Bob Horner timeline

Born: August 6, 1957
1975: Drafted by Oakland A's (Did not sign)
1977: College World Series Outstanding Player
1977-78: All American at Arizona State University
1978: Golden Spikes Award
1978: Drafted by Atlanta Braves
Debut: June 16, 1978
1978: Homered in first MLB game (off Bert Blyleven)
1982: All Star
1982: .261, 32 HR, 97 RBI, .851 OPS
1982: Braves win NL West
1986: Hit 4 Home Runs in one game
1987: Played in Japan
1988: Signed by St Louis Cardinals
1989: Retired
1994: Dropped off Hall of Fame Ballot (0% of vote)
2006: College Baseball Hall of Fame

Accomplishments:
1978 Rookie of the Year
1982 All Star
July 1980 Player of the Month
4x Player of the Week
4 Home Run Game (July 6, 1986)
Never played in minor leagues
College Baseball Hall of Fame
.277
218 HR
685 RBI
1047 Hits
560 Runs
.499 SLG
.839 OPS
20+ HR: 7x
30+ HR: 3x
90+ RBI: 2x
.314 (1979)
.500 SLG: 4x
.911 OPS (1983)
Postseason: .091, 0 HR, 0 RBI, .182 OPS (1982 NLCS)

Lonnie Smith timeline

Born: December 22, 1955
1974: Drafted by Philadelphia Phillies
1974-8: Minor Leagues
Debut: September 2, 1978 (Phillies)
1980: Phillies win World Series
1981: Phillies lose NLDS
1981: Traded to St Louis Cardinals
1982: All-Star
1982: 68 SB
1982: Cards win World Series
1983: Drug Rehab
1985: Traded to Kansas City Royals
1985: Pittsburgh Drug Trials
1985: Royals win World Series
1988: Signed with Atlanta Braves
1989: Comeback Player of the Year
1989: .315, 21 HR, 79 RBI, 34 Doubles, .948 OPS, 25 SB
1990: Braves win NL West
1991: Braves win Pennant
1992: Braves win Pennant
1993: Signed with Pittsburgh Pirates
1993: Traded to Baltimore Orioles
1994: Retired
2000: Dropped off Hall of Fame Ballot (0 Votes)

Accomplishments:
3x World Champion
1982 All Star
1989 Comeback Player of the Year
NL Player of the Week (Sept 5, 1982)
.288
98 HR
533 RBI
909 Runs
1488 Hits
370 SB
.791 OPS
2171 TB
120 Runs (1982): Led League
30+ Doubles: 3x
21 HR (1989)
20+ SB: 8x
30+ SB: 5x
40+ SB: 4x
50+ SB: 3x
68 SB (1982)
.300+: 5x
.400+ OBP: 3x
Led league in OBP (.415): 1989
Led league HBP: 3x
Postseason: .278, 4 HR, 17 RBI, 8 SB, 28 Runs, .765 OPS (11 Series)

Terry Pendleton: timeline

Born: July 16, 1960

1981-2: Fresno State Bulldogs

1982: All American

1982: Drafted by St. Louis Cardinals

1982-4: Minor Leagues

Debut: July 18, 1984 (Cards)

1985: Cards win Pennant

1987: Cards win Pennant

1990: Signed by Atlanta Braves

1991: Comeback Player of the Year

1991: NL MVP (.319, 22 HR, 86 RBI, .880 OPS, 303 TB)

1991: Won Batting Title (.319)

1991-2: Braves win Pennant

1992: Made All Star Team

1993: Braves win NL East

1995: Signed by Florida Marlins

1996: Traded to Braves

1996: Braves win Pennant

1997: Signed by Cincinnati Reds

1998: Signed by Kansas City Royals

2001-present: Braves coach

2004: Dropped off Hall of Fame Ballot (0.2%)


Accomplishments:
1991 NL MVP

1992 All Star

3x Gold Glove

NL Comeback Player of the Year (1991)

NL Batting Champ (.319)

5x Player of the Week

.270

140 HR

946 RBI

851 Runs

1897 Hits

.707 OPS

2751 TB

30+ Doubles: 4x

20+ HR: 2x

105 RBI (1992)

20+ SB: 2x

.300: 2x

.517 Slugging (1991)

