John Smoltz

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64+1⁄3 innings pitched. In 2004, Smoltz finished with 44 saves, but was frustrated with his inability to make an impact as a closer during another Braves' postseason loss. That year, he broke Gene Garber's franchise record of 141 career saves; his final total of 154 saves was eventually surpassed by Craig Kimbrel in 2014. By this point, Smoltz was the final remaining member of the Braves' dominant rotation of the 1990s. Glavine had moved on to play for the Mets, a divisional rival, while Maddux returned to his old team, the Chicago Cubs.

Return to the rotation (2005–2008)

Smoltz in 2007 John Smoltz with Colonel Air Force (cropped).jpg
Smoltz in 2007

After three years as a closer, Smoltz returned to the starting rotation entering the 2005 season. His renewed career as a starter began inauspiciously. He allowed six earned runs in only 12⁄3 innings—matching the shortest starts of his career—as the Braves were blown out on Opening Day by the Marlins. Poor run support contributed to an 0–3 start despite stronger pitching performances by Smoltz. After these initial difficulties, though, things fell into place. At the All-Star break, Smoltz was 9–5 with an ERA of 2.68 and was chosen for the 2005 NL All-Star team. Smoltz gave up a solo home run to Miguel Tejada in the second inning of the American League's 7–5 victory and was charged with the loss. For his career, he was 1–2 in All-Star games, putting him in a tie for the most losses.

Smoltz finished 2005 at 14–7, with a 3.06 ERA and 169 strikeouts while allowing less than one hit per inning. Smoltz had answered the critics who doubted he would be able to reach the 200-inning plateau after three years in the bullpen. Nonetheless, Smoltz's increased workload caused him to wear down toward the end of the season.

Despite a sore shoulder, Smoltz pitched seven innings in the Braves' 7–1 win over the Houston Astros in Game 2 of the 2005 NL Division Series; it was the only game the Braves won in the series against the eventual National League champions. The victory over Houston gave Smoltz a 13–4 record as a starter (15–4 overall) with a 2.65 ERA in the postseason. In two of those post-season losses, he surrendered only unearned runs. He has the second-most postseason wins (15) behind only Andy Pettitte with 19. They are followed by Glavine (14) and Maddux (11).

In 2006, Smoltz finished the season with a record of 16–9, an ERA of 3.49, and 211 strikeouts. He was one of four pitchers tied for the NL lead in wins, and was third in strikeouts.

Smoltz in 2007 JohnSmoltz.jpg
Smoltz in 2007

On September 21, 2006, the Braves announced they had picked up Smoltz's $8 million contract option for the 2007 season. On April 26, 2007, Smoltz agreed to a contract extension with the Braves. The extension includes a $14 million salary for the 2008 season, a $12 million vesting option for 2009 dependent on his ability to pitch 200 innings in 2008 and a $12 or $13 million team option for 2010 dependent on his ability to pitch 200 innings in 2009. [13]

2007 was a year of reunions and milestones for Smoltz. On May 9, he faced Maddux for the first time since July 10, 1992. Smoltz earned a win in a 3–2 victory over the San Diego Padres; Maddux received no decision. On May 24, exactly 11 years to the day after recording his 100th win, Smoltz recorded his 200th win against Glavine. [14] He faced Glavine three other times, faring 3–1 overall against him. On June 27, Smoltz, Glavine and Maddux each recorded wins on the same day. On August 19, Smoltz set the Braves strikeout record by striking out the Arizona Diamondbacks' Mark Reynolds. It was his 2,913th strikeout, passing Phil Niekro on the club's all-time list; he struck out a season-high 12 in the game. [15] He finished the year 14–8 with a 3.11 ERA and 197 strikeouts. The stalwart pitcher was the only holdover on the Braves roster from their 1991 worst-to-first season until Glavine returned to the Braves after an absence of several years following the 2007 season.

On April 22, 2008, Smoltz became the 16th pitcher in Major League history to reach 3,000 career strikeouts, and the fourth pitcher to strike out 3,000 batters for one team, joining Walter Johnson, Bob Gibson and Steve Carlton.

