The Official Newsletter of the Braves 400 Fan Club February 2016

The Official Newsletter of the Braves 400 Fan Club
________________________________________________________________
February 2016
By Dave Badertscher with photos by Linda Lovejoy
The Braves 400 Fan Club held its 50th annual Eddie Glennon Gameboree banquet and fundraiser
on Saturday, January 23, 2016, at the Atlanta Marriott Perimeter Center Hotel. Despite predictions of
snow, which thankfully missed the Atlanta area, a sellout crowd of die-hard Braves fans turned out to
honor Tom Glavine and John Smoltz, as well as Atlanta Braves and Braves 400 Fan Club award
winners. It was a memorable baseball evening for everyone.
The silent auction and reception opened at 5:00. Howard Evans and his
crew did a stellar job of assembling a fine selection of memorabilia. As
usual, proceeds go to the Phil Niekro Scholarship Fund.
In the Grand Ballroom, Fan Club President Rick Wheeler introduced the
seated members of the head table, followed by Tom Glavine, John
Smoltz, and Phil Niekro, who were waiting in the wings offstage.
Timothy Miller sang The Lord’s Prayer. During dinner guests enjoyed a
slide show highlighting Fan Club activities over the past year.
After dinner Rick thanked both the Fan Club members who made the 2016
Gameboree possible and our program advertisers. He recognized special
guests in the audience including Paula Carey, Elaine Van Wieren, Lois
Johnson, Ernie Johnson, Jr., and Fredi Gonzalez.
Emcee Jim Powell reflected that the move to Cobb County is little more than a year off. This year‟s
young team should be fascinating to watch. Before starting the awards portion of the program, Jim
remarked on the Fan Club‟s “Pete Van Wieren Most Outstanding High School Baseball Program
of the Year” award that includes a $1,000 stipend for the recipient‟s baseball program.
The Tomahawk Times
February 2016
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Metro Atlanta High School Player of the Year: Tyler Stephenson (Kennesaw Mountain H.S.)
Jason Varitek Most Outstanding Scholar Athlete in Georgia: Stephen Wrenn (Univ of Georgia)
Luke Appling Nostalgia Award: Leo Mazzone (Pitching Coach: Braves, Orioles)
Phil Niekro Scholarship Awards: Oglethorpe University, Young Harris College
Tyler Stephenson, Player of the Year
Stephen Wrenn, Scholar/Athlete
Leo Mazzone, Luke Appling Award
(These awards were presented by Assistant Director of Player Development, Jonathan Schuerholz)
Bobby Cox Manager of the Year Award: Brian Snitker (Gwinnett Braves)
Bill Lucas Award for Sportsmanship and Character: Barrett Kleinknecht (Gwinnett Braves)
Hank Aaron Award for Outstanding Minor League Player: Mallex Smith (Mississippi, Gwinnett)
Phil Niekro Award for Outstanding Minor League Pitcher: Tyrell Jenkins (Rome, Mississippi)
Brian Snitker, Manager of the Year
Mallex Smith, Outstanding Player
Tyrell Jenkins, Outstanding Pitcher
The Tomahawk Times
February 2016
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Phil Niekro Scholarship Award presented to Oglethorpe University Baseball Coach Dan Giordano
Jim Powell moved to the theme of this year‟s Gameboree: From “Young Guns” to Hall of Fame.
He recalled Tom and John as rookies in the tough times of the late „80s, through when they
blossomed in ‟91 to lead the Braves on the most amazing stretch of success ever in any sport.
He highlighted their career stats. Tom‟s six 20-win seasons, two Cy Young Awards, 305 career wins,
and his masterful performance in Game 6 of the 1995 World Series. John‟s combination of 213 wins
and 154 saves, over 3,000 strikeouts, and his 15-4 postseason record. We recognize them not only
for their Hall of Fame careers, but also for what they‟ve meant to the Atlanta community.
Before hearing from Tom and John, the audience was treated to tributes from three people uniquely
qualified to talk about their magnificent careers.
