I've never been a big Bobby Cox fan. In fact other than their World Series trips against the Yankees, I have always rooted against the Atlanta Braves in the playoffs. I can't explain why.
But I have tons of respect for Bobby Cox for putting so many winners on the field.
Yeah he has had critics... most of them morons.
"He only won one World Series!" That's as many as Leo Durocher won... that's as many as Earl Weaver won... nobody has any problems with THEM!
"He couldn't win without Glavine, Smoltz or Maddux." First of all he went to TWO World Series before Maddux arrived.
He went to the 2000 playoffs without Smoltz who was injured. When Glavine went to the Mets, Cox took the 2003, 2004 and 2005 squad to the playoffs. And the '04 and '05 teams were also without Maddux.
And he ended his career tonight, in the post season without a single player active from the 1995 World Champs (with Chipper Jones on the DL.)
He kept winning despite a massive rotation of talent. Which got me thinking... I bet I could do one of my Home Grown vs. Acquired rosters using only players who played in the post season for the Braves under Bobby Cox.
For my new readers, between the 2008 and 2009 season, I wrote up the best all time 25 man roster for each team using only home grown players... and then compared that to the best all time 25 man roster using only players acquired from other organizations. It was insane but fun to write.
So here are the rules...
Each roster has 8 starting position players... 5 starting pitchers... 5 relievers... 1 top pinch hitter off the bench... 1 reserve catcher... 2 reserve infielders... 2 reserve outfielders... and a 25th man who could be either a pitcher or position player.
And each roster can only be filled with players who played in the post season for the Braves under Bobby Cox and judged only by their merits on the field for the Braves.
Home Grown means their first professional organization was the Atlanta Braves. Home grown players who were reacquired will still be labeled as home grown.
Acquired means having played for another organization (even in the minor leagues) for any length before coming to the Braves. (Smoltz started in the Tigers organization... ergo he is acquired.)
Got it?
Let's figure out the teams.
First off...
THE ALL TIME HOME GROWN
BOBBY COX BRAVES PLAYOFF ROSTER
BOBBY COX BRAVES PLAYOFF ROSTER
STARTING CATCHER
JAVY LOPEZ
15 Post Season Series over 9 seasons with the Braves
Member of the 1995 World Champion Braves
Post Season Highlight: MVP of 1996 NLCS
STARTING FIRST BASEMAN
BRIAN HUNTER
7 Post Season Series over 3 seasons with the Braves
Played in the 1991, 1992 and 1999 World Series
Post Season Highlight: Game winning home run in Game 7 of the 1991 NLCS
STARTING SECOND BASEMAN
MARK LEMKE
11 Post Season Series over 5 seasons with the Braves
Member of the 1995 World Champion Braves
Post Season Highlight: Batted .417 with a 1.170 OPS in the 1991 World Series
STARTING SHORTSTOP
RAFAEL FURCAL
6 Post Season Series over 6 seasons with the Braves
Post Season Highlight: Walk off homer in Game 2 of 2004 Division Series.
STARTING THIRD BASEMAN
CHIPPER JONES
20 Post Season Series over 11 seasons with the Braves
Member of the 1995 World Champion Braves
Post Season Highlight: Batted .444 with a 1.694 OPS and a game winning homer as the Braves upset the favored Astros in the 2001 Division Series
STARTING LEFT FIELDER
RYAN KLESKO
13 Post Season Series over 5 seasons with the Braves
Member of the 1995 World Champion Braves
Post Season Highlight: Hit .313 with 3 homers in the 1995 World Series.
STARTING CENTER FIELDER
ANDRUW JONES
17 Post Season Series over 10 seasons with the Braves
Played in the 1996 and 1999 World Series
Post Season Highlight: Homered in his first 2 at bats in the 1996 World Series
STARTING RIGHT FIELDER
DAVID JUSTICE
8 Post Season Series over 4 seasons with the Braves
Member of the 1995 World Champion Braves
Post Season Highlight: Hit the homer that was the only run in the 1-0 World Series clinching Game 6 win in 1995.
ROTATION
TOM GLAVINE
22 Post Season Series over 12 seasons with the Braves
Member of the 1995 World Champion Braves
Post Season Highlight: MVP of 1995 World Series
KEVIN MILLWOOD
6 Post Season Series over 5 seasons with the Braves
Played in the 1999 World Series
Post Season Highlight: Threw a complete game victory in Game 2 of the 1999 NLDS and then got a save in Game 3.
STEVE AVERY
10 Post Season Series over 5 seasons with the Braves
Member of the 1995 World Champion Braves
Post Season Highlight: MVP of 1991 NLCS
TOMMY HANSON
1 Post Season Series over 1 Season with the Braves
Post Season Highlight: Started Game 2 of the 2010 NLDS.
KENT MERCKER
10 Post Season Series over 5 seasons with the Braves
Member of the 1995 World Champion Braves
Post Season Highlight: Pitched the Braves out of trouble from the bullpen in Game 5 of the 1991 World Series. (Also threw a regular season no hitter.)
