When the Braves made their historic run of reaching the postseason each year from 1991-2004, there were few Atlanta constants. Roster turnover during any period of that length is bound to happen. For Atlanta, three men were greatly responsible for the success, Hall of Famer GM John Schuerholz, Cooperstown skipper Bobby Cox, and legendary pitching coach Leo Mazzone.
Mazzone presided over the Braves pitching staff. As their philosophical guru, Mazzone preached the philosophy of his mentor, Johnny Sain: throw downhill from the mound often with focus on command and less than 100% exertion.
Though much of the Atlanta hurlers’ success was due to Mazzone, he humbly deflects praise in the questionnaire shown above. Mazzone calls Cox, “the greatest influence on me other than my father. [He was a] genius at handling pitchers.”
The pair helped the Braves become the National League team of the decade of the 1990s.