1982 Atlanta Braves season
Encyclopedia
Offseason
- October 5, 1981: Gaylord PerryGaylord PerryGaylord Jackson Perry is a former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He pitched from 1962-1983 for eight different teams in his career. During a 22-year baseball career, Perry compiled 314 wins, 3,534 strikeouts, and a 3.11 earned run average...
was released by the Braves. - March 23, 1982: Brian AsselstineBrian AsselstineBrian Hanly Asselstine is a former professional baseball player. He played all or part of six seasons in Major League Baseball, from 1976 until 1981, for the Atlanta Braves, primarily as an outfielder.-Sources:...
was released by the Braves.
During the offseason, the Braves acquired manager Joe Torre
Joe Torre
Joseph Paul Torre is a former American professional baseball player and manager who currently serves as Major League Baseball’s Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations. A nine-time All-Star, he played in Major League Baseball as a catcher, first baseman and a third baseman for the...
from the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
in hopes of bringing the Braves their first postseason appearance since 1969
1969 Atlanta Braves season
The Atlanta Braves season was a season in American baseball. The National League had been split into two divisions before the season, with the Braves somewhat incongruously being assigned to the National League West...
.
The first half of the season
The Braves started very hot in 1982, winning their first 13 games (April 6 through April 21) of the season, a new major league record (since equaled by the Milwaukee BrewersMilwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
in 1987
1987 Milwaukee Brewers season
The 1987 Milwaukee Brewers season featured the team finish in third place in the American League East, with a record of 91 wins and 71 losses. The team began the season at a red-hot pace, winning their first 13 games under first-year manager Tom Trebelhorn...
). The wins came at the expense of San Diego Padres
1982 San Diego Padres season
The San Diego Padres season was the fourteenth in franchise history.-Offseason:* December 10, 1981: Ozzie Smith, Steve Mura and a player to be named later were traded by the Padres to the St...
(two), Houston Astros
1982 Houston Astros season
The Houston Astros' 1982 season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Houston Astros attempting to win the National League West.- Offseason :* October 23, 1981: Pete Ladd was traded by the Astros to the Milwaukee Brewers for Rickey Keeton....
(six) and Cincinnati Reds
1982 Cincinnati Reds season
The Cincinnati Reds' 1982 season was a season in American baseball. It consisted of the Reds finishing in sixth place in the National League West, with a record of 61-101, 28 games behind of the Atlanta Braves. The Reds played their home games at Riverfront Stadium...
(five). The streak began with a 1 - 0 victory in San Diego in the season opener and came to an end when the Reds edged the Braves 2 - 1 in Atlanta in the Braves' 14th game.
The Braves lost five straight after their record start and by the end of May they were 27 - 20 and struggling. Some critics claimed the Braves were just living off the fat of their 13-game winning streak and that they were not as good as their record showed. Some of the critics even predicted that the Braves would drift slowly out of contention and would be out of the running by mid-summer. However, the Braves warmed up again, and they won 12 of their first 15 games in the month of June to jump to 16 games above the 0.500 mark at 39 wins and 23 losses. This gave evidence that the Braves's 13 - 0 start was not just a fluke of luck, and this silenced their critics - at least for awhile.
Next, the Braves slowed down again, and the slipped to a 43 - 29 record on June 29, but then they reeled off another six-game winning streak to build up a 4½ game lead in the National League Western Division
National League West
The National League Western Division, or NL West, is one of the three divisions of Major League Baseball's National League. It was created in 1969 when the previously undivided National League expanded its membership to twelve teams, positioning half of them in an Eastern division and the other...
on July 5. The Braves split their next four games, and they had a record of 51 - 31 (20 games above 0.500) on July 9 following a 6 - 4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates
1982 Pittsburgh Pirates season
- Offseason :* October 5, 1981: Luis Tiant was released by the Pirates.* December 11, 1981: Tim Foli was traded by the Pirates to the California Angels for Brian Harper.* December 11, 1981: Dorn Taylor was signed as an amateur free agent by the Pirates....
. That meant the Braves were setting pace to win 100 games for the season, which is a traditional mark for a very good team in either league. This was great improvement for a team that had struggled, mostly in the cellar, in 1975 through 1981. On the two days right before the All-Star Game
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
, the Braves lost to the Pirates 6 - 1 and 3 - 1, but they were still on the top of the Western Division by two-games in the standings.
