Best Braves Birthday Performances

On Jason Heyward’s 23rd birthday, I decided to go through the best birthday performances by Braves in years past, even though the Braves have an off day. Only half of all players have a chance to play on their birthdays, which is why players like Hank Aaron, Dale Murphy, and Tom Glavine are not on these lists.

Rk	Player	Date	Tm	Opp	Rslt	App,Dec	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	GSc
1	Warren Spahn	1951-04-23	BSN	BRO	L 1-2	CG 16 ,L	15.2	10	2	1	2	8	1	99
2	Greg Maddux	1994-04-14	ATL	SFG	W 6-1	CG 9 ,W	9.0	3	1	0	0	9	0	88
3	Buzz Capra	1974-10-01	ATL	CIN	W 7-1	CG 9 ,W	9.0	4	1	1	4	9	0	80
4	Dave Cole	1951-08-29	BSN	CHC	W 4-1	GS-9 ,W	8.1	3	1	1	6	6	0	73
5	Don Liddle	1953-05-25 (1)	MLN	CIN	W 5-1	CG 9 ,W	9.0	3	1	1	6	1	0	72
6	Tiny Chaplin	1936-07-13	BSN	PIT	W 4-1		9.0	6	1	1	2	2	0	71
7	Pascual Perez	1984-05-17	ATL	STL	W 7-2	CG 9 ,W	9.0	7	2	2	2	6	0	69
8	Warren Spahn	1961-04-23	MLN	PIT	W 3-1	CG 9 ,W	9.0	7	1	1	4	4	1	69
9	Johnny Sain	1947-09-25	BSN	NYG	L 1-3		8.0	6	2	1	0	5	1	69
10	Max Surkont	1953-06-16 (2)	MLN	PHI	W 3-2		9.0	7	2	2	4	5	0	66
11	Manny Salvo	1941-06-30	BSN	NYG	L 0-3		12.0	11	3	3	6	4	0	66
12	Bob Smith	1926-04-22	BSN	PHI	W 6-2		9.0	6	2	2	5	2	0	64
13	Manny Salvo	1940-06-30 (2)	BSN	BRO	W 7-2		9.0	9	2	2	2	3	1	62
14	Hugh McQuillan	1920-09-15 (1)	BSN	PIT	L 1-2		8.0	6	2	2	2	2	0	62
15	Al Javery	1942-06-05 (1)	BSN	CIN	L 2-3		8.2	6	3	1	4	1	0	61
16	Warren Spahn	1947-04-23	BSN	NYG	W 5-1		9.0	12	1	1	2	1	0	58
17	Johnny Lanning	1938-09-06	BSN	NYG	L 5-6		7.2	7	2	2	3	4	2	58
18	Nate Andrews	1943-09-30	BSN	CHC	L 4-5		11.2	12	5	4	2	2	0	57
19	Joe Oeschger	1922-05-24	BSN	STL	W 9-3		9.0	8	3	3	4	2	0	57
20	Milt Pappas	1969-05-11	ATL	PHI	W 4-3	GS-8	7.2	6	3	3	4	5	1	56
21	Johnny Sain	1948-09-25	BSN	NYG	L 2-3	GS-7 ,L	7.0	7	3	1	2	1	0	54
22	Steve Avery	1992-04-14	ATL	CIN	L 4-5	GS-7	7.0	5	4	4	2	4	1	53
23	Vern Bickford	1949-08-17	BSN	NYG	W 13-4	CG 9 ,W	9.0	8	4	4	5	3	1	53
24	Tommy Hanson	2009-08-28	ATL	PHI	L 2-4	GS-2 ,L	2.0	2	1	1	0	4	1	52
25	Warren Spahn	1948-04-23	BSN	NYG	L 1-3	GS-7 ,L	7.0	7	3	3	2	2	1	51
26	Pascual Perez	1983-05-17	ATL	CHC	L 3-4	GS-6 ,L	6.0	5	4	3	1	3	1	50
27	Rick Mahler	1988-08-05	ATL	SFG	W 8-5	GS-8 ,W	7.1	8	5	4	0	4	1	48
28	Denny Neagle	1997-09-13	ATL	COL	L 6-10	GS-6	6.0	7	5	3	1	5	0	46
29	Johnny Lanning	1936-09-06	BSN	NYG	W 3-2		8.1	13	2	2	4	0	0	45
