes,' read a statement the Cherokee Nation, the largest US tribe, which opposes face paint, war chanting, or anything else that mocks Native Americans.
'The 574 federally recognized Native American tribes are each distinct, sovereign governments with their own unique history, culture and language, and should be respected as such, not as stereotypes or mischaracterizations or derogatory terms.'
Crystal EchoHawk, executive director and founder of IllumiNative, said the chop chant is both 'racist' and 'dehumanizing.'
'There's zero rationale for the team to hold on to this any longer,' EchoHawk said. 'I think it says that the franchise is very much a part of perpetuating and condoning racism full stop.'
Manfred's decision to accept input from only one Native American group doesn't sit well with the Oklahoma-based Muscogee Nation.
'I think on a subject like that and when you're dealing with Indian country you have to look at it as a whole instead of one or two specific places,' Jason Salsman, press secretary for the Muscogee Nation, told The Associated Press on Thursday.
Atlanta Braves fans do the Tomahawk Chop during the eighth inning of Game 5 on Sunday night
Richard Sneed, principal chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, would like to see more outrage about what he says are far bigger issues facing Native Americans, including poverty, unemployment, child abuse, sexual assaults and suicide.
'I'm not offended by somebody waving their arm at a sports game,' Sneed told the AP on Tuesday. 'I'm just not. If somebody is, that's their prerogative, it's their right. They can be offended. ... I don't know very many, maybe one or two, from my tribe who say, ''Yeah, I don't like that.'' But at the end of the day, we've got bigger issues to deal with.'
Sneed said the problems with crime and poverty remain largely ignored when the national attention has been on team names and the tomahawk chop.
'There's just so much happening and the frustrating part for me as a tribal leader is when the only issue that seems to be discussed is ... ''How offended are you by the chop and should the Braves change their name?''
'Really, it's the least of our problems, I guess is what I'm saying.'
There is no indication the Braves plan to change their name or discourage the chop, which has been a tradition for their fans since the early 1990s. Former Braves outfielder Deion Sanders is credited with bringing the chop, which was part of his college football background at Florida State, to Atlanta.
Sanders, now Jackson State's football coach, declined an interview request from the AP.
In college, Deion Sanders played football and baseball for the Florida State Seminoles - which also use a chant similar to Atlanta's tomahawk chop - and later played for MLB's Braves (right) and the NFL's Falcons (left)
Former Braves outfielder Deion Sanders is credited with bringing the chop, which was part of his college football background at Florida State, to Atlanta. Sanders (pictured), now Jackson State's football coach, declined an interview request from the AP
DONALD AND MELANIA TRUMP DO TOMAHAWK CHOP
Only months after calling for a boycott of Major League Baseball, former President Donald Trump did the tomahawk chop with Atlanta Braves fans at Game 4 of the World Series on Saturday night.
Trump stood beside former first lady Melania, as they chopped away with fans before the game between the Atlanta Braves and Houston Astros from a private suite.
It was the first time Melania had been seen in public since July, when she was spotted leaving the Trump Tower in New York City with son Barron, and the first time she had been seen with her husband since April.
Trump was expected to be joined by political allies, including US Senate candidate Herschel Walker.
Former President Donald Trump and his wife Melania perform the tomahawk chop before for Game 4 of baseball's World Series between the Houston Astros and the Atlanta Braves
The Tomahawk Chop sees people move their arm forwards and backwards with an open palm, simulating chopping that would be done with a Tomahawk, a single-handed ax, originally constructed by Native Americans.
Among the reasons the chop has been slammed for being offensive and promoting a racist stereotype or caricature of Native Americans.
'The name ''Braves,'' the tomahawk adorning the team's uniform, and the ''tomahawk chop'' that the team exhorts its fans to perform at home games are meant to depict and caricature not just one tribal community but all Native people, and that is certainly how baseball fans and Native people everywhere interpret them,' National Congress of American Indians President Fawn Sharp said in a statement on Wednesday.
'In our discussions with the Atlanta Braves, we have repeatedly and unequivocally made our position clear -- Native people are not mascots, and degrading rituals like the 'tomahawk chop' that dehumanize and harm us have no place in American society,' Scott added.
Trump released a statement in a mass email to his supporters Saturday about his planned World Series appearance:
'Looking forward to being at the World Series in Atlanta tonight. Thank you to the Commissioner of Baseball Rob Manfred, and Randy Levine, president of the New York Yankees, for the invite. Melania and I are looking forward to a wonderful evening watching two great teams!'
MLB denied ever making the invitation and said in a statement, 'He requested to attend the game.'
Among the reasons the chop is offensive is because it promotes a racist stereotype or caricature of Native Americans but the Trump's followed thousands of others in the crowd
Former football player and political candidate Herschel Walker interacts with former first lady and president of the United States Melania and Donald Trump. Trump was an owner of the New Jersey Generals when Walker played for the team in the now-defunct league, and they have maintained a relationship
The visit to Truist Park provided Trump an opportunity to be seen with Walker, the former University of Georgia Heisman Trophy winner and running back with the Dallas Cowboys, Minnesota Vikings and USFL New Jersey Generals.
Trump was an owner of the Generals when Walker played for the team in the now-defunct league, and they have maintained a relationship. Trump has encouraged Walker to run for Senate.
Indigenous peoples advocacy groups say the Braves' name and 'tomahawk chop' chant are both racist, but the Trump's went ahead and did it anyway
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell endorsed Walker on Wednesday. Walker is seeking to unseat Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock.
Trump encouraged a boycott of MLB games after Manfred removed the All-Star Game from Atlanta. The game instead was held in Denver.
President Joe Biden supported moving the game, though some Braves fans and businesses near Truist Park complained they were being unfairly punished.
Manfred's decision announced in April followed a protest of Georgia's new voting law, which includes an ID requirement for mail-in votes. Critics say the law will negatively affect communities of color.
Trump may have selected Atlanta in hopes of a more positive reception than he received in his last World Series appearance. When still in office, he was booed when he sat in the stands at Game 5 of the 2019 World Series between the Astros and Washington at Nationals Park.
Trump was not shown on the Truist Park video board before the game however one moment that was caught on camera between former president Trump together with his wife Melania happened when the former first lady's smile quickly drain away from her face.
It came just as the crowd had been cheering for the couple who even joined in the Braves signature 'Tomahawk' gesture prior to the start of the game.
Trump and Melania were both seen to be smiling broadly with the former president looking comfortable as he gestured and pointed to spectators who were waving back to him.
While television cameras were trained on the couple, Melania suddenly appeared to grow tired of the wave and point routine, and quickly turned away, rolling her eyes and her signature smile gone in an instant.
- Associated Press
Oh yea, and FJB!
by Stella 58