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Bret Robert Boone was born in El Cajon, CA, April 6, 1969 to Bob and Sue Boone. The oldest of three boys, Bret grew up in a baseball themed family. Both his father and his grandfather (Ray Boone) were major leaguers. When Bret made his major league debut in Seattle in 1992, the Boone family set a record for being the only familly to have three generations in the majors. Today, two of Bret's younger brothers are following in his footsteps. Aaron Boone has secured his position as the starting 3rd Baseman for the Cincinnati Reds and Matt Boone is working his way up in the Detroit Tigers organization. He was a 1998 All-Star and Gold Glove winner and for the past five seasons, Bret has led all major league second basemen with a .990 fielding percentage (minimum 2,000 total chances). In 1994, Bret married his wife Suzi. The couple have two children; Savannah (4/3/96) and Jacob (3/23/99). In November 1998 Bret was traded to the Atlanta Braves with P Mike Remlinger for P Denny Neagle, P Rob Bell, and OF Michael Tucker. Dring his brief stint as a Brave he hit his 100th carer HR on July 30th,1999 against Philadelphia Phillies nd became the first player since Dodgers' Jim Gilliam in 1953 to hit 3 doubles in one World Series game in post season play. His stay was short-lived when on Dec. 22, 1999 he was traded to San Diego Padres with 1B Ryan Klesko and RHP Jason Shiell for 2B Quilvio Veras, OF Reggie Sanders, and 1B Wally Joyner.
Born John David Burkett on November 28, 1964 in New Brighton, PA, he was a three-time letterman in baseball at Peaver (PA) High School and led his team to the state title as a senior going 12-0 and 27-6 for his career. His favorite Major League team growing up was the Pittsburgh Pirates and Willie Stargell was his favorite player. Joined the Giants in September of 1987 and made major league debut in relief on Sept. 15 against San Diego. After spending 2 years in the minors, was recalled by the Giants in 1990 and went on to lead major league rookie pitchers in wins (14), innings (204), and starts (32). The Atlanta Braves, looking for help for their starting rotation, signed veteran right-hander John Burkett on April 2, 2000, to a major league contract. He became a free agent at the end of the 2001 season and he signed with the Boston Red Sox leaving a starting rotation to fill in the Braves organization
Ken Caminiti was born on April 21, 1963 in Hanford, California. On June 4, 1984, he was selected by the Houston Astros' organization in the 3rd round of the free agent draft. He reached the majors for good in 1989, and during his career he has won numerous awards and honors, including the National League Most Valuable Player Award in 1996. In addition to the Astros, Caminiti has also played for the San Diego Padres and briefly spent time with the Texas Rangers in 2001. On July 2, 2001,the Rangers gave Caminiti his wish and gave him his unconditional release. Shortly after the release, he was signed by the Atlanta Braves. Caminiti, 38, hit .232 with nine home runs and 25 RBIs in 54 games for the Rangers this year before being placed on the 15-day disabled list with a pulled left hamstring June 17.With the Braves, Caminiti received playing time at first base, as a back-up at third, and also had occasional pinch-hitting duties.
Born in Panama City, Panama, Chen grew up with a desire to play the game as an adult. His goal was to suit up for Panama's national team, not the major leagues. He knew nothing about professional baseball in the United States until Bill Clark, Atlanta's international scouting director, saw the rail- thin youngster as a 15- year- old. Bruce Chen has gone from a 16- year-old signee to one of the best pitching prospects in the minor leagues. The 1997 season at Class A Macon was his coming- out year, with Chen leading the SAL in strikeout and being named the league's top lefthander. It was his first year in full- season ball after three with the Braves' short season clubs. Highly intelligent with a great feel for pitching, Chen has matured into a frontline starter. Even on nights when he doesn't have his best stuff, Chen finds a way to win with his ability to pitch. One day after the All-Star game in Atlanta on July 12, 2000, the Atlanta Braves traded for right-hander Andy Ashby, sending former top pitching prospect Bruce Chen and minor league pitcher Jimmy Osting to Philadelphia
