1996 World Series

1996 World Series
Team (Wins) Manager(s) Season
New York Yankees (4) Joe Torre 92–70, .568, GA: 4
Atlanta Braves (2) Bobby Cox 96–66, .593, GA: 8
DatesOctober 20–26
VenueYankee Stadium (New York)
Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium (Atlanta)
MVPJohn Wetteland (New York)
UmpiresJim Evans (AL, crew chief), Terry Tata (NL), Tim Welke (AL), Steve Rippley (NL), Larry Young (AL), Gerry Davis (NL)
Hall of FamersYankees:
Wade Boggs
Derek Jeter
Tim Raines
Mariano Rivera
Joe Torre (manager)
Braves:
Bobby Cox (manager)
John Schuerholz (GM)
Tom Glavine
Chipper Jones
Greg Maddux
Fred McGriff
John Smoltz
Broadcast
TelevisionFox (United States)
MLB International (International)
CTV Television Network (Canada)
TV announcersJoe Buck, Tim McCarver and Bob Brenly (Fox)
Gary Thorne and Rick Cerone (MLB International)
RadioCBS
WABC (NYY)
WSB (ATL)
Radio announcersVin Scully and Jeff Torborg (CBS)
John Sterling and Michael Kay (WABC)
Skip Caray, Pete Van Wieren, Don Sutton and Joe Simpson (WSB)
ALCSNew York Yankees over Baltimore Orioles (4–1)
NLCSAtlanta Braves over St. Louis Cardinals (4–3)
World Series program
← 1995 World Series 1997 →

The 1996 World Series was the championship series of Major League Baseball's (MLB) 1996 season. The 92nd edition of the World Series, it was a best-of-seven playoff between the National League (NL) champion (and defending World Series champion) Atlanta Braves and the American League (AL) champion New York Yankees. The Yankees defeated the Braves four games to two to capture their first World Series title since 1978 and their 23rd overall. The series was played from October 20–26, 1996, and was broadcast on television on Fox. Yankees relief pitcher John Wetteland was named the World Series Most Valuable Player for saving all four Yankee wins.

The Yankees advanced to the World Series by defeating the Texas Rangers in the AL Division Series, three games to one, and then the Baltimore Orioles in the AL Championship Series, four games to one. It was the Yankees' first appearance in a World Series since 1981. The Braves advanced to the Series by defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL Division Series, three games to none, and then the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Championship Series, four games to three. It was the Braves' second consecutive appearance in a World Series.

The Yankees lost the first two games at home, being outscored by the Braves, 16–1. However, they rebounded to win the next four games, the last three in close fashion, including a dramatic comeback win in Game 4 to tie the series. They became the third team to win a World Series after losing Games 1 and 2 at their home stadium, following the Kansas City Royals in 1985 and the New York Mets in 1986. They also became the first team since the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1981 to win four consecutive games in a World Series after losing the first two. As of 2022, this is the last time any team has lost Games 1 & 2 at home in a best-of-seven series (LCS or World Series) and come back to win the series.

Game 5 was the final game to be played at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium, as the Braves moved into Turner Field the following season. Atlanta became the only city to host the World Series and the Olympics in the same year and Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium became the only stadium to host baseball in an Olympics and the World Series in the same year. The Yankees victory also resulted in general manager Bob Watson becoming the first African-American general manager to win the World Series.[1][2]

  1. ^ Goldstein, Richard (May 15, 2020). "Bob Watson, Baseball's First Black General Manager, Dies at 74". The New York Times. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  2. ^ "Bob Watson, L.A. product, MLB all-star and first black GM to win a World Series, dies at 74". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. May 15, 2020. Retrieved October 28, 2020.

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