On April 28, 2008, Smoltz was placed on the 15-day disabled list due to an inflamed right shoulder. [16]

Return to relief (2008)

On May 1, 2008, Smoltz indicated that he intended to return to being a relief pitcher. After coming off the disabled list on June 2, 2008, he blew his first save opportunity in three years. Two days later, the Braves placed him back on the disabled list. Smoltz underwent season-ending shoulder surgery on June 10, 2008. [17] His contract expired at the end of the season, and the contract offer from the Braves was not sufficient to keep him. [18]

Boston Red Sox (2009)

Smoltz with the Boston Red Sox John Smoltz 2009.jpg
Smoltz with the Boston Red Sox

In December 2008, several members of the Boston Red Sox organization, including pitching coach John Farrell, vice president of player personnel Ben Cherington and assistant trainer Mike Reinold, flew to Atlanta to participate in a 90-minute workout with Smoltz. Throwing for only the second time since having surgery on a torn labrum in his pitching shoulder, Smoltz threw a 50-pitch side session and showcased his progress since the surgery. He impressed the Red Sox enough during the workout that less than a month later, a one-year contract was offered by the organization. [19]

On January 13, 2009, Smoltz signed a one-year contract with the Red Sox for a reported base salary of $5.5 million with roster time incentives and miscellaneous award incentives which could net as much as $10 million. [20] He made his first start in the Red Sox rotation on June 25, allowing seven hits and five runs through five innings. [21] [22] Smoltz posted a 2–5 record over eight games with an 8.32 ERA and no quality starts. He was designated for assignment on August 7 after a 13–6 loss to the New York Yankees, giving the Red Sox ten days to release or trade him, or send him to the minors. [23] The Red Sox offered Smoltz a minor league stint in order to prepare him to be placed in the bullpen, but he rejected the offer. [24] On August 17, the Red Sox released Smoltz. [25]

St. Louis Cardinals (2009)

Smoltz with the Cardinals on September 3, 2009 John Smoltz STL.jpg
Smoltz with the Cardinals on September 3, 2009

On August 19, 2009, Smoltz signed with the St. Louis Cardinals; he made his debut against the Padres on August 23. In his first game for the Cardinals, he went five innings, striking out nine and walking none, while setting a Cardinals franchise record by striking out seven batters in a row. [26]

That win against the Padres was his only win with St. Louis that season. Smoltz finished 1–3 with an ERA of 4.26 with the Cardinals. He was 3–8 with an ERA of 6.35 overall with the Red Sox and Cardinals. In Game 3 of the 2009 NL Division Series, Smoltz pitched two innings of relief in a losing cause, allowing four hits and an earned run while striking out five. [27]

Post-playing career

In 2008 and 2010, Smoltz served as a color analyst alongside Joe Simpson for Braves games on Peachtree TV. Nationally, Smoltz has been an analyst for MLB Network and called regular-season and postseason games for TBS. [28] In 2014, he was hired by Fox Sports as a game analyst. He was paired with Matt Vasgersian and called games in the No. 2 booth. [29] He has also joined Fox Sports South and SportSouth to be an analyst for select Braves games during the 2014 season. [30] Smoltz replaced Harold Reynolds and Tom Verducci, his colleagues from MLB Network, as the lead analyst for Major League Baseball on Fox for the 2016 season, teaming up with Joe Buck and, later, Joe Davis. [31] In 2021, Smoltz won his first Sports Emmy Award as an Event Analyst. Smoltz was forced to end his in-studio work for MLB Network after he refused to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, which is required for the company's employees. [32]

John Smoltz's number 29 was retired by the Atlanta Braves in 2012. BravesRetired29.png
John Smoltz's number 29 was retired by the Atlanta Braves in 2012.

