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Atlanta Braves Opening Day countdown: 29, Alou

By Benjamin Chase |
ATLANTA, GA - JULY 29: Former Atlanta Braves pitcher John Smoltz unveils the #29 sign on the Games Remaining at Turner Field Countdown sign during the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies in the fifth inning during the game on July 29, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - JULY 29: Former Atlanta Braves pitcher John Smoltz unveils the #29 sign on the Games Remaining at Turner Field Countdown sign during the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies in the fifth inning during the game on July 29, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images)

The Atlanta Braves have hosted many famous families over the years, but one famous baseball family offered its best seasons to the Braves.

Felipe Alou is by far the most accomplished member of the Alou family that has seen multiple generations play and manage in the major leagues, along with cousins and nephews along the way as well. Though many remember Alou for his playing and managing time with the San Francisco Giants, he had his best years on the playing field for the Atlanta Braves.

While the Atlanta Braves have retired the #29 in honor of John Smoltz, we’ve mentioned Smoltz multiple times over the course of this countdown, so we’re going to focus on Alou.

Felipe broke into the major leagues with 75 games in 1958 for the San Francisco Giants. He played as a platoon player and part-time outfielder for the Giants from 1959-1961, never accumulating more than 450 plate appearances, but he was productive when he was on the field, hitting .274/.319/.438 with 40 home runs in 408 games.

He was finally given a chance at a full-time role in San Francisco in 1962, and he made the All-Star team, hitting 25 home runs and stealing 10 bases while sporting a .316 batting average for the Giants. He slipped some in 1963, hitting 20 home runs with a .281 average.

In December of 1963, the Milwaukee Braves came calling for a big trade. Alou ended up in Milwaukee along with two other players and a player to be named for a package of three Braves, led by Del Crandall.

Alou would take over as a starting outfielder for the Braves in 1964 when he was healthy, though he played a multitude of positions. However, it seemed the move to Atlanta livened up Alou’s bat the way it livened up the fans in the ATL.

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In 1966, Alou was the primary first baseman for the Atlanta Braves in their first season in Georgia, and he led the National League in hits and runs scored, as he hit .327/.361/.533 with 122 runs, 218 hits, 32 doubles, 6 triples, 31 home runs, and 5 stolen bases. He made the All-Star team, and though the Braves weren’t exactly competitive, he’d get notice for the NL MVP as well, finishing 5th in the voting.

Alou would again lead the National League in hits in 1968 and make another All-Star team, but after struggling through injuries again in 1969 at age 34, the Atlanta Braves chose to ship their outfielder to Oakland.

Not quite finished as a player, Alou would bounce around the league to some degree over his final 5 seasons in the majors, playing with the Athletics, Yankees, Expos, and Brewers. In all, he played 17 major league seasons, pounding out 206 home runs and finishing with a .286 career batting average.

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For the Atlanta Braves, Alou had his best overall line, as he hit .295/.338/.440 in his 6 seasons with the Braves, slugging 94 of his home runs, and accumulating over half of his career 42.2 bWAR as a Brave (22.0). He would go on to manage 14 seasons in the majors, winning 1,033 games as a skipper.

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