Second half of the season
The Braves started the second half of the 1982 season following the All-Star break with five wins versus only one loss in their first six games. This improved the Braves' won-loss record to 56–34 (22 games over 0.500) on July 20. Their lead over the second-place team in the division was then six games. Thus was the largest lead that a Braves team had ever achieved since the Braves had come to Atlanta for the 1966 season. This even surpassed their largest divisional lead of their Western Division championship team of 19691969 Atlanta Braves season
The Atlanta Braves season was a season in American baseball. The National League had been split into two divisions before the season, with the Braves somewhat incongruously being assigned to the National League West...
.
However, from July 21 to July 25, the Braves endured a small dip. They lost three out of four games, and their offense was atrocious, with their being shut out in all three of the losses: once by the St. Louis Cardinals
1982 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals' 1982 season was the team's 101st season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 91st season in the National League. Making up for the previous year's near-miss, the Cardinals went 92-70 during the season and won their first-ever National League East Division title by three games...
and twice by the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
. The Braves scored a rather-average four runs in the game that they won. Nevertheless, the Braves were 20 games over 0.500 with a record of 57 wins and 37 losses. They were also settling in for an 11-game series in their home ballpark, followed by an 11-game road trip, all of which were against foes in the Western Division.
The second-place San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
played against the Braves in Atlanta Stadium for the first four games. The Padres were followed by the third-place Los Angeles Dodgers
1982 Los Angeles Dodgers season
The Los Angeles Dodgers were in contention all season but lost to the Atlanta Braves by one game in the National League Western Division race. This was the final L.A. season for longtime cornerstones Steve Garvey and Ron Cey, who would move on to new teams next season...
for the next four games; and finally the fourth-place San Francisco Giants
1982 San Francisco Giants season
The1982 San Francisco Giants season was the franchise's 100th season and 25th season in San Francisco.- Offseason :* December 9, 1981: Larry Herndon was traded by the Giants to the Detroit Tigers for Dan Schatzeder and Mike Chris....
played three games against the Braves. Next, the Braves were back on the road again for four games with the Dodgers' three more with the Giants, and finally four more games versus the Padres.
The Braves had a five-game lead in the standings when the home series versus the Padres began. The Braves began this series by sweeping a doubleheader against the Padres by 9–2 and 8–6 scores. The Braves repeated this game on the next night with another 8–6 victory. Their lead in the Western Division had increased to a high-water mark of eight games, and the Padres were on their way down and out of second place and out of contention. The Braves' primary stalker for the rest of the season became the Los Angeles Dodgers.
With their 6–2 victory over the Padres on July 29, the Braves completed the four-game sweep, and the Braves' record soared to 61 wins and 37 losses – the first time since 1969 when the Braves once reached a high-water mark of 24 games over 0.500. The Braves held a nine-game lead over the Padres (at 53–47), and a 10½ game lead over the third-place Dodgers (52–49). The Giants (48–52) had nearly fallen out of contention, 14 games behind the Braves, and with a losing record.
This lead of nine games in the standings was the largest lead that the Braves had ever had since they moved to Atlanta for the 1966 season. The Braves' All-Star outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
Dale Murphy
Dale Murphy
Dale Bryan Murphy is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and first baseman. During an 18-year baseball career, 1976–1993, he played for three different teams, but is noted for his time with the Atlanta Braves...
had 11 hits in 16 at bats in the sweep over the Padres, and for the season, he was batting .308 and leading the National League with 28 home runs and 74 runs batted in (RBI). Their other big bats were those of their third baseman
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
Bob Horner, who was batting .289 with 20 home runs so far, and their first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
Chris Chambliss
Chris Chambliss
Carroll Christopher Chambliss is a former Major League Baseball player who played from to for the Cleveland Indians, New York Yankees and Atlanta Braves...
a .259 hitter thus far with 11 homers and 48 RBI. Their only reliable starting pitcher
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
was Phil Niekro
Phil Niekro
Philip Henry Niekro , nicknamed "Knucksie" because of his usage and skill level with the knuckleball, is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997....
