Braves-Cubs Rivalry

Lore & Background

The Mets joined the NL in 1962 as an expansion team, before the leagues were split into divisions, and when the Braves were still in Milwaukee. Due to Major League Baseball wishing to keep the Cardinals and Cubs together in the same division when each league was split into divisions in 1969, Atlanta was forced to join the National League West and were led by Hank Aaron. In 1966, pitching prospect Tom Seaver signed a contract with the Braves when they drafted him in the first round of the secondary June draft (20th overall). But the contract was voided by Baseball Commissioner William Eckert because Seaver's college team had played two exhibition games already that year, despite the fact that Seaver himself did not play in the games. Seaver intended, then, to finish the college season, but because he had signed a pro contract, the NCAA ruled him ineligible. After Seaver's father complained to Eckert about the unfairness of the situation and threatened with a lawsuit, Eckert ruled that other teams could match the Braves' offer. The Mets were subsequently awarded his signing rights in a lottery drawing among the three teams (the Philadelphia Phillies and Cleveland Indians being the two others) that were willing to match the Braves' terms. Seaver went on to have a Hall of Fame career with the Mets, having his jersey retired by the organization. The main cause of the rivalry was division realignment. With the Colorado Rockies and Florida Marlins entering play as expansion teams in the National League in 1993, MLB Commissioner Fay Vincent ordered realignment of the league, ordering the Braves and the Cincinnati Reds moved to the NL East, and the Chicago Cubs and rival St. Louis Cardinals to the NL West to rectify the geographical anomaly MLB created when realigning in 1969. However, the Mets and the Cubs voted against the plan. Although Vincent's vision never really came into fruition, as he resigned shortly after announcing plans to realign the NL, MLB did in fact realign in 1994, albeit in the form of three divisions in each league, and the addition of an expanded playoff format. When agreeing on the realignment, the Pittsburgh Pirates switched to the newly created Central Division and gave up their spot in the NL East to the Braves. The Braves had already established themselves as one of the dominant teams in baseball prior to realignment with appearances in tw

In Their Own Story

The lights hummed over Wrigley Field as the crowd roared for a strikeout in the ninth inning. Dust kicked up from the infield dirt under the cleats of a veteran pitcher winding up on the mound. It was one of those nights where history felt heavy, the weight of decades pressing down on the diamond. Fans in navy and red watched intently, knowing this game was just another battle in a war that had lasted longer than most nations existed. The crack of the bat echoed into the Chicago night, sealing a moment that would be remembered by scouts and historians alike.

Reader's Guide

Notable venues include Turner Field. The source does not mention Truist Park.

Did You Know?

• The Braves–Mets rivalry was particularly fierce during the late 1990s and early 2000s.
• Tom Seaver's signing rights were awarded to the Mets in a lottery drawing after his contract with the Braves was voided.
• The 'Miracle Mets' swept the Braves in the 1969 NLCS en route to their first World Series championship.
• The rivalry came to a visible head with the John Rocker controversy in 1999.