Thursday, October 28, 1999
Boone proud of team
Braves overcame a lot to get to Series
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
NEW YORK — Bret Boone wanted to issue a gentle reminder: This has been an extremely trying year for the Atlanta Braves.
So even though they teetered on the brink of elimination in the 95th World Series as they entered Wednesday night's Game 4 against the New York Yankees, Boone pointed out that the Braves have performed on a remarkable level, given the adversity they've faced.
“It was a tough road for us this year, to win 103 games and beat two tough teams, Houston and (the Mets), to get to this point,” said Boone, the former Reds second baseman who entered the game hitting a Series-best .600 (6-for-10).
Boone cited the stars and standouts the Braves lost to injuries: first baseman Andres Galarraga, catcher Javy Lopez and closer Kerry Ligtenberg, among others.
“It happens to a lot of teams,” Boone said. “But for us to win as many games as we did and get by with a lot of our main guys out of there, I know everybody is pretty darned proud of what we've done this year.”
Boone's previous World Series experience came as a batboy with Philadelphia in 1980, when his father, Bob, was the Phillies' starting catcher as they defeated Kansas City in six games. That experience, said Boone, pales alongside this one.
“There's a lot of difference between being a player and being a little kid running around probably driving people nuts,” said Boone, 30. “This is everything I could imagine it to be. Just the crowds and pregame ceremonies will give you goose bumps.”
Boone did what he could to turn the Series in Atlanta's favor during Tuesday night's Game 3, doubling in each of his first three at-bats in a 4-for-5 evening. But the Braves still lost in 10 innings, 6-5.
But he was involved in an odd-looking play in the fourth inning, after his third double drove in Gerald Williams with what proved to be Atlanta's final run. Boone seemed to have a good shot at succeeding on an attempted steal of third, but was thrown out.
“It felt like when I dove that I stuck,” he said.
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