Chipper Jones sent a short video from down on the ranch. What impressed him most about Tom
and John was their tenacity and their will to win every time they took the mound. Chipper ended up
by saying that he needed to earn a little money at the Double Dime Ranch this weekend, so he can
lose it later to Glavine and Smoltz on the golf course.
Leo Mazzone made a number of straight-from-the heart
observations. He said he missed all those conversations with
the guys in the bullpen—never a dull or tense moment there.
Leo went on to say that Tom and John were part of the
greatest pitching run in the history of the game. They taught
him more than he taught them, which just goes to prove that
great pitchers make great coaches. Leo finished up by adding
that he was privileged to be their pitching coach and see both
Tom and John go on to Cooperstown and the Hall of Fame.
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February 2016
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Jim observed that in so many Braves pitching categories, Tom and John are second and third or third
and fourth. The reason for that was the next speaker, Hall of Famer Phil Niekro, who is number one
in starts, wins, complete games and many more categories. Phil compared the road ahead for the
players at the head table and other Braves young prospects to Tom and John‟s early years. His piece
of advice for Tyrell Jenkins was “learn to throw the knuckleball!”
After a short video of his career highlights, Tom Glavine took the
podium. Tom began by thanking his wife and parents for their
support in helping make the game of baseball easier for him. When
he started out with the Braves, 100 losses were the norm and there
weren‟t a lot of people in the stands. Tom said, “There is a great
opportunity for the young kids in the Braves organization today
because they will have a shot to play. Make the most of it!”
Tom posed this question to the audience: “How did I make it to the
Hall of Fame after having 17 losses in my first full season in the
Majors?” Bobby Cox was his biggest influence. Johnny Sain‟s
advice was to throw every day even when his arm was hurting. Leo preached the virtues of the
down-and-away fastball. Leo helped Tom become his own coach so he could make adjustments.
Smoltzie made it fun, especially on their unbelievable golf trips. Tom said he was blessed to play
with some really great guys, who would be forever linked together.
After watching his career highlights video, John Smoltz
joked that he and wife, Kathryn, “wake up to the video
every morning.” On a more serious note, he said, “Never be
afraid to fail. Failure motivates you to be great. Be the best
teammate you can be and give 100% every day.” John said
he learned what a true professional is from Alan Trammell
and he has always tried to pay that forward. Dale Murphy
was a class act. And, of course, there were always the
bullpen conversations with Leo.
“Playing in the community where I lived was a bonus,” John
said. “It gave me a chance to make a difference.” This
season younger Braves will get the opportunity to play, just as he and Tom did. John makes his
home in Atlanta. As a network analyst, he very much wants to call a World Series with Atlanta. He
thanked his wife for her support and said that his faith sustains him.
Rick Wheeler called Tom and John to the podium to present them each with a $1,500 donation to
their favorite charities. Tom‟s check went to Tom Glavine’s Spring Training, a charity event that
benefits the Georgia Transplant Foundation. John‟s donation went to King’s Ridge Christian
School in Alpharetta, which is in the midst of a capital campaign to expand their high school facilities.
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February 2016
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2016 Gameboree Chairman and 2014 “Mr. Baseball,” Wayne Coleman, presented
this year‟s award. He recognized past “Mr. Baseball” recipients in the audience.
The “Mr. Baseball” Award is given annually to the “person who has contributed
significantly to the promotion of baseball in the Atlanta area.” The 2016 recipient is
Gwinnett Braves Manager Brian Snitker.
In accepting the well-deserved “Mr. Baseball” Award, Brian echoed the praise of
several earlier speakers for the Braves organization. “Once you‟re a Brave, you‟re
always a Brave,” he said. “People make an organization.” Brian added that he was
proud to be part of an organization like the Atlanta Braves for so many years.
To view lots more photos from the 2016 Gameboree and other Club events,
visit the Photo Gallery on our website at: www.braves400.org
John Padgett presents Phil Niekro
Scholarship check to Coach Travis
Huffman at Young Harris College.
