The year in 1996 sports was marked by one in which proud franchises or programs returned to the top after what each would consider a lengthy absence. Continuing the theme would be a singularly great player who made a celebrated return and led his team on a historic run.
The New York Yankees had not been in the World Series for fifteen years when they won the American League pennant and reached the Fall Classic in 1996. The Atlanta Braves had become regulars, with the 1996 World Series being their fourth appearance in the last five tries. Though the respective histories of each organization was quite different before and would be different after, the intersecting year of 1996 saw the Braves in the role of dynasty and heavy favorite and the Yankees of aspiring underdog.