John Andrew Smoltz (born May 15, 1967 in ) is a
free agent Major League Baseball pitcher. He is best known for his prolific career of
more than two decades with the
Atlanta
Braves, in which he garnered eight
All-Star selections and
received the
Cy Young Award in .
Though predominantly known as a
starting pitcher, Smoltz was converted to a
reliever in , following his recovery
from
Tommy John surgery, and
spent four years as the team's
closer before returning to a starting
role.
In
he became only the second pitcher in history to have had both a
20-win season and a 50-save season (the other being Hall of
Famer
Dennis
Eckersley). He is the only pitcher in major league
history to top both 200 wins and 150 saves.
He became the 16th
member of the 3,000 strikeout
club on April 22, when he fanned Felipe Lopez of the Washington Nationals in the third
inning in Atlanta
.
Smoltz throws a four-seam
fastball that has
been clocked as high as 98
miles per
hour, a strong, effective
slider, and an
88–91 mph
split-finger
fastball that he uses as a
strikeout
pitch. He also mixes in a
curveball and
change-up on occasion, and in 1999, he
began experimenting with both a knuckleball and a screwball, though
he rarely uses either in game situations today.
Minor leagues and trade to Atlanta
John
Smoltz was an All-State baseball and basketball player at Waverly High School in Lansing,
Michigan
before the
Detroit Tigers drafted him in the
22nd round of the amateur draft. He was the 574th selection
of the draft.
Smoltz played first for the
Lakeland
Tigers minor league team and then moved on to the
Glens Falls Tigers in 1987. On August 12,
, he was traded to the
Atlanta
Braves. The 1987 Tigers were in a three-team race, chasing the
Toronto Blue Jays for the
AL East division lead. In need of pitching help,
Detroit sent their 20-year-old prospect to the Braves for the
36-year-old veteran
Doyle
Alexander.
Major leagues
Early years (1988-1997)
Smoltz made his Major League debut on July 23, . He posted poor
statistics in a dozen starts, but in , Smoltz blossomed. In 29
starts, he recorded a 12–11 record and 2.94 ERA while pitching 208
innings and making the All-Star team. Teammate
Tom Glavine also had his first good year in
1989, raising optimism about the future of Atlanta's pitching
staff.
Smoltz began the 1991 season with a 2–11 record. He began seeing a
sports psychologist, after which
he closed out the season on a 12–2 pace, helping the Braves win a
tight NL East race. His winning ways continued into the
1991 National League
Championship Series. Smoltz won both his starts against the
Pittsburgh Pirates, capped by a
complete game shutout in the seventh game, propelling the Braves to
their first World Series since moving to Atlanta in 1966. Smoltz
had two no-decisions against the
Minnesota Twins, with a 1.26 ERA. In the
seventh and deciding game, he faced his former Detroit Tiger hero,
Jack Morris. Both starters pitched
shutout ball for seven innings, before Smoltz was removed from the
0–0 game during a Twins threat in the eighth. Atlanta reliever
Mike Stanton pitched out of the jam,
getting Smoltz off the hook, but Morris would eventually pitch a
10-inning complete game victory.
The next year, Smoltz won fifteen regular season games and was the
MVP of the
1992
National League Championship Series, winning two games. He left
the seventh game trailing, but ended up with a no-decision as the
Braves mounted a dramatic ninth-inning comeback win. In the World
Series that year, Smoltz started two of the six games in the
series, with a no-decision in Game Two and a win with the Braves
facing elimination in Game 5.
Before the season, the Braves signed renowned control pitcher
Greg Maddux, completing what many
consider to be the
most accomplished
starting trio ever assembled on a single Major League team.
Smoltz again won fifteen games, but suffered his first postseason
loss to the
Philadelphia
Phillies in the
NLCS despite a 0.00
ERA.
Smoltz had a 6-10 record in the strike-shortened season, and during
the break, had bone chips removed from his elbow. Returning as the
Braves' #3 starter, he posted a 12–7 record in . Smoltz had shaky
postseason numbers, avoiding a decision despite a 6.60 ERA. But
Smoltz and the Braves won their only
World
Series, thanks in great part to Maddux and Glavine, who had
begun to overshadow Smoltz.
The following season, , was Smoltz's best year as a professional.
He went 24–8 with a 2.94 ERA and 276 strikeouts, including winning
a franchise record fourteen straight decisions. He won the
National League Cy Young with 26 of the 28
first-place votes. Smoltz's effectiveness in was only slightly less
than his Cy Young season, but frugal run support limited him to a
15–12 record. Smoltz was also awarded a
Silver Slugger Award for his
batting.
