House That Hank Built
Fansided

The Top 16 franchise-making trades in Atlanta Braves history

By Fred Owens

CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 24: Members of the Cleveland Indians grounds crew paint the World Series logo on the field prior to Media Day at Progressive Field on October 24, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 24: Members of the Cleveland Indians grounds crew paint the World Series logo on the field prior to Media Day at Progressive Field on October 24, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 17
Next
Terry Pendleton, Atlanta Braves
Terry Pendleton, Atlanta Braves. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images) /

15. Power at third at last

1914 – RED SMITH / BROOKLYN ROBINS

James Carlisle “Red” Smith, led the league in doubles, total bases, extra-base hits, RBI, slugging percentage and OPS.

He seemed set for a long career in Brooklyn until August 1914 when he and manager Wilbert Robinson got into an argument. The next day, Smith became a Brave.

There’s no record of the price the Braves paid for Smith; whatever it was, he was worth it. Smith’s lack of defense bothered his manager, but his bat offset any downside.

The Miracle Braves reeled off a 15-6 streak in July but needed a run producer. In his first game for Boston, Smith went 1-for-3 with an RBI.

Over the remainder of the season, he batted .314/.441/.449/.890 including 17 doubles, a triple and three home runs, while driving in 37. In today’s terms, that line gave him 145 wRC+, a .409 wOBA and 2.6 WAR.

Smith carried the team over the next 60 games. The Braves met the Robins in a doubleheader on the last day of the regular season. In the ninth inning of game one, Smith tried to stretch a single into a double. As he slid into second, his spikes stuck in the dirt as the Robins’ second baseman George Cutshaw tried to put on the tag.

"Smith’s right shin struck Cutshaw’s left leg; (his) spikes dug into the dirt (throwing the) weight of his body on the ankle . . . His body was thrown several feet past the bag  . . . suffered an anterior dislocation of the ankle . . . , a fracture of the fibula . . .a fracture of the tibia, and ruptures of the ligaments of the ankle joint."

He did play again but never made it to a World Series. After retirement, Smith moved to Marietta and worked as a tax investigator for the City of Atlanta.

His daughter told SABR’s Charles F. Faber her father was “overjoyed” with the Braves’ arrival in Atlanta in 1966. He died nine days after that season ended.

Next: At 33-years-old with 1,300 Major League games, Jeff Heath saw the Braves as his last chance to play in a World Series and that idea rejuvenated him.

Home/Atlanta Braves All-Time Lists