On April 16, 2012, the Braves announced that they would retire Smoltz's number 29. [33] The ceremony, which took place before a June 8 game against the Toronto Blue Jays, included speeches by former broadcaster Pete van Wieren, former teammate Matt Diaz and former manager Bobby Cox. [34]

Smoltz was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 2015. [35] He was the first starting pitcher since 1987 to be elected despite having fewer than 250 wins and only one Cy Young Award, the first such starter ever elected on the first ballot, and the first pitcher to have Tommy John surgery and be elected to the Hall.

Personal life

Smoltz met his first wife, Dyan Struble, at the Omni Hotel in downtown Atlanta; the couple had four children before divorcing in 2007 after 16 years of marriage. [36] Smoltz lives in Alpharetta, Georgia and also has a home at Sea Island, a golf resort. On May 16, 2009, Smoltz married Kathryn Darden at his home with 70 friends and family in attendance. [37] Smoltz is a Christian. [38]

Smoltz is a good friend of pro golfer Tiger Woods; the two often play golf together. [39] Woods has stated that Smoltz is the best golfer outside of the PGA Tour that he has seen. [40] Smoltz has stated that he once had a plus 4 handicap. [41] In 2018, Smoltz qualified for the U.S. Senior Open, one of senior golf's major championships. [42] He is also involved in the sport of bowling. [43]

Smoltz plays every year in the American Century Championship at Lake Tahoe. He won the Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions in Orlando in January 2019.

Smoltz counts Doc Rivers as a personal friend dating back to Rivers' playing days in Atlanta. In the January 12, 2008, edition of the Boston Globe , Rivers is quoted as saying, "I offered him my apartment... I just told him about Terry (Francona) and the Red Sox organization. I told him it's a no-brainer."

Smoltz is also an accomplished accordionist and has starred in a television commercial for The Home Depot.

Smoltz is a distant cousin of fellow Baseball Hall of Famer Charlie Gehringer. [44]

Politics

Smoltz produced an automated campaign phone recording on behalf of the candidacy of Ralph E. Reed, Jr. for Lieutenant Governor of Georgia during the 2006 primary. [45]

In a 2004 interview, Smoltz was quoted as comparing the legalization of gay marriage with bestiality, saying "What’s next? Marrying an animal?" per the Associated Press. Smoltz later stated the article had portrayed his quote inaccurately. [46]

It was speculated that Smoltz might run for Congress in 2010 as a Republican candidate to fill the departing John Linder's seat in Georgia's 7th congressional district. [47]

On April 22, 2012, Smoltz hosted a fundraiser for Andrea Cascarilla, a Democratic candidate for State Representative in Michigan's 71st House District. [48] The 71st District encompasses Waverly Senior High School, where Smoltz was an All-State baseball and basketball player.

Philanthropy

Smoltz and his good friend Jeff Foxworthy hosted the charity event "An Evening With Smoltz and Friends" on November 9, 2008, at the Verizon Amphitheater in Alpharetta to raise money for the John Smoltz Foundation, which has supported numerous charitable endeavors in the Atlanta area over the past decade. [49]

Smoltz is the Atlanta host for Big League Impact, an eight-city fantasy football network created and led by longtime Cardinals pitcher and former teammate Adam Wainwright. In 2015, the organization raised more than $1 million for various charitable organizations. [50]

Accomplishments

Fans at Turner Field stand and applaud after Smoltz's 3000th career strikeout on April 22, 2008. John Smoltz 3000 strikeouts.jpg
Fans at Turner Field stand and applaud after Smoltz's 3000th career strikeout on April 22, 2008.