300 TB: 2x

Led league in Hits: 2x

Led league in TB (303): 1991

Postseason: .252, 3 HR, 23 RBI, .658 OPS (12 Series)

Hank Aaron: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1982

Born: February 5, 1934

1949: Tryout with Dodgers

1951-2: Negro Leagues

1952: Signed by Boston Braves

1952-3: Minor Leagues

Debut: April 13, 1954 (Milwaukee Braves)

1956: NL Batting Champ (.328)

1957: Hit pennant winning home run

1957: NL MVP (.322, 44, 132, 118 runs, 198 hits, .978, 369 TB)

1957: Braves win World Series

1958: Braves win Pennant

1959: Three Home Run game vs Giants

1959: NL Batting Champ (.355)

1959: .355, 39 HR, 123 RBI, 116 runs, 223 hits, 46 doubles, 1.037 OPS, 400 TB, .636 slugging

1963: 44 HR/31 Steals

1966: Braves move to Atlanta

1968: 500th Home Run

1969: Braves win NL West

1970: 3000th hit

1970: Lou Gehrig Award

1971: 600th Home Run

1972: 2,000th RBI

1972: Broke TB record

1973: 700th Home Run

1974: Broke home run record (715)

1974: Traded to Milwaukee Brewers

1976: Hit 755th and final Home Run of career

1976: Became Braves Exec

1980-present: Braves Senior VP

1982: Elected to Hall of Fame (97.8%)

1990: Published autobiography

1999: All Century Team

1999: Hank Aaron Award debuted

2002: Presidential Medal of Freedom

2007: Bonds passed Aaron on HR List (Aaron recorded his congratulations)


Accomplishments:
1957 World Champion

1957 NL MVP

2x Batting Champion

25x All Star

3x Gold Glove

3,000 Hit Club

700 Home Run Club

All Time leader in TB (6,856)

All Time leader in RBI (2,297)

All Time leader in XBH (1,477)

1970 Lou Gehrig Award

2x Player of the Month

Player of the Week (April 14, 1974)

.305

2,174 Runs

3,771 Hits

624 Doubles

755 HR

240 SB

1402 walks-1383 Strikeouts

.374 OBP

.555 Slugging

.928 OPS

100+ Runs: 15x

200+ hits: 3x

30+ Doubles: 10x

40+ Doubles: 2x

10+ Triples: 3x

20+ HR: 20x

30+ HR: 15x

40+ HR: 8x

100+ RBI: 11x

20+ SB: 6x

31 SB (1963)

.300+ Average: 14x

.355 (1959)

.400 OBP: 3x

.500 Slugging: 18x

.600 Slugging: 6x

1.000+ OPS: 5x

300+ TB: 15x

400 TB (1959)

Led league in games (155): 1961

Led league in runs: 3x

Led league in hits: 2x

Led league in doubles: 4x

Led league in HR: 4x

Led league in RBI: 4x

Led league in slugging: 4x

Led league in OPS: 3x

Led league in TB: 8x

Led league in SF (12): 1960

Postseason: .362, 6 HR, 16 RBI, 1.116 OPS (3 Series)

Eddie Mathews: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1978

Born: October 13, 1931

1949: Signed by Boston Braves

1949-51: Minor Leagues

Debut: April 15, 1952 (Braves)

1952: Three Home Run Game

1953: Braves move to Milwaukee

1953: .302, 47 HR, 135 RBI, .406 OBP, .627 Slugging, 1.033 OPS

1954: First athlete on cover of Sports Illustrated

1957: Hit GW home run in 10^{th inning of World Series Game 4}

1957: Braves win World Series

1958: Braves win Pennant

1966: Braves move to Atlanta

1966: Traded to Houston Astros

1967: Joined 500 Homer club

1967: Traded to Detroit Tigers

1968: Tigers win World Series

1968: Retired

1972-74: Managed Braves (149-161)

1978: Elected to Hall of Fame (78% of vote)

1999: Finalist for All Century Team

Died: February 18, 2001


Accomplishments:
2x World Champion

12x All Star

863 combined Home Runs w/Hank Aaron (most ever by teammates)

