Atlanta Braves Throwback Thursday Special – A50: The Shortstops

Mar 15, 2015; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; The Atlanta Braves logo painted on the field during a spring training baseball game at Champion Stadium. The Toronto Blue Jays beat the Atlanta Braves 10-5. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

As we continue our nostalgic journey through Atlanta Braves lore, we examine the shortstops who have adorned the middle of the field for the Braves.

Tomahawk Take is a site for Braves fans, young and old. It’s the life-blood of the FanSided network. Without the fans, we have nothing. So to celebrate 50 years in Atlanta from the fan perspective, I asked a few fellow Braves fans from the Braves Support Group on Facebook for some fan input.

I am one of the charter members of this group. A group I enjoy being a part of. I have solicited from them some of the guys to hold down the position of Atlanta Braves SS. I wanted to include the fans in this process because after all, we are all fans! And who better to list a who’s who of Braves SS’s than the fans.

A refresher of the past reviews are below:

• 1st Basemen
• 2nd Basemen
• 3rd Basemen

Now, on to the countdown …

#5: Rafael Ramirez –

From 1981 to 1987, Rafael Ramirez patrolled shortstop for Atlanta. Ramirez never lit the National League on fire or anything, but he was a mainstay for 6 years. This was something the Braves had never really had since they moved to Atlanta in 1966.

From 1966 to 1980, the Braves had 10, count ’em, 10 shortstops. Ten shortstops over a 14 year span? Suffice to say, Atlanta had issues at short. Rafael Ramirez was the first every day shortstop to last longer than 3 years since Marty Perez filled the gap from 1971-1973.

Ramirez spent 8 seasons in Atlanta before being traded to the Astros. During his time as a member of a team Ted Turner dubbed ‘America’s Team’, Ramirez’s slash line was average to below-average, compiling a .263/.298/.345/.643 line. He did earn one All-Star appearance in 1984.

Ramirez makes the cut mainly due to his durability and longevity (it helps he is the first Braves shortstop I ever knew). Nostalgia is a fickle beast, because it sure wasn’t his fielding that got him here. From 1981 to 1986, he led the NL in errors four times. Finishing 4th in 1984 and 2nd in 1986. That’s why he’s number five … Basically, a sentimental nod to show my age …

#4: Jeff Blauser –

Jeff Blauser was the mainstay at shortstop from 1989 – 1997. His best seasons occurred in 1993, where he earned the first of his two All-Star Game bids, and 1997 where he slashed .308/.405/.482/.886 on his way to earning the Silver Slugger Award that year.

1993 could arguably be his best season in a Braves uniform. Amassing a 5.7 WAR for the year, easily the best in his career. Blauser was a much better all-around player than Ramirez was. Blauser signed as a free agent in December, 1997 with the Cubs. He spent 1998 and 1999 in Chicago.

A friend from the earlier mentioned Braves Support Group, provided this information on Blauser:

“Blauser leads all Atlanta SS’s in HR, Runs Scored, and RBI. Only Renteria and Yunel Escobar had a higher OBP percentage. Only Renteria and (Wilson) Betemit (550 PAs) had a higher SLG percentage. Blauser played roughly league average defense, and he was pretty well above average offensively as a SS” Comment in Braves Support Group.

Blauser was a longtime fan favorite. I always liked seeing him play. Not always a vocal presence, but he did his talking on the field. A lot of people probably didn’t look at Blauser as a typical leader; I kind of did. His character is one of the many qualities I admired about Blauser. His intangibles were unquantifiable.

#3: Rafael Furcal –

Rookie of the Year in 2000 and a 3-time All-Star during his career (2003, 2010, 2012); Furcal spent six seasons in Atlanta before heading off to the Dodgers. In his six years here, Furcal totaled a 21.7 WAR. A 16.4 oWAR and 9.1 dWAR. His best season in Atlanta came in his last, 2005.

Furcal had been in the Royals organization up until May 19th of this year, when he announced his retirement.

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Furcal put together a season that saw him produce a 6.4 WAR. In that season, Furcal hit .284/.348/.429/.777. He had 31 doubles, 11 triples, 12 HRs, and 46 stolen bases. He scored 100 runs that year while driving in 58 RBI.

He boasted a .981 fielding percentage in 2005, easily the highest of his career. In 774 chances, he committed only 15 errors. He also was a part of 119 double plays turned that year by the Braves middle infield.

Furcal was probably the best Atlanta had seen at the shortstop position to that point. Of course, that would all change in 2013.

#2: Edgar Renteria –

I know Renteria only played 2 seasons in Atlanta, BUT they were the best season of his career. They were also the last good seasons of his career. Renteria spent the summers of 2006 and 2007 in Atlanta.

A 5-time All-Star (his last would be his 1st year in ATL) and 3-time Silver Slugger award winner. Edgar Renteria gave Atlanta the two best years of his life. In those two years he produced a .310/.374/.451/.825 line. His best season was his second year, with a WAR of 4.1. He hit .332 with 30 doubles and 12 home runs. He drove in 57 RBI.

“The best single season might belong to Renteria … ” Comment in Braves Support Group

Yep. Pretty much. Renteria did in fact have the best season of any ATLANTA shortstop in 2007.

Apr 10, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves shortstop

(19) turns a double play against the New York Mets in the fourth inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

#1: Andrelton Simmons –

You had to know this guy would be here. How could you have an All-Time Braves list without the best defender in the GAME being on that list? When I asked my friends to help out with this list, there was not a single person who did not name Simmons.

Simmons has a career WAR of 14.6! That’s in only 3 full seasons! In 2013, he posted a WAR of 7.0. His dWAR right now, is 12.8 and in 1,182 total chances in his career, he has committed a measly 32 errors, good enough for a .982 career fielding percentage. Andrelton Simmons won back to back Gold Gloves in 2013 and 2014, with 2013 being a Platinum Glove season.

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Just two short years ago, he saved the Braves 41 runs! For comparison’s sake, Ozzie Smith, arguably the best shortstop ever, had a top WAR of 7.3 in 1989, and saved 32 runs. The Wizard of Oz posted a career WAR of 76.5 over 19 seasons. If Simmons can remain healthy and keep this pace, I look for him to unseat Smith as the greatest shortstop to ever play the game.

Slashing .253/.299/.377/.676 for his career, Simmons’ best year (so far) was 2013. He hit .248 with 27 doubles, 6 triples, 17 HR’s, and 59 RBI to go with 40 BB’s. In 658 PA’s Simmons only struck out 55 times that year.

With 179 chances this year, he has made one error. That’s a .994 fielding percentage. He is hitting at a .264/.321/.424 clip, well above his career averages to this point. Andrelton is by far and away, the best shortstop the Atlanta Braves have ever seen.

Don’t look for Simmons to be going anywhere anytime soon. He is the present and future at shortstop for the Braves. His mark has already been etched, but his legacy is still being solidified.