Parting is such sweet sorrow

I’ve been a Braves fan for about two thirds of my life and hearing Tuesday’s decision that the Braves will not be pursuing Andruw Jones in the off season got me thinking about the saddest Braves departures since 1991.

(Photo: April 2006 @ Turner Field)

5. Julio Franco
Julio was a fan favorite. At “48” years old, he’s not a player that you were expecting huge things from, but his commitment to the game and his general attitude had Braves fans chanting his name when he’d enter a pinch hitter. At the end of the 2005 season, Franco made the decision to leave the Atlanta Braves and head over to the New York Mets who were willing to give him a two year contract. When I went down to Atlanta for my 23rd birthday, I attended the Braves series against the Mets. When Julio came up to bat, the fans literally gave him a standing ovation. With his summer 2007 release by the Mets, the Braves quickly picked him up as a pinch hitter and a sometimes first baseman. But with the addition of Mark Teixeira, Julio’s future is once again in question with the Bravos.

4. David Justice
David Justice made his debut with the Braves in 1989, which adventually fueled the Braves trade of fan favorite Dale Murhpy to the Phillies in 1990 . Justice’s second half production helped earn him the NL Rookie of the Year Award in that year. He spent six more years with the Braves which saw him head to the World Series four times in 1991, 92, 95 and 96. His performance duing those trips included the series clinching homerun in game six of the 1995 World Series, the only title for the team of the 90s. During spring training in 1997, the Braves pulled off a blockbuster of a deal which sent David Justice and Marquis Grissom to the Cleveland Indians for Kenny Lofton and Alan Embree. Justice’s departure was done not only to make salary room but to open up a spot for Andruw Jones and Jermaine Dye. It was a difficult blow for me personally, since Justice was my first ever favorite Brave. By 1997, he was eclipsed by Chipper Jones, but he still held a special place in my heart.

3. Greg Maddux
Maddux joined the Braves in 1993 to complete a starting rotation that included John Smoltz, Tom Glavine and Steve Avery. Two years later, the Braves were finally World Series Champs. But Maddux’s departure was hardly surprising. He had only signed a one year contract in 2002 and was figured to be gone at season’s end. But during his time in Atlanta, he won 3 straight Cy Young Awards and saw his teammates Glavine and Smoltz both pick up Cy Youngs and saw Glavine be named 1995 World Series MVP. They call Maddux the professor for a reason.



2. Andruw Jones
At the beginning of the 2007 season, the big question was whether it was going to be Andruw Jones’ final season in Atlanta. General opinion was that Jones would prove to be too expensive for the Braves, however, as the season progressed and Jones numbers declined, people began to wonder, maybe Jones misfortune could be Atlanta’s fortune. Maybe they could sign him to a lower than originally thought contract. Or maybe they could sign him to a one year contract while they awaited their two star minor leaguers maturation process. But two days after the Braves ended their season, GM John Schuerholz announced that they would not seek to resign Andruw Jones ending an 11 year major league partnership. Jones was signed by the Braves in 1993 when he was just 16 years old and made a huge splash as a rookie in 1996 becoming the youngest player to hit a homerun in the post season. But at 30, Jones balls to the wall playing style began to wear on his body and his numbers began to raise questions. Was 2007 a fluke? Or was it the beginning of something? In the end, the Braves decided their need for pitching and desire to lock up first baseman Mark Teixeira for a long term deal more important than bringing back Jones for one more season.

1. Tom Glavine
Tom Glavine was a home grown player. In 1984, he chose baseball and the Braves over a shot in the NHL with the Los Angeles Kings. He developed and grew up with teammates John Smoltz and Steve Avery creating an unstoppable rotation with the addition of Greg Maddux in 1993. His Braves stats were insane, two Cy Young Awards, a World Series MVP and over 200 wins. But in December 2002, a teenage girl’s heart was broken when it was announced her favorite player (I moved onto Glavine around 2000) was leaving the only home he had ever known to move to New York and the Mets for what ended up being five years. The Braves were not only outbid by the Mets but also the Phillies making the situation even worse. According to John Schuerholz’s book, Glavine had extreme reservations about his new team. But following the 2006 season the Braves had the opportunity to lure back their former ace although the exchange hinged on finding cap and rotation room most likely in a trade of Tim Hudson. In the end, Hudson’s season far surpassed Glavine’s 2007, but I can’t help but look back and think how amazing it would have been to see Glavine pick up his 300th in a Braves uniform like Smoltz picking up his 200th at Turner Field. Who knows, Glavine does not seem likely to be heading back to New York and the Braves desperately need another starter. Who says you can’t go home?
(Photo: AllSport/Matthew Stockman)

It's been fun blogging with you,
Kate