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Braves fans remember the heartbreakersCNNSI.com looked at a few of the transactions that made Braves fans shout, "Say It Ain't So." Then we opened the mailbag and let users vent on those and other dirty deals from over the years. Here is a sampling of your reactions:
This die-hard 20-year veteran Braves fan was sick the day the Braves let the "Big Cat", Andres Galarraga, head west to Texas. It was a sad day for many Braves fans. Andres is an exciting player to watch, with a powerful swing, and rock-solid defense at first base. His power hitting and ability to go deep will be missed.
I know I was sick the day I heard about his Texas signing on the radio and so were my kids. I wish him well. God bless Andres Gallarraga.
What about the "Crime Dog" Fred McGriff? He did everything for the Braves. I was a big fan of his, he was my favorite Brave, and it made me sad when the Braves traded him. They could have gotten a few more good years out of him. He and Justice were a very good 3-4 pair.
Growing up, Dale Murphy was my hero. I learned about the baseball watching those terrible Braves teams of the mid-late 80s with my dad. I didn't care if they won or lost...they had Dale Murphy! To me, Dale was bigger than life. He was a hero that never let me down on or off the field. The day Big Murph was traded was the day I learned that baseball was a business. I guess dad left that part out.
It killed me to see the Murph traded to Philly. I grew up watching Dale on TBS & it was the saddest thing to see him wearing Phillies pinstripes. Atlanta should've done the right thing & brought him back just to let him officially retire in a Braves uniform. Dale inspired me to play softball & showed that real athletes inspire people with their off-the-field presence. Murphy was Atlanta baseball for way too long & was done a great injustice by being shipped off as he was.
I still talk in angst with my father about two Atlanta trades. The first was the one that sent Jermaine Dye away for Michael Tucker. I would cut off a finger or two to have him in left field and batting fourth behind Furcal, Andruw and Chipper. We did get Lockhart, who is a fundamental utility player, but it still hurts to watch highlight footage of Dye crushing the ball for K.C. That trade is second only to the trade to San Diego. I am still feeling the effects of sending Ryan Klesko away and getting two lifeless bats in return in Boone and Sanders. I would love to have Klesko back at first and hitting in the 5 or 6 hole.
I am a fan, and I will remain a fan, but sometimes the front office kills me.
Lest we forget, the Braves had no use for Brett Butler because they had someone better coming up through their minor league system. Brad Komminsk anyone?
It broke my heart when the Braves traded Ryan Klesko. I had watched him since his minor league days. He plays with his whole heart and soul and is such a nice personable person. The Braves had a terrible left field last year. The loss of Klesko was felt in the field and in the batting lineup. Thanks for letting me vent. It has made me feel better.
Andres Galarraga! That situation broke my heart! He missed an entire year, had players visiting him, and then when he made a miraculous comeback... He got huge standing ovations. The city of Atlanta and all the fans stood up and poured their emotions out to him. His best friend Eddie Perez was on the team. Its not Andres' fault though, he left when the managment just quit on him. Not only do they lose a great human being who was loved by the players and fans, but they gave up on an excellent player with many great years left.
It was late in Spring Training in '97. John Schuerholtz and the Braves decided to trade David Justice, the man who had hit the winning homer of Game 6 in '95, and Marquis Grissom, a native Georgian who was coming off a dynamite '96 World Series performance, for Kenny Lofton and Alan Embree. Hated the trade from Day 1. Justice was the only Brave that played with fire and stirred the coals a bit. Schuerholtz did it again a couple of days later and traded Jermaine Dye for Michael Tucker and Keith Lockhart. In die-hard cities, trades like that get you fired. In Atlanta, they get you an extension. Joke.
It has to be the Dale Murphy for Jeff Parrett trade. Poor Murph, the year after being traded the Braves go on a 10 Division Title run. It was sad to see him in a Phillies uniform knowing that one year later the Braves were in the World Series. It is a tragedy that such a good man could not get the chance to win the World Series or even a NLCS ring.
I was 11 years old and a huge Milwaukee Braves fan in 1963 when the Braves traded Joe Adcock to the Indians. He was part of team of sluggers that included Hank Aaron, Eddie Mathews and Joe Torre. I was devastated! It was my first exposure to the "real world" of the cut-throat professional sports. Three years later the Braves would move to Atlanta taking my hero's Hank Aaron and Eddie Mathews with them. Sports would never be the same after that!
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