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Atlanta Braves Opening Day Countdown: the 70s

By Benjamin Chase

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 03: The New York Mets honor the passing of Major League Baseball executive Katy Feeny before the Opening Day game between the New York Mets and the Atlanta Braves on April 3, 2017 at Citi Field in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 03: The New York Mets honor the passing of Major League Baseball executive Katy Feeny before the Opening Day game between the New York Mets and the Atlanta Braves on April 3, 2017 at Citi Field in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA – JULY 31: Starting Pitcher Kevin Milllwood #34 of the Atlanta Braves throws against the Milwaukee Brewers on July 31, 2002 at Turner Field in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves defeated the Brewers 9-1. (Photo by Jammie Squire/Getty Images) /

77. Rico

One of the best pure hitters in the history of the Atlanta Braves organization, Rico Carty was a strong outfielder from the Dominican who broke through with the Atlanta Braves in 1963. While many players wear high numbers only in spring training and then something different once they make the team, Rico chose to keep his #77 for most of his first full season with the Braves in 1964, switching only once he took over as a full-time player midway through his rookie year, a year he would go on to finish second in the NL in hitting with a .330 average and second in the Rookie of the Year balloting as well.

76. 2005 games for Reitsma

While the Braves really did not give up much to acquire Chris Reitsma, one would have thought they did as one of the prospects sent in the deal for him, Jung Bong, had developed a following among fans if only because of his name. However, another concern was the big righty’s role in Atlanta, where he was immediately moved into the bullpen and used prominently.

Certainly not the most “shut down” of relievers, Reitsma was effective for the 2004 and 2005 seasons before simply losing the feel for his pitches in 2006 and ending up out of the league after 2007. In 2005, Reitsma led the Braves in saves, posting a 3.93 ERA over 76 games and 73 1/3 innings, saving 15 games.

75. Milly’s Braves wins

After watching Steve Avery fade away, Braves fans were eager to have another home-grown pitcher come up and succeed, and they got that with Kevin Millwood, who won 17 games in his first full season in 1998. He followed that up with 18 wins and 205 strikeouts in 1999 in arguably his best year with the Atlanta Braves.

He was just finding his groove in the rotation when finances forced his trade to the Phillies in the 2002-2003 offseason after he’d won 18 games the previous season. Overall, in 6 seasons with the Braves, he won 75 games, tossing 1,004 1/3 innings, with a 3.73 ERA.

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