With their seven-game defeat of the New York Yankees in the ALCS, the Houston Astros have qualified for their second World Series. The Astros are not only playing for their first World Series victory but are also vying for the first Houston championship in any sport since 1995.
That year, the Houston Rockets won their second straight championship, sweeping the Orlando Magic 4-0 in the NBA Finals. Over the last 22 years, all three of Houston’s teams have contended for championships, but all have fallen short. Prior to 2017, only the 2005 Astros even reached the championship round since 1995.
Whether it’s sports, music, television, movies, politics, technology, or really anything else, the world has changed a great deal over the last 22 years.
We’ve already covered what was happening when the Los Angeles Dodgers last won a World Series. But what else was going on in the world in 1995, when Houston last had a team on top of the sports world?
1. Atlanta Braves finally get over championship hump
“The Team of the 90’s has its World Championship” were the famous words uttered by NBC’s Bob Costas when Atlanta’s Marquis Grissom hauled in a fly ball off the bat of Cleveland Indians second baseman Carlos Baerga to secure the 1995 World Series.
As it turned out, the “Team of the 90’s” label was premature. The New York Yankees wrestled the title away by winning in 1996, 1998, and 1999, with two of those wins (1996 and 1999) coming against the Braves. But that doesn’t change what a fixture Atlanta was in that era.
The Braves won every division title earned between 1991-2005 (with the strike, 1994 didn’t have division champs). Atlanta won pennants in 1991, 1992, 1995, 1996 and 1999. But the 1995 team was the only World Series champ of that run. To date, it’s also the only “Big Four” champion in Atlanta’s history. Finally, the Braves’ championship win in 1995 made the franchise the only one to win a World Series for three different cities (Boston, Milwaukee, Atlanta).
2. “Toy Story” released
The “Toy Story” franchise has been one of the most successful in movie history. It all began in November of 1995 when we were introduced to Woody, Buzz, and all of Andy’s toys.
The movie was overwhelmingly successful. It’s spun two spin-offs and a third is on the way. Characters like Woody and Buzz have become integral parts of cinema history over the last 22 years.
But truthfully, some of the historical significance of “Toy Story” goes beyond its success. It was the first computer-animated movie ever made and was Pixar’s first movie of any kind. It all started in November of 1995.
3. eBay founded
It was still early, but the Internet was becoming a more prevalent part of society in 1995. It was also the year that eBay — still one of the most recognizable sites on the web — launched.
With the click of a mouse, people around the world can get their hands on autographs, cards, golf clubs, vehicles, computers models, toys, and really, essentially anything that comes to mind. In some cases, they can be had at quite reasonable prices.
Online shopping has become a huge part of the world that we all live in. That didn’t start with eBay, but the San Jose company has certainly been a big part of it.
Pierre Omidyar got it all started 22 years ago.
4. Oklahoma City bombing kills 168 people
Unfortunately, not all memories are good. On April 19, a truck bombing occurred at the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. The perpetrators were Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols. Since the bombing occurred at ground level and the Day Care Center was on the second floor, 19 of the 168 fatalities were children.
Nichols is serving a life sentence. McVeigh eventually declined future appeals and was put to death on June 11, 2001.
At the time, the bombing was the deadliest act of terrorism perpetrated on American soil (since surpassed by the September 11 attacks). It remains the deadliest act of domestic terrorism in American history.
5. UCLA and UConn claim hardwood glory
In terms of college basketball championships, no schools can match the UCLA men or the UConn women. Both won titles in 1995. That would be interesting enough. But the 1995 championships served as a crossroads for the two iconic programs.
Most of UCLA’s glory came in the 1960’s and 1970’s under the legendary John Wooden. The Wizard of Westwood led his team to 10 championships from 1964-1975. In 1995, Jim Harrick led the Bruins to their first title since Wooden’s retirement. The 89-78 win over defending champion Arkansas in the finals gave UCLA it’s 11th and, to date, final championship.
While the Bruins won their last championship in 1995, the UConn women won their first. Led by coach Geno Auriemma and Player of the Year Rebecca Lobo, the Huskies posted a perfect season in 1995. That perfect season was capped off by a 70-64 win in the National Championship Game over Tennessee.
Ten of UCLA’s 11 titles came before 1995. Meanwhile, 10 of UConn’s 11 titles have come since 1995. But in April of 1995, the winningest programs in college basketball history stood together as champions.
6. O.J. Simpson trial takes place
Little more than one year after the famous white Bronco chase, Simpson was acquitted of the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman.
The murders and the famed white Bronco chase occurred in June of 1994. But the subsequent trial, dubbed The Trial of the Century, took place in 1995. Opening statements were made on January 24th, while Simpson was acquitted on October 3.
Short of actual new evidence, it would be essentially impossible to come up with a new opinion on the murders or following trial. We’re not even going to try here. But certainly, the result was one of the more controversial in American history.
Simpson has subsequently served time in jail for a non-related crime. He was released on October of 2017. In 1997, Simpson was found liable for the 1994 murders in a civil trial. Nobody has been brought to trial for the murders since Simpson’s acquittal.
7. A year of transition in the NFL
Even with a lot of movement and announced movement in recent years, 1995 was the king in terms of NFL teams being on the move.
