House That Hank Built
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Home Run Derby: Ronald Acuna rumors and past Atlanta Braves performances

By Andrew Cicco

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - MAY 19: Ronald Acuna Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves hits a home run in the first inning during the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at SunTrust Park on May 19, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - MAY 19: Ronald Acuna Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves hits a home run in the first inning during the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at SunTrust Park on May 19, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images) /
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Atlanta Braves
From 1993 through 1997 Fred McGriff provided consistent run production for the Atlanta Braves. Mandatory Credit: Rick Stewart /

1. Fred McGriff, 1994

In a season cut short by the infamous player strike, 1994 saw potential to be one of the best seasons ever seen in Major League Baseball.

  • Tony Gwynn was near the legendary .400 average.
  • Kent Merker threw the last no-hitter seen by Braves country on April 8th.
  • Legendary fireballer Steve Carlton was elected to the Hall of Fame with nearly 96% of the vote.

And Atlanta saw one of its most exciting players of the decade do what he did best:  blast home runs.

Fred McGriff put up one of the most exciting derby performances by any of the 10 so far, coming up two short of the winner and finishing higher than any Brave has to date. McGriff blasted five homers, two short of that year’s winner, a young kid out of Seattle. What was his name? Kenneth something? I don’t remember.

Anyway, McGriff lit up the skies of Three Rivers Stadium that warm summer night in ’94, shining a more positive light on Atlanta’s power ability after David Justice’s two-homer performance from the year before.

The Crime Dog would go the next two years posing as the National League starter at first base… a sight that sounds a bit familiar to today’s Braves.

Atlanta first baseman have always hit the ball hard and hit the ball hard often. Freeman is possibly the most electric first baseman in the game right now, and even got his own shot at the Derby last season. Didn’t get a chance to see it? Well, let’s revisit it!

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