All-Time Braves: Second Base
On to the next stop in our All-Time Braves team. The Crime Dog won with resounding victory over the rest of the first base candidates. McGriff garnered 74% of the vote with Andres Galarraga, Joe Adcock, and Orlando Cepeda finishing well behind him in that order. McGriff will take his rightful spot at first as we move forward with second base. As alway, if you would like to see someone listed, post a comment and if we feel like they have been unfairly left off, they will be added to the choices.
So far the Braves all-time roster is as follows:
C Javy Lopez
1B Fred McGriff
2B
SS
3B
OF
OF
OF
1. Felix Millan (1966-1972)-Millan's numbers do not do the Puerto Rican second baseman much justice. Despite hitting under .280 for his career with only 22 home runs, Millan was known as a player who could really handle the bat. He gave pitchers fits as one of the hardest men to strike out in the game. For his career, Millan struck out once every 25.9 plate appearances. In his time with Atlanta, Millan became known as both an excellent bunter and defensive second baseman. He was one of those guys whose numbers don't show how truly valuable he was to a team's success. He was traded to the Mets before the 1973 season, where he finished his career. Millan was three-time All Star and two-time Gold Glove winner with the Braves.
2. Davey Johnson (1973-1975)- Johnson may have only played two full seasons with the Braves but he turned in possibly the greatest season by any Braves second baseman in the team's history. Brought in to replace Felix Millan, Johnson hit .270 with 43 home runs and 99 runs batted in after hitting only five homers the year before. That broke Rogers Hornsby's record of 42 home runs in a single season by a second baseman. Johnson's mark still stands today. Johnson won the Comeback Player of the Year and an All Star spot that year. In '74, Johnson hit .251 with 15 home runs for Atlanta but the next year after one at bat (an RBI double), he was released and went to play in Japan. Johnson had one more decent year in th majors and then enjoyed quite a bit of success as a manager.
3. Marcus Giles (2001-2006)- OK, he didn't leave on the best terms, but Giles was quite a player with the Braves. Taken in the 53rd round, Giles had to deal with being in the shadow of his brother (and constantly being called Brian) as well as criticisms about his defensive ability. Glen Hubbard transformed his defense and Giles not only became a premier offensive second baseman, but one of the better gloves at second. In his first full season as the Braves second baseman, Giles was named to the All Star team, hitting .316 with 21 home runs while breaking Chipper Jones' Braves record for doubles in a season with 49. Giles continued his impressive play in 2004 and 2005 but struggled having to take over for former double play partner Rafael Furcal in the leadoff spot.
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