The 1995 season started with two teams in new locations. The Raiders moved from Oakland to Los Angeles following the 1981 season. But in 1995, the Silver and Black returned home and became the Oakland Raiders again. Additionally, the Los Angeles Rams left their longtime home and became the St. Louis Rams in 1995. Neither move took. In 2016, the Rams returned to Los Angeles. The Raiders, meanwhile, will become the Las Vegas Raiders by 2020 and could move as early as 2019.
Two other franchises announced moves in 1995, both of which would be completed within two years.
In November, hearts around Cleveland were broken when Art Modell announced his plans to move the Cleveland Browns to Baltimore. That franchise became known as the Baltimore Ravens in 1996 while the Browns re-launched in 1999, keeping the records and colors of the old team.
Also in November, Bud Adams made it known that the Houston Oilers would move to Tennessee. The Oilers remained in Houston through the 1996 season, moved to Tennessee in 1997, and became the Tennessee Titans in 1999.
8. Important year in music history
Diversity in musical styles ruled 1995.
Top singles included Coolio’s “Gangsta’s Paradise,” TLC hits “Waterfalls” and “Creep,” Seal’s “Kiss from a Rose” and “On Bended Knee.”
Another top single still receiving significant airtime is 2Pac’s “California Love.” Its chart success came in 1996, but the song was recorded and released late in 1995. To this day, if you attend a sporting event in California, you’re likely to hear the song. You could well hear it during the World Series, as it’s the song that Dodgers’ closer Kenley Jansen enters to at Dodger Stadium.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXAMn3Pgjg8
Some of the top albums to come out that year included Cracked Rear View from Hootie and the Blowfish, (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? from Oasis, The Smashing Pumpkins’ Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, and Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill.
Additionally, The Beatles Anthology documentary series aired in three different parts in November. The first album of the same name also debuted that year.
On top of all of that, while the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was founded in 1983, the building itself opened in Cleveland in 1995.
We can debate what year was the most significant to the popular music scene. But 1995 sure has its place in the discussion.
9. NBC’s “Must See TV” dominates television
It goes without saying that tastes are subjective. So, were not going to get into what shows are the best. But we will point out that in terms of long-term success, it would be darn difficult to beat what NBC was turning out on Thursday nights.
Its “Must See TV” lineup included Friends, Seinfeld, and ER. The three shows have a combined 24 Primetime Emmy wins (ER also has a slew of Creative Arts Emmys) and lasted a combined 34 seasons. NBC had all of them airing on one night in 1995. As if that wasn’t enough, the Peacock also had Frasier and its 37 Emmys. To top it all off, while this is something of a subjective statement, all shows were in their primes that year, as well.
There’s no doubt that 1995 was a good year for NBC.
10. Cal Ripken Jr. sets consecutive games record
On June 21, 1925, Yankees’ legend Lou Gehrig entered a game as a pinch hitter. He wouldn’t miss another until May 2, 1939, perhaps showing early signs of the illness that would ultimately take his life and eventually bare his name. In total, he played in 2,130 consecutive games. That stood as a record until September 6, 1995. That’s when Baltimore Orioles shortstop Cal Ripken Jr. played in his 2,131st of what would be 2,632 games.
Watching the game was a truly unforgettable experience. With the Orioles leading the then California Angels, the game became official after the top of the fifth inning. More than 20 minutes passed between the final out of the top of the fifth and the first pitch of the bottom of the inning. Ripken was treated to a tremendous ovation from the Baltimore fans, his teammates, and opponents. He eventually took a victory lap around the Field at Camden Yards, shaking hands and high-fiving any fan that could reach him.
Baseball was arguably at its lowest place since the 1919 Black Sox Scandal in 1995. A strike had cancelled the World Series in 1994 and extended into the following season. For the first time in more than a year, MLB had something to be truly proud of. While Ripken was a Hall of Fame player, there have certainly been better players. But outside of Babe Ruth and Jackie Robinson, one would be hard pressed to find a player who was as important to the sport in a real time of need.
Other Events
— After years of near misses, legendary coach Tom Osborne won his first National Championship when his Nebraska Cornhuskers won it with a 24-17 win the 1995 Orange Bowl. The Huskers would defend their title in the 1995 season with a rout of Florida in the 1996 Fiesta Bowl.
— Fittingly enough, Windows 95 launched in 1995. It would be replaced three years later, but Windows 95 introduced users to some features that we still use today, including the task button and start bar.
— The DVD was developed in 1995. It would eventually replace VHS as the way that people watched movies at home.
— The Dallas Cowboys ruled the early 90’s, winning three of four Super Bowls. The lone non-win came in 1995. Two weeks after defeating Dallas in the NFC Championship Game, the San Francisco 49ers defeated the San Diego Chargers in Super Bowl XXIX, covering one of the most lopsided point spreads in the game’s history in the process.
— In 1973, the highly controversial National Maximum Speed Law was passed, making 55 the national speed limit. In 1995, it was repealed.
— The world met a new James Bond in 1995. Pierce Brosnan took over the 007 reins from Timothy Dalton in GoldenEye. It was the first James Bond film made after the fall of the Soviet Union. It was also the first Bond movie in six years. That remains the longest break between films since Dr. No got the franchise started in 1962.