memories

Atlanta is honoring its worst-to-first 1991 team today at Turner Field, so here we’ll give a nod to the two local connections who played on that team. Greg Olson, a member of the Jackson Mets’ Texas League championship teams of 1984 and ’85, was the Braves’ No. 1 catcher in 1991. Best known for his defense, he hit .241 with six homers and 44 RBIs in 133 games. Also on that club was former Jackson State pitcher Marvin Freeman, a huge (6 feet 6, at least) right-hander who worked 48 innings over 34 games and posted a win, a save and a 3.00 ERA. The ’91 Braves, in Bobby Cox’s first full year back in the dugout, won 94 games after winning just 65 the year before and took Minnesota to seven games in one of the best World Series ever played.

P.S. Ernesto Mejia matched the Mississippi Braves’ record with his 19th home run on Friday night. Matt Esquivel hit 19 in 2007. Esquivel was suspended before the end of that season — for the second straight year — and ultimately released by Atlanta. He is still playing in independent ball. He’s batting .343 with 11 bombs and 48 RBIs for the Long Island Ducks, and he also won the Atlantic League’s home run derby last month.