John Smoltz on pitching career

John smoltz

John Smoltz discusses his transition from starting pitching to closing and the confidence manager Bobby Cox had in his ability

A Detroit native, John Smoltz was drafted by his hometown Tigers. Yet in September of 1987, Detroit traded him to the Braves for Doyle Alexander, in a deal that netted the Tigers the division title in the short term, and Atlanta a pitching ace for more than 15 years. Starting in 1993, Smoltz teamed with Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux to form one of the most formidable pitching trios in baseball history. The three hurlers guided Atlanta to the 1995, 1996, and 1999 National League flags. Smoltz also pitched for the Braves in the 1991 and 1992 Fall Classics.

Right-handed Smoltz was a hard thrower, fanning more than 200 batters four times, leading the league in 1992 and 1996. He won the Cy Young Award in 1996, when he was 24-8 with 276 K’s for the pennant-winning Braves. In 2002, recovering from an arm injury that had shelved him the previous season, he was moved to the bullpen to become the team’s closer, a role which he initially embraced. Out of the pen he set a National League record with 55 saves, just two shy of the ML mark, and earned the Rolaids Relief Man Award. Read more about John Smoltz

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The Tigers obtain Doyle Alexander from the Braves for right-handed prospect John Smoltz. The exchange will be ideal in the short run for Detroit when their new hurler goes 9-0 with a 1.53 ERA down the stretch to help the team win the AL East, but the minor leaguer they trade away will compile 213 wins and 154 saves during a stellar 21-year major league career.

John smoltz

Atlanta Braves win their first National League pennant since their move from Milwaukee

The Braves’ John Smoltz sets a franchise record by striking out 15 batters in a 2 – 1 win over the Expos. He walks 2 in beating Mark Gardner.

Umpire Bill Hohn ejects an Atlanta Braves fan from the Braves-Cubs game for making obscene gestures. The gestures might have been meant for the Braves, who are shut out, 8 – 0. Greg Maddux goes seven innings for the win over John Smoltz, giving up three runs. The other five come off Juan Berenguer, who lasts a third of an inning. Chicago gets homers from Kal Daniels, Andre Dawson, Ryne Sandberg and Mark Grace.

1992 – The Mets trade P David Cone to the front-running Blue Jays in exchange for IF Jeff Kent and OF Ryan Thompson. Because of the trade, Cone will miss leading the National League in strikeouts by one as John Smoltzregisters a K on the final day of the season. Cone, who led the NL in strikeouts the past two seasons, would have been the league’s first pitcher in 50 years to lead in strikeouts for three consecutive years.

1992 – In the World Series, Atlanta cuts the Blue Jays’ lead to 3-2 with a 7 – 2 victory in Game 5. A grand slam by Lonnie Smith in the 5th inning and a solid outing by winning pitcher John Smoltz ensure that the Series will return to Atlanta.

Major League Season Recap 1992

Major League Season Recap 1992

For his second straight start, Braves P John Smoltz is backed by 18 hits and he coasts to his 7th straight win, 11 – 0 over the Phils. Javy Lopez leads the Braves with four hits. Smoltz beat the Phils, 11 – 9, on May 5th, when the Braves also collected 18 hits.

John Smoltz (11-1) allows 4 hits in topping the Cubs‚ 2 – 0‚ in Atlanta. Smoltz strikes out 13 to raise his National League-leading total to 97.

Ron Gant homers on the first pitch and the Cards go on to beat the Braves, 9 – 2, ending John Smoltz’s 14-game winning streak. Brian Jordan has six RBIs to stop Smoltz, who was trying to match Gaylord Perry’s 15-game streak in 1974. Smoltz, 4-9 against the Cards, has not beaten them since 1992.

In Atlanta, John Smoltz strikes out 13 and wins his 21st as the Braves stop the Mets, 6 – 1. Jermaine Dye hits a 3-run home run off Bobby Jones for the big blow.

John smoltz

John Smoltz, who won a major league-high 24 games for the Atlanta Braves, wins the 1996 National League Cy Young Award 

Major League Season RecapMajor League Baseball Season Recap 1996

Major League Season RecapMajor League Baseball Season Recap 1996

10/3/1997 1997 – The Atlanta Braves and Florida Marlins both sweep their respective NL division series. The Braves, behind a three-hitter by John Smoltz, complete the sweep of Houston with a 4 – 1 win. The Marlins ride a grand slam by Devon White to a 6 – 2 win and sweep of San Francisco.

1998 – Atlanta OF Andruw Jones hits his 50th career homer in a 4 – 0 win over the Mets. He becomes the 3rd-youngest player in history to reach that level. Only Mel Ott and Tony Conigliaro did so at a younger age. Atlanta P John Smoltz limits the Mets to just 3 hits‚ while fanning an even dozen batters en route to his 14th win.

Denny Neagle pitches six shutout innings as the Braves win, 1 – 0, over Arizona. Neagle wins his 15th and joins John Smoltz, Greg Maddux, Kevin Millwood and Tom Glavine, all of whom have reached that level. The last team to have five 15-game winners was the 1930 Washington Senators.

