Braves Mt. Rushmore: Second Base
As I continue our trip around the Braves historic diamond, 2nd Base is the focus of today’s article.
If I were to erect a Mt. Rushmore dedicated to Second Basemen of the Braves franchise, these faces would adorn the mountaintop, in no particular order:
Marcus Giles
Being the everyday 2nd baseman for the Braves from the time I was 9 until I was 14, he was the the best 2nd-bagger the Braves had during my childhood. Seeing as I was primarily a 2nd baseman growing up, he was already my focus during Braves games, and he didn’t disappoint.
Drafted in the 53rd round by the Braves in 1996, it took him until 2001 to break into Major League Baseball. His first career home run was a grand slam off of familiar face-Mike Hampton when Hampton pitched for the Colorado Rockies. He’d hit some off-the-field road bumps & injuries until he was named the primary 2nd baseman in 2003.
He rewarded Bobby Cox by GOING. TF. OFF. So much so that he was named to his lone career All-Star Team. But in Marcus Giles fashion, couldn’t participate in the game due to a concussion shortly prior to the game. He picked up where he left off and set a Braves single-season record for doubles in a single season.
He also has the best range factor among National League Second Basemen, & 3rd-best WAR by National League position players.
Giles would continue to consistently produce between injuries & before his move to the leadoff spot after Furcal was no longer a Brave.
He became too expensive for Atlanta in 2006, leading to his non-tender. He wouldn’t recreate his Atlanta production again in Major League Baseball.
Glenn Hubbard
A military brat born on an Air Force Base in Germany, Hubbard would go on to be drafted in 1975 by the Braves out of high school in Utah.
He wasn’t exactly a home run threat at the plate, only hitting 70 career home runs. But his defense was second to none. He holds Braves' team fielding records for second basemen in every category. He was also fearless turning double plays as he would stand in there with opponent cleats coming full speed at him to break it up.
Hubbard would serve as the Braves 1st Base Coach from 1999 to 2010. When Fredi Gonzalez became the Braves manager, Hubbard wasn’t asked to return.
Mark Lemke
The Utica, New York native is best known for his role on the Braves 1995 World Series Championship team. Although, still unknown if he ever worked at the Dunder-Mifflin Utica Branch.
In addition to the 1995 World Series title, he also played 2nd Base on the Braves 1991, 1992, & 1996 World Series teams.
He’s a record-holder in one of the more random stats, he’s the all-time leader in career plate appearances without being hit by a pitch (3,664).
His most impressive performance in big situations came in the 1991 World Series when he led all Braves batters with a .417 batting average.
For the “Team of the 90’s”, Lemke was a solid mainstay in the lineup, allowing Atlanta to maintain consistency.
The “Lemmer” was a fan favorite, for reasons that you won’t find on his Baseball Reference page.
Ozzie Albies
You may or may not think Ozzie has earned the top spot on the Braves all-time team at Second Base; but by the time he’s done with the Braves, he’ll go down as the Braves best ever.
He’s led all National League 2nd baseman in home runs every year since 2014; his first full season was 2018.
Already in his short MLB career he’s been an all-star twice (208, 2021), All-MLB Second Team in 2021, a two-time Silver Slugger (2019, 2021), as well as a World Series Champion in 2021.
In 2017, he collected his first MLB hit; it also happened to be his first MLB home run. In 2019, he led all MLB second basemen in fielding percentage (.994), but was robbed of the Gold Glove.
In 2021, he became the first Braves second baseman to hit 30 home runs & drive in 100 RBI in the same season.
He’s the best Braves switch-hitter since Chipper Jones. He’s also the Braves best consistent power hitter since Chipper Jones.
Honorable Mention
Davey Johnson only played for the Braves from 1973-1975, but he made the most of it. In his first season with the Braves he tied Rogers Hornsby’s single season home run record for a second baseman with 43. That record would hold up until 2021 when Marcus Semien hit 44 home runs for the Toronto Blue Jays.
His 43 home runs added to Hank Aaron’s 40 & Darrell Evans’ 41 made the 1973 Braves the first team in MLB history to have three players hit at least 40 home runs in the same season.
Davey would be released by Atlanta shortly after the beginning of the 1975 season. He would then sign with Japanese team: Yomiuri Giants.