House That Hank Built
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Best Atlanta Braves Comeback Stories

By Bryce Waller

WASHINGTON - APRIL 21: John Smoltz of the Atlanta Braves piches in a game against the Washington Nationals on April 21, 2005 at RFK Stadium in Washington D.C. The Braves defeated the Nationals 2-1. (Photo by Mitchell Layton / MLB Photos via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON - APRIL 21: John Smoltz of the Atlanta Braves piches in a game against the Washington Nationals on April 21, 2005 at RFK Stadium in Washington D.C. The Braves defeated the Nationals 2-1. (Photo by Mitchell Layton / MLB Photos via Getty Images) /
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Andres Gallarraga (L) of the Atlanta Braves. (Photo credit STEVE SCHAEFER/AFP via Getty Images)
Andres Gallarraga (L) of the Atlanta Braves. (Photo credit STEVE SCHAEFER/AFP via Getty Images) /

Andres Galarraga

Before joining the Atlanta Braves in 1998, Galarraga had already earned two Gold Gloves, two Silver Sluggers, three All-Star appearances, and finished in the top 10 MVP voting five times. As a Braves fan, I rejoiced when the Braves signed Big Cat to a three-year deal.

Galarraga’s first year with the Braves proved to be a wise investment on the part of John Schuerholz and Atlanta’s front office. He finished the ’98 season with 44 home runs and an incredible slash line of .305/.397/.595!

His performance during the ’98 season with the Braves earned him his fourth All-Star appearance and a sixth-place finish in MVP voting. But something unexpected was about to rear its ugly head.

Galarraga began experiencing back pain in early 1999. Nothing seemed to alleviate the pain and so Galaragga visited an oncologist in the Atlanta area.

Andres Galarraga learned that he had non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma – a form of cancer that attacks the lymph nodes. He would miss the entire 1999 season, but Big Cat was not going without a fight!

Galarraga returned to the Braves in 2000 and had one of the greatest moments in Braves’ history during his first at-bat after a year away battling cancer. You just cannot make this stuff up.

As Billy Beane, or at least Brad Pitt said, “It’s hard not to be romantic about baseball.”

Galarraga finished the 2000 season with 28 home runs and a .302/.369/.526 slash line. He would become a free agent after the 2000 season, but Andres Galarraga remains one of my all-time favorite Braves’ player to this day.

I would like to end this portion of the discussion with an anecdote. My first trip to Turner Field was in 1996 as the Braves hosted the Colorado Rockies. The Braves lost to the Rockies 7-9, but Andres Galarraga hit two home runs, and it was impressive!

The ball just sounded different coming off of his bat. I love that we all got to enjoy more time with The Big Cat in a major league uniform and that he continues to be well in 2020.

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