(10–3, 3.27 ERA), and their two big guns as relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
s were Steve Bedrosian
Steve Bedrosian
Stephen Wayne Bedrosian, is an American former baseball player. Nicknamed "Bedrock", he played from 1981 to 1995 with the Atlanta Braves, Philadelphia Phillies, San Francisco Giants and Minnesota Twins...
with a 1.46 ERA, and Gene Garber
Gene Garber
Henry Eugene Garber is a former sidearm relief pitcher in Major League Baseball. He was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 20th round of the amateur draft, and pitched for the Pirates, the Kansas City Royals, the Philadelphia Phillies, and the Atlanta Braves.Upon his retirement in , his...
with a 2.16 ERA and 19 saves already. The overall pitching staff had a rather good 3.60 ERA, and the team batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
was 0.262. The Braves had scored 447 runs so far. Rick Camp, a part-time starter, was 8–4 with a 3.14 ERA
This big lead in the Western Division did not last for long. During that long stretch of 21 games against just the Dodgers, the Giants, the Padres, and the Montreal Expos
1982 Montreal Expos season
-Offseason:* January 14, 1982: Grant Jackson was traded by the Expos to the Kansas City Royals for Ken Phelps.* March 31, 1982: Larry Parrish and Dave Hostetler were traded by the Expos to the Texas Rangers for Al Oliver.-Regular season:...
, the Braves seemed to be moving in slow motion both on the pitcher's mound and in the batting boxes as they slumped badly and lost 19 out of 21 games - including an 11-game losing steak and four-game losing streaks twice.
The Dodgers, under their long-time manager Tommy Lasorda
Tommy Lasorda
Thomas Charles Lasorda is a former Major League baseball player and manager. marked his sixth decade in one capacity or another with the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers organization, the longest non-continuous tenure anyone has had with the team, edging Dodger broadcaster Vin Scully...
, had turned both hot and lucky at the same time. Eight out of those 19 losses during this frantic nose-dive by the Braves were to the Dodgers, who swept the Braves 4–0 in two series against them in a 10-day period. The Braves' wins and losses during these 21 games were against the Dodgers (0–8), the Giants (1–5), the Padres (1–3), and the Expos (0–3).
On August 18, the Braves lost their third game in a row to the Expos, completing another four-game losing streak, and their won-loss record had fallen to 63–56. In so doing, they had fallen into second place in the Western Division, four games behind the Dodgers, who had moved into first place by winning 16 out of 20 games. The Braves seemed to be ready to "turn turtle" as a team and lose the Western Division for the 13th year in a row, and hence out of the post-season games once again. The Braves had not won a playoff series since they won the World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
in 1957, and they had played in few playoff games since then (seven vs. the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
in 1958, two vs. the Dodgers in 1959, and three vs. the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
in 1969 - and losing nine of those games).
However, the Braves righted themselves as a team, and their clouds of bad luck seemed to part. Beginning on August 19 with a win over the Expos in the last game of the series with them, the Braves roared back into first place by winning 13 out of 15 games while the Dodgers played ordinary baseball.
On September 3, the Braves' won-loss record had improved to 76–58; they were ahead of the Dodgers by 2½ games. However, their travails were not over, as they once again lost four games in a row and fell back into second place behind the Dodgers. Now, it was time for head-to-head competition with the Dodgers again. The Braves defeated the Dodgers in two consecutive games, on September 8 and 9, to once again move into first place (with a 78–62 record) by 1½ games over the Dodgers.
There was more hardship to come. The Braves lost eight out of 12 games, including six losses to a different nemesis this time, the Houston Astros. This dropped the Braves back into second place, a full three games behind the Dodgers on September 22.
However, the Braves won seven out of their next nine games, while the Dodgers played ordinary baseball, and the Braves moves into first place for good on September 28. However, there was a final day of severe tension on the last day of the season. Beginning that day, the Braves were one game ahead of the Dodgers, with the Braves holding an 89–72 record and the Dodgers holding an 88–73 record. The Braves had a game in the Eastern Time Zone earlier in the day, and the Dodgers had a game with the Giants in San Francisco later on in the day in the Pacific Time Zone.
