Atlanta Braves Hall of Fame adds former player-manager Joe Torre

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Atlanta Braves catcher Joe Torre in action during the 1968 season. Mandatory Credit: Photo By Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports (c) Copyright Malcolm Emmons /

I’m your anywhere man

Torre’s early career resembles that of Atlanta Braves rookies catcher William Contreras. The Atlanta Braves use Contreras as a DH and started him in left field once to keep his bat in the lineup. The DH wasn’t around when in the 60s, so the Milwaukee Braves used Torre as a pinch hitter and started him in left field once.

By 1963, Torre was splitting time between first base and catcher, but no matter where he played, Torre continued to hit. He was named to the first of five consecutive All-Star teams in 1963, Finished fifth in NL NVP voting in 1964, 11th, and won his only Gold Glove in 1965 and 16th in 1966.

Torre was opening day catcher for the Atlanta Braves for their first league game at Fulton county stadium. In the sixth inning, Torre gave the Atlanta Braves their first lead when he hit the Braves’ first homer in their new home off Bob Veale in the sixth inning.

The Pirates tied it in the eighth inning and went up 3-1 in the 12th. Torre hit his second homer in the bottom of the inning off Don Schwall, but the Braves lost 3-2.

The Trade

Joe Torre was the Braves player representative to the newly minted players union and outspoken in his support for Marvin Miller. According to his SABR biography, his support for the union resulted in his trade to St Louis.

"In 1968, Joe fought hard for the collective bargaining agreement with the owners and this did not sit well with the Braves’ ownership."

The club tried to cut his pay by 20% and offered him to the Senators and Mets before sending him to St Louis for Orlando Cepeda on March 17, 1969.

Joe Torre remains one of the top four offensive catchers for the Braves in the live-ball era.

Player	G	2B	3B	HR	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+
Joe Torre	1037	154	21	142	.294	.356	.462	.818	130
Brian McCann	1190	236	2	188	.275	.348	.469	.817	115
Javy López	1156	190	14	214	.287	.337	.502	.839	114
Del Crandall	1394	167	17	170	.257	.313	.412	.725	98

Data sorted on OPS+ Provided by Stathead.com: View Stathead Tool Used Generated 7/26/2022.

Baseball-Reference says he was worth 33.2 rWAR and 155 RAA, while Fangraphs gives him 34.9 fWAR, a .361 wOBA, and 131 wRC+.

Over his next nine seasons, Torre earned four more All-Star nods and was named NL MVP for his 1971 season with St Louis, when he led the NL with 230 hits, 137 RBI, 352 total bases, batted .363/.421/.555/.976, and won the NL batting title.

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