30	Hal Goldsmith	1926-08-18 (2)	BSN	PIT	W 4-3		3.2	8	1	1	0	2	0	43
31	Lefty George	1918-08-13 (1)	BSN	NYG	L 4-5		7.0	7	5	5	3	2	0	42
32	Nels Potter	1948-08-23	BSN	BRO	W 3-2	GS-2	1.1	3	2	2	0	0	0	40
33	Russ Ortiz	2004-06-05	ATL	PHI	L 3-5	GS-6 ,L	6.0	9	5	5	3	8	0	39
34	Kent Greenfield	1927-07-01 (2)	BSN	NYG	L 1-4		5.0	7	4	4	3	4	0	38
35	Carl Willey	1961-06-06	MLN	CIN	L 3-7	GS-5 ,L	4.1	7	4	3	3	3	1	35
36	Al Demaree	1919-09-08 (1)	BSN	PIT	L 0-10		8.0	14	10	6	0	2	1	24
37	Socks Seibold	1931-05-31 (1)	BSN	BRO	L 2-9		6.2	13	9	5	0	3	1	23
38	Tim Hudson	2006-07-14	ATL	SDP	W 15-12	GS-3	3.0	9	5	5	0	1	2	22
39	Warren Spahn	1949-04-23	BSN	NYG	L 3-11	GS-5 ,L	4.2	8	7	7	2	2	1	20
40	Don Hendrickson	1945-07-14	BSN	CHC	L 5-6		0.1	5	5	5	2	0	0	19

I did not know the infamous Warren Spahn performance was on his birthday. Maddux’s 1994 complete game was the most dominant game on the list, allowing three baserunners and striking out nine. John Rocker and Rudy Seanez are the only Braves to make relief appearances on their birthday during the postseason.

Player	Year	#Matching		PA	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	TOBwe	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
Randy Moore	1934	2	Ind. Games	8	7	3	0	0	1	2	1	4	0	.429	.500	.857	1.357
Denis Menke	1963	2	Ind. Games	10	10	4	0	0	1	3	0	5	2	.400	.400	.700	1.100
Red Worthington	1932	1	Ind. Games	3	3	2	1	0	0	2	0	2	0	.667	.667	1.000	1.667
Earl Williams	1972	1	Ind. Games	5	4	2	0	0	1	1	1	3	1	.500	.600	1.250	1.850
Billy Urbanski	1932	1	Ind. Games	5	5	2	0	0	1	3	0	2	0	.400	.400	1.000	1.400
Billy Urbanski	1934	1	Ind. Games	5	5	2	0	0	1	1	0	2	0	.400	.400	1.000	1.400
Joe Torre	1963	1	Ind. Games	4	3	2	1	0	0	0	1	3	1	.667	.750	1.000	1.750
Joe Torre	1966	1	Ind. Games	5	4	2	0	0	0	0	1	3	0	.500	.600	.500	1.100
Joe Torre	1968	1	Ind. Games	5	4	2	1	0	0	1	1	3	0	.500	.600	.750	1.350
Max Surkont	1953	1	Ind. Games	3	3	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	.667	.667	.667	1.333
Eddie Stanky	1949	1	Ind. Games	5	4	2	0	0	0	0	1	3	1	.500	.600	.500	1.100
Jack Smith	1926	1	Ind. Games	4	3	2	0	0	0	2	0	2	0	.667	.667	.667	1.333
Sibby Sisti	1949	1	Ind. Games	4	4	2	1	0	1	1	0	2	0	.500	.500	1.500	2.000
Sibby Sisti	1952	1	Ind. Games	4	3	2	1	0	0	0	1	3	0	.667	.750	1.000	1.750
Al Simmons	1939	1	Ind. Games	4	3	2	0	0	0	0	1	3	0	.667	.750	.667	1.417