Braves retired his #41

2x HR Champ

.271

512 HR

1453 RBI

1509 Runs

2315 Hits

.376 OBP

.509 Slugging

.885 OPS

TB: 4349

100+ Runs: 8x

31 Doubles (1953)

20+ HR: 14x

30+ HR: 10x

40+ HR: 4x

100+ RBI: 5x

100+ Walks: 5x

.300 Average: 3x

.400 OBP: 4x

.500 Slugging: 8x

.600 Slugging: 3x

1.000OPS: 3x

300 TB: 6x

Led League in walks: 4x

Led League in OBP (.399): 1963

Postseason: .200, 1 HR, 7 RBI, .745 OPS (3 World Series)

As a Manager: 149-161 (.481)

David Justice: Atlanta Braves timeline

Born: April 14, 1966

1982: Graduated High School after skipping two grades

1985: Drafted by Atlanta Braves

Debut: May 24, 1989 (Braves)

1990: NL Rookie of the Year

1991-2: Braves lose World Series

1992: Appeared in an episode of The Young and the Restless

1993: Braves lose NLCS

1994: People Magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People"

1995: Hit GW HR in Game 6 of the World Series

1995: Braves win World Series

1996: Experienced season-ending shoulder injury in May

1996: Braves lose World Series

1997: Traded to Indians

1997: .329, 33 HR, 101 RBI, 1.013 OPS

1997: Indians lose World Series

1997: Comeback Player of the Year

1998: Indians lose NLCS

1999: Indians lose NLDS

2000: Traded to Yankees

2000: ALCS MVP

2000: Yankees win World Series

2001: Yankees lose World Series

2001: Traded to Mets

2001: Traded to A's

2002: A's lose NLDS

2002: Retired

2007: Braves Hall of Fame

2007: Named in Mitchell Report

2008: Dropped off HOF Ballot (0.2% of the vote)


Accomplishments:
2x World Champion

3x All Star

2x Silver Slugger

1990 NL Rookie of the Year

2000 ALCS MVP

1997 Comeback Player of the Year

2x Player of the Month

4x Player of the Week

.279

305 HR

1017 RBI

929 Runs

1571 Hits

.378 OBP

.500 Slugging

.878 OPS

30+ Doubles: 3x

20+ HR: 9x

30+ HR: 3x

40+ HR: 2x

100+ RBI: 3x

.300: 2x

.400 OBP: 3x

.500 Slugging: 6x

1.013 OPS (1997)

Postseason: .224, 14 HR, 63 RBI, .717 OPS (21 Series)

Warren Spahn: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1973

Born: April 23, 1921

1940: Signed by Boston Bees (Braves)

Debut: April 19, 1942 (Braves)

1942: Casey Stengel sent Spahn back to the minors after the pitcher refused to throw at Pee Wee Reese.

1943-45: World War II service (awarded Purple Heart)

1944: Battle of the Bulge

1947: Pitching Title

1948: Spahn and Sain and Pray for Rain poem appears

1948: Braves win Pennant

1952: 18 strikeout game

1953: 23-7, 2.10, 1.058 WHIP

1953: Pitching Title

1953: TSN Pitcher of the Year

1957: Braves win World Series

1957: Won Cy Young Award

1957-8: TSN Pitcher of the Year

1958: Braves win Pennant

1960: No hit Phillies

1961: No hit Giants

1961: Lou Gehrig Award

1961: NL Pitching Title

1961: TSN Pitcher of the Year

1963: Dueled Juan Marichal for 16 innings (lost 1-0 on a Willie Mays home run)

1963: Appeared on TV Show: Combat

1964: Purchased by New York Mets

1965: Signed by San Francisco Giants

1965: Retired

1967-71: Managed Tulsa Oilers

1970s: Coached for Cleveland, the minors, and in Japan

1973: Elected to Hall of Fame (83.2%)

1999: All-Century Team

2003: Died

Accomplishments:

