5 of 6 HOF inductees are former Braves

[coxfan]

I didn't realize until yesterday that Tony Larussa played nine games for the Atlanta Braves in 1971, as a second baseman, going 2/7 with one run scored. He thus joins Joe Torre, who starred with Atlanta and later managed them to the 1982 Division title, and of course Cox, Maddux, and Glavine as ex-Atlanta Braves. Only Thomas is going into the HOF with no Braves' history.

[Roady]

Re: 5 of 6 HOF inductees are former Braves

Thomas was not good enough to be a Brave!

I'm kidding. I'm kidding!

[ironmanfan]

Re: 5 of 6 HOF inductees are former Braves

It's kind of a shame that John Smoltz pitched that one last season in Boston, as they all could have gone in as one class.

[Roady]

Re: 5 of 6 HOF inductees are former Braves

It's kind of a shame that John Smoltz pitched that one last season in Boston, as they all could have gone in as one class.

That would have been even cooler.

[kellsox]

Re: 5 of 6 HOF inductees are former Braves

It's kind of a shame that John Smoltz pitched that one last season in Boston, as they all could have gone in as one class.

It was a shame I had to watch him pitch that season in Boston

[coxfan]

Re: 5 of 6 HOF inductees are former Braves

I guess Smoltz and Chipper will round out that Braves' 14-year run. As a lifelong southerner and Georgia native, I was surprised when, on my trips north, I found Braves-haters during the 14-year run. I think one writer called them "an evil empire in Dixie." I followed the Braves since they came to Atlanta in 1966, and I lived through their first 25 years when they won only two Postseason trips (One under Torre in 1982) and went 0-6 in postseason games. So as much as I value parity in sports, I don't feel guilty about finally having some good times!

One good line: Steve Phillips, when he was Mets' GM, said to Cox and Schuerholtz: "If I ever have to identify you guys in a lineup, I'll have to ask you to face the other way. You've always been in front of me." (Of course, he was kidding, as he didn't expect them to be in any lineups.)

[Chess2899]

Re: 5 of 6 HOF inductees are former Braves

I only got to attend one World Series in Atlanta and wish it would have been more. The opportunities were there, but Bobby Cox made a few blunders. Maybe, more than a few. With his team talent, he should have had 3 titles. I didn't really think Cix was very good and didn't like his wife-beating actions. The others were great!

[Roady]

Re: 5 of 6 HOF inductees are former Braves

I only got to attend one World Series in Atlanta and wish it would have been more. The opportunities were there, but Bobby Cox made a few blunders. Maybe, more than a few. With his team talent, he should have had 3 titles. I didn't really think Cix was very good and didn't like his wife-beating actions. The others were great!

The Braves had 3 HOF pitchers and Chipper Jones during that time, not much more.
The only reason Atlanta won what they did was because of Cox's management of ball players who were mostly cut from other teams or would have been bench players on other teams.
The Braves didn't spend very much on filling the roster with top tier talent.

[Flamechicken]

Re: 5 of 6 HOF inductees are former Braves

The Braves had 3 HOF pitchers and Chipper Jones during that time, not much more.
The only reason Atlanta won what they did was because of Cox's management of ball players who were mostly cut from other teams or would have been bench players on other teams.
The Braves didn't spend very much on filling the roster with top tier talent.

McGriff, Justice and Gant weren't too shabby during the mid 90s.

[gingi79]

Re: 5 of 6 HOF inductees are former Braves

I only got to attend one World Series in Atlanta and wish it would have been more. The opportunities were there, but Bobby Cox made a few blunders. Maybe, more than a few. With his team talent, he should have had 3 titles. I didn't really think Cix was very good and didn't like his wife-beating actions. The others were great!

A solid argument could be made that had the Braves had Mariano Rivera as their closer or even if he didn't play for the Yankees, the Braves would have won up to 5 World Series in the 1990's. Not taking anything away from NY but 1996 specifically and 1998 and 1999 to a great degree could very possibly ended with a Braves title rather than a Yanks title.

The fact remains, every great season of Braves baseball post Hank Aaron was under the coaching of Bobby Cox.

