1973 Hank Aaron finishes one home run short of Babe Ruth

Tags

1973, 714, Babe Ruth, Darrell Evans, Davey Johnson, Eddie Matthews, Hank Aaron, Houston Astros, Leo Durocher, September 29

The highlight of the 1973 Atlanta Braves season was Hank Aaron finishing the season just one home run short of Babe Ruth as baseball’s all-time home run king. The 1973 Atlanta Braves were the first team to boast three 40 home run hitters. They were Aaron, Darrell Evans (41), and Davey Johnson (43).

At the age of 39, Aaron managed to slug 40 home runs in 392 at bats, ending the season with 713, which at that time one home run short of the record. He hit home run number 713 on September 29, 1973, and with one day remaining in the season, many expected him to tie the record. But in his final game that year, playing against the Houston Astros (led by manager Leo Durocher, who had once roomed with Babe Ruth), he was unable to hit one out of the park. After the game, Aaron stated that his only fear was that he might not live to see the 1974 season. That statement was not just about the death threats: one year earlier, September 30, 1972 was the last day that the legendary Roberto Clemente ever played, as he perished in the offseason

Of course, finishing 76-85 has you searching for the light at the end of the tunnel. Hank Aaron was the light in 1973. The Braves were 22 1/2 games out of first place. It was Eddie Matthews second year as manager. He wouldn’t have too many more.

An interesting record that year was that the Braves scored more runs than any other team in the National League. They also gave up more runs than any other team. That accounts for their miserable record.

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The Barnes brothers battle it out in a pitching duel (June 26, 1924)

Tags

1917, 1923, 1924, Boston Braves, Jesse Barnes, June 26, New York Giants, No Hitter, October 2, Virgil Barnes

Jesse Barnes – Boston Braves

In a matchup at the Polo Grounds on June 26, 1924, Giants’ right-hander Virgil Barnes faces his older sibling, Jesse, marking the first time brothers have started against one another in major league history. Neither of Luther and Sade’s sons will be credited with the victory, but Jesse will be tagged with the loss when New York beats his Boston Braves, 8-1.

The Barnes brothers will match up four more times during their careers‚ the first, including three days from this date.

Jesse began his majors career in 1914 with the Boston Braves. In 1917 he led the National League with 21 losses. On October 2, 1917, he became the only NL pitcher to walk two times in one inning.

In 1918, Jesse was traded to the New York Giants. He had three very good years with the Giants. On the last day of the 1919 season, he won his National League-leading 25th victory, 6–1, over Lee Meadows and the Philadelphia Phillies at Polo Grounds. The game was played at a feverish pace and lasted a mere 51 minutes, a major league record that still stands as the shortest nine-inning game ever played.

In 1920 Jesse had 20 wins, following with 15 wins in 1921 and two victories in the 1921 World Series against the New York Yankees. Then, in 1922 he hurled a no-hitter against the Phillies.

He returned to the Boston Braves in 1923, playing for them three years before joining the Brooklyn Robins from 1926 through 1927. For the second time, he led the league in losses (20) in 1924.

Both Jesse and Virgil were teammates with the Giants from 1919 to 1923.

Here is the box score from June 26, 1924.

Batting	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG
Dave Bancroft SS	4	1	1	0	0	0	.303	.375	.373
Ray Powell CF	4	0	1	0	0	0	.202	.255	.242
Bill Cunningham LF	4	0	2	1	0	0	.311	.351	.429
Stuffy McInnis 1B	4	0	3	0	0	0	.280	.303	.360
Cotton Tierney 2B	4	0	0	0	0	1	.308	.354	.389
Casey Stengel RF	4	0	0	0	0	0	.259	.325	.362
Ernie Padgett 3B	3	0	0	0	0	1	.297	.353	.416
Mickey O’Neil C	3	0	0	0	0	1	.262	.270	.273
Jesse Barnes P	1	0	0	0	0	0	.143	.143	.143
Al Yeargin P	2	0	0	0	0	2	.316	.316	.421
Team Totals	33	1	7	1	0	5	.212	.212	.212

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 4/20/2016.

Andruw Jones, John Schuerholz elected to Atlanta Braves Hall of Fame

Tags

2016, 2017, Andrus Jones, Atlanta Braves, August 19, John Schuerholz

The Atlanta Braves have announced two new inductees to the Braves Hall of Fame.

“Now that I got the induction, I can officially say that I am retired,” Jones said, per Kevin McAlpin of 680 The Fan. “[I] will try to focus on helping the youth.”

