Frank Robinson on Cal Ripken

Tags

1982, August 1, Cal Ripkin, Frank Robinson, Hank Aaron

When you are the Iron Man, the normal rules don’t apply to you. And Frank Robinson ought to know an Iron Man when he sees one.  Hank Aaron and Frank Robinson were inducted into the Hall of Fame at Cooperstown, N.Y., on August 1, 1982 together so that is the Atlanta connection.

What people don’t understand is, one day off for Cal Ripken would not recharge his batteries. One day would not do it. He’s not playing 2,130 games in a row. Cal is ONLY playing 162 games a year.

– Frank Robinson in The Sporting News (September 11, 1995)

Ripken was amazing. He compiled 3,184 hits, 431 home runs, and 1,695 runs batted in during his career, and he won two Gold Glove Awards for his defense.

He was a 19-time All-Star and was twice named American League (AL) Most Valuable Player (MVP). Ripken is best known for holding the record for consecutive games played, 2,632, surpassing Lou Gehrig’s streak of 2,130 that had stood for 56 years and that many deemed unbreakable.

In 2007, he was elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, and currently has the fourth highest voting percentage of all-time (98.53%).

 

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2 time All-Star Tommy Holmes debuts with the Braves (1942)

Tags

1917, 1942, All Star, March 29, Tommy Holmes

Tommy Holmes – Boston Braves

Tommy Holmes had his Major League baseball debut with the Boston Braves in 1942. Here is some background on him.

• He was an outfielder. He batted and threw as a lefty.
• He was born (March 29, 1917) in Brooklyn. No wonder he wanted to play baseball. Brooklyn, at the time, was a great baseball town.
• He played for the Boston Braves from 1942 to 1951
• His last game was for his home team Brooklyn Dodgers in 1952. That was the only other team he ever played for besides the Braves.
• He managed the Braves in 1951 and 1952.
• He was a two time All-Star in 1945 and 1948.
• He died in 2010 in Boca Raton, Florida at the ripe old age of 91. May he rest in peace.

A severe sinus condition kept Tommy Holmes out of the service during World War II, but the chances are that if he had been drafted and sent into harm’s way, several hundred fans from one particular portion of Braves Field would have been willing to follow him into action.

Source: The SABR Project

Dale Murphy COMC Pickups

Tags

Atlanta Braves, Dale Murphy

Some great cards of Dale Murphy. Too bad he hasn’t made it to the Hall of Fame.

Bean's Ballcard Blog

I’m bad deciding that I want to go back and collect players I did in the past.  Some of the names of players I’ve collected pretty intensely over the years are Russ Davis, Will Clark, Jedd Gyorko, Bob Sura, Chris Enochs, Darrell Whitmore, Steve Seabol, Steve Kline and Dale Murphy.

While I stopped trying to chase everything of all of those guys, I didn’t get rid of most of them.  However, I did with the Dale Murphy stuff and I can’t even explain why.  He was my first “favorite” player.  I’ve liked some of the recent sets he has been in and picked up a few cards.

1986 Leaf #60 Dale Murphy

This one isn’t a new card, but I just like it because it’s Leaf and not Donruss.  Growing up they were much tougher to come by.  This pickup was purely nostalgic.

2011 Topps Kimball Champions #KC91 Dale Murphy

View original post 148 more words

Does “The Crime Dog”, Fred McGriff, deserve to be in the Hall of Fame?

Tags

1993, 1997, All Star, Atlanta Braves, Fred McGriff, Hall of Fame, Home Run Derby, World Series

Fred McGriff

I really enjoyed watching Fred “The Crime Dog” McGriff. Fred was a very good baseball player for a long time. I think he does deserve to be in the Hall of Fame.

Fred was an Atlanta Brave from 1993-1997. McGriff hit a home run in his first game with the Braves, who acquired him to replace the struggling Sid Bream in at first and provide an offensive spark, and was a key player in the Braves’ 51-19 finish to overtake the San Francisco Giants and claim first place in the National League West for a third consecutive season. He finished with a career high 37 homers and fourth place in the NL MVP voting. In the strike-shortened 1994 season, McGriff was batting .318 and had 34 home runs when play ended in August 1994. He won the All-Star Game MVP Award that year after hitting the game-tying home run for the National League, after the NL trailed 7–5 in the bottom of the ninth inning. McGriff was runner-up to Ken Griffey Jr. in the 1994 Home Run Derby.

