John Smoltz
| Birthdate | 05/15/1967 |
| Death Date | |
| Debut Year | 1988 |
| Year of Induction | 2015 |
| Teams | Braves, Cardinals, Red Sox |
| Position | Pitcher |
John Smoltz is the first to notch at least 200 wins and 150 saves; he and Dennis Eckersley are the only men to record a 20-win and 50-save season.
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The faith of Leo Mazzone and Bobby Cox helped turn John Smoltz's career around
The faith of Leo Mazzone and Bobby Cox helped turn John Smoltz's career around
John Smoltz broke in under the watchful eye of pitching guru Leo Mazzone. At a crucial point in Smotlz’s career, Mazzone’s faith helped fortify the right-hander and turn his career around.
Smoltz staggered into the 1991 All Star Break with a 2-11 record and 4.73 ERA. Many teams would’ve removed the 24-year old from the rotation. Not the Atlanta. Instead, Mazzone and Braves skipper Booby Cox stood by their young pitcher.
In the questionnaire shown here, the pitching coach writes that it was an easy decision. Mazzone also directs the praise to Cox.
Smotlz was “the best 2-11 pitcher I ever saw! Bobby Cox did not take him out of the rotation – that’s the main reason he’s in the Hall of Fame besides his ability.”
Smotlz responded by going 12-2 with a 2.63 ERA the rest of the season. The following season he was an All Star.
in the early 1990s, John Smoltz help turn the Braves franchise around
in the early 1990s, John Smoltz help turn the Braves franchise around
When John Smoltz broke in with the Braves in 1988, they were coming off of a 92-loss season. Each of the next three years Atlanta lost at least 90 games.
With a strong core of up-and-coming young players, the Braves fortunes soon changed. The team hired John Schuerholz as their GM after the 1990 season and soon became a perennial winner.
Smoltz was part of the franchise resurrection. Starting in 1990 he reeled off four seasons with at least 14 wins each. He made the all star team in back-to-back seasons starting in ’92.
In 1996 he had his career year, leading the league with 24 wins and 276 strikeouts. Smoltz earned the Cy Young Award.
All the while the Braves were winning. Starting in ’91 they earned 14 consecutive division championships.
Tommy John surgery washed away his season in 2000. Smoltz returned as a all star closer. In 2002 he led the league with 55 saves. The following season he put up a miniscule 1.12 ERA and saved 45 games.
Smotlz went on to become baseball’s first pitcher to post at least 200 wins and 150 saves.
When Smoltz signed this contract with Topps in March of 1989, he was the owner of a 2-7 career record and 5.48 earned run average. By the time the agreement expired at the end of the 1993 campaign he was a three-time All Star and winner of 72 contests.
On 4/27/2008, John Smoltz became the 16th pitcher with 3,000 strikeouts
On 4/27/2008, John Smoltz became the 16th pitcher with 3,000 strikeouts
Baseball is a game of career milestones. For batter, reaching 500 homers or 3,000 hits as a batter means you’re in the Cooperstown conversation. For pitchers it’s 300 wins or 3,000 strikeouts.
Walter Johnson was the first hurler to reach the 3,000-K plateau. He reached the milestone in 1923 and remained the only one to do so until Bob Gibson recorded his 3,000th K in 1974.
Johnson held the career record for strikeouts for nearly 56 years until Steve Carlton, Nolan Ryan, and Gaylord Perry eclipsed his mark.
By 2008, 15 big league pitchers had 3,000 punchouts. On April 27 that season John Smoltz became the 16th.
In the collection is a full ticket to the game that John Smoltz broke the barrier. In this game, one of only six he would play that year, Smotlz held the Nationals to one run while striking out ten Washington batters.
Smoltz signed his name boldly across the top right of the ticket.
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