Atlanta Braves History: Hank Aaron hits number 500 (July 14, 1968)

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="300"] English: Milwaukee Braves outfielder and Hall of Famer Hank Aaron in a 1960 issue of Baseball Digest. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)[/caption]

Hank Aaron is amazing. He is just moving along, hitting home runs and helping the Braves win.

Hank hits home run number 500 off Mike McCormick becoming the eighth major leaguer to reach this milestone on July 14,1968. 'Hammerin' Hank's three-run homer over the left center field fence proves to be the difference as the Braves beat the Giants at Atlanta Stadium, 4-2.

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Atlanta Brave History: National League and Dale Murphy beat the Junior Circuit (July 10, 1984)

Now this will expose my bias but I am clear on that. You will see a lot of references to the All-Star game and the Junior Circuit. Who is the Junior Circuit? The American League of course. Who else would it be?

On July 10, 1984, National League beats the Junior Circuit at Candlestick Park, 3-1. Home runs hit by Expos' catcher Gary Carter, the game's MVP, and Braves' outfielder Dale Murphy prove to be the difference in the 55th Midsummer Classic. Another reason I love Dale Murphy.

Candlestick Park was great. The new field for the Giants is very nice but Candlestick had a "nice feel" to it.

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Atlanta Braves History: Joe Morgan goes 6-6 against the Braves (July 9, 1965)

Joe Morgan sets an Astro record by going 6- for-6 at Milwaukee's County Stadium on July 8, 1965 . The rookie second baseman's stellar performance doesn't stop the Milwaukee Braves from beating Houston, 9-8 that day.

Of course the Braves are now in Atlanta and we have the Milwaukee Brewers. Hard to keep up with it all some days. And the Astro's no longer play at the Astro Dome. I saw lots of great games there when I lived in Houston.

Joe Morgan was a great though. Love to see him when he is announcing games.

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Atlanta Braves History: Dave Bancroft argues with his manager (May 20, 1920)

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="250"] English: 1921 Exhibits Baseball Card of Dave Bancroft of the New York Giants (Photo credit: Wikipedia)[/caption]

When Dave Bancroft was at Philadelphia‚ on May 22, 1920, the Cubs outslug the Phils‚ 15-8. Renie Martin pitches the entire game for the Cubs‚ with both teams collecting 16 hits. Phils manager Gavvy Cravath lifts shortstop Dave Bancroft because of poor playing and the ensuing argument between the two almost comes to blows. Cy Williams has three hits‚ including a double a triple‚ and 4 runs scored.

He would come to the Braves in 1924. We could only hope he wouldn't repeat this type of play.

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Atlanta Braves History: Rico Carty was first write-in All-Star (July 7, 1970)

Rico Carty, the National League's leading hitter, becomes the first player voted to play in the All-Star Game as a write-in candidate on July 7, 1970. The Braves outfielder name was left off the ballot that was drawn up by managers and general managers before the start of spring training.

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Atlanta Braves History: Dale Murphy is picked by the Braves in the 1st round (June 5, 1974)

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="240"] Dale Murphy - Atlanta - 1983 Road (Photo credit: BaseballBacks)[/caption]

The June 5. 1974 draft produces just 725 picks‚ the fewest in history‚ and only 300 of these are from the college ranks‚ with the low number blamed on the introduction of aluminum bats this past season.

In the 1st round, with the 5th pick‚ the Braves select Dale Murphy. It is hard to know if they had a clue about the talent they just brought on board. Probably not. What a great pick it ended up being though.

The Padres‚ with their 3rd number-one free-agent pick in 5 years‚ select Brown University SS Bill Almon‚ the TSN College Player of the Year. They had selected him 3 years earlier out of high school‚ but he attended college instead. The Rangers take P Tommy Boggs with the 2nd pick and the Phils follow with prep OF Lonnie Smith. The Angels‚ picking 10th take the ill-fated Mike Miley‚ who quarterbacked LSU to a win in the Orange Bowl. the Tigers take Lance Parrish with the 16th pick‚ the Royals pick prep football star Willie Wilson with the 18th‚ and the Red Sox‚ picking 20th‚ take SS Eddie Ford‚ son of Whitey Ford. Picking next‚ the Dodgers get Rick Sutcliffe.

The Orioles‚ with the 24th pick in round 1 pick Rich Dauer‚ the top player for USC's championship team; 4 of their other picks will end up in the NFL (QB's Andy Johnson‚ Steve Bartkowski‚ and John Sciarra‚ and Anthony Davis). The Cards use a pick on the NFL Giants Brad Van Pelt‚ the 5th time he's been selected. The Twins pick up prep C Butch Wynegar‚ who will make the AL All-star team at age 20.

And so, the Braves added to their roster a future star in 1974. Doesn't always work out that way.