Fred remained with the Braves in 1995 and continued to be a successful cleanup hitter. He hit two home runs in the 1995 World Series en route to his only World Series championship ring. Fred hit .295/.365/.494 with a career-best 107 RBIs on his way to another World Series appearance in 1996. With 22 home runs in 1997, McGriff appeared to be in decline. He was called out on strikes by umpire Eric Gregg on a pitch 3 feet outside thrown by Liván Hernández during the 1997 NLCS, which was the last significant event for McGriff as a Brave. The team allowed him to be picked up by the expansion Tampa Bay Devil Rays after the season.

He made 5 All-Star teams while winning 3 Silver Sluggers, 2 league home run titles (one in each league…the first to pull off that feat), and won a World Series ring. His career WAR of 52.4, while not earth-shattering by any means, is as good or better than 62 players CURRENTLY in the Hall, including Lou Brock, Sandy Koufax, Kirby Puckett, Ralph Kiner, Jim Rice, and Phil Rizzuto.

Not that long ago, his 493 home runs as well as his long and consistent career would have essentially guaranteed that he would have at the very least gotten strong consideration for enshrinement even if there are reasons he isn’t a lock.

My my, how times have changed. It is hard to figure out the Hall of Fame voting some days. OK, it is hard to figure it out on many days.

When the voting results were announced in 2015, McGriff, despite being a worthy candidate on paper, only appeared on 20.9% of ballots in his 7th year of eligibility. While a decent jump from the previous year’s 12.9%, much of that can be attributed to decreased number of voters this year due a recent purge of the voting members’ ranks. The end result is that while its not outside the realm of possibility he gets close to induction, its a long shot. The relative snubbing hasn’t gone unnoticed.

Vince DiMaggio strikes out four times and sets a season strike out record as well (October 2, 1938)

Tags

1932, 1938, Boston Bees, Gus Williams, October 2, Strike Out, Tucson Lizzards, Vince DiMaggio

Vince DiMaggio

There are just some things you don’t want to be known for. Striking out is one of them. Now we all know some great hitters have had a problem with it. Babe Ruth is one of them.

On October 2, 1938, Vince DiMaggio strikes out four times. Vince is an outfielder for the Boston Bees. The Bees would loose 3-2 that day. Obviously Vince didn’t help. It was the last day of the season for the Bees. They were playing at the Polo Grounds against New York.

Vince extended his major league record to a season total of 129. Yee gads. This broke the record of Gus Williams’ major league mark of 120 whiffs established by the Browns’ outfielder in 1914.

Vince began his professional career in 1932 with the Tucson Lizards of the Class-D Arizona–Texas League, hitting .347 with 25 homers and 81 RBI. What could be worse than playing for the Lizzards? Setting a record for strike outs I think.

He led the Arizona–Texas League in home runs, with eight more than runner-up Cal Lahman. He played 94 games with the Lizards that year, finishing the season with the San Francisco Seals of the Class-AA Pacific Coast League. With the Seals, he hit .270 with 6 home runs in 59 games.

More on seceding and coming down with ague (1876)

Tags

1876, Al Spalding, Boston Red Caps, Cal McVey, Deacon White, National Association, Ross Barnes, Seceders

Ross Barnes

Ross Barnes was one of the “four seceders” who played for the Braves (then known as the Boston Red Caps) in 1876. He played with Al Spalding, Cal McVey, and James White (also known as “Deacon” White). 1876 was to be his last season. He came down with “ague” and lost his strength. Is that similar to what Samson experienced? Ok, I guess not. It was probably malaria. Sounds weird though today. “I have ague”.

While some of the seceders were successful after their departure from the Braves, he was not.

In the early 1870’s, he was the dominant hitter in the National Association. He was so adept at the “fair / foul” bunt that the league changed the rules. He also hit the first home run in the National League.

And so, the Braves were a force to be contended with during this time.

The Andrelton Simmons trade another gut punch for Braves fans

Tags

Andrelton Simmons, Atlanta Braves, Craig Kimbrel, Gold Glove Award, Shortstop

I appreciate teams need to decide which players to keep and which to trade. I must be honest that it irks me to see the Braves trade away great players for what appears to be financial considerations under the guise of “rebuilding”. He had five seasons left to play for us. FIVE I say. Nothing to sneeze at. Imagine the great plays during the next five years.

