Braves Mt. Rushmore: Right Field
Today marks the end of the outfield positions as well as defensive positions in general. Right Field has a nice mixture of guys from varying eras, including an active player; I’m sure you can guess who that player is.
Hank Aaron
“Hammerin’ Hank” is not only the best player in the history of the Braves, he’s the the greatest home run hitter in MLB history as well as the greatest right-handed hitter, period.
Mobile, Alabama’s greatest son, over his career, racked up: 25 All-Star selections, the 1957 World Series title, 1957 National League MVP, 3 Gold Gloves (1958-1960), 2 National League Batting titles (1956 & 1959), 4 National League HR titles (1957, 1963, 1966, 1967), & 4 National League RBI titles (1957, 1960, 1963, 1966).
His No. 44 is retired by the Atlanta Braves as well as the Milwaukee Brewers. He’s a member of the Braves Hall of Fame, American Family Field Walk of Fame, Milwaukee Brewers Wall of Honor, Baseball Hall of Fame, & was selected to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team.
He holds MLB records for most career RBI (2,297), career total bases (6,856), & career extra-base hits (1,477).
His 755 career home runs passed the previous record held by Babe Ruth & is still the most career home runs hit by a player without the aid of Performance-Enhancing Drugs.
Mr. Aaron accomplished all of that on the field while ensuring constant racism & death threats, many coming from inside his own fanbase. The grace Hank carries himself with in the face of unrelenting malice is Hall of Fame worthy in and of itself.
Ronald Acuña Jr.
Acuña obviously doesn’t have the complete career yet, but it’s not hard to see that he’ll end up as the 2nd-best Right-Fielder in franchise history; sky’s the limit on how high he’ll climb on the General All-Time Braves list.
He’s a 40-40 threat every season, batting injury. He’s got mammoth power. He’s got blinding speed. He’s got a cannon for an arm. He’s got the swagger of Captain Jack Sparrow & the attitude of Steve Smith Sr.
As I said on Twitter a long while back: he’s a “Five Tool Max” player. Meaning not only is he a Five Tool player, but all five tools have max ability. Which is just another layer of improbability that was piled onto the 2021 Braves as they won the first World Series title in Atlanta since 1995, WITHOUT Ronald.
David Justice
Speaking of the 1995 World Series title…
Justice spent his first 7 MLB seasons with Atlanta. During his time with the Braves he was selected to two All-Star teams, won the 1995 World Series, was the 1990 National League Rookie of the Year, & a 1993 Silver Slugger. He’s also in the Braves Hall of Fame.
Coincidentally, this Braves great was thrust into starting duty after Braves-great Dale Murphy was traded to the Phillies in 1990.
He pissed a lot of the fanbase off when he criticized Braves fans for the lack of support they were providing in 1995.
But he returned to Braves fans good graces when he hit a home run in Game 6 of the World Series to score the only run in the World Series-clinching victory.
Gary Sheffield
The most emulated swing in the history of baseball. Talk about “loading up on a swing”, look no further than masher Gary Sheffield to round out this Mt. Rushmore.
He only spent 2002 & 2003 with the Braves. But in 2003 he was voted to the National League All-Star team & was a Silver Slugger. I’ve the course of his two-year Atlanta career, he hit 64 home runs and 216 RBIs including 132 in 2003. He was a first-time free agent following the 2003 season.
Sheffield’s Major League career is not only Hall of Fame worthy, it’s better than a majority of current Hall of Famers.
He’s the first player to represent 5 teams as an All-Star. He also holds the record for most MLB ballparks played in, with 51.