Jones, 38, spent 12 years with the Braves, hitting .263 with 368 home runs and 1,117 RBI. He spent 17 years in the big leagues in total—including stints with the New York Yankees, Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox—finishing his career with a .254 batting average, 434 home runs and 1,289 RBI.

Schuerholz, meanwhile, was the team’s general manager during its 14 consecutive NL East titles in the ’90s and 2000s. He became the team’s president in 2007 and has now been in baseball for 51 years and with the Braves for 26 years.

A game to watch (April 27, 2016) as A. J. Pierzynski gets hit 2,000

Tags

2016, A. J. Pierzynski, April 24, Atlanta Braves

Today (April 27, 2016) was a game to watch as catcher A. J. (Anthony John) Pierzynski secured hit 2,000.

He collected three hits on Friday (April 22, 2016) night in a loss to the New York Mets at Turner Field and now stands at 1,999 hits in his career. He didn’t play on Saturday.

Harry Wright Day, Baseball’s other April Celebration — Guest blog by Keith Spalding Robbins

Tags

1871, 1896, April 13, Boston Red Stockings, Harry Wright, Rockford Forest Citys

Guest blog by Keith Spalding Robbins

April 13, 1896 – 120 Years later a fitting memorial to the Original Red Stocking, Harry Wright.

His epitaph states he was the Father of Baseball.

Of course the father of baseball was the first center fielder, manager and General Manager of the Original Boston Red Stockings. Later he was the supervisor of umpires, and arbiter of issues on the field of play. In today’s corporate baseball vocabulary he is the Chief of Baseball Operations. Interestingly, another Brave of note, Joe Torre has this position today.

Harry Wright is also the first to take advantage of the “free agency” of baseball by scouting and signing the best talent of his day for top dollars. In doing so he created baseball’s first dynasty, the winners of 6 pennants in eight years of Braves history. He was also noted for creating baseball’s first farm team while running the old Providence Grays in the 1880’s.

The title father of baseball is indeed fitting for the leader of the Original Red Stockings of Boston.

In memory of his death in relative poverty and obscurity in an Atlantic City hotel room, the magnates of Baseball dedicated April 13, 1896 as Harry Wright Day.  It was a national baseball benefit day to raise money for the above pictured grave marker. 11 of the 12 teams played benefit games for the old skipper. (The lone recalcitrant was St. Louis). For the record, the Giants easily handled the Mets giving them a 14 to 4 whipping.  At least twenty other benefit games were played on that day in cities great and small: including Detroit, Louisville, Scranton, Peoria, Newport News and Kansas City. (Peoria was a rain out.) College, Semi-pro and amateur teams also participated.

The Beaneaters held two games on a cold rainy April 13^th in New England. The current Beaneaters traveled to Derby Ct. and played the Eastern League Springfield MA team, easily beating them, 32-2. Meanwhile in Boston the former Red Stockings held an Old Timers game at the famous South End Baseball Grounds. John Morrill led the ‘old timers’ against the Harvard Nine, 14-10. Two Beaneaters victories on one Day in two cities!

In Cincinnati, a Harry Wright Association was organized of former players of the ‘69 Reds and the survivors of that team, along with Red Stockings’ Deacon White and his brother played for the Reds “Old Timers” against the current team of 1896. Finally in Rockford, Ill, George Wright the old shortstop, donned a Cincinnati Reds Uniform and played an old timers games against AG Spalding and the old Rockford Forest City’s. (It was a rain out lasting just one inning).

A link between the Braves and Rockford Forest Citys: of course. It was the Forest City Nine that Harry Wright raided to make his Boston Nine the best in Baseball. All were given record contracts at the time to leave little Rockford for Boston. The former Rockford baseball heroes were second baseman Ross Barnes and Pitcher AG Spalding. (Five years later the tables would be turned on Harry Wright by “the four seceders” who returned to Chicago.)

“Before today, one 1 team had followed a 9+ game losing streak to start season with a 3-game win streak: 1871 Rockford (Ill.) Forest Citys.”  As we know it was matched by the Braves this season.

Are the Braves now reaping the curse of Harry Wright cast upon them some 145 years later?