Injuries and move to the bullpen (1998-2004)
Smoltz continued to post excellent statistics in and , but he was
spending significant time on the disabled list and missed about a
fourth of his starts. In 1999, Smoltz began experimenting with both
a knuckleball and a three-quarters delivery, though he rarely uses
either in game situations today.
He underwent
Tommy John surgery
prior to the season, missing the entire year. When he was unable to
perform effectively as a starter in , Smoltz made a transition to
the bullpen, filling a void as Atlanta's closer down the
stretch.
In , his first full season as a closer, Smoltz broke the
National League saves record with 55 saves
(the previous record was 53;
Éric
Gagné would equal Smoltz's new record a year later). Smoltz
finished third in the
Cy Young Award
voting. Injuries limited Smoltz slightly in , but he still recorded
45 saves with a 1.12 ERA in 64.3 innings pitched. In , Smoltz
finished with 44 saves, but was frustrated with his inability to
make an impact as a closer during another Braves' postseason
loss.
By this point, Smoltz was all that remained of the once-dominant
Atlanta Braves' rotation of the 1990s.
Tom
Glavine had moved on to play for the
New York Mets, a divisional rival, while
Greg Maddux returned to his old team,
the
Chicago Cubs.
Return to the rotation
After three years as one of baseball's most dominating closers, the
team's management agreed to return Smoltz to the starting rotation
prior to the season.
Smoltz's renewed career as a starter began inauspiciously. He
allowed six earned runs in only 1 2/3 innings — matching the
shortest starts of his career—as the Braves were blown out on
Opening Day by the
Florida Marlins.
Poor run support contributed to an 0–3 start despite stronger
pitching performances by Smoltz. After these initial difficulties,
though, things fell into place. At the All-Star break, Smoltz was
9–5 with an ERA of 2.68 and was chosen for the 2005 NL All-Star
team. Smoltz gave up a solo home run to
Miguel Tejada in the second inning of the
American League's 7–5 victory and received the loss. For his
career, he is 1–2 in All-Star games, putting him in a tie for the
most losses.
Smoltz finished at 14–7, with a 3.06 ERA with 169 strikeouts while
allowing less than one hit per inning. Smoltz had answered the
critics who doubted would be able to reach the 200 inning plateau
after three years in the bullpen. Nonetheless, Smoltz's increased
workload caused him to wear down towards the end of the
season.
Despite a sore shoulder, Smoltz pitched seven innings in the
Braves' 7–1 win over the
Houston
Astros in Game Two of the
2005 NLDS.
It was the only game the Braves would manage to win in the series
against the eventual
National League
champions. The victory over Houston gave Smoltz a 13–4 record as a
starter (15–4 overall) with a 2.65 ERA in the postseason. He has
the second most postseason wins (15) behind only
Andy Pettitte with 17. They are followed by
Tom Glavine (14), and
Greg Maddux (11).
In , Smoltz finished the season with a record of 16–9, an earned
run average of 3.49, and 211 strikeouts. He was tied for the
National League lead in wins, and was third in strikeouts. The fact
that the Braves bullpen blew six of Smoltz's leads in 2006 robbed
him of a strong chance at a 20-win season.
On September 21, 2006, the Braves announced they had picked up
Smoltz's $8 million contract option for the season. On April 26,
2007 Smoltz agreed to a contract extension with the Braves. The
extension includes a $14 million salary for the 2008 season, a $12
million vesting option for 2009 dependent on Smoltz's ability to
pitch 200 innings in 2008, and a $12 or $13 million team option for
2010 dependent on Smoltz's ability to pitch 200 innings in
2009.
was a year of reunions and milestones for Smoltz. On May 9, he faced Greg Maddux for the first time since July 10, 1992. Smoltz earned a win in a 3–2 victory over the San Diego Padres; Maddux received a no-decision. On May 24, exactly eleven years to the day after recording his 100th win, Smoltz recorded his 200th win against Tom Glavine. He faced Glavine 3 other times faring 3–1 overall against him. On June 27, Smoltz, Glavine and Maddux all recorded wins on the same day. On August 19, 2007, Smoltz set the new Atlanta Braves strikeout record by striking out Arizona Diamondbacks' Mark Reynolds. It was his 2,913th strikeout and he passed Phil Niekro on the Braves all-time list; striking out a season-high 12 in the game. He finished the year 14–8 with a 3.11 ERA and 197 strikeouts. The stalwart pitcher was the only holdover on the Braves' roster from their 1991 worst-to-first season until Glavine returned to the Braves after an absence of several years following the 2007 season.