1957 World Champion

1957 Cy Young Award

1961: Lou Gehrig Award               

17x All Star

Two no-hitters

363-245 record

3.09 ERA

750 games-665 starts

382 CG

63 SHO

5243.2 IP

2583 Strikeouts

1.195 WHIP

Won 15+ Games: 16x

Won 20+ Games: 13x

Sub 3 ERA: 8x

Sub 2.50 ERA: 2x

10+ CG: 17x

20+ CG: 12x

25+ CG: 3x

200+ IP: 17x

300+ IP: 2x

Led league in wins: 8x

Led league in win % (.667): 1958

Led league in ERA: 3x

Led league in GS: 2x

Led league in CG: 9x

Led league in SHO: 4x

Led league in IP: 4x

Led league in Strikeouts: 4x

Led league in WHIP: 4x

Postseason: 4-3 record, 3.05 ERA, 56 IP, 32 strikeouts, 1.071 WHIP (8 games-3 World Series)

Dale Murphy: Timeline

Born: March 12, 1956

Drafted: 1974 (Braves)

Debut: September 13, 1976 (Braves)

1980: Switched to outfield from catcher

1982: NL MVP

1982: Braves lose LCS to Cardinals

1983: 30-30 club

1983: NL MVP

1984: Won HR crown (36)

1985: Won HR crown (37)

1985: Lou Gehrig Award

1988: Roberto Clemente Award

1990: Traded to Phillies

1993: Signed with Rockies

1994: Number retired by Braves

1997-2000: President Massachusetts Boston Mission of the Church of Jesus Christ and Latter Day Saints

2005: Began organization to keep kids clear of steroids

2012-13: Braves announcer

2013: Dropped off Baseball HOF ballot

Accomplishments:

2x MVP

7x All Star

5x Gold Glove

4x Silver Slugger

.265

398 HR

1266 RBI

161 SB

2111 hits

1197 runs

.815 OPS

Led league in games: 4x

100+ runs: 4x

Led league in runs (118): 1985

30+ doubles: 4x

30+ HR: 6x

44 HR (1987)

Led league in HR: 2x

100+ RBI: 4x

Led league in RBI: 2x

20+ SB: 3x

30 steals (1983)

115 walks (1987)

Led league (90) walks: 1985

Hit .300: 2x

.417 OBP: 1987

.500 slugging: 6x

Led league in slugging: 2x

Led league in OPS (.933): 1983

300 TB: 5x

Led league in TB (332): 1984

Postseason: .273, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1 SB (3 games)

Darrell Evans: Timeline

Born: May 26, 1947

1965: Drafted by Cubs, but did not sign

1966: Drafted by Yanks & Tigers, but did not sign

1967: Drafted by Phillies, but did not sign

1967: Drafted by A’s

1968: Drafted by Braves from A’s

Debut: April 20, 1969 (Braves)

1973: Hit 41 home runs

1976: Traded to Giants

1983: Won Willie Mac Award

1983: Signed with Tigers

1984: Tigers win World Series

1985: Becomes first player with 40 HR in both leagues and oldest to lead the league in homers

1987: Tigers lost ALCS

1988: Signed with Braves

1990: Yankees coach

2007: Managed team in GBL

2008-10: Managed Victoria Seals

2009: Managed in California Winter League and is current commissioner

Accomplishments:

1984 World Champion

2x All Star

.248

414 HR

1354 RBI

1344 Runs

2223 Hits

329 doubles

1605 walks-1410 strikeouts

3866 total bases

114 runs (1973)

20+ HR: 10x

30+ HR: 4x

40+ HR: 2x

104 RBI (1973)

100+ walks: 5x

Led league in walks: 2x

.403 OBP (1973)

.500 slugging: 4x

331 TB (1973)

Postseason: .214, 0 HR, 2 RBI, .603 OPS (3 series)

Ted Simmons

A timeline

Born: August 9, 1949

1967: Drafted by Cardinals

Debut: September 21, 1968 (Cardinals)

1968: Cardinals win Pennant (Lose World Series to Tigers)

1970: Joins Cardinals for good

1971: Becomes starting catcher as Joe Torre moves to third base

1971: Catches Bob Gibson’s no-hitter

1972: Set Cardinals’ record for RBI by a catcher

1975: Set NL Record for hits by a catcher

1978: Beat out Johnny Bench to start the All Star Game

1978: Caught Bob Forsch’s first no-hitter

1980: Feud with Whitey Herzog

1980: Traded to Brewers

1981: Brewers win AL East (Lose ALDS to Yankees)

1982: Brewers win Pennant (Lost World Series to Herzog's Cardinals)

1986: Traded to Braves

1986: Forms the “Bomb Squad” in Atlanta made up of role players. He also planted a tomato garden in the bullpen.