The Braves could have clinched the division championship by winning, but they lost their last game vs. the Padres 5–1 to fall to a 89–73 record. Then, in the later game, the Dodgers could have tied for first place by defeating the Giants. If that had happened, it would have required a one-game playoff between the Dodgers and the Braves to determine the Division champion. However, late in that game in San Francisco, the former Cincinnati Reds' second baseman, Joe Morgan
Joe Morgan
Joe Leonard Morgan is a former Major League Baseball second baseman who played for the Houston Astros, Cincinnati Reds, San Francisco Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, and Oakland Athletics from 1963 to 1984. He won two World Series championships with the Reds in 1975 and 1976 and was also named the...
, hit a home run against the Dodgers to knock them down to an 88–74 record, and to put an end to the season for the Dodgers. Phil Niekro finished the season as the pitching star of the Braves with a 17–4 record, and Dale Murphy won the National League Most Valuable Player trophy by winning the league championship in home runs, tying for the championship in RBIs, and winning a Gold Glove in the outfield.
The Braves had won their second Western Division title, and they were bound for the National League Championship Series
National League Championship Series
In Major League Baseball, the National League Championship Series is a round in the postseason that determines who wins the National League pennant and advances to Major League Baseball's championship, the World Series, facing the winner of the American League Championship Series. The reigning...
against the St. Louis Cardinals. The Braves had won the first-ever Western Division championship in 1969, the year in which the Eastern Division and the Western Division had been established. Then, the Braves had posted a 93–69 won-loss record by playing very strongly in second half of the season. For the Braves, Niekro himself had had finished second for the Cy Young Award
Cy Young Award
The Cy Young Award is an honor given annually in baseball to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball , one each for the American League and National League . The award was first introduced in 1956 by Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick in honor of Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young, who died in 1955...
with 23 wins, and Hank Aaron had finished second in the league with 44 home runs. Thus, each of these teams had won the division by having one truly outstanding pitcher, and one truly outstanding batter.
Since the Braves had finished at 89–73, this meant they had only recorded a 76–73 record after beginning the season at 13–0 start. On the other hand, the good news was the Braves recorded a 26–17 record after August 18. 1982 was just the Braves' second season with a winning record since they recorded an 88–74 record in 1974 and finished in third place in the Western Division. The Braves' only other (barely) winning season during that period was in 1980, when they struggled to an 81–80 finish. (The Braves played an odd number of games in 1980 since they had a game rained out during the season, and since the 162nd game would have no effect whatsoever on the standings, no make-up game for that game was ever played. It had become a moot point by then.)
Stars aplenty
Although it was their field manager Joe TorreJoe Torre
Joseph Paul Torre is a former American professional baseball player and manager who currently serves as Major League Baseball’s Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations. A nine-time All-Star, he played in Major League Baseball as a catcher, first baseman and a third baseman for the...
who led the Braves back to the Western Division championship in 1982, there was a kernel of Braves' players who made the difference in this successful baseball season. Two of these were Dale Murphy and Bob Horner, the latter of whom batted 0.261 with 32 home runs and 97 RBI – but missed most of August and September with a broken wrist that he suffered while diving for a batted ball while playing third base. Murphy, who usually batted ahead of Horner in the line-up, posted a healthier 0.281 batting average with 36 home runs, 109 RBI, and 23 stolen bases, and he also led the team in runs scored. As mentioned before, Murphy won the league MVP trophy.
The Braves' very reliable first baseman, Chris Chambliss
Chris Chambliss
Carroll Christopher Chambliss is a former Major League Baseball player who played from to for the Cleveland Indians, New York Yankees and Atlanta Braves...
, batted 0.270, with 20 home runs and 88 RBI. Their outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
Claudell Washington
Claudell Washington
Claudell Washington is a former right fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Oakland Athletics , Texas Rangers , Chicago White Sox , New York Mets , Atlanta Braves , New York Yankees and California Angels...
had one of his best seasons with the Braves in 1982. He batted 0.266 with 16 homers and 80 RBI. The twenty-four-year-old second base-shortstop duo of Glenn Hubbard
Glenn Hubbard (baseball)
Glenn Dee Hubbard is a former first base coach for the Atlanta Braves and second baseman in Major League Baseball who played from 1978 to 1989...
and Rafael Ramirez
Rafael Ramírez (baseball)
Rafael Emilio Ramírez Peguero , is a former professional baseball player who played in the major leagues primarily as a shortstop from 1980-1992...
proved to be stellar on defense, and steady on offense - often getting on base ahead of Murphy and Horner. They were adept at turning double plays around the second-base bag. Hubbard batted 0.248 with nine home runs and 59 RBI, while Ramírez batted higher with a 0.278 average, ten home runs, and 52 RBI.