Dubbed the "Big Cat" (El Gran Gato) by Felipe Alou while in the Minor Leagues, Andres Jose Galarraga is without a doubt, among the best fielding first basemen in the Major Leagues today. Andres has played for many different teams including the Montreal Expos, St. Louis Cardnals, Colorado Rockies and now the Atlanta Braves. He was signed on by the Expos by advise of Felip Alou. Who worked with him through his hitting slump (.189 batting average.). After being traded to the St. Louis Cardnals, he sat most of the time due to a broken bone in right wrist. After he was took a step down to Jacksonville. Colorado found him and picked him up. In his first year he had a .370 batting avg. with 174 hits. After another injury he was re-released as a free agent. He was than picked up again by Colorado and put to work at First base. There he was named the --BIG CAT-- because of his ability to field the ball and his Cat-like reflexis. He continued there for five years. After the Braves winnning the '97 World Series, they decided they needed a good first-baseman. So they picked up Galarraga. Galarraga uses the entire field and typically produces a couple of hitting streaks of 10 or more games during a season. His lone weakness is outside sliders, yet he sometimes will turn those into rocket shots. Amazingly agile for a man his size, Galarraga has above-average speed and figures to upgrade Atlanta's infield defense after the Braves used Ryan Klesko, Brian Hunter and Randall Simon at first base during his absence
Marquis "Grip" Grissom graduated from Lakeshore High School in College Park, GA and attended Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, where he excelled in 1988 as a pitcher (9-3, 2.40 ERA) and as an outfielder (.448, 12 HR) He finished 6th in NCAA Division 1 batting race, 38 points ahead of Jeff Bagwell. He made his major ;eague debut at Montreal on He was acquired from the Expos on April6 ,1995. While a Brave, he captured his fourth straight Gold Glove title for centerfield while compiling career-high offensive numbers in runs (106), triples (10), homers (23) and hits (207)...finished third in the National League in hits, tied for third in triples, seventh in total bases (328), tied for fifth in multi-hit games (58) and tied for seventh with 10 outfield assists. He became the first Brave to amass 200 hits in a season since Ralph Garr's 214 in 1974. He also collected his 1,000th career hit on July 14 vs Florida off Chris Hammond. At the end of the 1996 season he was aquired by the Cleveland Indians. He is one of 15 children in his family and one of his younger brothers Antonio is an outfielder in the Expos' organization When not playing baseball, he enjoys fishing and drawing.
Born on March 29, 1967, Brian was selected by the Cleveland Indians organization in 20th round of free-agent draft (June 3, 1985). A graduate of Milford H.S. in Baltimore, Md he played baseball, football and basketball in high school. He attended University of Richmond where he played baseball and football and was a sociology major. He was named All-America and all-conference in football and named all-conference in baseball. He moonlighted as a defensive back for the Buffalo Bills in the 1989 NFL draft and then for the Atlanta Falcons where he spent three seasons (1989-91) with the Falcons and was named an alternate on the 1992 Pro Bowl team. In 2001 Brain was slowed during the year by a multitude of injuries, yet spent only April 4-19 on the DL with a strained right rib cage muscle. . Besides the rib cage ailment, he was bothered at various times by sore shoulders (underwent off-season arthroscopic surgery to repair), sore knees, sore ankles and a sore right hand... On January 15, 2002 he was treaded along with Odalies Perez to the LA Dodgers for Gary Sheffield. Playing in right field along beside Andruw Jones, no ball got past them. He was also a great clutch hitter behind Chipper Jones...
Stefan Andrew Karsay was born on March 24, 1972 in Flushing, New York. In his youth, Karsay participated in both hockey and baseball. He graduated in 1990 from Christ the King High School in Queens, New York. After graduation, Karsay was drafted in the first round (22nd overall pick) by the Toronto Blue Jays. After spending three seasons in the Toronto organization, he was acquired by the Oakland Athletics in 1993. Karsay made his major league debut that same year, appearing in eight games for the A's. He was then traded to the Cleveland Indians in 1998, where he spent three seasons as both a starter and a reliever. Karsay has the ability to throw a 96-97 mph fastball, a split-finger fastball, and a sharp, breaking curveball at 76-82 mph. Although he has had elbow problems in the past, Karsay made 72 relief appearances in 76.2 innings for the Cleveland Indians in 2000. He is a good fielding pitcher with great range coming off the mound. On June 23, 2001 Karsay was traded to the Braves, along with reliever Steve Reed, in exchange for the controversial closer John Rocker. Karsay has stated many times in the past that he was unhappy in Cleveland as a set-up man; with the Braves, he was most often be used in the closer's role. At the end of the 2001 season Steve became a free agent and was signed by the NY Yankees.