Well, not really, or maybe… Before today, only 1 team had followed a 9+ game losing streak to start season with a 3-game win streak: 1871 Rockford (Ill.) Forest Citys.Before today, only 1 team had followed a 9+ game losing streak to start season with a 3-game win streak: 1871 Rockford (Ill.) Forest Citys.as Baseball-reference.com notes that while the Rockford Forest Citys were devoid of two of their best players thanks to Harry Wrights’ raid, Rockford finished last, going 4 -21. They did win three in a row to reach 3-16, but they won two of their first four games. Both these games were later forfeited with Rockford taking the loss. In Game Two of 1871 Rockford won 15-12 beating the Old Nationals (Olympics) of Washington. According to the NY Clipper 20 May 1871, Scott Hastings the team’s catcher played for another team the Lone Star Nine of New Orleans on April 16 and was seasonally ineligible until June 16^th to play for Rockford. On May 5, 1871 Hastings did play and was allowed by both umpire and opposition to so there is some question about his ineligibility. Nevertheless, Rockford was doomed, if they won any game with Hastings the opposition would claim a forfeit and turn a loss into a win. Such was life in the old National Association, which of course is why there is the National League of today. So Rockford started the season 0-16, with 4 forfeits, its first and last season as a “big league” town.

The lesson of Harry Wright, as the front office genius, the scouting, development, and paying for top flight players will have its reap the rewards of winning. And it’s the same formula every winning team has realized since the days of Harry Wright the architect of the Braves first dynasty.

With the 120th Anniversary of Harry Wright’s day come and gone, it is a reminder of how in baseball, there is a season for winning and losing, and the Braves are adroit at both.

Way back in 1871, the Braves stared their season beating the Nationals 20-18, and now some 145 years later the Braves started their season hosting the Nationals and this time losing 3-4.Before today, only 1 team had followed a 9+ game losing streak to start season with a 3-game win streak: 1871 Rockford (Ill.) Forest Citys.

“Oh…people will come Ray. People will most definitely come.” ~Terence Mann

Tags

Field of Dreams, James Earl Jones, Ray Kinsella, Shoeless Joe Jackson, Terence Mann

“Ray. People will come, Ray. They’ll come to Iowa for reasons they can’t even fathom. They’ll turn up your driveway not knowing for sure why they’re doing it. They’ll arrive at your door as innocent as children, longing for the past. “Of course, we won’t mind if you look around”, you’ll say, “It’s only $20 per person”. They’ll pass over the money without even thinking about it: for it is money they have and peace they lack. And they’ll walk out to the bleachers; sit in shirtsleeves on a perfect afternoon.

“They’ll find they have reserved seats somewhere along one of the baselines, where they sat when they were children and cheered their heroes. And they’ll watch the game and it’ll be as if they dipped themselves in magic waters. The memories will be so thick they’ll have to brush them away from their faces. People will come Ray.

“The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game: it’s a part of our past, Ray. It reminds us of all that once was good and that could be again. Oh…people will come Ray. People will most definitely come.”

Source: Quote by James Earl Jones: “Ray. People will come, Ray. They’ll come to Iow…”

When two 100 plus loosing teams face each other, who loses? (October 6, 1923)

Tags

1905, 1923, Boston Beanearters, Boston Braves, October 6

Boston Braves

On October 6, 1923. for only the second time in major league history, two 100-loss teams face one another when the 52-100 Boston Braves beat the 50-102 Phillies in the first game of a season-ending doubleheader, 5-4.

Boston, then known as the Beaneaters, was also part of the first occurrence of this rare type of matchup when the 50-100 club played the 45-103 team from Brooklyn in 1905.

Not the kind of record you want to be known for by any means. But that is the Braves. A long history, some not so fun to remember.

 

The Foghorn of the Boston Red Caps (1876)

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1855, 1876, August 23, Foghorn Bradley, July 1

Foghorn Bradley – Boston Red Caps

It was a one year career and yes, his name was Foghorn Bradley. He was born on Sunday, July 1, 1855, in Milford, Massachusetts. Bradley was 21 years old when he broke into the big leagues on August 23, 1876, with the Boston Red Caps (now known as the Atlanta Braves).

He had a 9-10 record and a 2.49 ERA in his one season as a pitcher. Not good enough to win a chance at coming back in 1877.

The following season he did not continue to play, but instead served as a replacement umpire, as he had in 1875 in the National Association. He did not get promoted to full-time umpire until 1879, when he officiated games in the National League until 1883. He would again umpire in the majors in the American Association in 1886. During that era umpires generally worked games single-handedly, and Bradley was no exception, as he worked as the lone umpire in every game of his career.

Although his career as an umpire was short, he was involved a couple of historic games. On June 12, 1880 he was the umpire when Lee Richmond pitched the first perfect game in major league history, which was also the second no-hitter ever tossed. Later, in that same season, on August 20, he was the umpire for another no-hitter, this time by future Hall of Famer Pud Galvin, throwing the fifth no-hitter in major league history.

In total, he officially umpired in 344 games, during an era in which more than one umpire was rarely used in games. Foghorn died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at the age of 44, and was buried in the Philadelphia Cemetery; he was later re-buried in Forest Hills Cemetery in Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania.