How good a shortstop is he? Simmons has won a National League Rawlings Platinum Glove Award, two Rawlings Gold Glove Awards for shortstops, and a Wilson MLB Overall Defensive Player of the Year Award.

So … this made me sad. Just one in a long string of bad trades over the last couple of years. Will it end soon? Hard to say but maybe not.

I long for an owner who wants to win and will spend “wise money” to make it happen.

And that’s my take.

For a big portion of Braves fans, trading Andrelton Simmons, the best defensive player in baseball, was a gut punch similar to what they felt when Craig Kimbrel was traded on the eve of Opening Day.To some, it was even harder to take, given that Simmons is an every-day player, signed for five more seasons, and quite literally the kind of player who was worth the price of admission because there was a good chance he was going to make a spectacular play or two at any game you attended.

Source: Andrelton Simmons trade another gut punch for Braves fans | Atlanta Braves blog

 

Estevan Enrique Bellán: first Latin American player — Guest blog by Keith Spalding Robbins

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1871, August 3, Boston Red Stockings, Cuba, Estevan Bellan, Keith Robbins, Troy Haymakers

Guest Blog article by Keith Robbins

Estevan Enrique Bellán

With the upcoming Rays – Cuba game in Havana brings forth the question:

Q:  Does that have anything to do with the Braves?

A: Si.

In  over 20,000 games played, the Braves win some and lose some. In typical Braves fashion they can be the most benevolent of teams.

The first Cuban and thus the first Latin American professional baseball player was Estevan Enrique Bellán. His place in history is somewhat lost because his name is anglosized to Steve Bellan. Being part of baseball during the pre-professional era also cements his place as a one of Ppioneers of International baseball. He was featured in a SABRE bio.

He started baseball at Fordham, the same school of legendary announcer Vin Scully- albeit Bellán was there just a few years before, 1866-1868.

As a pro, Bellán played for one of greatest named franchises in sports: the Troy Haymakers. Overall these Haymakers did not make much hay in ‘71 going 13-15 and finished 6th of 9^th in the old National Association.

Bellán was noted for being especially fast on the bases and a slick, graceful fielder at third or short stop. Hs graceful infield play gave him the nickname the “Cuban Sylph;” in the 19^th Century that was a great compliment.

The day of Braves’ benevolence was August 3, 1871, and the beneficiary was Seňor Bellán. He was 5 for 5 with 5 RBI, a triple, one recorded stolen base, and started a double play.

No doubt the Haymakers’ infield was more akin to a hayfield for 15 errors were recording this game. Bellan had two, but so did his rival third-sacker Harry “Silk Stockings” Schaffer.

With bat running and gloveless fielding Bellán’s efforts powered the Haymakers to a 13 to 12 victory.  The game line and box score can be found on retrosheet.org, http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1871/B08030TRO1871.htm

He was one, if not the first, of many ballplayes to have a career-best day courtesy of the Braves.

Recently the Rays team president noted that:

“For us, it’s about spreading goodwill through baseball.”

While this game occur in a few days from now, in baseball what is new is old. Or as Yogi said:

“It’s like deja-vu all over again.”

On August 3, 1871, Albert Goodwill Spalding did his baseball best to spread goodwill throughout the baseball world – from Troy to Havana – as the first Cuban to play pro ball, Estvan Bellán went 5 for 5.

The Braves and Cubs use 14 pitchers (June 3, 1978)

Tags

1978, All Star, Atlanta Braves, Bobby Cox, Chicago Cubs, June 3, Phil Niekro, Wrigley Field

Phil Niekro

This is stunning. It is hard to imagine happening. I am sure Bobby Cox was going crazy.

The Braves and the Cubs tied a major league record on June 3, 1978, using 14 hurlers in a single game. Each team uses seven pitchers when Chicago beats Atlanta at Wrigley Field, 8-6.

The pitchers for the Braves were Phil Niekro (starting), Craig Skok, Eddie Solomon,  Adrian Devine, Jamie Easterly, Dave Campbell and Rick Camp.

Phil was 39 in 1978. He would end the season with 19-18 record. He would pitch in the All-Star game. He would have a 2.88 ERA. Pretty good for 39.