Braves 400 Fan Club
members joined Tom
Glavine for his Spring
Training charity event
to benefit the Georgia
Transplant Foundation
on January 30th. This
year the Fan Club is a
Base Hit Sponsor.
The Tomahawk Times
February 2016
Page 6
By Rick Wheeler, President Braves 400 Fan Club
What a year to look forward to! If the Gameboree in January is any indication, we
are in for a fantastic year of Braves baseball and Braves 400 Fan Club activities.
Thanks to Tom Glavine and John Smoltz for making the 2016 Gameboree
“Young Guns to the Hall of Fame – Tom Glavine and John Smoltz” such a
fabulous evening for the more than 275 guests in attendance. Despite the cold
weather, we still had a sell-out crowd. In addition to Tom and John, the comments
offered by Phil Niekro and our Luke Appling Award winner Leo Mazzone only
added to the fun. It was quite a night as detailed in this issue of The Tomahawk
Times. We have a challenge in front of us to put together an equally entertaining event for 2017.
There is no doubt in my mind that we will succeed.
Our event lineup this year features a trip to Kansas City to watch the Braves and World Champion
Royals play each other in mid-May. There are still a few land packages available for this trip. In
addition, our luncheon schedule starts in April along with a group outing to Gwinnett in August.
All of us are looking forward to the start of Braves Spring Training at Disney. While there may be
some doubters out there, I believe the 2016 team is going to surprise many of us. Yes, pitching is an
unknown, but I have to believe the talent pool is deeper than we think and thus, these arms are
going to develop quickly. The competition for position players is only going to produce a lineup with
more run production than last year. Will all that be enough? We‟ll have to wait and see. As they
always say, “Hope springs eternal.” Let‟s make the last year at Turner Field as loud as we can.
Finally, don‟t forget to renew your membership in the Braves 400 Fan Club for 2016. Annual dues
remain at $25 for primary members and $15 for additional members at the same address. Renew
now on our website at www.braves400.org/join-now. Go Braves!
April 23rd (Saturday)
Media Luncheon at 755 Club: Mark Bowman, Ben Ingram
May 13-15 (Fri-Sun)
Major League Trip, Kansas City
st
May 31 (Tuesday)
June 25
th
(Saturday)
High School All-Star Luncheon at 755 Club, Turner Field
Indoor Tailgate at 755 Club, Turner Field, Braves vs. Mets
August 13th (Saturday)
Minor League Trip, Coolray Field, Gwinnett Braves vs. Louisville
September 13th (Tues.)
Call-Up Luncheon at 755 Club, Turner Field
October 14th (Friday)
Sid Slid Celebration, Turner Field Parking Lot
November 12th (Sat.)
Election Luncheon (Location TBD)
Braves 400 Fan Club
www.braves400.org
Mailing Address:
Fan Club Hotline:
P.O. Box 7689
Atlanta, GA 30357-0689
770-416-4539
The Tomahawk Times
February 2016
Page 7
Trip Coordinator Rick Wheeler, along with help from Phil Youngberg and Bob Messner, has been
working on the itinerary for the Fan Club‟s trip to Kansas City on the weekend of May 13-15. In
addition to watching the series between our Braves and the World Champion Kansas City Royals
at Kauffman Stadium on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, lots of other activities are being planned.
Our group will be staying at the Embassy Suites Country Club Plaza. There will be plenty of free
time for exploring the Country Club Plaza, an upscale area of nearly a square mile filled with
shopping, restaurants, bars, and nearby museums. A Saturday visit to the Negro Leagues Baseball
Museum is planned. We will also enjoy a Saturday meal at Kansas City‟s best barbeque restaurant,
the legendary Arthur Bryant’s. If that isn‟t enough, Rick promises another surprise or two!
Air packages for the trip are filled, however, a few more land packages are available. If you are
interested in signing up for a land package, email Rick ASAP at [email protected].
