Atlanta Braves Opening Day countdown: 38, Bruton
Many excellent defenders have roamed center field in the history of the Atlanta Braves franchise. Today, we highlight one often forgotten.
Over the course of the nearly 150 years of the Atlanta Braves franchise history, one position where there seems to often be excellence is in the glove work done in center field. One of the excellent center fielders over the years that is often forgotten is Bill Bruton.
Bruton was signed before the 1950 season by the Braves, and he worked through the farm system, coming up in 1953 with the team in their first year in Milwaukee. He made a big splash in that first season.
Bruton finished 4th in Rookie of the Year voting, hitting .250/.306/.330 with 18 doubles, 14 triples, a home run, and 26 stolen bases, which led the major leagues that season. He also played stellar defense in center.
He’d continue his excellence in center in 1954 along with his excellence on the basepaths, leading the major leagues in stolen bases with 34, which would be his career high. He hit .284/.336/.365 with 20 doubles, 7 triples, and 4 home runs.
Bruton would once again lead the majors in steals in 1955 and lead the majors in triples in 1956. Established as one of the elite defenders and speedsters in the game, the Braves were expecting to lean on Bruton in the 1957 season.
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However, injury cut down Broton in the midst of an excellent season as the team pushed toward the 1957 World Series championship. Bruton would miss all of the 1957 World Series and much of the start of the 1958 season. He returned strong in 1958 when he was back on the field, hitting .280/.336/.397 with 11 doubles, 3 triples, 3 home runs, and 4 steals over 100 games. He was incredible in the 1958 World Series, hitting .412/.545/.588 over the 7 game series against the Yankees, though the Braves eventually fell in the Series.
Bruton put together arguably his best season in his final year with the Braves in 1960, leading the NL in runs scored and the majors in triples as he hit .286/.330/.428 with 112 runs scored, 27 doubles, 13 triples, 12 home runs, and 22 stolen bases.
The Braves traded Bruton to the Detroit Tigers to acquire top second baseman Frank Bolling, who would go on to two All-Star seasons with the Braves in 1961 and 1962.
dark. Next. Opener countdown 39, arm quartet
Bruton finished his Atlanta Braves career with a .276/.323/.391 line over 1,052 games, with 167 doubles, 79 triples, 48 home runs, and 143 stolen bases as a member of the Braves organization.