John Smoltz
John Smoltz is, easily, one of the most prolific pitchers in the history of Major League Baseball. His incredible skills as a pitcher and competitor continue to make him a household name even today.
It is even more interesting to discuss how fans remember John Smoltz – starter or reliever?
Older Braves fans will remember John Smoltz as the 1996 NL Cy Young award winner and a member of the most accomplished starting pitching trio of all time (Smoltz, Maddux, and Glavine).
Younger fans will remember the lights dimming at Turner Field and AC/DC’s ‘Thunderstruck’ blaring through the speakers as Smoltz came in to close out another win.
But while many fans discuss the career strikeouts or the fact that John Smoltz is the only pitcher in the history of baseball to have more than one stolen base in the postseason, they often forget about the year that was not for John Smoltz.
After injury-plagued seasons in 1998 and 1999, Smoltz underwent Tommy John surgery on March 23, 2000. He would miss the entire season for the Atlanta Braves.
Smoltz struggled upon his return to the starting lineup in 2001. He would start five games before he was moved to the Braves’ closer role as it was recently vacated by John Rocker.
Smoltz would go on to win many awards and set all sorts of records for the Atlanta Braves as a closer. Here are just a few of his accomplishments as a closer:
- Rolaids Relief Man of the Year (2002)
- Second in Braves’ history for number of saves in a career (154 – Craig Kimbrel holds the record)
- Braves’ record for most saves in a single season (2002; 55 saves)
Smoltz would close for the Braves for three full seasons and would dominate the entire time.
Between 2002 and 2004, Smoltz recorded 144 successful saves, 248 strikeouts, and two all-star appearances (2002, 2003).
Smoltz returned to the Braves’ starting lineup in 2005 and picked up where he left off from 1997. Over the next three seasons, Smoltz served as the Braves’ workhorse – amassing more innings pitched than any other Braves’ starter during that time.
In 2006, Smoltz led the National League in wins (16) and games started (35). He easily could have amassed 20 wins in ’06 if not for the fact that Braves’ relievers blew six save opportunities where Smoltz would have served as the pitcher of record on the winning team.
In 2008, Smoltz would return to the Braves’ bullpen, but injuries cut his season severely short. That would be his final season in a Braves’ uniform.
John Smoltz and his ability to succeed as a starter, and as a closer, is what makes his career and comeback from Tommy John surgery so impressive.
Tommy John surgery has been around for decades, but even with that knowledge, coming back from a Tommy John surgery in 2000 was anything but certain – as it remains to this day.
His resolve to overcome the pain and intense rehabilitation process are admirable. This is easily explained by Smoltz’s own admission, and the admission of his friends, that he wants to be the best at everything he does. He had unfinished business.
Because of his will to dominate, he is the only pitcher in Major League Baseball history to record 200 wins and 150 saves. He is also the first man to be welcomed to the baseball Hall of Fame with a Tommy John surgery scar.
John Smoltz will now forever be known as a winner and one of the best to ever play the game.