Over the years, there have been some extremely talented Atlanta Braves teams. Fans will often remember the big-name players and ones who have an enormous impact. However, there are some who are just there in the background.
It's a long grind to get through a 162-game season and sometimes the reward for playing a small role is a World Series ring. Below we highlight three players you may have forgotten from Atlanta's 2021 championship season.
3 Braves players who won World Series rings that no one remembers
Pablo Sandoval
Sandoval was a highlight of Atlanta's first half in 2021 as he got off to a hot start. He hit three pinch-hit homers in the first two weeks of the season and added another in May. The former All-Star also sparked a memorable celebration of players wearing a panda bear head after clutch hits.
PANDA. PANDA. PANDA. 🐼
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) May 9, 2021
Pablo Sandoval ties it for the Braves on their last out of the game with a 2-run BOMB‼️ pic.twitter.com/fAaA4Yk0mp
It was a fun thing to look forward to despite the Braves struggling to reach .500 during that first half. Sandoval was eventually traded to the Guardians in July for Eddie Rosario. Rosario ended up being a huge postseason hero for Atlanta, so Kung Fu Panda more than deserved his ring.
Terrance Gore
Gore was with Atlanta's Triple-A affiliate the entire 2021 season but was added to the NLDS roster against the Brewers. He remained on the Braves' postseason roster and only made one appearance in the NLDS.
He was there as a fast runner if the team needed it and despite only making one appearance, he earned another World Series title. Gore has won three total rings with the Royals in 2015, Dodgers in 2020, and Braves in 2021. He's only had 85 plate appearances with three championships to show for it. Not too shabby.
After winning the World Series in Houston, Gore video chatted with Charlie Morton, who broke his leg pitching in game one, so he could celebrate with the team on the field.
Terrance Gore = the ultimate teammate. The 3-time World Series champ video chatted Charlie Morton after the final out so he could celebrate with the @Braves.
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) November 7, 2021
You love to see it ♥️ pic.twitter.com/oErdOSHNck
Sean Kazmar Jr.
Kazmar was a feel-good story during the 2021 season. He spent 12 years in the minors hoping for an opportunity to return to the major league level. He made his MLB debut with the Padres in 2008. Atlanta called Kazmar up in April after he had an impressive spring training, batting .409 with an .864 OPS. He only spent three games with the club and was 0-2 in his at-bats. Not the performance he hoped for, but I'm sure he was just happy to be there.
Kazmar finished out the season with the Gwinnett Stripers and set the record for most hits in Braves Triple-A history. From 2013 to 2021, Kazmar had 675 hits with the Stripers. The righty is also Gwinnett’s all-time leader in runs (308), RBI (296), and total bases (973).
He made sure to leave his mark on the organization, and while he didn't stick on the big league roster, it must have felt good getting a World Series ring after all of that waiting.
“I’d do it all over again just for, you know, a day like today.”
— FanDuel Sports Network South (@FanDuelSN_SO) April 17, 2021
Sean Kazmar Jr. has been waiting for another major league appearance for a long time. He discusses his trials, tribulations, and journey.⬇️ pic.twitter.com/47gJKZJyi2