1988: Retired as MLB leader for catchers in hits and doubles (broken by Ivan Rodriguez)

1992: GM Pirates

1993: Stepped down as GM after a heart attack

1994: Received 3.7% of the vote by the BBWAA for the Hall of Fame (morons)

1994-2008: Served in various baseball roles

2008: Bench coach for the Padres

2010: Advisor to the Mariners

Accomplishments:
8x All Star

1980 Silver Slugger

.285 hitter

248 HR

1389 RBI

1074 runs

2472 hits

483 doubles

855 walks-694 strikeouts

.348 OBP

.437 Slugging

.785 OPS

190+ hits: 2x

30+ doubles: 9x

40 doubles (1978)

20+ HR: 6x

100+ RBI: 3x

90+ RBI: 8x

.300+ average: 7x

.408 OBP (1977)

.500+ Slugging: 4x

.908 OPS (1977)

Postseason (3 Series): .186, 3 HR, 8 RBI (17 games)

Cy Young: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1937

Born: March 29, 1867 (Real Name: Denton True Young)

1888: Played semi-pro ball

1889: Played minor league ball in Canton.

1890: Signed with the Cleveland Spiders

Debut: August 6, 1890 (He threw a 3-hit shutout)

1892: The National League moved the mound back 5 feet to the current 60 feet 6 inches

1895: The Spiders won the Temple Cup (precursor to the World Series)

1897: No-hit the Reds

1899: Young left the Spiders for the Perfectos (future Cardinals). He played two seasons in St Louis.

1901: Signed with the Red Sox (He is currently tied with most wins in Red Sox history with Roger Clemens)

1901: Won the Triple Crown (33 wins, 1.62 ERA, 158 strikeouts)

1903: Red Sox win the first World Series (Young went 2-1 with a 1.85 ERA vs. the Pirates)

1904: Rube Waddell taunted the Sox ace. Young responded with a Perfect Game. It was the first Perfect Game in AL history.

1905: Pitched 13 innings in a 20-inning loss to Waddell

1907: Pitched 13-inning scoreless tie against Waddell

1907: Managed Boston Red Sox (Americans) for 6 games (3-3 record)

1908: Throws 3^rd no-hitter

August 13, 1908: The AL celebrated “Cy Young Day.” No games were played. A group of All-Stars traveled to Boston to play the Red Sox.

1909: Traded to Cleveland.

1910: Won his 500^th game

1911: Finished career with Boston Rustlers (future Atlanta Braves)

Final Game: October 6, 1911

1911: Retired to his farm. He spent the rest of his life tending his crops.

1937: Elected to the Hall of Fame on the second ballot. A mix-up kept him from being elected the previous year.

Died: November 4, 1955

1956: Cy Young Award created for best pitcher in the majors

1967: Beginning in 1967, the baseball writers awarded a Cy Young to the best pitcher in each league

1993: Statue to Young dedicated at Northeastern University at the site of the first World Series

1999: Elected to All Century Team

Accomplishments:
1903 World Champion

Two No-Hitters

One Perfect Game

All-Century Team

1901 Triple Crown

511 Wins (1^st All Time)

316 Losses (1^st All Time)

.618 winning percentage

2803 Strikeouts (#1 all time at time of retirement)

2.63 ERA

906 Games

815 Game Starts (1^st all time)

749 Complete Games (1^st all time)

76 Shutouts (4^th all time)

7356 innings (1^st all time)

Led league in wins: 5x

20+ wins: 15x

30+ wins: 5x

Win percentage leader: 2x

ERA champ: 2x

Led league in games and game starts (1902)

Complete Game leader: 3x

Shutout leader: 7x

Saves leader: 2x

IP leader: 2x

Pitched 400+ innings: 5x

Pitched 300+ innings: 16x

Strikeout leader: 2x

SO/BB leader: 11x

Managerial Record: 3-3

Babe Ruth: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1936

Boston Red Sox (1914-1919)

New York Yankees (1920-1934)

Boston Braves (1935)

Born: February 6, 1895

1902: Sent St. Mary's Industrial School for Boys, where he learned baseball and became a qualified tailor.