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Atlanta Braves History: Chipper Jones breaks Dale Murphy's home run record (July 5, 2007)

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="300"] English: Chipper Jones (Photo credit: Wikipedia)[/caption]

At Dodger Stadium on July 5, 2007, Chipper Jones's two solo home runs is the difference in the Braves' 8-6 victory over Los Angeles. With his pair of round-trippers, the team's third baseman surpasses Dale Murphy for the Atlanta team record of 372 homers.

Chipper will retire this year. I will miss him.

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Atlanta Braves History: Game delay due to dog on the field (July 5, 1953)

In their final season in Boston, on July 5, 1953, the Braves play in front of the largest home crowd of the season when 13,405 fans watch Brooklyn beat their team for the 12th consecutive time, a 5-3 complete-game victory by Carl Erskine. The most memorable moment of the contes

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="240"] Brooklyn Dodgers at Braves Field (Photo credit: Boston Public Library)[/caption]

t occurs in the second inning when the game is delayed because a small dog has to be escorted off the field by Dodger outfielders Carl Furillo and Duke Snider.

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Atlanta Braves History: A gutsy move by Harry Wright (1877)

 

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="300"] English: Ezra Sutton, Boston Beaneaters, 3rd Base, 1879 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)[/caption]

Ezra Sutton started with the Braves (then known as the Boston Red Caps) in 1877. He came to the Braves from Philadelphia. Manager Harry Wright placed the infielder in the lineup as a shortstop. That was a gutsy move since his brother George was currently playing the position. He moved George to second base. It was the only year George would not play shortstop.

It paid off for Harry. Sutton drove in 39 runs that year. That was good enough for third in the league that year. The Braves ended up winning the pennant 7 games ahead.

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Atlanta Braves History: July 4, 1919

My dad was born on this day. He loved the Atlanta Braves. They were the Boston Braves at this point. 1919 was not a great year for the Braves and July 4^th would be fairly typical of the season. The played a double header on this day. They split the pair with the Brooklyn Dodgers. And so, my dad (Everett Wiley Wilson) was born and the Braves split a pair.

Atlanta Braves History: Tony Cloniger hits 2 grand slams (July 3, 1966)

In a 17-3 rout of the Giants on July 3, 1945, Tony Cloninger hits two grand slams in the same game and collects nine RBI's in the Candlestick Park contest. The Braves' pitcher is the first National league player to hit two home runs with the bases full in the same game.

Atlanta Braves History: Joe Adcock sets new record for total bases (1954)

In the afternoon game on May 30, 1894‚ Boston 2B Bobby (Link) Lowe hits HRs in 4 consecutive at bats‚ including 2 in the 3rd inning‚ to lead his team to a 20-11 first-game conquest of Cincinnati and a sweep of the doubleheader. The homers came off Iceberg Chamberlain‚ and all were lofted over the 250-foot LF wall of Boston's Congress Street Grounds‚ the Beaneater's temporary home. Lowe also adds a single to total 17 bases for the game‚ a record tied but not beaten until Joe Adcock in 1954. After Lowe's 4th homer‚ the crowd showers him with $160 in coins. There are 9 homers hit in the opener with Bug Holliday hitting 2. In the two games‚ Lowe's teammate Herman Long sets a ML record by scoring 9 runs (5 runs in game 1)‚ which has since been tied only once. Lowe‚ who used the time between games of the twinbill to help himself to the shore dinner at the North Boston Railroad Station‚ will try the same meal tomorrow‚ but will go hitless.

Atlanta Braves History: April 19, 1919 second game of double header

And here are some details of the opening day game.

2B: R Maranville (1); A Wilson (1).


HBP: W Holke (1); J Kelly (1).


TB: B Herzog 3; R Maranville 2; A Wilson 2; R Powell; R Smith; T Miller; W Holke.


RBI: J Scott (1); B Herzog (1).


Team LOB: 12.


Fielding


E: R Smith (1); W Holke (2); J Riggert (1); R Maranville (3).


Baserunning


SB: J Riggert (1, -1st base off  POCS).




 

Atlanta Braves History: Braves 4, Red Sox 1 - June 22, 2012

Great news for the Atlanta Braves last night. Jurrgens returned and did well. And, it was against Boston. Of course, Braves fans know that the Atlanta Braves started their franchise in Boston before there was a Red Sox team. While I am not a big fan of inter-league play, I love it when we play in Boston.

So Jair Jurrjens returned, and it was the Good Jurrjens, keeping the ball in the park, not walking people, but only getting a handful of strikeouts so you’re not too certain about his long-term outlook.

The game was scoreless through three when Matt Diaz grounded out to score Freddie Freeman, and Andrelton Simmons doubled home Jason Heyward (who was 3-4 with two doubles on the day) to make it 2-0. Simmons added an insurance run with a sac fly to score Heyward in the sixth.

Meanwhile, Jurrjens was cruising. He allowed a first inning single and a third inning walk, and that was it until the eighth. He allowed a leadoff double in that inning, and another double with two out to make it 3-1; Chad Durbin came in to get the last out. Freeman singled in Michael Bourn in the ninth to make it 4-1, and Craig Kimbrel had, yes, a 1-2-3 ninth for the easy save.

via Braves 4, Red Sox 1.