Homer History: When Jim Leyritz halted hopes of a Braves dynasty (October 23, 1996)

Tags

1991, 1996, Andruw Jones, Atlanta Braves, Jim Leyritz, Mark Wohlers, New York Yankee, October 23, World Series

Jim Leyritz

In the Homer History series, writers re-tell the stories of memorable home runs from their perspective. In this installment, Yahoo Sports’ Jay Busbee talks about the 1996 World Series homer that sank the Braves’ chance at a dynasty.

The Atlanta Braves of 1991-2005 will go down in history as a dynasty that wasn’t, alongside similar ‘90s relics like the would-be Super Bowl champion Buffalo Bills and the would-be President Al Gore. Sure, they rolled off 14 division titles, an accolade which carries all the weight of 14 straight perfect-attendance awards, but when it mattered the most, the Braves came up small, year after year after year.

Les Mann, an all around athletic hero and Boston Brave — Guest blog by Keith Spalding Robbins

Tags

1914, 1935, George Stallings, Jimmie Foxx, Keith Robbins, Les Mann, Max Carey, Miami Baseball School, Wheaties

Guest blog article by Keith Spalding Robbins

Figure 1: Les Mann teaching a Miami local the art of being a Catcher. Sorry Toronto, but there no dresses worn in this baseball game.
Source: Baseball Hall of Fame Photo

Les Mann: baseball hero, football hero, basketball star, World Series hero, Track and Field hero, Wheaties Box Hero, Global Baseball Ambassador, Olympian and of course a Boston Brave.

He was a man of great athletic talents not seen since fellow Brave Dione Sanders.

His life was full, and his influence in baseball today albeit forgotten was paramount in making international baseball a reality.

Before the creation of US Baseball, Les Mann took US Select teams to Japan, Berlin, Havana, and throughout the world as amateur goodwill ambassadors for baseball.

By all accounts his best sport was probably football where he dominated the college gridiron of the Pre WWI era. He was classified as a football All-American in 1911 as a 19-year old and freshman at Springfield College. His most remarkable game was against Jim Thorpe and his Carlise School. And to stay busy and to pay bills he played professional baseball in the summer months. He played for the Braves in the summer and attended nearby Springfield College in winter months. By the time the Braves signed him in 1913 they forbid him from football, so Mann coached the football team and played basketball.

In the platoon system of George Stallings’ 1914 Miracle Braves, Mann did not start often but always seemed to be in thick of things and when a hit was needed, he delivered. In the World Series he knocked in the winning run in game two and scored the winning run in the twelve inning game three. He caught the game ending fly ball as well in game 4, and got his shirt ripped off his back by the excited beantowners as they stormed the field and celebrated the Braves miraculous victory.

Yet for all his on the field heroics, it was his advanced coaching and teaching that propelled him to greater success. For one he was the creator and inventor of film studies in sports.

He started a baseball school in Miami, along with Pirates Hall of Fame Center Fielder Max Carey and featured Jimmie Foxx as the headliner. With ads placed in Sporting News and other magazine the school had a national reach recruited the best baseball youth talent. The incentive was not MLB connections but the chance to be part of the foreign baseball and global travel. It was known as the Miami Baseball School.

This school served as springboard for Mann created what was later known as the National Baseball Congress which sponsored US National Travel teams.

In 1935 with sponsorship from Wheaties Cereal he took a select team adorned with the US letters on the front, and Wheaties on the left sleeve to Japan for a series of baseball exhibitions. This successful tour set the stage for an even greater baseball endeavor.

In 1936 Les Mann organized the US Olympic Baseball Team that played a demonstration game in front of Hitler himself and 100,000 baseball illiterate Germans. As part of making baseball a demonstration sport in the 1936 Games, Mann was promised that baseball would be a full sport in the 1940 and 1944 games. The 1940 Games were supposed to have be staged in Tokyo.

He did so with sponsorship from Louisville Slugger and other baseball companies but without any MLB support, nor US Olympic Team funding either.

So the connection between the Braves and the Olympics far extends back some 80 years ago this summer well beyond the confines of Turner Field, and rests with a former Miracle Braves part-timer centerfielder Les Mann.

Photo Source: Baseball Hall of Fame Photo

 

 

 

Barry Bonds, not Greg Maddux, was Atlanta Braves’ first choice in 1992

Tags

1992, Atlanta Braves, Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, Jim Leyland, John Schuerholz

I am so glad Barry Bonds never was traded to the Atlanta Braves. Apparently it came very close to happening.