1914: Signed with minor league Baltimore Orioles. His teammates dubbed him "Babe" because of his youthful looks (he was 19).

1914: The Orioles sold Ruth to the Boston Red Sox after the A's and Reds passed.

MLB Debut: July 14, 1914

1914: Ruth appeared in 5 games and spent most of the season in the minors.

1915: Earned a spot on the Red Sox as a starting pitcher. He won 18 games. He also hit his first home run.

1915: Red Sox win the World Series. Ruth does not pitch and goes 0-for-1.

1916: Ruth wins 23 games and leads the league in shutouts and ERA. His 9 shutouts were a record for AL left handed pitchers (since matched).

1916: July 11: Starts both games of a doubleheader. Also, he beat Walter Johnson four times in 1916.

1916: Red Sox win World Series. Ruth throws a 14-inning complete game victory in Game 2.

1917: Ruth walked the lead-off hitter on a June 23 game. He threw a tantrum, punched the umpire, and his relief, Ernie Shore retired every batter he faced after the runner was thrown out trying to steal.

1917: Ruth suspended for 10 games for hitting an umpire.

1918: Ruth begins to transition to the outfield and leads the league with 11 home runs.

1918: Red Sox win the World Series (Ruth goes 2-0)

1919: Ruth sets a new home run record with 29.

1919: Sold to the Yankees

1920s

1920: Ruth finishes transition to the outfield and rewrites the record books. In 1920, he hit 54 homers.

1921: 378, 59 HR, 171 RBI. If today's rules regarding foul balls existed, Ruth would have hit 104 home runs. He set the MLB record for Total Bases, Extra Base Hits, and Times on Base, which still stand. He also becomes the All Time Home Run champ (passed by Henry Aaron).

1921-1922: Yanks win Pennant but lose World Series to Giants (Ruth hit .313 and .118 in the two series with 1 homer).

1922: Ruth leapt into the stands to confront a heckler, is suspended, and stripped of the captaincy.

1923: Yankee Stadium opens; Ruth hits the first home run. It is dubbed "The House that Ruth Built" because of the gate he drew.

1923: Wins MVP (rules prevented multiple winners)

1923: Yanks win their first world title. Ruth hits .368 with 3 homers.

1924: Ruth is seriously injured in a collision with a wall. Still, he just misses the Triple Crown by 8 RBI.

1925: The Bellyache heard 'round the world: Ruth suffers a season long ailment and the Yanks experience their last losing season until 1965.

1926: Ruth rebounds to form (.372, 47, 146) and the Yanks win the pennant

1926 World Series: Game 4: Ruth hits 3 homers in a single game (matched by Reggie in 1977).

1926 World Series: Game 7: With NY trailing 3-2 with 2 out in the 9th, Ruth is thrown out trying to steal ending the series. Cardinals win the World Series.

1927: Yanks win 110 games. Ruth hits 60 (17 in September).  Lou Gehrig hits 47.

1927: Yanks sweep World Series

1928: Ruth only hits 54 homers and the Yanks sweep the World Series.

1929: Assigned uniform #3

1930s

1930: The Babe pitches a complete game victory as a stunt.

1930: Ruth demands $80,000 and quips he had a better year than the president (Herbert Hoover)

1932: Yanks win pennant.

1932: Ruth calls his shot in the World Series. Yanks win Series in 4 (Babe hits .333 with 2 homers and 6 RBI)

1933: Hit first All Star Game home run

1934: Hits 700th homer

1934: Barnstorms the Far East with other star players.

1934: Turns down offer to manage minor league club. The Babe wants to manage the Yanks. NY sells Ruth to the Boston Braves in 1935.

1935: May 25: Hits the final three homers of his career.

1935: Retires

1936: Elected to Hall of Fame

1938: Coaches for the Dodgers

1939: Appears at Lou Gehrig Day

1940s and beyond:

1942: Yanks retire his #3

1942: Appears in charity exhibition against Walter Johnson

1947: Served as Director of the American Legion Youth Baseball Program

1947: Yanks hold "Babe Ruth Day"

1948: Attends 25th anniversary festivities for Yankee Stadium

1948: Babe dies

1999: All Century Team

2008: Ruth's daughter throws out first pitch in the final game at Yankee Stadium.

