John Smoltz

John Andrew Smoltz

Atlanta Braves Player (1988 – 1999, 2001 - 2008)
Boston Red Sox Player (2009)
St. Louis Cardinals Player (2009)

John Smoltz was born in Warren, Michigan and was an All-State football and baseball player at Lansing Waverly High School and was selected in the 22nd round of the 1985 baseball draft by the Detroit Tigers. He was working his way up the Tigers Minor league system when he was traded to the Atlanta Braves in 1987 where he became an integral member of a pitching staff that would dominate baseball in the 1990’s and 2000’s winning 13 Divisional championships. Smoltz helped lead the Braves to a World Series Championship in 1995, as well as being named an 8-time All-Star, winning a Cy Young award, an NLCS MVP and a Rolaids Relief Man award, along with many other awards. As good as Smoltz was during the regular season, he was even more dominant in the postseason, compiling a 15 – 4 record. John Smoltz had his number “29” retired by the Atlanta Braves in 2012, was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2015, while also being inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 2014.