Braves pitchers who lead the National League in .era.

Braves starter Brandon Beachy is currently leading the National League with a 2.00 .era. Here is a list of every Braves pitcher to lead the league in that category.

• 1937 Jim Turner 2.38
• 1947 Warren Spahn 2.36
• 1951 Chet Nichols 2,88
• 1953 Warren Spahn 2,10
• 1956 Lew Burdette 2.70
• 1961 Warren Spahn 3.02
• 1967 Phil Niekro 1.87
• 1974 Buzz Capra 2.28
• 1993 Greg Maddux 2.36
• 1994 Greg Maddux 1.56
• 1995 Greg Maddux 1.63
• 1998 Greg Maddux 2.22

23 years of Chipper

June 1990, I don’t remember the exact date but I was sitting in math class talking to a friend. I told him “the Braves just drafted some guy named Chipper Jones”. He responded with something like “Chipper? What kind of name is that?”.

It was a time of change in my life. My family had lived in the same house the first 18 years of my life and now two in the last year. Me and my first real girlfriend had broken up after two years and I would be graduating high school the next week. Little did I know my favorite player for the last 10 years, a man I grew up idolizing would be traded in two months. Dale Murphy. More change.

The next few years were a dream come true for a Braves fan. The Braves were considered the best team in baseball. And through this time I kept hearing the Braves announcers speak of a young future star for the Braves. Chipper Jones. The Braves seemed to be doomed to ever win the World Series. Losing it in 1991 and 1992. And losing the 1993 NLCS to the in my book not worthy Phillies.

In 1994 Braves star Ron Gant signed I believe the biggest one year deal in baseball history at the time. But would miss the season after breaking a leg riding dirt bikes. The left field job was open. And Chipper reportedly had it won. I had the chance to see Chipper when he was briefly called up in 1993 but still didn’t know if the hype was real. Having reportedly won the left field job Chipper blew out his knee running through first and would miss the season at least. Would this guy ever “arrive”? The season would go on to end in a players strike. No post season. What a wasted year.

The players strike ended in time for the season to not start with “scab” players. The team looked good with Maddux, Glavine, Smoltz, Avery and Mercker as the starting rotation. Not doubt the best rotation in baseball if not in history. The Braves also had a great lineup with Javy Lopez, Fred McGriff, David Justice, Marquis Grissom and Ryan Klesko. But who would play third?

Braves fan favorite Terry Pendleton the 1991 NL MVP and Batting Champ was gone. He also brought leadership and a gold glove to third. Would the Braves move shortstop Jeff Blauser to third leaving short to beyond weak hitting Rafael Belliard? Would they sign a free agent? Make a trade? Then that name popped up again. Chipper Jones.

Chipper went on to hit 23 homers while driving in 86 and scoring 87 his rookie year. Coming in second in the baseball writers Rookie of the year voting behind Dodgers pitcher Hideo Nomo. The Braves faced the wild card Rockies in the first ever division series. Chipper his .389 in the series with 2 doubles, 2 homers, scoring 4 and driving in 4. The Braves won the series and faced the Reds in the NLCS.

During the NLCS Chipper hit .438 with 1 home runs, 3 rbis and 3 runs scored. The Braves swept the Reds 4 games to none to reach the world series for the first time in 3 years.

Chipper’s bat quieted down some in the world series, but he still hit .289 with 3 doubles, 3 runs scored and one rbi. His biggest contribution was his glove making a few great plays in the series. The Braves were leading the series 3 games to 2 and on the day of game six David Justice angered Braves fans.

Justice told a paper that the fans weren’t as loud as the Indians fans. Not as loud as the Braves fans of 1991 and 1992. And said the fans would probably burn the players houses down if the Braves lost again.That day I was busy myself. I was helping my family move again. After a long day I sat down to watch game six. Our cable had not been switched on yet so I finally got to watch the Braves win the world series..half asleep…on a snowy tv. The next day by the way our cable was switched on.Figures.

Chipper switched to shortstop briefly in 1996 after an injury to Jeff Blauser and to left field for two years when the Braves signed power hitting Vinny Castilla. He would do anything to help the Braves win even restructuring his contract a couple of times to give the Braves more money to add players to the team.

He has become one of the greatest players to ever play the game. Winning the 1999 NL mvp, 2008 NL batting champ, helped lead the Braves to three world series appearances 1995, 1996 and 1999. And I have to say he has been robbed at least twice of gold glove awards he should have won.

Chipper will retire after his season as the top Atlanta Brave home run hitter. Third in all of Braves history only behind hall of famers Hank Aaron and Eddie Mathews. He will end his career with a batting average of over .300 (currently .304). He will end his career with the third most home runs from a switch hitter. Behind only hall of famers Mickey Mantle and Eddie Murray, but most in National league history. And when the Braves retire Chippers number he will be the only Brave with a retired number who spent his entire career with the Braves.

I’ll turn 41 in July. Chipper is 40. He will most likely never know I even exist. But for the last 23 years he has been a part of my life. And I will miss him.

• Chipper stats as of today.
• Avg. .304
• Hits, 2,650
• Doubles: 529 
• Home Runs: 459  most ever in National League for a switch hitter.
• Rbi: 1,585
• Runs: 1,580

Hello world!

Welcome to WordPress.com. This is your first post. Edit or delete it and start blogging!