BULLPEN
MARK WOHLERS
13 Post Season Series over 6 seasons with the Braves
Member of the 1995 World Champion Braves
Post Season Highlight: Threw the clinching pitch of each playoff round in 1995 including closing out the 1995 World Series.
MIKE STANTON
5 Post Season Series over 3 seasons with the Braves
Played in the 1991 and 1992 World Series
Post Season Highlight: Saved Game 5 of the 1992 World Series.
JOHN ROCKER
7 Post Season Series over 3 seasons with the Braves
Played in the 1999 World Series
Post Season Highlight: Saved 2 games and struck out 9 in 6 2/3 innings against the Mets in the 1999 NLCS.
BRAD CLONTZ
5 Post Season Series over 2 seasons with the Braves
Member of the 1995 World Champion Braves
Post Season Highlight: Pitched the 11th inning in the Braves extra inning road win against the Reds in Game 2 of the 1995 NLCS.
JONNY VENTERS
1 Post Season Series over 1 season with the Braves
Post Season Highlight: Pitched a shutout inning before the Braves rallied to tie the Giants in Game 2 of the 2010 NLDS.
THE BENCH
TOP PINCH HITTER OFF OF THE BENCH
EDDIE PEREZ
11 Post Season Series over 5 seasons with the Braves
Played in the 1996 and 1999 World Series
Post Season Highlight: 1999 NLCS MVP.
RESERVE INFIELDER
JEFF BLAUSER
12 Post Season Series over 6 seasons with the Braves
Member of the 1995 World Champion Braves
Post Season Highlight: Homered off of Doug Drabek to help put away Game 1 of the 1992 NLCS.
RESERVE INFIELDER
VINNY CASTILLA
2 Post Season Series over 2 Seasons with the Braves
Post Season Highlight: Batted .389 with an OPS of 1.006 and 4 RBI in the 2002 Division Series.
RESERVE OUTFIELDER
RON GANT
5 Post Season Series over 3 seasons with the Braves
Played in the 1991 and 1992 World Series
Post Season Highlight: Went 3-4 with 3 runs scored in the Braves Game 5 victory in the 1991 World Series.
RESERVE OUTFIELDER
JEFF FRANCOEUR
1 Post Season Series over 1 Season with the Braves
Post Season Highlight: Drove in the final run in the Braves Game 2 victory of the 2005 Division Series
RESERVE CATCHER
BRIAN McCANN
2 Post Season Series over 2 Seasons with the Braves
Post Season Highlight: Homered twice in the 2005 Division Series.
25th MAN
JASON HEYWARD
1 Post Season Series over 1 Season with the Braves
Post Season Highlight: None yet... but he's the hope for the future.
Not a bad squad... a little thin in the Bullpen. (Wasn't that the story of Bobby Cox's life as Braves manager?)
Now let's check out the to 25 man roster using only players acquired from other organizations.
THE ALL TIME ACQUIRED
BOBBY COX BRAVES PLAYOFF ROSTER
BOBBY COX BRAVES PLAYOFF ROSTER
STARTING CATCHER
DAMON BERRYHILL
3 Post Season Series over 2 Seasons with the Braves.
Played in the 1992 World Series.
Post Season Highlight: Hit game winning 3 run homer in Game 1 of the 1992 World Series.
STARTING FIRST BASEMAN
FRED McGRIFF
9 Post Season Series over 4 Seasons with the Braves.
Member of the 1995 World Champion Braves
Post Season Highlight: Homered off of Orel Hershiser in his first World Series at bat as the Braves beat the Indians in Game 1 of the 1995 World Series.
STARTING SECOND BASEMAN
KEITH LOCKHART
11 Post Season Series over 6 Seasons with the Braves.
Played in the 1999 World Series.
Post Season Highlight: Hit .333 with an OPS of 1.050 and a home run in the 2002 Division Series.
STARTING SHORTSTOP
RAFAEL BELLIARD
11 Post Season Series over 5 Seasons with the Braves.
Member of the 1995 World Champion Braves
Post Season Highlight: Made dazzling running catch in the 9th inning of the 1995 World Series clinching Game 6.
STARTING THIRD BASEMAN
TERRY PENDLETON
8 Post Season Series over 4 Seasons with the Braves.
Played in the 1991, 1992 and 1996 World Series.
Post Season Highlight: Hit lead off double to spark the Braves improbable pennant winning rally in Game 7 of the 1992 NLCS.
STARTING LEFT FIELDER
LONNIE SMITH
4 Post Season Series over 2 seasons with the Braves.
Played in the 1991 and 1992 World Series.
Post Season Highlight: Hit a grand slam off of Jack Morris to blow open Game 5 of the 1992 World Series.
STARTING CENTER FIELDER
MARQUIS GRISSOM
6 Post Season Series over 2 Seasons with the Braves.
Member of the 1995 World Champion Braves
Post Season Highlight: Caught the final out of the 1995 World Series.