Accomplishments:

7x World Champion (1915-16, 1918, 1923, 1927-28, 1932)

1923 AL MVP

1924 Batting Title

.342 Career Hitter

2x All Star

SI's Greatest Player of the 20th century

714 Home Runs (#2 all time)

Led League HR: 12x

50+ HR: 4x (60 in 1927)

2174 Runs Scored (Led League 8x)

2873 Hits

506 doubles

2213 RBI (#2 All Time)

Led League in RBI: 6x

150+ RBI: 6x

2062 Walks (Led League 11x)

.474 OBP (Led League 10x)

.690 SLG (#1 All Time)

Led League in SLG: 13x

OPS: 1.164 (#1 All Time)

Led League in OPS: 13x

94-46 Win-Loss Record

.671 Win %

2.28 ERA (Led League 1916)

17 Shutouts (Led League 1916)

Postseason Pitching: 3-0 record; 0.87 ERA

Postseason Hitting: .326, 15 HR, 33 RBI, 1.211 OPS

Atlanta Braves Top 10 Moments

The Miracle Braves (1914): The Boston Braves floundered with a 26-40 record in July. Boston had been terrible for over a decade and 1914 was nothing new. Then, the team rattled off 36 wins in 46 games and finished the season on a 25-6 run. They met the defending World Champion Athletics in the World Series. The A’s had won three of the last four World Series. In 1914, the Braves swept the A’s shocking the baseball world.

Joe Adcock totals 18 total bases (7-31-54): Adcock blasted four home runs, a double, and tallied 18 total bases on July 31, 1954. The feat is often forgotten and was surpassed by Shawn Green in 2002. However, only one person in history has had a better offensive day than Joe Adcock in 1954.

Eddie Mathews’ World Series Walk-Off (October 6, 1957 Game 4 World Series): The Yankees led the World Series two games to one and held a 5-4 lead in the 10th inning of Game 4 against Milwaukee. Johnny Logan’s double tied the score and Eddie Mathews’ two-run shot won the game and tied the series. A defeat would have put the Braves down 3-1.

Burdette wins his third (October 10, 1957 World Series Game 7): Lew Burdette defeated the New York Yankees for the third time in the 1957 World Series. In Game 7, he tossed a 7 hit shutout and defeated 1956 World Series hero Don Larsen 5-0. It was the Braves’ second world title and first in Milwaukee.
715 (April 8, 1974): Hank Aaron’s pursuit of Babe Ruth’s home run record made him the target of racists and those not wanting to see the Bambino’s name surpassed in the record books. On April 8, 1974, Aaron hit #715 to become Major League Baseball’s all time home run leader. Two fans jumped onto the field and rounded the bases with Aaron. Vin Scully summed it up as only he could:

"What a marvelous moment for baseball; what a marvelous moment for Atlanta and the state of Georgia; what a marvelous moment for the country and the world. A black man is getting a standing ovation in the Deep South for breaking a record of an all-time baseball idol. And it is a great moment for all of us, and particularly for Henry Aaron. … And for the first time in a long time, that poker face in Aaron shows the tremendous strain and relief of what it must have been like to live with for the past several months."

Aaron was passed by Barry Bonds, but many fans still consider him the all-time home run king because Bonds cheated.

Garber ends Rose’s streak (August 2, 1978): Pete Rose hit safely in 44 straight games going into the August 2 contest in Atlanta. Braves starter Larry McWilliams held Rose hitless in his first three at bats. Gene Garber relieved McWilliams in the 7th. The first time the two squared off, Rose lined out to third. In the 9th inning, Garber and Rose faced off a second time. Garber struck out Rose and the Atlanta partisans roared in delight. It was one of the few highlights of the 1970s for Atlanta. After the game, Rose complimented Garber for challenging him with a fastball.

13-0 (April 21, 1982): The Braves opened the 1982 season with a 1-0 win at San Diego on April 6. They swept the Padres and then the Astros. In fact, Atlanta did not lose until April 22. The team started 1982 with 13 straight victories en route to the NL West title. The Braves lost the NLCS to St Louis in three straight.

Bob Horner hits four home runs (July 6, 1986): Ted Turner began the Goodwill Games to promote world peace and broadcast them live on his television network. As a result, baseball fans were forced to watch Bob Horner’s four home run game on tape delay. By 1986, the Braves were a terrible team. Unfortunately, the farcical Goodwill Games preempted one of the team’s greatest moments to stroke Turner’s inflated ego.