Batting	AB	R	H	RBI	BA
Jerry Royster 2B	5	1	2	0	.275
Bob Beall 1B-CF	4	2	2	1	.162
Rowland Office CF	3	0	2	0	.253
Barry Bonnell PH-CF	1	0	0	0	.226
Biff Pocoroba PH-C	1	0	0	0	.260
Jeff Burroughs LF	4	0	0	0	.331
Gary Matthews RF	3	1	2	3	.258
Joe Nolan C	2	1	1	1	.200
Dale Murphy PH-C-1B	1	0	0	0	.199
Darrel Chaney SS	5	0	1	1	.307
Rod Gilbreath 3B	3	0	0	0	.234
Phil Niekro P	1	0	0	0	.235
Craig Skok P	0	0	0	0	1.000
Jerry Maddox PH	1	0	0	0	.000
Eddie Solomon P	0	0	0	0	.167
Cito Gaston PH	1	1	1	0	.196
Adrian Devine P	0	0	0	0	.000
Jamie Easterly P	0	0	0	0	.286
Dave Campbell P	0	0	0	0
Pat Rockett PH	1	0	0	0	.128
Rick Camp P	0	0	0	0
Team Totals	36	6	11	6	.306

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 3/6/2016.

Hank Aaron Receives Japanese Imperial Honor for Baseball Diplomacy

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2015, Hank Aaron, November 3

On November 3, 2015, Hank Aaron received the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette, for efforts to bring the two countries closer together. In 1989 he founded the World Children’s Baseball Fair with Japanese counterpart Sadaharu Oh. The organization hosts weeklong camps for kids that have been held in 20 Japanese cities.

Hammerin’ Hank, one of 89 recipients of imperial decorations in the fall of 2015, has visited the country on many occasions, including a 1984 visit to Korakuen Stadium where he gave a speech to a crowd celebrating 50 years of baseball in Japan. Most recently, the 81-year-old legend celebrated his organization’s 25th anniversary at summer 2015 events in Chiba prefecture, near Tokyo. 

Source: Hank Aaron Receives Japanese Imperial Honor for Baseball Diplomacy – Global Atlanta

Harvey Bailey pitched for two years with a 4.13 ERA (1899 to 1900)

Tags

1876, 1899, 1900, 1922, Boston Beaneaters, Harvey Bailey, July 10, November 24

1900 Boston Beaneaters

Harvey Francis Bailey played for the Boston Beaneaters (now the Braves) for two seasons. He was born on November 24, 1876.

He played for the Boston Beaneaters in 1899 and 1900. He played in the minor leagues through 1908.

Harvey died on July 10, 1922.

Year	Tm	Lg	W	L	W-L%	ERA	G	SO
1899	BSN	NL	6	4	.600	3.95	12	26
1900	BSN	NL	0	0		4.95	4	9
2 Yrs			6	4	.600	4.13	16	35
162 Game Avg.			15	10	.600	4.13	39	85

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 2/28/2016.

The Houston Astros execute a triple steal against the Braves (October 1, 1987)

Tags

1987, Danny Darwin, Gerald Perry, Houston Astros, Jeff Blauser, Ken Oberkfell, October 1, Ronn Reynolds

Jeff Blauser

This isn’t easy to do. Just try it some time. On October 1, 1987, with the bases full of Astros, Gerald Perry, the runner on third, scores on a delayed steal of home when the return throw from Braves’ right-hander Danny Darwin is dropped by backstop Ronn Reynolds, who suffers a bruised and lacerated right hand on the play.

The other runners, Jeff Blauser (a former Brave) on first and Ken Oberkfell on second, also advance a base, making it a rare triple steal, an event which will not occur again for another 21 years.

What would the all time roster for the Braves look like?

Tags

Andruw Jones, Bobby Lowe, Chipper Jones, Craig Kimbrel, Dale Murphy, Eddie Matthews, Hank Aaron, Herman Long, Joe Torre, Kid Nichols, Phil Niekro, Warren Spahn

Atlanta Braves Logo

How would you fill out the all time roster for a team with as much talent as the Braves have had since 1871? Not easy. Recently Nick Selbe gave it a shot.

Here is his list.

