Frank Selee was on a roll finishing first with a 86-43 record (1893)

Tags

1893, Boston Beaneaters, Frank Selee, Players League, Split Season

Frank Selee – Boston Beaneaters

1893 would be Frank Selee’s 4th year as manager. He was on a roll. His record would be 86-43 for a first place finish. That would be 5 games ahead of Pittsburgh.

It was another year and another pennant for the Boston Beaneaters. In 1991-93, the Atlanta Braves would come close to winning three consecutive National League pennants only to lose to Philadelphia. 100 years earlier, the Beaneaters (now known as the Braves) accomplished this rare feat. These victories gave Boston an amazing six of the first 18 pennant flags.

There were a couple of big changes in 1893. The split-season format of 1892 was dropped.  Major league baseball had been through a trying experience with the players revolt of 1890 which resulted in the one year operation of the Players’ League, and then the collapse of the American Association after the 1891 season.

The National League picked up four AA cities and expanded from eight teams to 12 for the 1892 season. Consideration was given to adopting a first half and a second half of the season based on an apparently successful experiment in the Eastern League in 1891. It was not a very successful season. As the editor of the Reach Guide stated: “The clubs have this year acknowledged their error in both the double championship and the lengthened season by abolishing both. This year (1893) there will be one continuing season beginning late in April and ending about the first of October.”

The biggest change came to pitching. The pitching distance was moved back five feet to a total of 60 feet, 6 inches in 1893. None of this seemed to effect Boston. By late June, they assumed the lead for good and coasted to the end of the season. They were so good that year that not a single player was released during the season, a National League first.

Advertisements

The Beaneaters win the season pennant on November 11 (1891)

Tags

1891, Boston Beaneaters, November 11, October 1, September 30

The 1891 championship took a long time to complete. It wasn’t until November 11 that it was official.

In late September, the New York Giants came to Boston. They were out of the pennant race. They were there for a 5 game series. New York decided to leave a few players at home. They didn’t bring their 2 best pitchers, Amos Rusie and John Ewing. They also didn’t bring their best hitter, Roger Connor.

The Beaneaters swept the five game series on September 30. Chicago, suspecting some collusion filed a protest.

On October 1, Boston clinched the title beating Philadelphia 6-1. That was amazingly their 17th straight win. The next day they won again making it 18 in row.

Because of the protest, the announcement of the champion was delayed until November 11. The protest was denied by the League.

After a long delay the Braves won the pennant.

Boston Beaneaters

Lou Fette wins 20 games as a 30 year old rookie (1937)

Tags

1907, 1937, 1981, Bob Quinn, Boston Bees, January 3, Jim Turner, Lou Fette, March 15

You are 30 years old. You have repeatedly won in the minors. You’ve been doing it a long time. You probably begin to think you won’t win in the majors. Your fastball isn’t so zippy any longer. You’ve got a good curve ball and control. Clubs are becoming reluctant to take a chance on you.

In 1937, the Boston Bees are pretty hard up for good pitching. There is no money for high priced pitching talent. They decide to pay $3,000 to St. Paul of the American Association for Lou Fette. He had won 25 games in 1936. Most fans did not think this was a good investment and General Manager Bob Quinn would come to regret it.

But he didn’t regret it.

Fette was one of the top pitchers in 1937 winning 20 games. His partner in crime, Jim Turner (a rookie) also won 20 games. It was the only time in history that two rookies won 20 games each for the same team. And it was the Bees. Go figure.

Fette played for the Bees 1937 to 1940 and again in 1945. He was from Alma, Missouri, born on March 15, 1907. He would pass away on January 3, 1981.

Al Dark was Deion Sanders before Deion Sanders (1948)

Tags

1948, Al Dark, Boston Braves, Deion Sanders

Al Dark played for the Braves in 1946, 1948-49 and then again in 1960. Al was born on January 7, 1922 and mainly played shortstop.

1948 was an amazing year for the Braves. Al Dark played a major role in what happened that summer.

We all remember Deion Sanders. Dark did even better being a three sport star at LSU. In addition to his baseball talent, he was the high scorer on the basketball team and a backfield player in football and drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles.

