Braves Vault: Andruw finds the upper deck

March 10th, 2022

MLB.com is digging back into its massive video vault to uncover classic plays that you have loved, forgotten about or, perhaps, are discovering for the very first time. Watch these moments and many, many more on the MLB Vault YouTube page.

June 21, 1997: Andruw Jones' upper-deck homer
Just a few months into his first full Major League season, Andruw Jones hit a jaw-dropping homer that reached the upper deck at Philadelphia's Veterans Stadium. Jones' monstrous two-run shot was hit during the fifth inning of a 9-8 win over the Phillies. The great center fielder turned on a Matt Beech fastball and watched it sail deep over the left-center field wall. Former Braves broadcaster Skip Caray reacted by saying, "How far is it going to go? Wow."

May 17, 1996: Jermaine Dye homers in first career at-bat
A few months before Andruw Jones, Atlanta fans anxiously welcomed Jermaine Dye. Dye was a respected prospect when he made his MLB debut for the Braves on May 17. The outfielder added to the splendor of the occasion by homering his first time up at the plate. His fifth-inning solo shot off Marcus Moore helped the Braves gain an 8-2 win over the Reds. Dye hit .281 with 12 homers and a .763 OPS over 98 games for the Braves. But Dye didn't share a long career with Jones, who made his much-anticipated debut for Atlanta in three months later. Concerns about plate discipline influenced the Braves' decision to trade Dye and Jamie Walker to the Royals for Michael Tucker and Keith Lockhart before the start of the 1997 season.

Aug. 16, 1996: Andruw Jones' first home run
Jones made his MLB debut on Aug. 15. The next day, the highly touted 19-year-old outfielder tallied the first of the 434 homers he hit during his big league career. Jones' first home run came at the expense of Pirates left-hander Denny Neagle. The young phenom tripled in the first inning and then fueled a four-run fifth with his one-out homer. After the solo shot cleared the left-field wall, Braves broadcaster Don Sutton said, "Let's put it this way. The only buses he'll be riding now are from the hotel to the ballpark."

July 25, 1992: Nixon climbs the wall
Andruw Jones' Spider Man catch isn't necessarily the best home run-preventing catch made by a Braves outfielder. Some might give that honor to Otis Nixon, who saved the day in a 1-0 win over the Pirates at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. Pittsburgh center fielder Andy Van Slyke came to the plate with one on and one out in the ninth. His long drive off Alejandro Pena seemed destined to clear the right-center-field wall. But Nixon sprinted toward the wall, climbed it with his left foot and rose with his glove to deny the Pirates of what would have been a go-ahead home run. Beloved broadcaster Skip Caray paused before saying, "He caught the ball, he caught the ball. I can't believe it. What a catch by Otis Nixon."

July 11, 1992: Deion's blast puts Braves ahead
Long before he became a college football coach and teamed with Nick Saban in Geico commercials, Deion Sanders was a two-sport star who thrilled both MLB and NFL fans. Though speed was his greatest skill, he also provided some pop, which he displayed during this 3-1 win over the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Otis Nixon opened the eighth inning with a single and Sanders followed with a two-run homer off Bob Scanlan to give the Braves a 2-1 lead. Sanders hit a career-high eight homers and added a league-leading 14 triples during the 1992 season.

May 17, 1970: Hank Aaron's 3,000th hit
In observance of what would have been Aaron's 88th birthday on Feb. 5, here is a look at his 3,000th hit. The milestone hit was an infield single recorded in the second game of a doubleheader at Cincinnati's Crosley Field on May 17, 1970. With this single, Aaron became the first player in MLB history to record 3,000 hits and 500 home runs in a career. Stan Musial was present and participated in an in-game celebration. At the time, Aaron, Musial and Paul Waner were the only players who had reached the 3,000-hit milestone since 1925.

June 16, 1991: Nixon steals six bases
Still irked the Expos had traded him to the Braves just before the start of the 1991 season, Otis Nixon had fun while recording an NL record six stolen bases in Montreal. Nixon stole second and third base following each of the three singles he registered against his former team. The six stolen bases still stands as an MLB record. Nixon tied the record Eddie Collins had set in 1912. The only other players to reach this mark are Carl Crawford and Braves first-base coach Eric Young Sr.

June 19, 1991: Glavine ejected after throwing at Murph
Tom Glavine and Dale Murphy are two of the most beloved figures in Braves history. They were also on opposite ends of an uncomfortable situation on June 19, 1991, a year after Murphy had been traded to the Phillies. After Philadelphia reliever Roger McDowell plunked Otis Nixon in the top of the ninth, Glavine was sent back out for the bottom of the inning with the Braves leading 9-2. The lefty had already thrown 125 pitches. So, instead of going for a complete game, he just heeded the instruction to hit the first batter he faced, which happened to be Murphy. Glavine threw four soft pitches, none of which hit his former teammate. But he calmly walked toward the dugout when the final pitch left home-plate umpire Bob Davidson no choice but to eject Glavine and Braves manager Bobby Cox.

July 25, 1972: Aaron clubs All-Star Game homer in Atlanta
Hank Aaron collected a plethora of great memories while being selected to play in 25 All-Star Games. One of the greatest memories was the two-run homer he hit to propel the National League to a 4-3 win over the AL in the 1972 All-Star Game at Atlanta Stadium. Aaron delighted the hometown Braves fans with the two-run homer he hit off Gaylord Perry in the sixth inning. This was the last of the two extra-base hits totaled over 67 All-Star at-bats by this iconic slugger. His first All-Star homer was a solo shot off Vida Blue in the third inning of the '71 contest, which was played in Detroit.

Oct. 14, 1992: Justice's arm sets stage during 1992 NLCS thriller
Longtime Braves fans know exactly where they were when David Justice hit the decisive homer in the 1995 World Series and when Sid Bream slid across the plate with the walk-off run in the 1992 NLCS. But some might not remember the great throw Justice made in the eighth inning of Game 7 of the '92 NLCS.

The Braves right fielder grabbed Jeff King's double at the edge of the right field corner and fired a one-hop strike that catcher Damon Berryhill snagged before tagging Orlando Merced, who was attempting to score from first base. Instead of grabbing a 3-0 lead, the Pirates maintained a two-run advantage, which the Braves erased with their series-clinching three-run ninth.