Their utility infielder Jerry Royster
Jerry Royster
Jeron Kennis Royster was a third baseman for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Braves, San Diego Padres, Chicago White Sox, and the New York Yankees, as well as a former manager of the Milwaukee Brewers and of the Lotte Giants in the Korea Baseball Organization.-Career:He was signed by the Dodgers...
batted rather well over the final two months of the season (with a 0.322 BBA) to finish the season with a 0.295 average in 261 at bats. He had been batting just 0.180 on July 29. Royster's value was seen, and his high number of at bats accumulated, in that he filled in for either Hubbard or Ramirez when they needed a day off, and he also filled in at third base for many weeks while Horner was suffering from his broken wrist. If the need had arisen, Royster was also capable of playing at first base or in the outfield.
The part-time outfielder Rufino Linares
Rufino Linares
Rufino de la Cruz Linares was a professional baseball player who played four seasons for the Atlanta Braves and California Angels of Major League Baseball....
batted 0.298 with two home runs and 17 RBI, but their opening-day starter in center field Brett Butler played well in the field, but he had an atrocious season at home plate where he batted just 0.217 and he hit just two doubles in 240 at bats (The slightly-built Butler never was a power hitter, and in 1982, he did not hit any homers. The Braves's regular catcher Bruce Benedict
Bruce Benedict
Bruce Edwin Benedict is an American former professional baseball player, coach and scout. He played 12 seasons in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Atlanta Braves from to .-Major League career:...
batted 0.248 with just three home runs - one of them a grand slam
Grand slam (baseball)
In the sport of baseball, a grand slam is a home run hit with all three bases occupied by baserunners , thereby scoring four runs—the most possible in one play. According to The Dickson Baseball Dictionary, the term originated in the card game of contract bridge, in which a grand slam involves...
that he hit of the great Dodger pitcher Fernando Valenzuela
Fernando Valenzuela
Fernando Valenzuela Anguamea is a Mexican former left-handed pitcher, most notably with the Los Angeles Dodgers.In 1981, the 20-year-old Valenzuela took Los Angeles by storm, winning his first 8 decisions and leading the Dodgers to the World Championship...
in a game during September. The Braves' backup catcher - and a future star at that position, Biff Pocoroba
Biff Pocoroba
Biff Benedict Pocoroba is a former Major League Baseball catcher, who also played a few games at third base. He was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 17th round of the 1971 amateur draft....
, finished with a 0.275 average 120 at bats.
What the Braves lacked in their position players in 1982 were the following:
- A catcher who could either hit with a lot of power or with a high batting average.
- An everyday left fielder who field well, and also bat extremely well, preferably with power.
- More depth both in the infield and the outfield, where oftentimes the Braves were quite thin, especially when they had players who suffered from serious problems, like Bob Horner and Brett Butler. This thinness on their squad also meant that they lacked much capability in pinch hitting.
The Braves pitching staff was led by Phil Niekro
Phil Niekro
Philip Henry Niekro , nicknamed "Knucksie" because of his usage and skill level with the knuckleball, is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997....
, who led the team in wins and in winning percentage with a 17–4 record, with a 3.61 ERA in 35 starts. Niekro also led the team in strikeouts. Gene Garber was the top short-reliever in the bullpen, accumulating 30 saves in 69 games, with a 2.34 ERA. Steve Bedrosian was the best long-reliever, and he posted an 8–6 record and a 2.42 ERA in 64 games, including starting three games. Despite having a high 4.87 ERA with 27 games started, Bob Walk
Bob Walk
Robert Vernon Walk is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. Nicknamed "The Whirly Bird," Walk spent his career pitching for the Philadelphia Phillies , Atlanta Braves , and Pittsburgh Pirates .During his rookie season in Philadelphia, he recorded 11 regular season wins and a victory in Game One...
finished with an 11–9 won-lost record, tied for second on the team with Rick Camp
Rick Camp
Rick Lamar Camp , is a former professional baseball player who played pitcher in the Major Leagues from 1976-1985. He played for the Atlanta Braves....
who accumulated a record of 11–13, and a 3.85 ERA in 51 games, including starting 21 games. Rick Mahler
Rick Mahler
Richard Keith Mahler was a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Atlanta Braves , Cincinnati Reds and Montreal Expos...
also practically broke even with a 9–10 record and a 4.21 ERA in 33 starts. Pascual Pérez
Pascual Pérez (baseball)
Pascual Gross Perez was a right-handed baseball pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Atlanta Braves, Montreal Expos, and New York Yankees....
