With the milestones of Tom Glavine's 300th win, and Arod's 500th home run this weekend, it made me step back, and think for a second, about just how dominant the Braves and Yankees, and their players, were, for over a decade. This dominance will likely result in enshrinement for many of their members, in the Baseball Hall of Fame, five years after retirement.
For the Braves:
John Scherholtz-The brilliant GM who was the architect of the Braves fourteen straight division titles. Given the payroll cuts after 2002, the Braves run probably should have ended at eleven. Due to shrewd moves by Scherholtz, the dynasty went on for three years longer.
Bobby Cox-The man who planted the seeds for the Braves success, by trading for Smoltz, drafting winning players like Chipper, and Avery, and working all the years with Scherholtz, to create the fourteeen straight titles.
Greg Maddux- Yes, he pitched for other teams, but he had his greatest success with Atlanta, going 194-88 over his eleven years with the team.
Tom Glavine- He pitches for the hated Mets now, but went 242- 143 over sixteen years with Atlanta, and now has won his 300th game. A first ballot Hall of Famer.
John Smoltz-The only guy who has 200 wins, and 150 saves. The only other person, Dennis Eckersley, with 150 wins, and 150 saves, is already in Cooperstown.
Chipper Jones- Has been hampered by injuries, but, will finish with between 400 and 500 homers. He should get in. He won an MVP, and played for eleven division champions, and on a World Champion.
Andruw Jones. He may well finish his career elsewhere, but, at age 30, he has 363 homers. If he plays another seven or so years, he has 500 homers, plus all the Gold Gloves he wins.
For the Yankees.
Mo Rivera- He hasnt passed Trevor Hoffman yet in save numbers, and he may not, but, Mo is the most dominant relief pitcher of all time, and played on four World Champions. He's a first ballot enshrinee.
Arod-Just hit homer number 500. The youngest player to do so. If he stays healthy, I say, he stays in the game long enough to pass both Hank, and that other guy named Bonds, and may finish with 800 homers.
Derek Jeter- Maybe the best shortstop of this generation. He can hit, and hit for power, too.
Roger Clemens-Yes, he wasnt at his best when he pitched for the Yankees, but the man was still part of two world champions, and he went to the World Series four times with the Yankees. That and all his Cy Young Awards.
Randy Johnson-Again, not in his prime when with the Yankees, but he still helped them win two division titles. All his Cy Youngs, and the strikeouts.
Joe Torre- Four World Champions, ten division titles out of eleven, from 1996 to 2006, and, he has done all that working for Steinbrenner all these years.
Even though Atlanta is not as good as they used to be, and will likely have to fight for a wild card this year, as will the Yankees, it is just amazing the collection of players who played for these two teams, through these championship years. One day, all of them will likely be in Cooperstown. I dont think that we will ever, see such a collection of talent, play for teams as successful as this again.
Mitch
For the Braves:
John Scherholtz-The brilliant GM who was the architect of the Braves fourteen straight division titles. Given the payroll cuts after 2002, the Braves run probably should have ended at eleven. Due to shrewd moves by Scherholtz, the dynasty went on for three years longer.
Bobby Cox-The man who planted the seeds for the Braves success, by trading for Smoltz, drafting winning players like Chipper, and Avery, and working all the years with Scherholtz, to create the fourteeen straight titles.
Greg Maddux- Yes, he pitched for other teams, but he had his greatest success with Atlanta, going 194-88 over his eleven years with the team.
Tom Glavine- He pitches for the hated Mets now, but went 242- 143 over sixteen years with Atlanta, and now has won his 300th game. A first ballot Hall of Famer.
John Smoltz-The only guy who has 200 wins, and 150 saves. The only other person, Dennis Eckersley, with 150 wins, and 150 saves, is already in Cooperstown.
Chipper Jones- Has been hampered by injuries, but, will finish with between 400 and 500 homers. He should get in. He won an MVP, and played for eleven division champions, and on a World Champion.
Andruw Jones. He may well finish his career elsewhere, but, at age 30, he has 363 homers. If he plays another seven or so years, he has 500 homers, plus all the Gold Gloves he wins.
For the Yankees.
Mo Rivera- He hasnt passed Trevor Hoffman yet in save numbers, and he may not, but, Mo is the most dominant relief pitcher of all time, and played on four World Champions. He's a first ballot enshrinee.
Arod-Just hit homer number 500. The youngest player to do so. If he stays healthy, I say, he stays in the game long enough to pass both Hank, and that other guy named Bonds, and may finish with 800 homers.
Derek Jeter- Maybe the best shortstop of this generation. He can hit, and hit for power, too.
Roger Clemens-Yes, he wasnt at his best when he pitched for the Yankees, but the man was still part of two world champions, and he went to the World Series four times with the Yankees. That and all his Cy Young Awards.
Randy Johnson-Again, not in his prime when with the Yankees, but he still helped them win two division titles. All his Cy Youngs, and the strikeouts.
Joe Torre- Four World Champions, ten division titles out of eleven, from 1996 to 2006, and, he has done all that working for Steinbrenner all these years.
Even though Atlanta is not as good as they used to be, and will likely have to fight for a wild card this year, as will the Yankees, it is just amazing the collection of players who played for these two teams, through these championship years. One day, all of them will likely be in Cooperstown. I dont think that we will ever, see such a collection of talent, play for teams as successful as this again.
Mitch
