num_pages: 224
description: In 1991 they were destiny's darlings, the miracle team whose leap from last place to first captured the nation's imagination. And even though they lost the World Series in a nail-biting seventh game that was scoreless into extra innings, many saw them as redeemers of baseball through their spirit and seeming selflessness, which were in stark contrast to the money-crazed and joyless air that pervades most of modern baseball. So young and so talented, they seemed ready for a long run at the top of the standings. But climbing to the top is always easier than staying there. The financial structure of modern baseball makes it devilishly hard to keep a good team, even a young one, together, even when backed by the nearly limitless resources of a Ted Turner. Players take the team to arbitration to win huge raises, or get into long, testy negotiations that leave bitter feelings. Players who are platooned chafe at their inability to post the big numbers that will lead to big contracts. All these factors and more make it very hard to repeat as champions; no team has won back-to-back World Series since 1977-78, the infancy of the free-agent era. Tomahawked! is the untold story of the Atlanta Braves' pursuit of the 1992 championship, looking inside a clubhouse that is not nearly as simple and happy as most accounts have indicated. We meet Deion Sanders, the two-sport superstud whose fast start demonstrates his superstar potential, but whose divided loyalties between the Braves and the Atlanta Falcons present an ongoing distraction; David Justice, the handsome young slugger with the movie star fiancee, who bounces back from a dreadful first few months but never warms the hearts of teammates put off by his arrogance; Terry Pendleton, the true leader of the club, who takes on the manager's role as behind-closed-door counselor, helping to keep the team playing as a team; John Smoltz, the talented starting pitcher whose dependence on a sports psychologist leads some front offic
language: English
title: Tomahawked: Inside Story of the Atlanta Braves Tumultuous Season
titlecomplete: Tomahawked: Inside Story of the Atlanta Braves Tumultuous Season
genres: Sports
ratings_count: 21
publisher: Simon & Schuster