The 1991 National League Championship Series was played between the Atlanta Braves and the Pittsburgh Pirates, with the Braves coming out on top in the series 4-3. It was considered one of the best-pitched 7-game series of the modern era, featuring three 1 to nothing finishes. The Braves went on to lose in the World Series to the Minnesota Twins in seven games.

The Braves were heavily favored in this series, and they did come out on top, but the Pirates put up an incredible fight and would get it to a seventh game.

Umpires: Doug Harvey, Frank Pulli , Dana DeMuth , Eric Gregg , Bob Davidson , Bruce Froemming

Series MVP - Steve Avery

Contents

1 Game 1 2 Game 2 3 Game 3 4 Game 4 5 Game 5 6 Game 6 7 Game 7

Game 1

October 9 - Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh

The Pirates proved they would be tough to eliminate early when they stifled the Braves offense behind Cy Young Award winner Doug Drabek and beat them 5-1. Pittsburgh center fielder Andy Van Slyke had a home run and a double off Braves starter Tom Glavine. David Justice hit a solo home run for the Braves only run.

Game 2

October 10 - Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh

In the 2nd game, both teams were pretty stifled by the outstanding pitching performences of Zane Smith for Pittsburgh and especially Steve Avery for Atlanta. However, Avery and the Braves would come out on top 1-0, after Mark Lemke picked up a double and the only RBI of the game in the 6th inning. Orlando Pena got the save and the combined shutout was complete. The series was now tied 1-1.

Game 3

October 12 - Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta

The Braves piled it on in Game 3 winning 10-3 and getting home runs from Ron Gant , Greg Olsen , and Sid Bream . Many believed it was all over for the Pirates, but those people were very wrong.

Game 4

October 13 - Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta

The lone extra inning game of the classic series came here in Atlanta in front of a crowd of 51,109. Many said that this was one of the best playoff games of all time. It was 2-2 after 9 innings. The scoring in the first 9 innings was over after the 5th inning. The Pirates had gotten their runs on a Don Slaught single and a Don Bell single along with a Braves error. The Braves got their 2 runs in the first inning on three straight singles and an error.

There was only one extra inning, the 10th, and the Pirates would tie the series with a run in the top of the 10th when Mike LaValliere singled in Van Slyke who had stolen second after being walked by Kent Mercker , and a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the 10th would follow. The Pirates had won but were schedule to face Glavine in Game 5.

Game 5

October 14 - Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta

Zane Smith had his second excellent game of the series, but this time he won, beating Glavine and the Braves 1-0 in almost a mirror image of Smith's start in Game 2. However, in Game 2, Smith had given up the one run and lost.

The lone run in this game came when Jose Lind hit a simple RBI single in the fifth. Amazingly, yet another amazing pitching deul was in store for Game 6 between Avery and Drabek, two of the best pitchers in the major leagues.

Game 6

October 16 - Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh would host one of the best pitcher's deuls of all time on October 16 1991 between Steve Avery and Doug Drabek. But in the end, identical to Avery's last start, a combination of him an Pena shutout the Pirates for all 9 innings. The Pirates only got 4 hits. This time, however, after the 8th inning the Braves didn't have a run either. Drabek was matching Avery, pitch for pitch. But in the 9th inning, with the score tied 0-0, Olsen doubled to left to score Gant and take the lead off of weary Drabek. He had pitched a complete game, but was the loser after the Piirates couldn't get Gary Varsho home from third in the bottom of the 9th.

Game 7

October 17 - Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh

In this game 7, the Braves scored 3 in the first partly on a Brian Hunter 2-run home run and simply never looked back. Many said the Pirates lost because they didn't have Smith or Drabek available when they should have. Instead John Smiley made the start and lost to John Smoltz who shutout the depressed Pirates. The Braves won 4-0 and won the amazing series 4-3.

Avery won the series MVP award. Pitching 16.1 innings, the Braves starter did not allow an earned run, giving up 9 hits and walking 4 while striking out 17. Avery said, "It's been the best time of my life."