On April 22, 2008, Smoltz became the 16th pitcher in
Major League Baseball history to reach
3,000 career strikeouts. He is
one of four pitchers to strike out 3,000 batters for one team,
joining
Walter Johnson,
Bob Gibson and
Steve
Carlton.
On April 28, 2008, Smoltz was placed on the 15 day
disabled list due to an inflamed right
shoulder.
Return to relief
On May 1, 2008, Smoltz indicated that he intended to return to
being a relief pitcher. After coming off the disabled list on June
2, 2008, he blew his first save opportunity in three years. Two
days later, the Braves placed him back on the disabled list. John
Smoltz underwent season-ending shoulder surgery on
June 10,
2008. His contract
expired at the end of the season, and the contract offer from the
Braves was not sufficient to keep him.
Boston Red Sox
In
December of 2008,
several members of the Boston Red Sox
organization including pitching coach John Farrell, Vice President
of Player Personnel Ben Cherington, and assistant trainer Mike
Reinold, flew to Atlanta,
Georgia
to participate in a 90-minute workout with
Smoltz. Throwing for only the second time since having
surgery on a torn labrum in his pitching shoulder, Smoltz threw a
50-pitch side session and showcased not only his tremendous
progress since the surgery, but an arsenal of well-developed
pitches which has made him so successful throughout his career.
Smoltz impressed the
Red Sox members enough
during the workout that less than a month later, a one-year
contract was offered by the organization.
On January 13, 2009, Smoltz signed a one-year contract with the
Boston Red Sox for a reported base
salary of $5.5 million with roster time incentives and
miscellaneous award incentives which could net as much as $10
million. He made his first start in the Boston Red Sox rotation
June 25, 2009, allowing seven hits and five runs through five
innings. Smoltz struggled his entire time with the Red Sox posting
a 2-5 record over eight games with an 8.32 ERA and no quality
starts. He was
designated for
assignment on August 7, 2009, after a 13-6 loss to the Yankees,
giving the Red Sox 10 days to release, trade, or send him to the
minors. The Red Sox offered Smoltz a minor league stint in order to
prepare him to be placed in the bullpen, but he rejected the offer,
leaving the Red Sox the options of either releasing or trading him.
On August 17, 2009 the Red Sox released Smoltz.
St. Louis Cardinals
On August 19, 2009, John Smoltz signed with the St. Louis
Cardinals, bringing a record of 2-5 with an ERA of 8.32 in eight
starts in the
American League.
Smoltz made his debut against the San Diego Padres on August 23,
2009. In his first game for the Cardinals, Smoltz went five
innings, striking out nine and walking none, while setting a
Cardinals franchise record by striking out seven batters in a
row.
That win against the Padres with the Cardinals was his only win
with them that season. Smoltz finished 1-3 with an ERA of 4.26 with
the Cardinals. He was 3-8 with an ERA of 6.35 overall with the Red
Sox and Cardinals.
In Game 3 of the
2009 NLDS, Smoltz
finished with a 4.50 ERA after pitching 2 full innings, giving up 4
hits and only 1 earned run.
On November 5, 2009, Smoltz, along with teammate
Matt Holliday, both filed for free
agency.
Personal life
Smoltz met
his first wife Dyan at the Omni Hotel in downtown Atlanta; the couple
had four children before divorcing in 2007 after 16 years of
marriage. Smoltz lives in Alpharetta
and also has a home at Sea Island,
Georgia
, a golf resort. On May 16, 2009, Smoltz
married the former Kathryn Darden at his home with 70 friends and
family in attendance.
Smoltz is
a born-again Christian and
is Chairman of the Board at Alpharetta
-based King's Ridge Christian School, and a member
of the Presbyterian
Church in America. He has also been involved in the
development of a new Christian school in the metropolitan Atlanta
region.
Smoltz is a good friend of professional golfer
Tiger Woods. The two often golf together. Woods
has stated that Smoltz is the best golfer outside of the
PGA Tour that he has observed.
Smoltz is also involved in the sport of bowling.
Smoltz counts
Doc Rivers as a personal
friend dating back to Rivers' playing days in Atlanta. In the
January 12, 2008 edition of the
Boston
Globe, Rivers is quoted as saying, ″I offered him my
apartment. .... I just told him about Terry (Francona) and the Red
Sox organization. I told him it's a no-brainer.″
John made his debut as a baseball commentator on August 16, 2008.
He was the color-commentator alongside Joe Simpson.
Smoltz is also an accomplished
accordionist (accordion player) and also
starred in a
commercial for
The Home Depot.