See also

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References

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  2. ↑ "John Smoltz inspires Milton youth baseball team". northfulton.com. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved January 24, 2014.
  3. ↑ Porter, David L. 2000. "John Smoltz" in The Biographical Dictionary of American Sports, 1440–1441. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Publishing Group
  4. ↑ "1985 MLB Draft History – Round 22". Mymlbdraft.com. Retrieved October 19, 2010.
  5. ↑ Porter, David L. 2000. "John Smoltz" in The Biographical Dictionary of American Sports, 1440–1441. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Publishing Group.
  6. ↑ Neyer, Rob and Bill James, The Neyer-James Guide to Pitchers. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2004. ISBN   0-7432-6158-5
  7. ↑ MLB Network (June 23, 2016), John Smoltz On The Destruction Of A Slider On A Pitcher, archived from the original on December 12, 2021, retrieved June 12, 2019
  8. ↑ Does sports psychology really work? Archived December 10, 2007, at the Wayback Machine by Daniel Engber – Slate Magazine
  9. 1 2 Whiteside, Larry (October 1996). "Braves' John Smoltz Makes A Pitch for Cy Young Award". Baseball Digest . Vol. 55, no. 10. United States: Lakeside Publishing Co. pp. 22–25. ISSN   0005-609X . Retrieved June 22, 2010.
  10. ↑ Almasy, Steve (November 3, 2021). "Atlanta Braves win World Series for the first time since 1995". CNN . Retrieved March 12, 2022.
  11. ↑ Neyer, Rob and Bill James, The Neyer-James Guide to Pichers. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2004. ISBN   0-7432-6158-5
  12. ↑ Kuenster, John (July 2000). "Without John Smoltz, Braves May Be Pressed To Set New Winning Record". Baseball Digest . Vol. 59, no. 7. United States: Lakeside Publishing Co. p. 17. ISSN   0005-609X . Retrieved June 22, 2010.
  13. ↑ Bowman, Mark (April 26, 2007). "Braves give Smoltz an extension: Veteran almost certain to finish legendary career in Atlanta". MLB.com.
  14. ↑ Bowman, Mark (May 24, 2007). "The Official Site of The Atlanta Braves: News: Game Wrapup". Atlanta.braves.mlb.com. Retrieved October 19, 2010.
  15. ↑ Jeff Lutz (August 19, 2007). "The Official Site of Major League Baseball: News: Major League Baseball News". Mlb.mlb.com. Retrieved October 19, 2010.
  16. ↑ The Associated Press (April 30, 2008). "Smoltz Put on Disabled List With Sore Right Shoulder". New York Times.
  17. ↑ "Smoltz has surgery, future as pitcher uncertain", Sports Illustrated, June 10, 2008
  18. ↑ Braves' decision on Smoltz is upsetting [ permanent dead link ]
  19. ↑ Bradford, Rob "How John Smoltz Convinced The Red Sox He Was Worth A Chance" Archived January 20, 2009, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved from WEEI.com on January 28, 2009.
  20. ↑ "Red Sox sign free agent righthanded pitcher John Smoltz to one-year contract". Boston Red Sox. MLB. Retrieved October 19, 2010.
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  23. ↑ "Smoltz designated for assignment". Boston.com. August 7, 2009. Retrieved October 19, 2010.
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  30. ↑ FOX Sports South, SportSouth announce 2014 Atlanta Braves telecast team | FOX Sports
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  39. ↑ Official Website for Tiger Woods Archived November 12, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  40. ↑ Tiger Woods Joins Mike and Mike > 950 ESPN > Audio Archived January 7, 2010, at the Wayback Machine Relevant audio at 8:15
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  45. ↑ Not sad to see end of primary [ dead link ]
  46. ↑ "McDowell controversy reminiscent of past Atlanta Braves anti-gay fouls". Thegavoice.com. The Georgia Voice Editors. April 29, 2011. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
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  48. ↑ "Facebook". Facebook. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
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  50. ↑ Iyer, Vinnie (August 5, 2016). "Adam Wainwright is a true ace — when it comes to fantasy football". Sporting News . Retrieved August 6, 2016.
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John Smoltz
Hall of Famer John Smoltz speaks to reporters before the MLBPAA's 2016 Legends for Youth Dinner (cropped).jpg
Smoltz in 2016
Pitcher
Born: (1967-05-15) May 15, 1967 (age 56)
Warren, Michigan, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
July 23, 1988, for the Atlanta Braves
Last MLB appearance
September 30, 2009, for the St. Louis Cardinals
Preceded by Lead color commentator, Major League Baseball on Fox
2016–present		Succeeded by
Incumbent
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