Oscar Siemer	1926	1	Ind. Games	4	3	2	0	0	0	1	0	2	0	.667	.667	.667	1.333
Vince Shupe	1945	1	Ind. Games	3	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	.500	.667	.500	1.167
Edgar Renteria	2006	1	Ind. Games	5	4	2	0	0	0	0	1	3	2	.500	.600	.500	1.100
Biff Pocoroba	1975	1	Ind. Games	4	3	2	1	0	0	1	1	3	0	.667	.750	1.000	1.750
Biff Pocoroba	1978	1	Ind. Games	4	4	1	0	0	1	3	0	1	1	.250	.250	1.000	1.250
Terry Pendleton	1991	1	Ind. Games	5	5	4	0	0	0	1	0	4	0	.800	.800	.800	1.600
Terry Pendleton	1992	1	Ind. Games	4	4	3	0	0	0	2	0	3	1	.750	.750	.750	1.500
Greg Olson	1991	1	Ind. Games	4	2	1	0	0	0	0	1	3	0	.500	.750	.500	1.250
Greg Olson	1993	1	Ind. Games	4	3	2	0	0	0	0	1	3	1	.667	.750	.667	1.417
Joe Oeschger	1922	1	Ind. Games	4	3	3	1	0	0	2	0	3	0	1.000	1.000	1.333	2.333
Ken Oberkfell	1985	1	Ind. Games	4	4	3	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	.750	.750	.750	1.500
Gene Moore	1936	1	Ind. Games	5	5	3	0	1	1	1	0	3	0	.600	.600	1.600	2.200
Felix Millan	1972	1	Ind. Games	5	5	2	2	0	0	0	0	2	0	.400	.400	.800	1.200
Roy McMillan	1961	1	Ind. Games	5	3	2	0	0	0	4	0	2	0	.667	.400	.667	1.067
Gary Matthews	1978	1	Ind. Games	5	4	2	0	0	0	2	1	3	1	.500	.600	.500	1.100
Marty Martinez	1967	1	Ind. Games	5	3	1	1	0	0	1	2	3	0	.333	.600	.667	1.267
Derrek Lee	2010	1	Ind. Games	4	3	2	0	0	0	0	1	3	0	.667	.750	.667	1.417
Ryan Klesko	1998	1	Ind. Games	4	3	1	0	0	1	1	1	2	0	.333	.500	1.333	1.833
David Justice	1996	1	Ind. Games	4	3	2	0	0	0	0	1	3	0	.667	.750	.667	1.417
Chipper Jones	1996	1	Ind. Games	5	5	4	1	0	1	2	0	4	1	.800	.800	1.600	2.400
Chipper Jones	2008	1	Ind. Games	4	3	3	0	0	1	1	1	4	0	1.000	1.000	2.000	3.000
Chipper Jones	1998	1	Ind. Games	5	5	4	1	0	0	1	0	4	0	.800	.800	1.000	1.800
Chipper Jones	2001	1	Ind. Games	5	5	2	0	0	2	3	0	2	0	.400	.400	1.600	2.000
Chipper Jones	2002	1	Ind. Games	4	3	2	0	0	0	1	1	3	0	.667	.750	.667	1.417
Chipper Jones	2011	1	Ind. Games	5	3	2	1	0	0	2	2	4	0	.667	.800	1.000	1.800
Chipper Jones	2012	1	Ind. Games	4	3	1	0	0	1	1	1	2	0	.333	.500	1.333	1.833
Andruw Jones	2001	1	Ind. Games	5	3	3	0	0	0	1	2	5	0	1.000	1.000	1.000	2.000
Andruw Jones	2002	1	Ind. Games	4	4	1	0	0	1	1	0	1	1	.250	.250	1.000	1.250
Andruw Jones	2004	1	Ind. Games	4	3	2	0	0	0	1	1	3	0	.667	.750	.667	1.417
Andruw Jones	2007	1	Ind. Games	5	3	2	1	0	0	2	1	3	0	.667	.600	1.000	1.600
