SMOLTZ and JOHNSON.Pub
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Two Babe Ruth Graduates Join Hall of Fame Class of 2015 Babe Ruth graduates Randy Johnson (Livermore, CA BRL) and John Smoltz (Lansing, MI BRL) were elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in a blockbuster vote by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Hall of Fame candidates needed 412 votes, or 75 percent of the 549 ballots cast by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Johnson, a five-time Cy Young Award winner with 303 victories and 4,875 strikeouts, was selected on 534 of the 549 ballots (97.3%). The percentage for the left-hander was the eighth highest in the history of voting. Smoltz, the 1996 NL Cy Young winner, the only pitcher with 200 wins and 150 saves, was picked on 455 ballots (82.9%). “The Hall of Fame was never something that I surely ever thought about,” said Johnson, who has been pursuing a photography career since his retirement. “I don’t think people quite understand how difficult it is to be 6-foot-10 and be throwing a ball 60 feet, 6inches away,” Johnson added. “In order to do that, you have to be consistent with your release point and where you’re landing and your arm slot and all that. For someone 6-1, 6-2, there’s less body to keep under control, so it’s a lot easier.” In 22 seasons (playing for six teams, primarily the Seattle Mariners and the Arizona Diamondbacks), Johnson led his league in strikeouts nine times, earned four ERA titles and recorded 100 complete games to go along with 37 shutouts. He was named to 10 All-Star Games, and his 4,865 strikeouts ranked No. 2 behind Nolan Ryan’s 5,714. Johnson’s 10.61 strikeouts per nine innings rank first all-time. Johnson owns six of the 33 300-strikout seasons in the modern-era history of the game. Five of the top 11 single-season strikeout seasons belong to the pitcher known as the Big Unit. “I’m honored, I’m humbled and speechless for the first time,” said Smoltz after receiving the phone call. Smoltz, an eight-time All-Star and the winner of the 1997 Silver Slugger and Cy Young Awards, finished his 21-year big league career with a 213-155 record, 154 saves, 3,084 strikeouts and a 3.33 ERA. The winner of 14 or more games 10 times he twice led the NL in wins (1996 and 2006), innings pitched (1996 and 1997) and strikeouts (1992 and 1996). The right- hander played 20 seasons for a Braves team that went to the playoffs in 14 consecutive seasons from 1991-2005, captured five NL pennants and won the 1995 World Series. Smoltz was a huge part of all that winning, posting a 15-4 mark in the postseason, four wins fewer than Yankees left-hander Andy Pettitte, who holds the playoff record with 19 victories. To our Babe Ruth Alumni – Johnson and Smoltz – we salute you on this prestigious honor. .