Braves-Dodgers Rivalry: A Curse Unveiled

Braves Vs Dodgers

'The Curse of Chavez Ravine: A True Crime Mystery in Dodgers vs. Braves History'

Los Angeles, October 2021 – The Atlanta Braves had just stunned the Dodgers in the NLCS, ending their World Series hopes. But for superstitious fans, the victory carried an eerie weight—another chapter in a decades-old saga of bad luck, questionable trades, and whispers of a curse tied to the land beneath Dodger Stadium itself.

The Disappearance of Eddie Mathews (1966)

The feud between the Braves and Dodgers traces back to the 1950s when both clubs were still in New York and Milwaukee. But things took a dark turn in 1966, when Braves legend Eddie Mathews—a fierce Dodgers rival—was traded to Houston under murky circumstances. Just months later, he ended up in a Dodgers uniform, a betrayal that stunned fans.

Mathews' career withered in Los Angeles. Some say it was karma. Others point to something more sinister—rumors that Braves executives had 'sabotaged' the deal, knowing the Dodgers' infatuation with Mathews would backfire. Was it revenge for Brooklyn’s 1957 collapse against Milwaukee?

The Secret Scouting Files (1982)

In 1982, the Braves and Dodgers battled for the NL West crown. Atlanta's GM, John Mullen, later admitted the team had an unusual edge: a mole inside the Dodgers organization. A scout had been leaking pitching strategies to the Braves, helping them crush L.A. in key games. The Dodgers suspected espionage but could never prove it.

The Bizarre Sid Bream Game (1992 NLCS)

The darkest moment came in 1992. The Dodgers had just been knocked out of contention when the Braves faced Pittsburgh in the NLCS. In Game 7, Sid Bream—a former Dodger—scored the series-winning run on a controversial slide.

But here’s where it gets weird: Bream had chronic knee issues and shouldn’t have been fast enough to beat the throw. Years later, a Pirates coach claimed the Braves had doctored the baseline to make it slicker, ensuring Bream’s slide would be unimpeded. No investigation was ever opened.

The Curse of Chavez Ravine

Some Braves fans believe their team is hexed whenever they play in Los Angeles. The land beneath Dodger Stadium—formerly Chavez Ravine—was seized in a controversial 1950s land grab, displacing Mexican-American families. A few old-timers in Atlanta swear they’ve seen a shadowy figure in a Dodgers cap lurking near the Braves’ dugout during losses.

In 2013, when the Braves blew a huge division lead to the Dodgers, a clubhouse attendant reported hearing whispers in Spanish near the bullpen. When he turned, no one was there.

The 2021 NLCS: A Reckoning?

When the Braves eliminated the Dodgers in 2021, some saw it as breaking the curse. But then Atlanta lost the World Series—to a team (Houston) with its own dark history of cheating. Coincidence?

Or was it the curse’s final revenge?

To this day, Braves-Dodgers games carry an air of unresolved tension. And somewhere, in the echoes of Chavez Ravine, old ghosts may still be keeping score.

(Based on real rivalries, with eerie embellishments.)

Braves-Dodgers Rivalry: A Curse Unveiled

Report Page