, who was to become a star pitcher in 1983, started 11 games in 1982 and relieved in five games. He finished with a 4–4 record and a solid 3.06 ERA.
Beyond Niekro, the Braves' starting pitching
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
was extremely thin, and it caused a lot of problems. It was probably the work of a miracle worker that Joe Torre was able to get as much out of his starting pitchers as he did. Pascual Perez was also one year away from becoming a star pitcher for the Braves, which he did in 1983, along with a new rookie who came up in that same year. Walk did not last very long for the Braves, and Camp was destined to become a short-relief pitcher for the Braves in the future. Besides Niekro, the best thing that Torre had for his job of running a pitching staff made of bubble gum and bailing wire was his outstanding relief duo of Garber and Bedrosian. In Bedrosian, Torre had a future Cy Young Award Winner, but with the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
.
Opening Day starters
- Rick MahlerRick MahlerRichard Keith Mahler was a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Atlanta Braves , Cincinnati Reds and Montreal Expos...
- Bruce BenedictBruce BenedictBruce Edwin Benedict is an American former professional baseball player, coach and scout. He played 12 seasons in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Atlanta Braves from to .-Major League career:...
- Chris ChamblissChris ChamblissCarroll Christopher Chambliss is a former Major League Baseball player who played from to for the Cleveland Indians, New York Yankees and Atlanta Braves...
- Glenn HubbardGlenn Hubbard (baseball)Glenn Dee Hubbard is a former first base coach for the Atlanta Braves and second baseman in Major League Baseball who played from 1978 to 1989...
- Rafael RamírezRafael Ramírez (baseball)Rafael Emilio Ramírez Peguero , is a former professional baseball player who played in the major leagues primarily as a shortstop from 1980-1992...
- Bob Horner
- Dale MurphyDale MurphyDale Bryan Murphy is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and first baseman. During an 18-year baseball career, 1976–1993, he played for three different teams, but is noted for his time with the Atlanta Braves...
- Brett Butler
- Claudell WashingtonClaudell WashingtonClaudell Washington is a former right fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Oakland Athletics , Texas Rangers , Chicago White Sox , New York Mets , Atlanta Braves , New York Yankees and California Angels...
Notable transactions
- April 23, 1982: Scott Patterson (minors) was traded by the Braves to the New York YankeesNew York YankeesThe New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
for Bob Watson. - June 7, 1982: 1982 Major League Baseball Draft1982 Major League Baseball Draft-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1982 Major League Baseball draft.- Other notable players :*Barry Bonds was drafted by the Giants in the 2nd round of the 1982 amateur draft, but did not sign...
- Duane WardDuane WardRoy Duane Ward was a Major League Baseball reliever during the late 1980s and early 1990s.Ward went to school and made his early athletic mark in Farmington, New Mexico, a small oil and gas city, and one known for its amateur baseball programs...
was drafted by the Braves in the 1st round (9th pick). Player signed June 18, 1982. - Zane SmithZane SmithZane William Smith is a former American Major League baseball player.-Career:Smith, a left-handed pitcher, played collegiately at Indiana State University. He was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 3rd round of the 1982 amateur draft and made his Major League debut on September 10, 1984 for...
was drafted by the Braves in the 3rd round. - Randy JohnsonRandy JohnsonRandall David Johnson , nicknamed "The Big Unit", is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. During a 22-year career, he pitched for six different teams....
was drafted by the Braves in the 4th round, but did not sign. (Note: This is not the same Randy Johnson who played for the Braves in 1982.)
