For anyone in Braves Country over 30, it seems like just the other day Turner Field was packed with steady talent and plenty of payroll.
With the 2018 Major League Baseball season just around the corner, let’s take a look back at the Atlanta Braves of 20 years ago.
The 1998 Braves were a little more than two years removed from Atlanta’s first World Series title when their season began, and still had the majority of key players in place… and then some.
The ’98 squad finished 106-56, finishing as champions of the National League East a full 18 games ahead of the New York Mets. It would be one of six 100-plus win seasons for Bobby Cox’s Braves and the second of three straight.
Just as baseball nerds and sports scholars have those moments of disbelief looking back across the rosters of the Yankees of the 1920’s or the Big Red Machine of the 70’s, it’s already a bit mind boggling for even those of us who saw it live to read the names on 15 years of Atlanta lineup cards.
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On any given night at the Ted through the 90’s and early 2000’s, there was a good chance of seeing a future hall of famer on the mound. Almost as certain for Braves fans was getting at least a few minutes of a hall of fame manager giving the umpires an ear full.
A few bucks for an upper deck seat got the kids of the southeast a glimpse of greatness on a nightly basis with John Smoltz, Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux earning the majority of Atlanta’s payroll for an entire decade as mainstays for an always dominant Bobby Cox pitching staff.
The aforementioned “Big Three” accounted for $24.35 million of Atlanta’s payroll; Maddux at $9.6 million, Smoltz at $7.75 million and Glavine at $7 million even for 1998. Fourth starter Denny Neagle rounded out the rotation nearly $30 million staff making $4.5 million for the season.
The only position player making as much bank as Atlanta’s starting pitchers was first baseman Andres Galarraga with a hefty $8.4 million salary.
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The Braves also featured plenty of offensive firepower besides Galarraga, with a roster that included Chipper Jones at third, Javy Lopez behind the plate, Andruw Jones dominating center field and Ryan Klesko in left. Another familiar name on the roster in ’98 was a 34-year-old shortstop named Ozzie Guillen.
In the bullpen, the Braves had closer Mark Wholers, along with Dennis Martinez in his final MLB season. The infamous John Rocker also occupied the pen for Atlanta in his first season with the team.
At mid-season, Atlanta featured six players in the All-Star Game with Chipper Jones, Greg Maddux, shortstop Walt Weiss all as starters. Andres Galarraga, Tom Glavine and Javy Lopez also made the N.L. squad in reserve. The American League won in a 13-8 blowout that saw future Braves pitcher Bartolo Colon pick up a win.
As N.L. East champs, Atlanta faced Chicago in the divisional series, sweeping the Cubs 3-0, but fell to the San Diego Padres in six games in the NLCS.
The 1998 season would mark a seventh consecutive full season ending in a divisional title in a streak that would eventually end at an MLB record 14 consecutive championships.
For individual accomplishments, Tom Glavine won his second of two N.L. Cy Young award and his fourth and final Silver Slugger. Andruw Jones won his first of ten consecutive Gold Glove awards for center field, while Greg Maddux brought home one of his 18 Gold Gloves on the mound.
As a team, the Braves hit 215 home runs, including 44 from Galarraga, 34 each from Javy and Chipper and 31 from Andruw. The team hit .272/.342/.453 for the season, scoring 826 runs.
On the mound, Atlanta held a 3.25 ERA overall, giving up only 581 runs and collecting 1232 strikeouts to only 117 homers and 467 walks.
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The very next season, Atlanta would be crowned the 1999 National League Champions and would appear in the World Series for the final time to date. Statistically speaking, however, the 1998 team that failed to make it to the Fall Classic was actually a better team.