In the 1st game of their NLDS series, the Braves defeat the Cubs, 7 – 1, as Michael Tucker and Ryan Klesko homer to back John Smoltz’s pitching.

The Atlanta Braves defeat the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, 9 – 5, as pitcher John Smoltz records his 2,000th strikeout. Smoltz becomes the 53rd major league pitcher – and third Brave – to reach that level.

The Baltimore Orioles set a franchise record for runs scored, defeating the Atlanta Braves, 22 – 1, in interleague play. Cal Ripken, Jr. goes 6 for 6 for Baltimore, including two home runs, five runs and six RBI. His six hits in a nine-inning game tie the American League record and also set a franchise mark. Will Clark is 4 for 4 with five RBI. Mike Mussina earns the win as he allows one run on five hits in seven innings. He also joins in with two hits and three RBI. John Smoltz is the loser as he allows seven runs on seven hits in 2 1/3 innings. The team, as the St. Louis Browns, had set the previous mark on August 18, 1951, in a 20 – 9 rout over the Detroit Tigers.

The Atlanta Braves take a two-game lead over the Mets in the NLCS with a 4 – 3 victory. The Braves score all four of their runs in the 6th inning on a pair of home runs by Brian Jordan and Eddie Perez off Mets starter Kenny Rogers. Kevin Millwood gets the win for Atlanta, with John Smoltz making his first relief appearance ever to get the save.

Atlanta’s Greg Maddux pitches the Braves to a 2 – 1 win over the Giants and Livan Hernandez. Hernandez came into the game with eight straight hits and in his first at bat reaches on an error. He goes 1 for 3. John Smoltzracks up his first regular-season save, striking out four batters.

Tom Glavine and John Smoltz combine on a seven-hit shutout to blank the Astros, 1-0, in Game Two of the N.L.D.S.

Tom Glavine and John Smoltz combine on a seven-hit shutout to blank the Astros, 1-0, in Game Two of the N.L.D.S.

The Mets score 9 runs in the 9th inning – 8 off John Smoltz – to break a 2 – 2 tie and defeat the Braves‚ 11 – 2. Rey Ordonez’s bases-loaded double is the big blow as the Mets have 15 at bats in the 9th. It is the most runs they’ve ever scored in the frame.

The Braves edge the Cardinals, 2 – 1, as Damian Moss and John Smoltz combine on a one-hitter. Mike Matheny’s single is the only St. Louis hit.

Closer John Smoltz records his 40th save in the 114th game of the Braves’ schedule, making it the earliest point in a season a relief pitcher has reached that mark. Lee Smith of the Cardinals accomplished the feat in his 117th game in 1993, and White Sox closer Bobby Thigpen turned the trick in 118 games en route to setting the major league record with 57 saves in 1990.

2002 – Atlanta defeats Arizona‚ 4 – 1‚ as Braves relief pitcher John Smoltz reaches 40 saves in a season faster than any pitcher in history.

The Mets and Braves split a doubleheader, with Atlanta winning the first game, 8 – 5, and New York taking the nightcap, 5 – 0. John Smoltz gets the save in the opener, making him the 7th pitcher in history to record 50 saves in a season. Smoltz will set the National League season saves record with 55, topping the old mark of 53 shared by Randy Myers and Trevor Hoffman. Chicago’s Bobby Thigpen set the major league record of 57 in 1990.

P Derek Lowe wins his 20th game as the Red Sox beat the Orioles, 6 – 4. Lowe becomes the first pitcher in history to win 20 games the season after saving 20. He is also the first to record at least 40 saves and later win 20. Dennis Eckersley and John Smoltz did it the other way around.

In his first full season as closer, John Smoltz, preserving a Braves’ 3-1 victory over the Mets, converts his 54th save of the season to establish a new National League mark. Randy Myers (Cubs – 1993) and Trevor Hoffman (Padres – 1998) had previously shared the record.

Breaking his own record set a week later during last season, John Smoltz becomes the fastest pitcher to record 40 saves. The Braves’ closer throws a scoreless ninth in the team’s 7-4 victory over the Astros to establish the new mark.

Eric Gagne ties John Smoltz’s National League mark for saves with 55 when he helps the Dodgers defeat the Padres, 5-3. The Los Angeles closer equals the NL mark in consecutive opportunities, which is also a record.

Pitching a perfect bottom of the ninth inning, John Smoltz establishes the franchise record with his 142nd save in a Braves uniform. The right-handed reliever surpasses Gene Garber as Atlanta beat the Dodgers in Los Angeles, 6-5.

Atlanta Braves veteran first baseman Julio Franco (46) records his first two-steal game since 1994 and teammate pitcher John Smoltz (38) posts his first two-hit game since 1999 in the Braves’ 5 – 2 victory over Cincinnati.

Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux, and John Smoltz pitch on same day

Alfonso Soriano hits three home runs and matches his career high with five RBI to lead the Washington Nationals to a 7 – 3 victory over John Smoltz and the Atlanta Braves at RFK Stadium.

John Smoltz throws 7 shutout innings in a duel against Tom Glavine, his teammate from 1988 to 2002, to help the Braves top the Mets, 2 – 1. Smoltz becomes the first pitcher in major league history with 200 career victories and 150 saves. He also becomes the first 7-game winner in the 2007 NL.

John Smoltz sets the career Atlanta Braves franchise record for strikeouts. He whiffs Mark Reynolds in the 3rd inning of a 6 – 2 win, one of 13 K’s on the day as he passes Phil Niekro’s old mark of 2,912.

John Smoltz becomes the Braves’ all-time strikeout leader when Diamondbacks’ third baseman Mark Reynolds becomes the 40 year-old right hander’s 2,913th victim. Phil Niekro previously established the franchise record pitching for the club in Milwaukee and Atlanta for twenty seasons (1964 to 1983).

Rookie Diamondbacks third baseman Mark Reynolds strikes out for the 9th straight plate appearance, tying the major league record for position players. David Bush is the opposing hurler; in Reynolds’ next appearance, Bush hits him with a pitch to end the streak. Reynolds ties the mark held by Adolfo Phillips (1966), Steve Balboni (1984), Eric Davis (1987), Reggie Jackson (1987) and Bo Jackson (1988). During the streak, Reynolds became the batter who enabled John Smoltz to become the Atlanta Braves career strikeout leader.

John Smoltz becomes the Braves’ all-time strikeout leader when Diamondbacks’ third baseman Mark Reynolds becomes the 40 year-old right hander’s 2,913th victim. Phil Niekro previously established the franchise record pitching for the club in Milwaukee and Atlanta for twenty seasons (1964 to 1983).

2007 – Ryan Howard strikes out against John Smoltz in the 3rd inning of the Phillies-Braves contest. It is his 196th strikeout of the season, breaking Adam Dunn’s 3-year-old major league record.

John Smoltz becomes the 16th major league pitcher to strike out 3,000 batters

John Smoltz becomes the 16th major league pitcher to strike out 3,000 batters

Francisco Rodriguez, surpassing John Smoltz’s effort for the 2003 Braves by ten games, becomes the quickest reliever ever to reach 40 saves. The Angels closer strikes out the side in the ninth of a 5-3 come-from-behind victory over the Red Sox, completing a sweep of the reigning World Series champions.

It’s not all gains for the Atlanta staff as long-time ace John Smoltz, the franchise leader in strikeouts, finalizes a deal with the Boston Red Sox for one year and a $5.5 million base salary.

In his 21st season, John Smoltz makes his first start in over a year and plays his first game for a team other than the Atlanta Braves, as the Red Sox lose, 9 – 3, to Washington. Smoltz settles down after giving up 4 runs in the 1st, but still allows 5 runs in as many innings to take the loss. Willie Harris has three hits, including a homer off Takashi Saito, and scores 2 and drives in 2 for the Nats.

The Baltimore Orioles complete the biggest comeback in their history, besting Boston, 11 – 10, after trailing 10 – 1. They score 5 runs in the 7th and 5 more in the 8th, capped by Nick Markakis’ two-run double off closer Jonathan Papelbon, thus depriving John Smoltz of a chance to win his first game for the Red Sox.

After losing the first eight contests between the two teams this year, the Yankees beat their heated rivals, the Red Sox, 13 – 6, before a capacity crowd at New Yankee Stadium. The Bronx Bombers feast off John Smoltz, still struggling to regain his form after missing all of the 2008 season, and Billy Traber, recalled earlier in the day from AAA Pawtucket, lighting up the two pitchers for 13 runs on 18 hits in 7 combined innings. Johnny Damon, Jorge Posada, Melky Cabrera and Mark Teixeira all go deep for the Yankees, while Boston fails to take full advantage of 12 walks issued by five New York pitchers.

The first Yankees-Red Sox game to go beyond 14 innings without a run being scored in the fabled rivalry between the American League clubs ends dramatically when Alex Rodriguez hits a game-winning home run

The New York Yankees complete a sweep of their own, defeating Minnesota, 4 – 1, to take their ALDS in the last game ever played at the Metrodome. Solo home runs by Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada off Carl Pavano in the 7th are the deciding blows. Andy Pettitte wins the 15th postseason game of his career, tying John Smoltz for the most ever.

The BBWAA elects four players to the Hall of Fame, one of the largest classes ever

The BBWAA elects four players to the Hall of Fame, one of the largest classes ever

Four players are inducted into the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY as the Class of 2015: pitchers Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez and John Smoltz

Four players are inducted into the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY as the Class of 2015: pitchers Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez and John Smoltz

John Smoltz Stats & Facts

John Smoltz Stats & Facts

Spencer Strider strikes out 16 to set Atlanta team record

Spencer Strider strikes out 16 to set Atlanta team record

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