Year founded: 1871

1966-present: Atlanta Braves
1953-1965: Milwaukee Braves
1936-1940: Boston Bees
1912-1935, 1941-1952: Boston Braves
1911: Boston Rustlers
1907-1910: Boston Doves
1883-1906: Boston Beaneaters
1876-1882: Boston Red Caps
1871-1875: Boston Red Stockings

Total WAR: 819.9

C: Joe Torre (1960-1968; 33.3)
1B: Dale Murphy (1976-1990; 46.9)
2B: Bobby Lowe (1890-1901; 19.1)
3B: Eddie Mathews (1952-1966; 94.4)
SS: Herman Long (1890-1902; 35.4)
OF: Hank Aaron (1954-1974; 142.1)
OF: Chipper Jones (1993-2012; 85.0)
OF: Andruw Jones (1996-2007; 61.0)

SP: Kid Nichols (1890-1901; 108.5)
SP: Warren Spahn (1942, 1946-1964; 92.0)
SP: Phil Niekro (1964-1983, 1987; 90.0)
RP: Craig Kimbrel (2010-2014; 12.2)

Making the all-time roster for MLB’s oldest continually running franchise was no small task. To make room for the three outfielders, we shifted Dale Murphy to first base, despite his primarily playing the outfield. Murphy made 205 appearances at first base in his first two big league seasons.

Though none of them made the final cut, the trio of John Smoltz, Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine deserve to be mentioned. As teammates from 1993-2002, they combined for a 453-224 record, with 4,616 strikeouts and a 2.97 ERA.

Source: Filling Out All-Time Rosters for Each MLB Franchise

Earl Torgeson was a much ballyhooed prospect (1947-1952)

Tags

1924, 1947, 1952, Boston Braves, Earl Torgeson, January 1, Ted Williams

Earl Torgeson

Earl Torgeson played for the Boston Braves from 1947 to 1952. He was a first baseman and outfielder. He was born on January 1, 1924.

Earl was a much ballyhooed prospect. He was 23 when he joined the Braves. He had an unusual blend of power and speed. He was a critical part of the pennant-winning club in 1948. He was productive but never seemed to live up to the hype.

When he first got to Boston, many compared him to Ted Williams. He was seen as the Braves’ best power-hitting prospect since Wally Berger.

We can’t really fault the left-hander for not being as good as Ted Williams. Who has been?

Year	Tm	Lg	G	AB	R	H	HR	RBI	BA
1947	BSN	NL	128	399	73	112	16	78	.281
1948	BSN	NL	134	438	70	111	10	67	.253
1949	BSN	NL	25	100	17	26	4	19	.260
1950	BSN	NL	156	576	120	167	23	87	.290
1951	BSN	NL	155	581	99	153	24	92	.263
1952	BSN	NL	122	382	49	88	5	34	.230
1953	PHI	NL	111	379	58	104	11	64	.274
1954	PHI	NL	135	490	63	133	5	54	.271
1955	TOT	MLB	136	450	87	125	10	67	.278
1955	PHI	NL	47	150	29	40	1	17	.267
1955	DET	AL	89	300	58	85	9	50	.283
1956	DET	AL	117	318	61	84	12	42	.264
1957	TOT	AL	116	301	58	86	8	51	.286
1957	DET	AL	30	50	5	12	1	5	.240
1957	CHW	AL	86	251	53	74	7	46	.295
1958	CHW	AL	96	188	37	50	10	30	.266
1959	CHW	AL	127	277	40	61	9	45	.220
1960	CHW	AL	68	57	12	15	2	9	.263
1961	TOT	AL	42	33	4	3	0	1	.091
1961	CHW	AL	20	15	1	1	0	1	.067
1961	NYY	AL	22	18	3	2	0	0	.111
15 Yrs			1668	4969	848	1318	149	740	.265
162 Game Avg.			162	483	82	128	14	72	.265
			G	AB	R	H	HR	RBI	BA
BSN (6 yrs)			720	2476	428	657	82	377	.265
CHW (5 yrs)			397	788	143	201	28	131	.255
PHI (3 yrs)			293	1019	150	277	17	135	.272
DET (3 yrs)			236	668	124	181	22	97	.271
NYY (1 yr)			22	18	3	2	0	0	.111
AL (7 yrs)			655	1474	270	384	50	228	.261
NL (9 yrs)			1013	3495	578	934	99	512	.267

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 2/28/2016.