Atlanata Braves History: Braves 4, Blue Jays 3 - June 6, 2012

Great game last night. You always have to love a win in extra innings. I am very encourage with the Braves this year. They are hanging in there. Even with Chipper injured most of the season so far. Jason Heyward and Dan Uggla are impressive.

Is Jason Heyward waking up? He scored twice and drove in a run last night, one of the runs being a game winner.

The Braves’ first run came on a bases-loaded walk of Dan Uggla in the third, scoring Brandon Beachy, but Heyward flew out to end that threat. Beachy had a shutout going through five, but in the sixth allowed a leadoff homer to Jose Bautista and walked the next two, so Fredi brought in Chad Durbin. Beachy struck out six, but walked five, and threw 108 pitches in those mere five innings. Durbin let one of Beachy’s runs score to make it 2-1 Jays.

Uggla led off the bottom of the inning with a walk, and Heyward followed with a double to score him and tie the game. With two out, after pinch-hitter Freddie Freeman couldn’t get him home from third, Heyward scored on a balk to make it 3-2.

Jonny Venters walked a man, but otherwise was good in the seventh. The Braves blew a bases-loaded situation in the bottom of the inning, and in the eighth Eric O’Flaherty gave up the tying run, which scored on a Yunel Escobar groundout.

Craig Kimbrel pitched the ninth, allowing an infield single, and Cristhian Martinez pitched the tenth. Heyward led off the bottom of that inning with an infield single, and Jack Wilson bunted him to second. On his own initiative, Heyward stole third. The catcher threw the ball away and Heyward came around to win the game.

via Braves 4, Blue Jays 3 (10 innings).

Atlanta Braves History: Dan Uggla 2 run home run

Atlanta Braves' Dan Uggla follows through with a two-run home run in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Saturday, May 26, 2012, in Atlanta.

Crazy Stats From Last Night's Braves-Phillies Game 18-13

The May 2 Braves Phillie game was crazy.  We won in extra innings. Here are some of the stats.

• It was the highest-scoring extra-inning game in the Major Leagues since 2006.


• It was the highest-scoring extra-inning game in the National League since July 4, 1985, when the Mets outlasted the Braves, 16-13, in 19 innings.


• The only other major-league team in the past 30 years that won a game after rallying from a deficit of at least six runs and overcoming a separate disadvantage of four or more runs was the 1997 Mariners, in a 12-11 victory against the Rockies.


• The last team to lose an 11+ inning game while scoring 13+ was the 116-win 2001 Mariners.


• The last team to win in 11+ innings while scoring 13+ was managed by... Charlie Manuel, tonight's losing manager.


• This was the Braves' 4th win since 1918 when allowing 13+ runs, and the 2nd in the last 60 years.


• This was the first game in MLB history to end 15-13 in 11 or more innings (since 1918, anyway).


• Roy Halladay gave up eight runs, the most he had allowed since surrendering nine on May 5, 2007 against the Rangers.


• This is the first time in Halladay's career that he's given up more than 6 runs to an NL team.


• Halladay was working with a 6-0 lead when he gave up six runs in the fifth inning and then two more in the sixth. He was 107-0 in his career in starts in which he was given a four-run lead. The Phillies, though, let him off the hook by rallying in the seventh.


• The Braves had 3 bases-loaded hits all year coming into last night. They had 3 bases-loaded hits in the 5th inning of last night's game... off Roy Halladay.


• Brian McCann hit just the fourth grand slam ever given up by Halladay (Evan Longoria hit the last in 2008).


• The I Hit A Slam Off Roy Halladay Club: Evan Longoria, Alfonso Soriano, Andy Sheets, and now Brian McCann.


• That was the first homer allowed by Halladay in six starts this season.


• Chipper Jones and Jason Giambi each hit game-ending home runs on Wednesday. It was the first day in major-league history on which two players age 40 or older hit walk-off homers.


• Never before had two men, each with at least 400 career home runs to their credit, hit walk-off round-trippers on the same day.


• Jones’s walkoff was his first since May 17, 2006 against the Marlins. It was the eighth of his career.

via Crazy Stats From Last Night's Braves-Phillies Game - Talking Chop.

Atlanta Braves History: Jason Heyward’s fourth inning blast (2012)

Jason Heyward of the Atlanta Braves hits a fourth inning home run against the Milwaukee Brewers at Turner Field on April 15, 2012 in Atlanta, Georgia. All uniformed team members are wearing jersey number 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day.

Chipper is back

Chipper Jones hit a three-run homer in his return after missing two games, Brandon Beachy pitched seven strong innings and the surging Braves beat the Milwaukee Brewers 7-4 on Sunday for a three-game sweep.

Jackie Robinson Day 2012

Braves outfielders Michael Bourn and Jason Heyward were honored to once again wear the No. 42 on Jackie Robinson Day on Sunday.