- Duane Ward
- June 30, 1982: Larry McWilliamsLarry McWilliamsLarry Dean McWilliams , is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1978-1990. He was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 1st round of the 1974 amateur draft...
was traded by the Braves to the Pittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh PiratesThe Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
for Pascual PérezPascual Pérez (baseball)Pascual Gross Perez was a right-handed baseball pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Atlanta Braves, Montreal Expos, and New York Yankees....
and a player to be named later. The Pirates finished the deal by sending Carlos Rios (minors) to the Braves on September 8. - July 6, 1982: Preston HannaPreston HannaPreston Lee Hanna is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He played all or part of eight seasons in the major leagues from 1975 until 1982. He was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the first round of the 1972 Major League Baseball Draft,11th overall, and stayed with their organization until his...
was released by the Braves.
Roster
| 1982 Atlanta Braves | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| Pitchers |
Catchers Infielders |
Outfielders Other batters |
Manager Coaches |
||||||
Game Log
Starters by position
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At Bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting Average; HR = Home Runs; RBI = Runs Batted In| Pos | Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | 118 | 386 | 95 | .246 | 3 | 44 | |
| 1B | 157 | 534 | 144 | .270 | 20 | 86 | |
| 2B | 145 | 532 | 132 | .248 | 9 | 59 | |
| 3B | 140 | 499 | 130 | .261 | 32 | 97 | |
| SS | 157 | 609 | 169 | .278 | 10 | 52 | |
| LF | 77 | 191 | 57 | .298 | 2 | 17 | |
| CF | 162 | 598 | 168 | .281 | 36 | 109 | |
| RF | 150 | 563 | 150 | .266 | 16 | 80 |
Other batters
| Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 108 | 261 | 77 | .291 | 2 | 25 | |
| 89 | 240 | 52 | .217 | 0 | 7 | |
| 84 | 143 | 34 | .238 | 4 | 17 | |
| 48 | 150 | 43 | .287 | 2 | 16 | |
| 56 | 120 | 33 | .275 | 2 | 22 | |
| 57 | 114 | 28 | .246 | 5 | 22 | |
| 37 | 81 | 11 | .136 | 1 | 4 | |
| 27 | 46 | 11 | .239 | 0 | 6 | |
| 48 | 41 | 12 | .293 | 0 | 3 | |
| 24 | 27 | 3 | .111 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2 | 3 | 1 | .333 | 0 | 0 | |
| 4 | 2 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2 | 1 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | |
| 5 | 0 | 0 | ---- | 0 | 0 |
Starting pitchers
| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | 234.1 | 17 | 4 | 3.61 | 144 | |
| 39 | 205.1 | 9 | 10 | 4.21 | 105 | |
| 32 | 164.1 | 11 | 9 | 4.87 | 84 | |
| 10 | 46.1 | 2 | 2 | 3.30 | 29 |
Other pitchers
| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 51 | 177.1 | 11 | 13 | 3.65 | 58 | |
| 16 | 79.1 | 4 | 4 | 3.06 | 29 | |
| 20 | 71.1 | 5 | 6 | 4.54 | 34 | |
| 17 | 52.1 | 1 | 2 | 4.47 | 27 |
Relief pitchers
| Player | G | W | L | SV | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 69 | 8 | 10 | 30 | 2.34 | 68 | |
| 64 | 8 | 6 | 11 | 2.42 | 123 | |
| 31 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5.54 | 20 | |
| 27 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 6.21 | 24 | |
| 20 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3.75 | 17 | |
| 19 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4.62 | 16 | |
| 16 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 4.23 | 17 | |
| 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.70 | 6 | |
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.91 | 2 |
Game 1: Take 1
Game 1 was a wash - literally. The Braves led 1-0 behind Phil NiekroPhil Niekro
Philip Henry Niekro , nicknamed "Knucksie" because of his usage and skill level with the knuckleball, is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997....
and were three outs from an official game when the umpire stopped it. When the rain did not subside, the game was canceled. Game 1 began from the start the following night in a match-up of the volatile Braves starter Pascual Pérez
Pascual Pérez (baseball)
Pascual Gross Perez was a right-handed baseball pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Atlanta Braves, Montreal Expos, and New York Yankees....
and longtime Cardinal starter Bob Forsch
Bob Forsch
Robert Herbert Forsch was an American right-handed starting pitcher who spent most of his sixteen years in Major League Baseball with the St. Louis Cardinals before finishing his playing career with the Houston Astros...