After serving a tour of duty during WWII in the Marines, Dark signed with the Braves for $40k bonus. When Dark joined the Braves, we had not won a pennant since 1914. He was a rookie at age 26.

The Braves would turn the corner in 1948 and Dark led the way. As a rookie he batted .322, fourth in the Majors, and was also third in doubles (39) and fifth in hits (175). He also managed a 23 game hitting streak, equaling the modern (post 1900) rookie record.

Francisco Cabrera helps the Atlanta Braves win the NL pennant series (1992)

Tags

1966, 1992, Atlanta Braves, David Justice, Francisco Cabrera, NL Pennant, October 10, Pittsburgh Pirates, Sid Bream, Stan Belinda

We all remember Francisco Cabrera. A catcher for the Braves from 1989 to 1993, he batted and threw right handed. Origionally from the Dominican Republic and born on October 10, 1966.

With one swing of the bat, he became my hero.

Perhaps unfairly, he was known as a “good hit/no field” label. Hard to live a label like that down. He was used very irregularly as a catcher. In the 1992 NL pennant series last game, he came off the bench to deliver a stunning, ninth inning hit that won the game. He hit a two out single to left off of Pittsburgh’s Stan Belinda to drive in David Justice and Sid Bream. That ended the NL Championship Series. So there. All done!

What a bases loaded hit it was. This would be the second straight NL pennant. This was the first time in history to win a postseason championship for a team that went from losing to winning on the final pitch.

Cabrera was a reserve. He spent most of 1992 at Triple-A Richmond. He had only 10 major league bats in 1992. His hit brought him instant stardom. He even got a key to the city from Mayor Maynard Jackson.

Dusty Baker as an Atlanta Brave outfielder (1968 — 1975)

Tags

1968, 1975, Atlanta Braves, Dusty Baker, Hank Aaron

Dusty Baker became a bitter rival of the Braves but contributed mightily as a player from 1968 to 1975. Dusty was born on June 15, 1949 in Riverside, California. He batted right and threw right.

Dusty kind of got lost in the Hank Aaron era. He was a regular center fielder in 1972 and 1973. He replaced Hank Aaron in right field for most of 1974 when the ‘Hammer cut back on his playing time after hitting number 715 and then again in 1975 when he was traded to Milwaukee.

Baker had a challenging time in Atlanta. In 1972, his first full season in the Majors, he hit a career-high .321. Notice I said career-high. He never repeated that again disappointing many of the fans. In 1973 he batted .288 with 99 RBIs and joined Aaron in the 20-20 club hitting over 20 home runs and stealing over 20 bases. It would take Dale Murphy to do the same again in 1982.

1974 and 1975 saw a big decline in his numbers. Contract discussions became difficult. He became a part of a six person trade the Los Angeles Dodgers. He would flourish there. Go figure!

Some of his career highlights were:

• 2× All-Star (1981, 1982) – Not in Atlanta
• World Series champion (1981) – Not in Atlanta
• NLCS MVP (1977) – Not in Atlanta
• Gold Glove Award (1981) – Not in Atlanta
• 2× Silver Slugger Award (1980, 1981) – Not in Atlanta
• 3× NL Manager of the Year (1993, 1997, 2000) – Not in Atlanta

Dusty Baker – Atlanta Braves

Johnny Antonelli is traded to New York Giants for Bobby Thomson (1953)

Tags

1953, 1961, Bobby Thomson, Boston Braves, Hank Aaron, John Quinn, Johnny Antonelli, Milwaukee Braves

Johnny Antonelli

Johnny Antonelli played with the Braves from 1948 to 1950, again in 1953 and 1961. Born on April 12, 1930 in Rochester, New York, he was a pitcher who batted and threw left.

It isn’t easy to cause a riot in New York City, but Braves General Manager John Quinn nearly accomplished it prior to the 1954 season. Several months later there was a celebration.

The two principles to the deal were Bobby Thomson and the young left handed pitcher Johnny Antonelli. Thompson hit the most dramatic home run in history in 1951.