Deron Johnson	1968	1	Ind. Games	4	4	2	1	0	0	0	0	2	0	.500	.500	.750	1.250
Sonny Jackson	1971	1	Ind. Games	3	3	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	.667	.667	.667	1.333
Glenn Hubbard	1983	1	Ind. Games	5	5	3	0	0	0	2	0	3	1	.600	.600	.600	1.200
Glenn Hubbard	1981	1	Ind. Games	4	4	2	1	0	0	0	0	2	1	.500	.500	.750	1.250
Bob Horner	1978	1	Ind. Games	3	1	1	0	0	0	2	1	2	0	1.000	.667	1.000	1.667
Johnny Hopp	1946	1	Ind. Games	4	4	2	1	0	0	0	0	2	1	.500	.500	.750	1.250
Johnny Hopp	1947	1	Ind. Games	4	3	2	1	0	0	1	0	2	0	.667	.667	1.000	1.667
Eric Hinske	2010	1	Ind. Games	4	4	1	0	0	1	1	0	1	1	.250	.250	1.000	1.250
Jason Heyward	2010	1	Ind. Games	4	3	1	0	0	1	1	1	2	0	.333	.500	1.333	1.833
Billy Herman	1946	1	Ind. Games	4	3	3	0	1	0	0	1	4	0	1.000	1.000	1.667	2.667
Wes Helms	2002	1	Ind. Games	4	4	2	1	0	0	1	0	2	0	.500	.500	.750	1.250
Buddy Hassett	1939	1	Ind. Games	4	4	2	1	0	0	1	0	2	0	.500	.500	.750	1.250
Tony Graffanino	1997	1	Ind. Games	5	4	3	0	0	0	1	0	3	0	.750	.600	.750	1.350
Sid Gordon	1951	1	Ind. Games	4	3	1	1	0	0	0	1	2	0	.333	.500	.667	1.167
Sid Gordon	1952	1	Ind. Games	5	5	2	1	1	0	3	0	2	0	.400	.400	1.000	1.400
Carden Gillenwater	1945	1	Ind. Games	3	3	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	.667	.667	.667	1.333
Marcus Giles	2006	1	Ind. Games	5	4	2	1	0	0	0	1	3	1	.500	.600	.750	1.350
Frank Gibson	1925	1	Ind. Games	4	4	2	1	0	0	2	0	2	0	.500	.500	.750	1.250
Andres Galarraga	1998	1	Ind. Games	4	2	1	0	0	0	0	1	3	0	.500	.750	.500	1.250
Darrell Evans	1973	1	Ind. Games	4	3	1	1	0	0	0	1	2	0	.333	.500	.667	1.167
Johnny Estrada	2004	1	Ind. Games	4	4	3	0	0	0	2	0	3	1	.750	.750	.750	1.500
Mike de la Hoz	1966	1	Ind. Games	3	3	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	1	.667	.667	.667	1.333
Rico Carty	1972	1	Ind. Games	4	4	1	0	0	1	1	0	1	1	.250	.250	1.000	1.250
Eddie Brown	1926	1	Ind. Games	5	3	2	0	0	0	2	1	3	0	.667	.750	.667	1.417
Dusty Baker	1975	1	Ind. Games	5	5	3	1	0	1	2	0	3	0	.600	.600	1.400	2.000
Felipe Alou	1966	1	Ind. Games	6	6	2	0	0	2	2	0	2	0	.333	.333	1.333	1.667

This list contains all performances of at least 3 PA and an OPS above 1.000. Chipper leads with seven games, followed by Andruw with four and Joe Torre with three. None of these performances quite match up with Spahn or Maddux, however.

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