Francisco Cabrera single (October 14, 1992 Game 7 NLCS): Pittsburgh led the Braves 3-0 in the 9th inning of Game 7 of the 1992 NLCS with their ace, Doug Drabek, on the mound. Drabek failed to record an out in the 9th and manager Jim Leyland brought in Stan Belinda to save the game and the pennant. Belinda recorded two outs while surrendering one inherited runner. With two out and two on, Bobby Cox turned to little used Francisco Cabrera to keep the season alive. Cabrera promptly singled to left scoring David Justice with the tying run. The incredibly slow Sid Bream chugged at top speed to home and eluded the tag to win the pennant. Pittsburgh never recovered.

Justice is served (October 28, 1995 Game 6 World Series): The Braves lost the World Series in 1991 and 1992 and the NLCS in 1993. In 1995, they led Cleveland three games to two going into Game 6. Starter and future 300-game winner Tom Glavine pitched his greatest game allowing one hit through eight innings. David Justice homered off of Cleveland reliever Jim Poole for the game’s solitary score. Mark Wohlers pitched a perfect 9th and the Braves won their first title in Atlanta and first as a franchise since 1957. Glavine was named World Series MVP with two victories.

Greatest Baseball Games by Decade

I picked one game per decade.

Merkle’s Boner (1908): The Giants beat the Cubs…or did they? Rookie Fred Merkle forgot to touch second base on the game winning hit. Cub Johnny Evers saw Merkle’s mistake, got the ball, and touched the bag for a force out. The game ended in a tie and had to be replayed. The Cubs won the replayed game and the pennant by one game over New York and Pittsburgh. Nice going Merkle!

Game 8 1912 World Series: Game 2 ended in a tie, so it forced an extra game. In Game 8, the Giants and Red Sox went overtime at Fenway. New York scored in the top of the 10th. Boston scored twice to win the World Series. The Giants suffered from mental and physical errors in the 10th and choked the game away with Christy Mathewson on the mound.

Game 7 1924 World Series: Walter Johnson got shelled in this series. He went from goat to hero in Game 7. The Senators trailed 3-1 in the eighth and destiny took over. Bucky Harris hit a ball that struck a pebble and bounced over Giant third baseman Fred Lidstrom. Two scored to tie the game. Johnson came in the game to pitch in the 9th and got the win when the Senators scored the winning run on a bad hop over Lidstrom in the twelfth.

Johnny Vander Meer throws second no-hitter (1938): On June 11, 1938, Vander Meer no hit the Braves. Four days later, he no-hit the Dodgers. No one else has tossed two no-hitters in a row.

1941 All Star Game: The American League trailed 5-4 with two out in the ninth. Ted Williams hit a three-run home run into Tiger Stadium’s upper deck to win the game 7-5.

1951 Pennant Playoff: The Giants win the Pennant! The Giants win the Pennant!

Game 7 World Series (1960): The Pirates won 10-9. Hal Smith hit a big homer for the Bucs and Bill Mazeroski hit the first World Series walk-off homer. As a side note, the game lasted 2 hours and 36 minutes.

Game 6 1975 World Series: Bernie Carbo, high on everything, hit a 2-out three run shot in the 8th. Dwight Evans made a great play in right field and doubled a runner off first. Oh yeah, Carlton Fisk hit that home run. Red Sox win.

Game 6 1986 NLCS: Mets beat the Astros in 16 innings at the Astrodome. Houston led 3-0 early. The Mets scored 3 in the 9th to tie. New York scored in the 14th. Billy Hatcher homered to tie the game. In the 16th, New York scored 3. Houston responded with two. Kevin Bass struck out to end the game.

Game 7 1991 World Series: Jack Morris pitched a 10 inning 1-0 shutout in Game 7 of the World Series. We will not see that again.

Game 4 2005 NLDS : Astros beat the Braves 7-6 in 18 innings. It was the longest game in postseason history. Roger Clemens pitched three innings in relief, Brad Ausmus hit a game tying homer in the 9th, Chris Burke ended the game with a walk-off homer in the 18th.