We are pleased to welcome three new directors to the Board of Directors for 2016: Willie Hinton,
Nate Morgan, and Cheryl Murk. Willie has served previously on the Board. Our new officer is
Nancy Badertscher, who takes over for Shirley Suttle as Secretary.
Our sincere thanks goes out to our retiring Board members. Several of them served for multiple
terms. Leaving the Board are: Lynn Camp, Damion Carpenter, Russ Clarke, Murray Cohen,
Kirk Pumphrey, and Shirley Suttle. Their work and support of the Fan Club is much appreciated!
If you would like to consider serving on the Braves 400 Fan Club Board of Directors, which meets
monthly, please contact Bob Messner, Chairman of the Nominations Committee.
Kyle Coleman, Ellabell, GA
Mike & Angie Harrison, North Ridgeville, OH
Andy & Linda Plante, Marietta, GA
Tammy Richardson & Mary Nicols, Columbus, GA
Colm Reilly, Atlanta, GA
David Clary, Oak Ridge, TN
Arlene Mohammed & Rick Castellucis, Sugar Hill, GA
The Tomahawk Times
February 2016
Page 8
Braves fans descended on Turner Field for the 2016 FanFest on
Saturday, January 30th. The schedule offered something for everyone
between the hours of 10 and 4. A robust list of players, alumni, and
executives along with unseasonably good weather swelled the crowd
beyond expectations. Long autograph lines were tough, but the
roundtable discussions were informative and entertaining.
Fans line up early outside the 755 Club
Fan Club members wait in line for autographs
Freddie Freeman, Rio Ruiz, Ozzie Albies sign
Jace Peterson in the Kids Reading Room
A.J. Pierzynski
Simpson, Coppolella, Schuerholz, Gonzalez, Schiller roundtable
Swanson, Sims, Davidson, Smith answer a fan’s question
The Tomahawk Times
February 2016
Page 9
By Jon Cooper
There are no special requirements for being a "people person.” All it takes is a warm heart and a
willingness to share that warmth.
However, there are always those special people that not only can share that warmth, but do it so well
that they lift the spirits of those around them simply with their presence.
Longtime Braves coach and talent evaluator Bobby Dews and former pitcher Tommy Hanson were two
such special people. Sadly, both were taken a month apart—Hanson at 29 on Nov. 9 and Dews at 76
on Dec. 27, 2015.
Each was unforgettable to the Braves family.
"Bobby Dews was a wonderful man," said former Braves Pitching Coach Leo
Mazzone. "‟Dewsie‟ knew everything about the game. He was a successful
manager, a successful coach, a great baseball man. There were certain
people that you wanted your pitchers to talk to and learn from. Bobby
Dews was certainly one of those people."
A Clinton, Iowa, native, Dews played professionally in the minor leagues
from 1960 through 1970, then managed for 12 seasons at various minor
league levels from 1969-84, finishing with a 682-680 record and leading
five straight Braves affiliates to playoffs. Dews then served three separate
stints on Atlanta Braves coaching staffs as well as taking over for two years
as Atlanta‟s Director of Player Development (1986 and „87), succeeding Hank Aaron. In December of
1996, Bobby Cox named Dews to his staff and he stayed in Atlanta as a Major League Consultant until
retiring in 2013.
Mazzone considers Dews an unsung hero of Atlanta‟s run of 14 consecutive division championships,
who especially shone during the then-revolutionary early-throwing program.
"He was down there coaching all those guys in the bullpen. He played a huge part in our success,”
said Mazzone. “They would throw a pitch and I‟d say, „What do you think, „Dewsie‟?‟ and „Dewsie‟
would say, „I like it‟ or „I didn‟t like it,‟ then explain why. So we had that constant communication in
practice. We called it „exchanging ideas.‟"
Braves pitchers were eager to exchange ideas with Dews and loved his passion for the game.
