LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES: (FILES) This 25 August, 2002, file photo shows Atlanta Braves pitcher John Smoltz in action against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles. Smoltz, a key figure in Atlanta’s run of 13 straight division titles, will be a Brave for at least two more years, the club said 16 December, 2004. The Braves signed Smoltz to a two-year contract with a club option for 2007. Financial terms were not disclosed. AFP PHOTO/Lucy NICHOLSON/FILES (Photo credit should read LUCY NICHOLSON/AFP/Getty Images)
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The Atlanta Braves announced this morning that they are going to retire John Smoltz’s jersey and induct him into the Atlanta Braves Hall of Fame. There will be a ceremony honoring him June 8.
Well-deserved. There’s little need to recount Smoltz’s importance to those Braves teams that won the division nearly every single year. Overall, he was 213-155 with a 3.33 ERA and 3084 strikeouts in 3473 innings pitched. Oh, and he tacked on 154 saves and a 15-4, 2.67 record in the postseason.