Politics and philanthropy
Smoltz produced an automated campaign phone recording on behalf of
the candidacy of
Ralph E.
Reed, Jr. for Lt. Governor of
Georgia during the 2006 primary.
Smoltz and
his good friend Jeff Foxworthy teamed
up for the charity event "An Evening With Smoltz and Friends" on
November 9, 2008 at the Verizon Amphitheater
in Alpharetta, GA to raise money for the John
Smoltz Foundation, which has supported numerous charitable
endeavors in the Atlanta area over the past decade.
Accomplishments
- Eight-time All-Star (1989, 1992–93,
1996, 2002–03, 2005, 2007)
- National League Championship Series MVP (1992)
- Led the National League in Strikeouts (1992, with 215)
- National League Cy Young Award
winner (1996)
- Holds Atlanta Braves record for most wins in a season (1996,
with 24)
- Led the National League in wins (1996, with 24)
- Counting his wins in the playoffs and All-Star Game, John
Smoltz amassed 29 wins in 1996. The only higher such total in the
last 70 years is Denny McLain who had
32 in 1968.
- Holds Atlanta Braves record for most strikeouts in a season
(1996, with 276)
- Led the Major Leagues in strikeouts (1996, with 276)
- Led the National League in win percentage (1996)
- Silver Slugger Award Winner for Pitcher (1997)
- Finished 4th in National League Cy Young Award voting
(1998)
- Led the Major Leagues in Win Percentage (1998)
- National League Rolaids Relief Man of the
Year Award winner (2002)
- Finished 8th in National League MVP voting (2002)
- Finished 3rd in National League Cy Young Award voting
(2002)
- Holds Braves record for most saves in a career (154)
- Holds Braves record for most saves in a season (2002, with
55)
- Led the National Leagues in saves (2002, with 55)
- Tied for National League lead in wins (2006, with 16)
- Only pitcher to compile 200 wins and 150 saves
- Holds Braves record for most strikeouts in a career
(3,011)
- Given the Branch Rickey
Award for exceptional community service (2007)
- First pitcher in modern era (since 1900) to pitch exactly five
shutout innings, strike out ten, and get the win (April 17, 2008 in
the Braves' 8–0 win at Florida)
- 16th pitcher in the major leagues to reach 3,000 strikeouts
(April 22, 2008)
- Holds Cardinals record for most consecutive strikeouts (7) in a
single game (August 23, 2009)
- Only MLB pitcher with more than one postseason stolen base
(3)
See also
References
- Neyer, Rob and
Bill James,
The Neyer-James Guide to Pitchers. New York: Simon &
Schuster, 2004. ISBN 0743261585
- Porter, David L. 2000. “John Smoltz" In The Biographical
Dictionary of American Sports, 1440-1441. Westport, CT: Greenwood
Publishing Group
- 1985 MLB Draft History - Round 22
- Porter, David L. 2000. “John Smoltz" In The Biographical
Dictionary of American Sports, 1440-1441. Westport, CT: Greenwood
Publishing Group.
- Does sports psychology really work? - By Daniel
Engber - Slate Magazine
- Neyer, Rob and
Bill James,
The Neyer-James Guide to Pichers. New York: Simon &
Schuster, 2004. ISBN 0743261585
- The Official Site of The Atlanta Braves: News: Game
Wrapup
- The Official Site of Major League Baseball: News:
Major League Baseball News
- "Smoltz has surgery, future as pitcher
uncertain", Sports Illustrated, June 10, 2008
- Braves' decision on Smoltz is upsetting
- Bradford, Rob "How John Smoltz Convinced The Red Sox He Was Worth
A Chance" Retrieved from WEEI.com on January 28, 2009.
- Red Sox sign free agent righthanded pitcher John
Smoltz to one-year contract
- Smoltz signs offer sheet from Red Sox
- Smoltz to Red Sox; Baldelli, Penny will join
him
- Smoltz designated for assignment
- Smoltz won't go to Boston bullpen, time with Sox
likely done
- [1]
- url =
http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/braves/stories/2009/05/19/john_smoltz_marriage.html
- Official Website for Tiger Woods
- Tiger Woods Joins Mike and Mike > 950 ESPN >
Audio Relevant audio at 8:15
-
http://www.bowl.com/Downloads/pdf/usbowler/usbowlerSp08.pdf
- Not sad to see end of primary
- Smoltz, Foxworthy team up for charity
- ESPN - Smoltz wins Branch Rickey Award -
MLB
- Slugger's Tales from the Rails: Big night for
Chipper, Smoltz, and the Braves
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