Braves Mt. Rushmore: First Base
I’ve covered the catching position, now we start our turn around the diamond.
After I compiled this group of Braves greats, it wasn’t lost on me that the four guys represented four eras of Braves baseball.
Freddie Freeman
Being the Braves 1st Baseman for the past 12 seasons, there’s no introduction needed for Freddie.
World Series Champion, MVP, leader of the clubhouse, 5-time All-Star, 2020 All-MLB First Team, 2-time All-MLB Second Team, 2018 Gold Glover, 3-time Silver Slugger, 2020 National League Hank Aaron Award Winner, has hit for the cycle twice, & fan favorite.
He’s less than 60 RBI shy of 1,000 & .005 shy of a career .300 batting average.
He’s a free agent at the moment, and it remains to be seen if he’ll return to the Braves to finish his career. But he’s undoubtedly the best First Baseman in the history of the Braves organization.
Fred McGriff
“Crime Dog” is still a fan favorite among Braves Country. With Atlanta he was selected to the National League All-Star Team three times, won the 1993 Silver Slugger Award, & won a World Series in 1995.
He’s definitely got one of the most bizarre entrances to a new team in MLB history. On the very day the then-slumping Braves acquired McGriff, the press-box in Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium caught fire. Coincidentally, the Braves turned their season around and ended up winning the National League West. McGriff would finish 4th in MVP voting that season.
He was the All-Star Game MVP in 1994 as well as the HR Derby runner-up to Ken Griffey Jr.
In the 1995 World Series he hit two home runs. In 1996 he’d help the Braves return to the World Series, but not victoriously this time.
His time in Atlanta would come to an end when the expansion Tampa Bay Devil Rays took him after the 1997 season.
Joe Adcock
Enshrined on the American Family Field Walk of Fame for significant contributions to Major League Baseball in Milwaukee, the Louisiana native spent nine seasons with the Milwaukee Braves.
During his time with the team he walk the 1957 World Series, played in two All-Star Games in 1960, & hit four home runs in one game in 1954.
He’s one of only three players to hit a home run over the center-field wall at the Polo Grounds, Hank Aaron & Lou Brock were the other two. Adcock was the first.
Often overshadowed by teammates Hank Aaron & Eddie Mathews, Joe ended his career with 336 home runs, 1,122 RBI, & a .277 batting average.
Chris Chambliss
The vast majority of Chambliss’ career highlights happened as a part of the Yankees. Including all six of his World Series Championships, his Gold Glove Award, and his lone All-Star selection.
From 1980-1986 he hit 80 home runs, logged 727 hits, 366 RBI, & slashed .272/.345/.422/.767.
His three best home run seasons came with the Braves with 20 in each of the 1982 & 1983 seasons, and 18 in the 1980 season.
Honorable Mention
Julio Franco. The man knows where the Fountain of Youth is located, don’t let him lie to you. He was 43 years old when he joined the Braves in 2001. He made his MLB debut in 1982 & made his final MLB appearance in 2007, a career spanning 25 years. In his final year, he was designated for assignment upon the Braves acquisition of Mark Teixeira, he’d be called back up in September; only to become a free agent after the season. His next baseball was played in Mexico as a first baseman for the Tigres de Quintana Roo in Cancún.