Yes, I am still angry that Barry Bonds broke Hank Aaron’s home run record. Yes, I am convinced it was done with the help of steroids and shouldn’t count. And so, I am very glad the Braves got Greg Maddux instead of Barry Bonds.

What Baseball Can Teach About Saving Our Failing Institutions

Tags

Big Data, Change, Money Ball, Travis Sawchik

Baseball is an amazing game. It has a lot to teach us.

Consider the book “ Big Data Baseball: Math, Miracles, and the End of a 20-Year Losing Streak”. Change is not easy for any organization. How do you get leadership to buy-in from different segments of the organization, including people heavily invested in the old ways?

Murphy caps big Nats debut with go-ahead hit in opening day win against the Atlanta Braves (April 4, 2016)

Tags

2016, April 4, Atlanta Braves, Freddie Freeman, Julio Teheran, Julio Tehran, Washington Nationals

The final Opening Day at Turner Field. That’s right. The final one. This should have been exciting. It was not. It was sad. Sad to see a team trying to “not win” by rebuilding. I won’t apologize for feeling betrayed by corporate owners who don’t want to lose money.

Baseball is about winning. Not at all costs but we should play with the intent to win. We need that from owners, management and players. We need to be in the game.

The Atlanta Braves lose the first ever League Championship game to the Mets 9-5 (October 4, 1969)

Tags

1969, Atlanta Braves, League Championship Series, New York Mets, October 4

In the first ever League Championship Series playoff game on October 4, 1969, the Mets beat the Braves 9-5 in Atlanta.

The League Championship Series  is the official name for the semifinal round of postseason play in Major League Baseball which has been conducted since 1969. In 1981, and since 1995, the two annual series have matched up the winners of the Division Series, and the winners advance to meet in the World Series

The League Championship Series was promulgated in 1969, when both the National League and the American League increased in size from ten teams to twelve with the addition, via expansion, of the Montreal Expos and San Diego Padres to the former and the Kansas City Royals and Seattle Pilots (now the Milwaukee Brewers of the NL) to the latter. As a result, both leagues formed Eastern and Western Divisions, the first-place teams from which faced off in the LCS.

Atlanta Braves 25-Man Roster for opening day (April 4, 2016)

Tags

2016, April 4, Atlanta Braves, Opening Day, Roster

Finally! It is opening day. This is the last opening day at Turner Field. I have so many fond memories of Turner Field. Hard to believe they are leaving such a great venue. While I don’t live in Atlanta anymore, it would be so cool to see at least one game there this season.

“There are only two seasons – winter and Baseball.” ~Bill Veeck

Nothing like opening day! I never get tired of it.

“There are only two seasons – winter and Baseball.” ~Bill Veeck

Philadelphia Phillies at Boston Braves win 3-0 on Opening Day (April 14, 1915)

Tags

1915, April 14, Boston Braves, Opening Day, Philadelphia Phillies

It’s opening day the year after the Miracle Braves won the World Series. So, on April 14, 1915, the Phillies beat the Braves 3-0. Dick Rudolph was the losing pitcher for the Braves. George Stallings, coming off the glow of 1914 is managing. The game is played at Fenway Park with 12,000 in attendance. The game started at 1:43.

The Braves start the season 0-1. They had lost opening day in 1914 as well.

No big deal. The Braves would finish 2nd in the National League with a 83-69 record, 7 games behind Philadelphia. The Boston Red Sox would end up beating Philadelphia in the World Series 4-1.

 

Batting	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	PA	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	PO	A
Herbie Moran RF	4	0	0	0	0	0	4	.000	.000	.000	.000	1	0
Johnny Evers 2B	4	0	2	0	0	0	4	.500	.500	.500	1.000	2	2	2·SB
Joe Connolly LF	4	0	0	0	0	1	4	.000	.000	.000	.000	1	0
Sherry Magee CF	3	0	1	0	1	0	4	.333	.500	.333	.833	4	0
Butch Schmidt 1B	3	0	0	0	1	1	4	.000	.250	.000	.250	7	0
Red Smith 3B	3	0	1	0	0	0	4	.333	.333	.333	.667	1	1	SB,SH
Rabbit Maranville SS	3	0	2	0	0	1	3	.667	.667	.667	1.333	2	3
Hank Gowdy C	3	0	0	0	0	0	3	.000	.000	.000	.000	9	2
Dick Rudolph P	3	0	0	0	0	2	3	.000	.000	.000	.000	0	2
Team Totals	30	0	6	0	2	5	33	.200	.250	.200	.450	27	10

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 1/17/2016.