.
Game 1: Take 2
October 7, Busch StadiumBusch Memorial Stadium
Busch Memorial Stadium, also known as Busch Stadium, was a multi-purpose sports facility in St. Louis, Missouri that operated from 1966 to 2005....
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| St. Louis | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | X | 7 | 13 | 1 |
| W: Bob Forsch Bob Forsch Robert Herbert Forsch was an American right-handed starting pitcher who spent most of his sixteen years in Major League Baseball with the St. Louis Cardinals before finishing his playing career with the Houston Astros... (1-0)L: Pascual Pérez Pascual Pérez (baseball) Pascual Gross Perez was a right-handed baseball pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Atlanta Braves, Montreal Expos, and New York Yankees.... (0-1) SV: None |
||||||||||||
| HRs: ATL – None STL – None | ||||||||||||
Game 2
October 9, Busch StadiumBusch Memorial Stadium
Busch Memorial Stadium, also known as Busch Stadium, was a multi-purpose sports facility in St. Louis, Missouri that operated from 1966 to 2005....
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 0 |
| St. Louis | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 1 |
| W: Bruce Sutter Bruce Sutter Howard Bruce Sutter is a former Major League Baseball right-handed relief pitcher. He was arguably the first pitcher to make effective use of the splitter.... (1-0)L: Gene Garber Gene Garber Henry Eugene Garber is a former sidearm relief pitcher in Major League Baseball. He was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 20th round of the amateur draft, and pitched for the Pirates, the Kansas City Royals, the Philadelphia Phillies, and the Atlanta Braves.Upon his retirement in , his... (0-1) SV: None |
||||||||||||
| HRs: ATL – None STL – None | ||||||||||||
Game 3
October 10, Atlanta-Fulton County StadiumAtlanta-Fulton County Stadium
Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, often shortened to "Fulton County Stadium," was a multi-purpose stadium that formerly stood in Atlanta, Georgia, United States.-History:...
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 12 | 0 |
| Atlanta | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 1 |
| W: Joaquín Andújar Joaquín Andújar Joaquín Andújar is a former Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher who became one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball while playing with the St. Louis Cardinals in the mid-80s.-Early years:... (1-0)L: Rick Camp Rick Camp Rick Lamar Camp , is a former professional baseball player who played pitcher in the Major Leagues from 1976-1985. He played for the Atlanta Braves.... (0-1) SV: Bruce Sutter Bruce Sutter Howard Bruce Sutter is a former Major League Baseball right-handed relief pitcher. He was arguably the first pitcher to make effective use of the splitter.... (1) |
||||||||||||
| HRs: ATL – None STL – Willie McGee Willie McGee Willie Dean McGee is a retired professional baseball player who won two batting titles and was named Major League Baseball's National League MVP. McGee primarily played center and right field, winning three Gold Glove Awards for defensive excellence. McGee spent the majority of his 18-year career... (1) |
||||||||||||
Awards and honors
- Dale MurphyDale MurphyDale Bryan Murphy is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and first baseman. During an 18-year baseball career, 1976–1993, he played for three different teams, but is noted for his time with the Atlanta Braves...
, National League Most Valuable Player - Dale MurphyDale MurphyDale Bryan Murphy is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and first baseman. During an 18-year baseball career, 1976–1993, he played for three different teams, but is noted for his time with the Atlanta Braves...
, Gold Glove (NL OF), 1982 - Dale MurphyDale MurphyDale Bryan Murphy is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and first baseman. During an 18-year baseball career, 1976–1993, he played for three different teams, but is noted for his time with the Atlanta Braves...
, Silver SluggerSilver SluggerThe Silver Slugger Award is awarded annually to the best offensive player at each position in both the American League and the National League, as determined by the coaches and managers of Major League Baseball...
(NL OF): 1982 - Joe Torre, Associated Press NL Manager of the Year
1982 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
1982 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1982 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 53rd midseason exhibition between the all-stars of the American League and the National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was played on July 13, 1982 at Olympic Stadium in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, home of the...
- Dale MurphyDale MurphyDale Bryan Murphy is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and first baseman. During an 18-year baseball career, 1976–1993, he played for three different teams, but is noted for his time with the Atlanta Braves...
, Outfield