It was a great day to be a Bravos fan. And to think Smoltz, Chipper and Schuerholz are still to come! (If Gold gloves count add Andy Jones too )

[danesei@yahoo.com]

Re: 5 of 6 HOF inductees are former Braves

McGriff, Justice and Gant weren't too shabby during the mid 90s.

Don't forget Steve Avery, Javy Lopez, Ryan Klesko & Mark Wohlers. Then add on Andruw Jones in the second half of the decade. The team had a ridiculous amount of talent, and the 1-4 record in the World Series doesn't reflect well on the management of that talent. If you're going to give Torre credit for the Yankees success, you would equally need to place some modicum of blame on Cox for the Braves lack of success in the WS.

[Roady]

Re: 5 of 6 HOF inductees are former Braves

McGriff, Justice and Gant weren't too shabby during the mid 90s.

McGriff was with Atlanta for 5 years 1993 - 1997. When he got too expensive he was gone
He was the best of the three you mentioned while with Atlanta though.

Justice, I have no idea why he gets superstar treatment when the only year that could be considered great for Atlanta would be 1993.

Gant, He was only with the Braves from 1987 to 1993 and if you wanted a .260 BA with 30 HR's he was your man.

[Roady]

Re: 5 of 6 HOF inductees are former Braves

Don't forget Steve Avery, Javy Lopez, Ryan Klesko & Mark Wohlers. Then add on Andruw Jones in the second half of the decade. The team had a ridiculous amount of talent, and the 1-4 record in the World Series doesn't reflect well on the management of that talent. If you're going to give Torre credit for the Yankees success, you would equally need to place some modicum of blame on Cox for the Braves lack of success in the WS.

Avery, was with Atlanta from 1990-1997 and his records were, 3-11 5.64, 18-8 3.38, 11-11 3.20, 18-6 2.94 , 8-3 4.04, 7-13 4.67, and 7-10 4.47. Not that impressive.

Lopez was a on steroids and even with that he only had good years here and there. Nothing consistent.

Klesko, was with Atlanta from 1992-1998. Never had over 93 RBI. Hit 80 + three times, 70 twice.

Mark Wohlers, 1991-1999, era with the Braves, 3.20, 2.55, 4.50, 4.59, 2.09, 3.03, 3.50, 10.18, and 27.00 Not a stellar closer by any means except for 1995 when he had the 2.09 era.

[Roady]

Re: 5 of 6 HOF inductees are former Braves

McGriff was with Atlanta for 5 years 1993 - 1997. When he got too expensive he was gone
He was the best of the three you mentioned while with Atlanta though.

Justice, I have no idea why he gets superstar treatment when the only year that could be considered great for Atlanta would be 1993.

Gant, He was only with the Braves from 1987 to 1993 and if you wanted a .260 BA with 30 HR's he was your man.

Actually my memory was wrong with McGriff. Atlanta traded for him from the Padres for Vince Moore, who? The Padres unloaded him to Atlanta to clear money. The Padre way.
He was allowed to leave Atlanta when they thought he was getting too old and his production was waning.

[coxfan]

Re: 5 of 6 HOF inductees are former Braves

Regarding the Braves' 1-4 WS record, let's consider the paradox here. The Braves won five NL pennants in 8 years, going 1-4 in the WS. The Yankees, by comparison, won three AL pennants from 2001-2009, going 1-2 in the Series during that time. So which team had the better stretch of those two periods? Some would argue that the team that went 1-2 in the WS was better than the one that went 1-4 But I say the 1-4 team was better, because five league championships is better than three!

The same paradoxical reasoning applies to the College World Series. People criticize Florida State for going to 20 College World Series without winning even one. But I say their 0-20 record is vastly better than a college that went five times and won one, because 20 qualifications is better than five. Teams should be praised for qualifying, rather than criticized for failing when others didn't even qualify.

Cox was general manager before he was manager, and he brought in the HOF talent through strengthening the farm system. He, along with LaRussa and Torre, all exceeded beyond others in each team they were with.

And I believe Cox was accused of pushing his wife one time in a fuss, not "beating". That's not excusable, as my wife and I have never pushed each other in 44 years together. But Ms. Cox now says: "we had one argument in our long marriage, and it got all over the news".