Former LU Stars Shine in NL Playoff Series By Dr. Al Snyder
they have Liberty baseball fans cheered for both teams during therealized that there was still a great void in their 1991 National League championship series between the lives," Bream explained. "Even for a pro player, that void Atlanta Braves and the Pittsburgh Pirates. And with goodcan only be filled by Christ." reason. In the Atlanta line-up at first base was Sid Bream, Bream and Tomlin were teammates on the Pirates and in the Pittsburgh starting pitching rotation was Randy during the 1990 National League championship series. Bream played three Tomlin, both former baseball stars at LU. Late in the third game of the series, Bream stepped to years for the Los Angethe plate and blasted a 400-foot home run to center field,les Dodgers and five adding the knockout punch to a Braves' victory. A T V years for the Pirates, camera quickly switched to the left field stands and zoomedreaching the play-offs in on a big, white-sheet banner which read, "Liberty for the first time in 1990. University loves Sid Bream," proudly held up by L U Tomlin had been called up by the Pirates in professors Dr. Carl and Carolyn Diemer. "It was great to know that some Liberty friends were August 1990, but he was not included in the there cheering for me,"Bream said. Tomlin started on the mound for the Pirates in game team's post-season four, but ran into trouble quickly when the Braves scoredroster and did not play two quick runs in the first inning. Tomlin then struck outin the series. Tomlin said that slugger Ron Gant for the third out and settled d o w n to Bream was a great help pitch scoreless ball for the next six innings. The Pirates to him when he first won, 3-2, in the tenth. "It was a thrill to be playing in the championship came up with the Piseries," Tomlin said. "And it was a special moment to m e rates. "Having Sid to strike out Gant and get out of trouble. If he had come there as a Christian friend helped m e a lot through with a hit, I would have been out of there." The Braves went on to win the National League cham- in m y adjustments to pionship in a gruelling series, four games to three. H o w - the majors," Tomlin ever, facing the Minnesota Twins for the World Series explained. They also talked together during the 1991 season whenever their championship, the teams played each other. They even talked during the Braves fought another championship series. "But I had to try to remember that tight and tense series, Randy was m y opponent," Bream quipped. falling short by the Bream added that Tomlin has been a tremendous major same margin, four league pitcher in his first full year, and that, barring games to three. injuries, he has the potential to stay up there in the majors "Although it was for a long time. definitely a thrill to First-baseman Bream holds numerous L U batting play in the World Serecords from his three-year Flames' career from 1979-81. ries," Bream related, H e hit for an amazing career batting average of .435. He "by the end I was alalso blasted 19 home runs during a single season and 38 most a mental zombie. in his three years. Tomlin w o n 18 games during his I'm glad I had the Flames' career, but even more impressive was his career Lord!" he added. 2.98 earned run average. "I'm so glad I have H o w could the Atlanta Braves pull off that unprecsomething to hold m e edented miracle of rising from last place to first in their up that the players division in one year? "They went out and aquired some w h o are not Christians good players with good attitudes, not necessarily the do not have," Bream greatest talent," Bream explained. "They had been a good continued. "It's tough young team on the verge of doing something , but they in the majors in lots of needed some help," he continued. "The new players ways. I don't know h o w the guys without Christ go through baseball. I'm brought not only some experience, but also the key ingredient of confidence that w e could win. And, of course, we always glad I have the Lord," he emphasized. Tomlin concurred with Bream's feelings. "As a Chris- did." tian, I a m able to keep things in perspective," he said. "The D o the Braves have what it takes to repeat as West Lord has helped m e with the struggles both on and off the Division champions in 1992? "There is no doubt!" Bream field," he added. "So I try to play for the Lord first, not fordeclared. " W e should be even better next season." other people." Can the Pirates also repeat as East Division champs in Bream said that Christianity is "on the upturn" in pro 1992? "Absolutely. I a m expecting it," Tomlin emphasports and that a good number of major league baseball sized. "I believe w e have the best defense and the best players have trusted Christ in the past few years. pitching staff in the division. Our pitchers are not over"They have had all the money they could hope for, and powering, but each one does his best to keep us in the they have experienced the thrill of accomplishment, but game and give us a char'"0 ¥r tT\ T*Mt78