The Braves needed a power hitting outfielder. The didn’t know that the future all-time home run king (Aaron) was about to make his presence known. So the Braves traded the 23 year old Antonelli to the Giants. That was a tough trade as Antonelli just finished fourth in the National League with a 3.18 ERA in 1953.

Understandably, the Giants were madder than a hornet at losing Thomson, who was coming off a 106 RBI season. It didn’t take long to change their thinking. Antonelli was 21-7 in 1954 and helped propel the Giants to win the NL pennant. He had a winning percentage of .750, 6 shutouts, and an ERA of 2.30. He also won a game in the World Series.

Thomson broke his leg in spring training, leading the Milwaukee Braves to insert Hank Aaron in the line up.

Boston Beaneaters and Frank Selee finish fifth (1895)

Tags

1895, Boston Beaneaters, Frank Selee, July 3, July 8, June 11

Frank Selee was in his 6th year as manager. He clearly was on a slide in 1895 having finished 1st in 1893, 3rd in 1894 and now 5th in 1895. The Beaneaters ended up 16 and 1/2 games out of 1st place with a 71-60 record. Ouch!

This is the first year that the team would have spring training in the south. While not in Florida yet, Columbia, South Carolina was the spring home. The team left SC feeling they could win the pennant again. Misplaced optimism for sure.

The first half of the season did see them in contention. They actually moved past Pittsburgh and into 1st by beating Louisville on June 11 by a score of 11-0. They then dropped out of the lead on July 3. That was a pretty important time.  The race was a toss up between Boston, Baltimore, Chicago and Pittsburgh. As of July 8, only one game separated the four teams.

A lot would go downhill from there.

Frank Selee – Boston Beaneaters

George Wright leaves the Boston Red Caps for Providence, Rhode Island (1879)

Tags

1879, Boston Red Caps, George Wright, Harry Wright, Jim O'Rourke, Lew Brown, Providence

So, Harry and George Wright parted ways from the Red Caps in 1879. Providence, Rhode Island was eager. They were hungry. They decided they could dethrone Boston from the top of the National League.

How could they do it? They decided to raid their “neighbor’s kitchen”. They decided to split up the Wright brothers.

George Wright was the younger of the two but very talented. He was very popular in Boston. The fans nicknamed him “Our George”. Like most players, he had a price as well as an ego. Providence figured out they could take advantage of that. They wanted to win the pennant.

Providence approach George and he decided to listen. So he bolted for Rhode Island. He didn’t go alone though. He took Jim O’Rourke with him. Jim was Boston’s best hitter.

He also persuaded Lew Brown, a great catcher and outfielder to go as well.

Why did O’Rourke go? He was in a feud with management. He became one of the games first hold outs. He refused to sign a contract. This is how bad it was then for players. He objected to paying $20 a year for the uniform and 50 cents a day for travel expenses. Both sides were suborn and wouldn’t budge. The fans took up a collection to pay for it. O’Rourke left anyway.

The fans were outraged. Who could blame them? They lost three of their best players. And they lost them to an upstart like Providence.

What happened as a result? Providence won the pennant! The Braves ended the season second with a 54-30 record and 5 games behind.

George Wright

John Smoltz – The most beloved pitcher for the Atlanta Braves

Tags

1985, Atlanta Braves, John Smoltz

John Smoltz

John Smoltz is probably the most beloved pitcher in Atlanta history.

Consider this, from 2001-08 (injured in 2000), Smoltz started 110 games and finished 204 games.

During that time, he was 55-34 with a 3.04 ERA, 913 strikeouts and had 154 saves in 980.2 innings pitched. He also had a 1.127 ERA.

Furthermore, Smoltz is the only pitcher in baseball history to have 200 wins and 150 saves in his career.

Mighty good in anybody’s book. Not bad for a kid who was the 574th selection of the 1985 draft.

 

Atlanta Braves play in the first ever National League Division play off games (October 3, 1995)

Tags

1995, Atlanta Braves, NLDS, October 3

We are used to it now but it wasn’t that long ago there weren’t Division playoff games in MLB.

