House That Hank Built
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Atlanta Braves history: the franchise’s top five third basemen

By Fred Owens

MIAMI, FL - MAY 14: A detailed view of the third base bag before the start of the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park on May 14, 2017 in Miami, Florida. Players are wearing pink to celebrate Mother's Day weekend and support breast cancer awareness. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - MAY 14: A detailed view of the third base bag before the start of the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park on May 14, 2017 in Miami, Florida. Players are wearing pink to celebrate Mother's Day weekend and support breast cancer awareness. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images) /
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BOSTON – OCTOBER 12, 1914. Panoramic game action at Fenway Park in Boston, as the Boston Braves host the Philadelphia Athletics on October 12, 1914, where the Miracle Braves in eleven innings will beat the A’s, 4-3. (Photo by Mark Rucker/Transcendental Graphics, Getty Images) /

Number Five A – Call me Red

Red Smith led the National League league in doubles, total bases, extra-base hits, RBI, slugging percentage and OPS in 1913.

As I wrote last year, a fight with his manager led the Brooklyn Robins to trade him or sell his contract  – no one knows for sure – to the Braves.  In the previously linked post, I explained why this deal turned the tide.

"In his first game for Boston, Smith went 1 – 3 with an RBI. Over the remainder of the season, he batted.314/.441/.449/.890 including 17 doubles, a triple, and three home runs while driving in 37. In today’s terms that line gave him 145 wRC+, a .409 wOBA and 2.6 WAR"

He put the team on his back for the next two months, providing the offense to carry them to the World Series. Sadly, Smith didn’t get to play in the series.

Related Story. What about second?. light

In a doubleheader against his former team on the last day of the season, Smith slid into second, his spikes stuck in the dirt, and his season ended.

"Smith’s right shin struck Cutshaw’s left leg (his) spikes dug into the dirt (throwing the) weight of his body on the ankle . . . His body was thrown several feet past the bag . . . . . . suffered an anterior dislocation of the ankle . . , a fracture of the fibula three . . .a fracture of the tibia, and ruptures of the ligaments of the ankle joint."

After retirement, Smith lived in Marietta, Georgia, and remained a Braves fan. His daughter told SABR’s Charles F. Faber he father was “overjoyed” with the Atlanta Braves arrival in 1966. He died nine days after that season ended.

Smith hit only 17 homers for the Braves, but his production stats and plus-stats made him and the joint holder of the fifth spot with one of the best power hitters of his era.

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