Ryan was born on June 12, 1971 in Westminister, California. He was aquired by the Braves' 6th selection (5th round) in the 1989 June free agent draft. Ryan says the best thing about being a Pro Baseball Player is anything that has to do with helping kids. Ryan used to be on the SWAT Team in West Palm Beach,FLA. but the Braves put in his contract that he could no longer do it. His best friend in Baseball is John Rocker
Ryan enjoys hunting,fishing, and water sports. In the off season Ryan volunteers at his local sherriff's department. He wants to be a sherriff after his baseball career. His time of being a brave came to an end in the off-season of '99, where he was traded to San Diego in a six person deal including Bret Boone going to the Padres.
John Rocker was born on October 17, 1974 in Statesboro, Georgia, but moved to and now resides in Macon, GA when his father took a job with the Georgia Farm Bureau's home office. In high schhol at the Presbyterian Day High School in Macon, he particiapated in baseball, football and basketball. He recieved All-state and All-reginal honors in baseball. While a child growing up in Georgia, he has always been a big braves fan, but also enjoyed being a fan of Roger Clemons and George Brett. He was the Atlanta's 18th round pick in the 1993 free agent draft. During his spare time, he donates his time with Georgia's Children's Home and the Scootish rite Hospital. He'a a huge wrestling fan and also enjoys hunting and fishing. . His controversial stormy stay with the Braves abruptly ended on June 22,2001 when the reliever was traded to the Cleveland Indians for pitchers Steve Reed and Sean Karsay.Ironically, Rocker was informed of the deal in New York, the place that he started a national furor after the 1999 season when he denigrated New Yorkers, immigrants, homosexuals and others in an interview with Sports Illustrated.
It might seem odd that Lofton only batted .203 when he was called up in 1991. The Astros gave up on him and traded him to the Indians. Kenny Lofton was aquired by the Braves in a April 1996 deal which sent David Justice and Marquis Grissom to the Indians in exchange for Lofton and Alan Embree. In 1996, Lofton had his best career season, setting career highs in hits, homeruns, stolen bases, rbi's, and runs scored. His .333 average was the 2nd highest total of his career and 4th in the National League. While at Atlanta he collected his 1,000 career hit on August 10 and was elected to his 4th straight All-Star Game on July 8 in Cleveland, but did not play due to the groin injury he pulled on 6/17 in Toronto rounding first base. Missed 34 of the next 35 games, spending two stints on the 15-day disabled list. He was the best leadoff hitter in the game, and was a strong addition to the Braves lineup. At the end of 1997 in December he became a free agent and was signed back to the Clevland Indians after a year absent from the team. Kenny grew up in East Chicago, Illinois where he attended Washington High School and was a four-year starter in baseball. In college at the University of Arizona, Lofton was a two sport star. He helped lead the Wildcats to a Final Four in basketball playing point gaurd along with Chicago Bull Steve Kerr, and was an all-american baseball player. Lofton is a four time golden glove winner and center field, and makes some of the most dramatic leaping catches you will ever see. Kenny can be seen in many Nike ads on television.
Fred McGriff has been on five teams including the Atlanta Braves during his baseball career. He isnt the only family member to play baseball. He is the counsin of Terry McGriff, catcher with four major league teams; and uncle of Charles Johnson, current catcher of the Baltimore Orioles. He was selected by New York Yankees organization in ninth round of free-agent draft in June 1981 He was traded by Yankees organization with OF Dave Collins, P Mike Morgan and cash to Toronto Blue Jays in December of 1982. Traded by Blue Jays with SS Tony Fernandez to San Diego Padres in December of 1990. He was traded by Padres to Atlanta Braves for OF Melvin Nieves, P Donnie Elliott and OF Vince Moore in July of 1993. While at the braves he received the NL Silver Slugger Award for the league's top hitting first sacker in 1993 and finished 4th in the NL MVP voting. He recorded his 1,000th career hit off Colorado's Gary Wayne on Oct 2, 1993 in Atlanta. In 1994 was named MVP of the All-Star Game helping the NL to an 8-7, 10-inning win with a dramatic game-tying 2-run homer in the 9th inning off all-time saves leader Lee Smith. In 1995 he became the 71st player in major league history to reach the 300-homer mark when he homered off Chuck McElroy on May 19 and in September of 1997 he collected his 1,000 careeer RBI. He stayed with the Braves until November 18 1997 when he was traded to Tampa Bay Devil Rays for an undisclosed amount of cash.
