Atlanta Braves History: 5 “what if” moments that could have changed history
Throughout history there is always the question of what if? What if this happened instead of what did happen and so on. In this article, we are going to look at 5 Atlanta Braves “What if’s.”
Let’s get started with the most obvious “what if.”
1. What if the Braves actually drafted Todd Van Poppel #1 instead of Chipper Jones in 1990?
Much was made at the time at how the Atlanta Braves took a young shortstop from Florida instead of a sure-fire guarantee in Todd Van Poppel at the time of this draft.
We all know the rest of the story for Chipper Jones and all he did for the Braves and the city of Atlanta during his hall of fame career.
But again, what if the Atlanta Braves still had gone out and drafted Van Poppel against his wishes?
The whole dynasty thing of the ’90s would probably not exist. I’m not going to say that the Atlanta Braves wouldn’t have gone to a World Series or even won one with the pitching staff we had at the time, but it sure would have been a lot harder.
This was the draft that also basically earned Bobby Cox his check at being the general manager at the time.
The rest of the draft was basically for naught for the Braves as Chipper was the only long-standing piece they drafted that year.
Todd Van Poppel eventually was drafted by the Athletics with the 14th pick and bounced around for a few clubs before injuries finally completely shut off his career.
He is obviously no hall of famer, but it’s a darn good thing the Braves took a chance and drafted Chipper Jones instead.
2. What if Kent Hrbek was called for interference on Ron Gant?
Let’s go back to the 1991 World Series. It’s game 2 and the Atlanta Braves are trying to avoid an 0-2 deficit against the Minnesota Twins when early in the game the Braves were on the bad end of a terrible call.
Tom Glavine had allowed 2 runs in the first but the Braves had scored 1 in the second and were threatening again in the third when Ron Gant singled to left field but was caught in a rundown going back to first.
At first glance he made it but he and Twins first baseman Kent Hrbek both come off the bag and the first base umpire Drew Coble called Gant out ending the scoring chance.
Now, who knows if the Braves would have even scored a run or more in that same inning had the right call been made, but no doubt that play turned the momentum back on the side of the Twins who went on to win that game 3-2.
They of course went on to win the series in 7 games.
Let’s say for a second, though, that interference was called and the Atlanta Braves do score and go on to win the game.
The Braves went on to win games 3, 4, and 5. So as you can see, the Braves would have won the World Series and had two titles in the ’90s and would probably be looked more on the lines with the Yankees for the 1990s.
A lot of ifs in that scenario, and this doesn’t mention the fact of how Chuck Knoblauch totally fooled Lonnie Smith on the base paths in game 7.
But hey, it’s always fun (or agonizing) to ask what if?
3. What if Jim Leyritz doesn’t hit that home run in the 1996 World Series?
It’s game 4 of the 1996 World Series and the Braves are ahead 6-0 and looking to take a commanding 3-1 series lead. The Yankees score 3 in the 6th to make it 6-3 but things are still looking good for the Atlanta Braves.
Bobby Cox elects to bring in then closer Mark Wohlers in the 8th inning to preserve the lead, but he instead gives up a game-tying home run to Jim Leyritz.
The Yankees would go on to win the game in extra innings and go on to win the next two games to win the series.
Again, the question is, what if Jim Leyritz doesn’t hit that fateful home run?
The Braves almost assuredly go up 3-1 in the series and have Greg Maddux, John Smoltz, and Glavine waiting for the Yankees for games 5, 6, and 7.
They would have probably already started etching the Braves name on the trophy and been prepared for the Braves to go back-to-back as World Series Champs.
That home run also was probably the last hurrah for Mark Wohlers. He was decent in 1997, but things never got back on track for the right-hander.
We all know how the rest of the 1990s went as well. The Yankees would go on to dominate the second half of the decade and possibly be remembered as the better team that decade to some, even over our beloved Atlanta Braves.
History is a funny thing and we can all just wonder what would have happened if Jim Leyritz doesn’t hit that home run.
4. What if the Braves had signed Anthony Rendon after drafting him?
Some of you may not recall that it was indeed the Atlanta Braves who drafted third baseman Anthony Rendon out of high school originally.
They drafted him in the 27th round in 2008, but obviously, he instead chose to stay home and go to college at Rice University.
That decision not only changed our fortunes but the division fortunes for a few seasons. It was all a money issue as Rendon wanted more than what the Braves could offer at the time.
Now, we all sit back and wish that they would have found that money.
We all know the troubles the Atlanta Braves had in finding a replacement for the hot corner after Chipper Jones retirement.
Anthony Rendon would have been the perfect replacement. It would have been a seamless transition and obviously, he wouldn’t have been on the rival Nationals.
Another thing this would have prevented was the awful Chris Johnson experiment and the awful contract extension that then general manager Frank Wren handed to him.
So yes, what if the Braves had signed Rendon out of high school in 2008?
Maybe he wouldn’t have produced like he has for the Nationals, but maybe he would have. We could have gladly gone right from the Chipper era of third base into the Rendon era.
Oh, what could have been.
5. What if the Diamondbacks had drafted Bregman first?
The 2015 MLB draft was shortstop heavy as the first three picks were all from that position. Arizona, of course, drafted Dansby Swanson first and Houston followed by taking Alex Bregman.
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Since we obviously know that Dansby was traded to us in the heist deal known as the Shelby Miller trade … what if they had taken Alex Bregman instead?
Look, this is in no way to slight Dansby (especially the run he is on now) but let’s be completely honest, Alex Bregman is one of the best players in the entire game right now.
Could you imagine a lineup right now with Ronald Acuna, Freddie Freeman, and Bregman? It would definitely be lethal.
And one has to assume that the Diamondbacks would have included Bregman in the same deal they included Swanson in, because they obviously had higher plans for Swanson.
This is just a few of the shat ifs you could include for Atlanta Braves history.
Of course one could ask about what if the Braves chose Barry Bonds over Greg Maddux? What if they were the lucky team that pulled the trigger on Mike Trout? What if Chipper Jones never moves to the outfield?
Next. Top 10 1st round picks. dark
As you can see, the list goes on and on and on. Let us know about some of your what-ifs for the Atlanta Braves history below in the comments.