The 1995 National League Division Series (NLDS), the opening round of the 1995 National League playoffs, began on Tuesday, October 3, and ended on Saturday, October 7, with the champions of the three NL divisions—along with a “wild card” team—participating in two best-of-five series. As a result of both leagues realigning into three divisions in 1994, it marked the first time in major league history that a team could qualify for postseason play without finishing in first place in its league or division. The teams were:

• (1) Atlanta Braves (Eastern Division champion, 90–54) vs. (4) Colorado Rockies (Wild Card, 77–67): Braves win series, 3–1.
• (2) Cincinnati Reds (Central Division champion, 85–59) vs. (3) Los Angeles Dodgers(Western Division champion, 78–66): Reds win series, 3–0.

Javy Lopez – Atlanta Brave from 1992 to 2003

Tags

2003, Atlanta Braves, Javy Lopez

Javy Lopez played for the team for four years during the 2000s and was a favorite among Braves’ fans. He was one of my favorites as well since he was a catcher.

On the final out of the 1995 World Series championship season: “I remember Carlos Baerga was at the plate and I called for a fastball away from Mark (Wohlers). We were trying to stay away from the middle of the plate. When it first left his bat I was thinking he hit it hard, but then I saw (center fielder) Marquis (Grissom) pick up on it quickly and knew we had the out. I then remember running to the mound and jumping on Mark. I don’t remember much after that.’’

During that time, he had a .282 average with 95 home runs and 316 RBI. He had 486 hits, scored 225 runs, hit 81 doubles and had a .500 slugging percentage.

The 2003 season saw him bat .318 with 43 home runs and 109 RBI, earning an All-Star selection and a Silver Slugger award.

Behind the plate, he threw out 110 of 349 base stealers, which is a little over a 31 percent success rate.

When Javier “Javy” Lopez was growing up in Puerto Rico, he would practice baseball by hitting rocks off the metal roof of his house in Ponce. The loud noise, which used to drive his parents crazy, would eventually lead to Lopez putting his name in the major league record books for most home runs in a season by a catcher, when he hit 43 in his final season with the Braves in 2003.

After the 2003 season, he signed as a free agent with the Baltimore Orioles.

 

John Smoltz’s — watch him rob old friend Tom Glavine of a hit (April 22, 2007)

Tags

2007, April 22, Atlanta Braves, John Smoltz, New York Mets, Tom Glavine

John Smoltz was an amazing pitcher for the Braves. A staple in the Major Leagues for two decades, he spent 16 years pitching alongside fellow Hall of Famer Tom Glavine. They were teammates until Glavine signed with the Mets after the 2002 season.

Glavine was still with the Mets when the two squared off at Shea Stadium on April 22, 2007. It was on that day that Smoltz took the opportunity to show his old friend that he was still as athletic as ever, despite approaching his 40th birthday.

Former Brave Kenny Lofton agrees to a $1.25 million, one-year contract with the White Sox (February 1, 2002)

Tags

1997, 2002, Atlanta Braves, February 1, Kenny Lofton

Kenny Lofton played for a lot of teams. One of them was the Atlanta Braves in 1997. As an impending free agent in 1996, it was Lofton’s last season with Cleveland before being traded to near the end of spring training 1997 to the Atlanta Braves of the National League. On trading Lofton, Hart said, “We had to make this trade and based on the fact that Lofton could be a free agent at the end of this season. We went through it with Albert Belle last year, and Albert left and we had nothing in return. We were not prepared to do that again.”

• On February 1, 2002 Six-time All Star Kenny Lofton (.261, 14, 66) agrees to a $1.25 million, one-year contract with the White Sox.
• The 34 year-old centerfielder, who has played with the Indians, Braves and Astros during his 11-year major league career, had a .302 lifetime batting average.
• Here are the teams he played for:
  • Houston Astros (1991)
  • Cleveland Indians (1992–1996)
  • Atlanta Braves (1997)
  • Cleveland Indians (1998–2001)
  • Chicago White Sox (2002)
  • San Francisco Giants (2002)
  • Pittsburgh Pirates (2003)
  • Chicago Cubs (2003)
  • New York Yankees (2004)
  • Philadelphia Phillies (2005)
  • Los Angeles Dodgers (2006)
  • Texas Rangers (2007)
  • Cleveland Indians (2007)

Kenny Lofton