Denny Neagle was born on September 13, 1968 in Gambrillis, MD, and became a full rounded athlete. In high school he played baseball, basketball, football and golf. He attended the University of Minnesota on a baseball scholoarship and was part of the Golden Gopher squad team that won the Big Ten title in 1988. Selected by Minnesota in the third round of the 1989 free-agent draft. In 1992, the Pirates acquired Denny Neagle as part of a package from the Minnesota Twins in exchange for a star lefthander that the Pirates couldn't afford to keep. In 1996, Neagle himself became the star lefthander that the Pirates couldn't afford to keep, and they sent him to the Braves at the trading deadline for another package of young talent. It took Neagle a while to get settled in to the Braves' All-Star rotation, but he pitched well in both of his postseason starts, and finally seemed to relax under the heat of the spotlight.After the bidding war, the Braves sure hope this guy is as good as their number one, in the number four spot and became part of the Fab 5. After the 1996 postseason, Neagle seems to have made the successful transition from small-market ace to big-time performer. On November 10, 1998, Denny was traded by Braves with OF Michael Tucker and P Rob Bell to Cincinnati Reds for 2B Bret Boone and P Mike Remlinger. But after only one and a half years at Cincinnati, he was traded to The New York Yankees
on July 12, 2000. Good Luck Danny was the second best team in baseball!!!!
Rey Sanchez knows all too well not too assume anything in baseball. He thought that he would finish his career in the Royals organization. After a contract squabble with his former club, Sanchez finds himself in Atlanta. The Royals dealt the free agent-to-be to Braves on July 31. The Braves wanted more experience at shortstop after losing Rafael Furcal, the 2000 NL Rookie of the Year, to a season-ending shoulder injury just before the All-Star break. Atlanta sent right-handed pitcher Brad Voyles and second baseman Alejandro Machado to the Royals for the 33-year-old Sanchez, who was hitting .303 with no homers and 28 RBIs. "He's a good defensive player and he's also a good hitter," Atlanta manager Bobby Cox said. The 34-year old Sanchez wanted from the Royals was for a three-year agreement, but the club offered a two-year deal worth approximately 7.5 million dollars. His stint with Atlanta was short as he was signed by Boston Red Sox as a free agent on 2/27/02.
Michael Tucker was born on June 25,1971 in South Boston,VA, where he attended Blue Stone Senior High in Skipwith, VA, graduating in 1989; lettered in baseball and basketball. Hit .450 with 15 home runs and 59 RBI during his sophomore season at Longwood College, earning first team Division II All-American honors. Hit .489 with 22 home runs and 74 RBI during his junior season at Longwood College, earning Division II Player of the Year honors. He was on the 1992 United States Olympic team hitting .291 with 4 homers, 36 runs and 29 RBI and led the team with 28 steals. Tucker was selected by the Royals with the 10th pick in the 1st round of the 1992 June Free Agent Draft and was signed by Bob Carter and began his pro career at Class-A Wilmington. Traded to the Atlanta Braves from Kansas City for Jermaine Dye and Jamie Walker in Spring 1997. Tucker's talent is obvious. When he puts together a full season of hitting like he has in the years at Atlanta, he quickly became one of Atlanta's most important hitters. No matter where he ends up in the field, Tucker was in the lineup regularly. He orginally came in to platoon with Andruw Jones, but he quickly made impressions on Bobby Cox and Atlanta.On November 10, 1998, Michael was traded by Braves with P Denny Neagle and P Rob Bell to Cincinnati Reds for 2B Bret Boone and P Mike Remlinger.
Born Quilvio Alberto Perez Veras on April 3, 1971 he made his major league debut on April 25, 1995 as a Marlin.
Mark was born January 23, 1970, Holyoke, MA and was sected by Atlanta in the 8th round of the 1988 free-agent draft. He graduated from Holyoke High School in 1988, where he was All-Western Conference in baseball in '87 and '88. He was one of the Braves best relif pictures during his tenue at Atlanta. Starting in 1998 he went on the DL with a strained left oblique muscle on 5/3 and finished the season on the DL. Spent most of the 1999 season on the disabled list, first with an anxiety disorder and then with a torn ligament in his right elbow that he was traded to the Reds on 4/16 in exchange for RHP John Hudek. Wohlers' fastball is the only one in the game that consistently flirts with triple-digits, and observers have long wondered what he could do with it if he ever fully harnessed it. Wohlers' fastball is such a weapon that he doesn't really have to hold runners--so he doesn't. Since he's so hard to hit, he doesn't have to field well--so he doesn't (three errors in 10 chances). And as a short reliever, he doesn't have to hit much, so he doesn't (three at-bats, three strikeouts). But no one really complains.
