John Smoltz Closer Transition
Hall of Fame pitcher and one of only two MLB players with 200 wins and 150 saves.
John Andrew Smoltz (born May 15, 1967), nicknamed "Smoltzie" and "Marmaduke", is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played 21 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1988 to 2009, including 20 seasons with the Atlanta Braves (1988–1999, 2001–2008) and parts of 2009 with the Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals. An eight-time All-Star, Smoltz was part of a celebrated trio of starting pitchers, along with Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine, who propelled Atlanta to perennial pennant contention in the 1990s, highlighted by a championship in the 1995 World Series. He won the National League (NL) Cy Young Award in 1996 after posting a record of 24–8, equaling the most victories by an NL pitcher since 1972.
Quick Facts
- Key achievement
- Cy Young Award winner (1996)
Lore & Background
Though predominantly known as a starter, Smoltz was converted to a reliever in 2001 after his recovery from Tommy John surgery, and spent four years as the team's closer before returning to a starting role. In 2002, he recorded 55 saves, setting a new Braves franchise record, and became the only pitcher in Major League history to record both a 20-win season and a 50-save season. He is one of only two pitchers in Major League history to record both 200 wins and 150 saves, joining Dennis Eckersley.
Reader's Guide
Smoltz was one of the most successful pitchers in playoff history, posting a record of 15–4 with a 2.67 earned run average (ERA) in 41 career postseason games. He was named the Most Valuable Player of the 1992 NL Championship Series. Smoltz led the NL in wins, winning percentage, strikeouts and innings pitched twice each, and his NL total of 3,084 strikeouts ranked fifth in league history when he retired. He also holds the Braves franchise record for career strikeouts (3,011), and the record for the most career games pitched for the Braves (708) since the club's move to Atlanta in 1966.
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