STARTING RIGHT FIELDER
BRIAN JORDAN
7 Post Season Series over 4 seasons with the Braves.
Played in the 1999 World Series.
Post Season Highlight: Hit 12th inning 2 RBI double to win Game 3 of the 1999 Division Series in Houston.
ROTATION
GREG MADDUX
19 Post Season Series over 10 Seasons with the Braves.
Member of the 1995 World Champion Braves
Post Season Highlight: Threw complete game 2 hit victory in Game 1 of the 1995 World Series.
JOHN SMOLTZ
24 Post Season Series over 13 Seasons with the Braves.
Member of the 1995 World Champion Braves
Post Season Highlight: 1992 NLCS MVP.
DENNY NEAGLE
4 Post Season Series over 3 seasons with the Braves.
Played in the 1996 World Series.
Post Season Highlight: Threw complete game shutout in Game 4 of the 1997 NLCS.
TIM HUDSON
2 Post Season Series over 2 Seasons with the Braves
Post Season Highlight: Pitched a solid Game 3 of the 2010 Division Series, pitching 7 innings with no earned runs and broke up Jonathan Sanchez's no hit bit himself.
RUSS ORTIZ
2 Post Season Series over 2 seasons with the Braves.
Post Season Highlight: With the Braves facing elimination, beat the Cubs at Wrigley in Game 4 of the 2003 Division Series.
BULLPEN
ALEJANDRO PENA
5 Post Season Series over 2 Seasons with the Braves.
Member of the 1995 World Champion Braves
Post Season Highlight: Striking out Andy Van Slyke with the tying run on to preserve a 1-0 victory in Game 6 of the 1991 NLCS, forcing a deciding Game 7.
PEDRO BORBON, JR
2 Post Season Series over 1 Season with the Braves.
Member of the 1995 World Champion Braves
Post Season Highlight: Earning the Save for Game 4 of the 1995 World Series.
GREG McMICHAEL
7 Post Season Series over 3 Seasons with the Braves
Member of the 1995 World Champion Braves
Post Season Highlight: Earning a Save in the 11th inning of Game 1 of the 1995 NLCS.
KERRY LIGTENBERG
6 Post Season Series over 5 seasons with the Braves.
Post Season Highlight: Clinching the 1998 Division Series.
DENNIS MARTINEZ
1 Post Season Series over 1 Season with the Braves
Post Season Highlight: Facing elimination, came out of the bullpen to win Game 4 of the 1998 NLCS.
THE BENCH
TOP PINCH HITTER OFF OF THE BENCH
ANDRES GALARRAGA
3 Post Season Series over 2 Seasons with the Braves
Post Season Highlight: Hit a grand slam to put away Game 4 of the 1998 NLCS.
RESERVE INFIELDER
WALT WEISS
6 Post Season Series over 3 seasons with the Braves.
Played in the 1999 World Series.
Post Season Highlight: Hit an RBI double and scored a key run in Game 1 of the 1999 NLCS.
RESERVE INFIELDER
TROY GLAUS
1 Post Season Series over 1 Season with the Braves
Post Season Highlight: Started game saving double play in the 10th inning in Game 2 of the 2010 Division Series.
RESERVE OUTFIELDER
OTIS NIXON
6 Post Season Series over 3 seasons with the Braves.
Played in the 1992 and 1999 World Series.
Post Season Highlight: One strike from elimination, hit an RBI single to tie Game 6 of 1992 World Series.
RESERVE OUTFIELDER
MIKE DEVEREAUX
3 Post Season Series over 1 season with the Braves.
Member of the 1995 World Champion Braves
Post Season Highlight: MVP of the 1995 NLCS.
RESERVE CATCHER
FRANCISCO CABRERA
4 Post Season Series over 3 seasons with the Braves.
Played in the 1991 and 1992 World Series.
Post Season Highlight: His 2 out, 2 run pinch hit single in the 9th inning of Game 7 of the 1992 NLCS is one of the most dramatic moments in baseball history.
25TH MAN
SID BREAM
6 Post Season Series over 3 seasons with the Braves.
Played in the 1991 and 1992 World Series.
Post Season Highlight: Scored the pennant winning run on Francisco Cabrera's single, the single most famous moment of Bobby Cox's managerial tenure.
So there you have it... I am sure I missed out on a few, but keep in mind I am putting more weight on players who performed big in the post season.
Save your stats, Mike Deveraux stays. When you win a Post Season MVP, I don't care what someone else's OPS was.
Don't bother breaking down other catchers. Francisco Cabrera's hit was the defining moment of the Bobby Cox Braves and destroyed the Pirates franchise. What other catcher can claim that?
So the Bobby Cox era is now over.
And his legacy will stretch over a generation. Remember, Jason Heyward was 2 years old when the Braves won the 1991 Pennant.
Big shoes to fill.