"Bobby was a special person. He had a great baseball mind," said 2014 Baseball Hall of Famer Tom
Glavine. "I loved being around him because you would learn and laugh. He always had time to work
me, hitting ground balls, taking batting practice, it didn't matter. He helped make me better as a
player. He also helped me to understand the balance of having fun but working hard!"
"When you think about a baseball man, he was it," said 2015 Baseball Hall of Famer John Smoltz.
"This was a man who at the age of 60 was catching bullpens, throwing BP and loving every second of
it. I don‟t know any other 60-year-old that would catch a 97 mile an hour fastball or a wicked slider
or a split. You couldn‟t help but smile when you were around a guy like that. You couldn‟t help but
learn when you were around a guy like that."
Bringing a laugh or smile was what Dews was about. His locker was the first people passed when
entering the Braves‟ clubhouse at Turner Field, something that gave him the opportunity—one of
which he gladly took advantage—to be the first to say „Hello‟ and share a story to anyone that came
in.
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February 2016
Page 10
"Gosh, he just had so many stories to tell," said Smoltz. "He was very quick-witted. He had the
ability to articulate, just paint a picture. Bobby was a man well-traveled that had learned his ways
and overcome a lot of adversity in his life. I‟m sorely, sorely going to miss him."
Like Dews, Tommy Hanson was easygoing and quick to bring a smile with his dry wit.
Nicknamed "Big Red," for his 6-6, 220-pound frame, as well as his power
arm, the bearded Tulsa, Oklahoma native, who grew up in Southern
California, pitched with Atlanta from 2009 through 2012, going 45-32 with
a 3.61 ERA in 108 starts. He was drafted by the Braves on the 22nd round
of the 2005 June Draft and quickly ascended the Braves‟ minor leagues.
In the fall of 2008, Hanson became the first pitcher to win MVP of the
Arizona Fall League and then earned the Phil Niekro Award, awarded to the
top pitcher in the Braves‟ system after dominating High-A and Double-A.
On June 7, 2009, he made his Major League debut, going six innings
against Milwaukee. He‟d go 11-4 with a 2.89 ERA, striking out 116 vs. 46
walks in 127 ⅔ innings over 21 starts, and finish third in the „09 N.L. Rookie
of the Year balloting.
Hanson would pitch three more seasons with the Braves, winning at least 10 games each year,
including a career-high 13 in 2012 after injury in 2011. That November he was traded to the Angels,
where he‟d go 4-3 with a 5.42 in 15 games (13 starts) in 2013. He would later sign minor league
deals with the Texas Rangers, Chicago White Sox and San Francisco Giants.
The right-shoulder tendinitis hindered Hanson‟s career beginning in 2011, but even during his hardest
of times and toughest periods of physical rehabilitation, Tommy never lost his ability to keep the
clubhouse loose.
He was loved by his teammates, several of whom were by his side at the end. His passing hit the
baseball world, and especially Braves Country, hard. Many former teammates and current players,
among them Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper, immediately went to social media to
express their grief.
"I'm at a loss for words. He was a great teammate & an even better friend,” tweeted first baseman
Freddie Freeman. “Can't fully grasp that he's gone.”
“Tommy Hanson was a great person, it hurts my heart to see him go so soon,” tweeted former Braves
closer Craig Kimbrel.
But it wasn‟t only players that felt Hanson‟s loss.
Kim Hudson, wife of former Braves ace Tim Hudson, who was extremely active in community events
with the Atlanta Braves Foundation, remembered Hanson‟s generosity with his time. He was a
regular at events like the Braves annual holiday bowling event for members of the military, visits to
Shepherd Center and “Christmas In July” and similar visits to Children‟s Healthcare of Atlanta at
Egleston and Scottish Rite.
“Forget baseball. Tommy Hanson was good at life," tweeted Hudson. "A loving, generous husband,
son, brother, uncle & friend."
This moving tribute to Bobby Dews and Tommy Hanson appeared in the 2016 Eddie Glennon
Gameboree souvenir program. We thank Jon Cooper for kindly allowing us to reprint it in its entirety
in The Tomahawk Times.