Atlanta Braves - The Disco Era (1970-1979)

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1970

1973

1977

101

Decade

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Titles:

Top Atlanta Braves Players of the Seventies

None

Pitchers:

BallPark:

Phil Niekro (64.62) - 119

Atlanta Fulton County Stadium

Carl Morton (15.17) - 36

Ron Reed (8.47) - 24

Team Name:

Pat Jarvis (6.62) - 16

Braves

Dick Ruthven (8.76) - 14

Buzz Capra (7.17) - 12

Owner:

Gene Garber (2.03) - 11

Bill Bartholomay (1970-1975)

Jim Nash (1.67) - 10

Ted Turner (1976-1979)

Andy Messersmith (8.03) - 8

General Managers:

Catchers:

Paul Richards (1970-1972)

Earl Williams (2.93) - 20

Eddie Robinson (1972-1976)

Biff Pocoroba (0.16) - 18

John Alevizos (1976)

Vic Correll (0.67) - 14

Bill Lucas (1976-1979)

John Mullen (1979)

First Basemen:

Darrell Evans (24.81) - 43

Managers:

Willie Montanez (0.5) - 13

Lum Harris (1970 -1972)

Orlando Cepeda (4.7) - 11

Eddie Mathews (1972-1974)

Clyde King (1974-1975)

Second Basemen:

Dave Bristol (1976-1977)

Marty Perez (0.72) - 17

Ted Turner (1977)

Felix Millan (3.27) - 14

Vern Benson (1977)

Davey Johnson (5.93) - 14

Bobby Cox (1978-1979)

ShortStop:

Hall of Famers:

Jerry Royster (1.25) - 24

Phil Niekro

Darrel Chaney (1.7) - 10

Hank Aaron

Orlando Cepeda

Third Base:

Bob Horner (4.62) - 20

MVP:

None

Outfield:

Hank Aaron (22.89) - 54

Cy Young

Ralph Garr (12.93) - 45

None

Dusty Baker (13.58) - 43

Mike Lum (5.16) - 34

No Hitters:

Gary Matthews (9.08) - 22

Phil Niekro (1973)

Rowland Office (3.95) - 19

Jeff Burroughs (5.67) - 18

Rookie of the Year:

Barry Bonnell (0.58) - 14

Earl Williams (1971)

Rico Carty (7.32) - 14

Bob Horner (1978)

Notable Events:

1976 - The Braves sign pitcher Andy Messersmith to a huge,

1970 - Bill Bartholomay was a dysfunctional, quick buck owner, and his

at the time, contract of 1.75 million. Messersmith had been

incompetence filtered down thru the Braves organization. That being said, he

declared a free agent by an arbitrator, thus killing the reserve

did have some good baseball men running the operation during his tenure.

clause and later precipitating a strike. Unfortunately for

Bartholomay initially inherited John McHale when he bought the club and later

the Braves, Messersmith turned out to be a bad investment.

hired on both Paul Richards and then Eddie Robinson as his General Managers.

McHale carried on the tail end of his brilliant legacy in Milwaukee and did not

1976 - CF Dale Murphy, 20, is a rookie. He was the 5th overall

accompany the team to Atlanta. However, both Richards and Robinson were

pick in the '74 draft. Dale would go on to a near HOF career

unable to operate successfully under Bartholomay - the team floundered.

with the Braves.

1973 - The Braves have three players top forty homers (a record):

1977 - In the midst of a seventeen game losing streak, Ted Turner

Davey Johnson (43); Darrell Evans (41); Hank Aaron (40)

fires his manager, Dave Bristol, and hires himself as manager.

Commissioner Bowie Kuhn, in a knee-jerk reaction,

1974 - Aaron surpasses Ruth's home run mark, hitting his 715th.

makes Turner step down - with no reason given.

Aaron, however, was suddenly washed up at the age of forty

There were, of course, other instances of owners managing,

and, of course, was immediately dealt away to the Brewers at

the most notable being Connie Mack with the A's. Kuhn couldn't

season's end. So much for loyalty.

find an issue that he couldn't get on the wrong side of.

1974 - The Braves have their one good season of the decade,

1978 - The Braves get first overall pick in the Amateur free

finishing a distant third to the Dodgers at 88-74.

agent draft after their dismal 61-101 record and select Bob

Horner, who comes to Atlanta directly out of college and

1976 - Ted Turner buys the club. It doesn't help them on the field,

promptly becomes Rookie of the Year. Bob had HOF talent,

but it does make the Braves America's team. At the time, WTBS

but injuries and salary disputes curtailed his career.

was the first local TV station to go national, which meant the

Braves went national, as Turner owned both WTBS and the Braves.

1979 - Phil Niekro goes 21-20, not too many guys have won

and lost twenty in the same season in modern times