You'll Never Wear That Number in This Town Again Quiz

Answer: Warren Spahn

The Atlanta Braves retired the jersey number (#21) of Warren Spahn late in the calendar year of 1965. Spahn was the first player to have his number retired in franchise history and for at least the following 45+ years would be the only player to have his number retired without ever playing for the Braves in Atlanta.

His accolades and accomplishments would make a very long list - and, that list would have most likely been longer and even more impressive had his baseball career not been interrupted by his military service (for three years) in the United States Army during World War II. At the time of his retirement in 1965, Spahn held the Major League record for career strikeouts by a left-handed pitcher.

Answer: Eddie Mathews

During of the modern era of Major League Baseball, Eddie Mathews was regarded as one of the strongest power hitters of his time and it has been said by many that he was the best third baseman to ever play the game. When the Braves played the New York Yankees in the World Series of 1957, Mathews hit the game-winning home run in the tenth inning of game four.

It would take all seven games, but the Braves would win the World Series that year. An off-the-field honor that went to Eddie Mathews was when he was chosen for the cover of the first-ever issue of "Sports Illustrated"magazine; that issue was first circulated August 16, 1954.

Answer: Hank Aaron

Hank Aaron played for the Braves between 1954 and 1976; starting in Milwaukee he made the move to Atlanta with the franchise. On April 8, 1974 during the fourth inning of an Atlanta Braves home game, Hank Aaron hit the 715th home run of his major league career; with that he broke the long-standing MLB record for career home runs that had been held by Babe Ruth. Aaron would add to that number and finish his career (in 1976) with an amazing total of 755 home runs. Aaron's record would remain another for 33 years, until Barry Bonds surpassed his famous total (of 755) in 2007. The Braves retired Hank Aaron's number 44 in April of 1977.

Answer: Phil Niekro

Phil Niekro was one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history, but he did not rely on speed, power, or curveballs. He mastered a rare and tricky pitch: the knuckleball. When he retired from baseball in 1987 "Knucksie" was the only knuckleball to have won 300 or more major league games - a record that would stand for many years. The knuckleball pitch has been described as: Hard throw, hard to hit. As opposed to all other types of pitches, the knuckleball is thrown with the least amount of rotation on the ball as possible, causing it to seem to float erratically through the air. The pitch did get its name - originally - from the unusual way pitchers held the ball between the thumb and knuckles.
In addition to the Braves, Niekro played for the Cleveland Indians, New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays.
The Braves retired Phil Niekro's number 35 in August of 1984.

Answer: Dale Murphy

Dale Murphy began his major career as a catcher after being selected by the Braves fifth overall in the 1974 draft. After two lack-luster years, Murphy was moved to first base. It was when Braves Manager, Bobby Cox, moved Murphy into the outfield that Murphy's whole career changed. That move would mark the beginning of a decade of highly productive play for Dale Murphy in the National League. For many years Murphy would hold several Atlanta franchise records; some of those included were for home runs, RBIs, hits, runs and games.
The Braves retired Dale Murphy's number 3 mid-June of 1994.

Answer: Greg Maddux

When Greg Maddux made his major league debut (for the Chicago Cubs) in September 1986 he was the youngest player in the majors. In his fifth and final start of 1986, Maddux defeated his older brother, Mike, who was pitching for the Philadelphia Phillies. That game was the first time rookie brothers had pitched against each other in a major league game. His career in the majors would continue for 23 seasons.

It was 1993 when Atlanta brought Greg Maddux from the Chicago Cubs as free agent to join a rotation already regarded as the best in the game. There would be no regrets - in the 11 years that Maddux was with the Braves, he was able to post 194 wins, a 2.63 ERA, and 61 complete games with 21 shutout wins. He pitched 2,526.2 innings recording 1,828 strikeouts. The Braves retired #31 in honor of Greg Maddux in mid-July 2009.

Answer: Tom Glavine

The first Cy Young Award that Glavine received was after the 1991 season. That season the Braves went from the worst team in 1990 to first place in 1991. That same year Tom Glavine won twenty (20) games and posted a 2.55 ERA (earned run average). Tom Glavine was said to have "painted the outside corner of the plate as well as any pitcher in the history of the game".

As a nod to his commitment to the success of his team, Tom Glavine served as the Atlanta Braves team representative to the Major League Baseball Players Association - following former Braves player and team star, Dale Murphy, in that capacity. The Braves retired jersey #47 in honor of Tom Glavine in August 2010.

Answer: Bobby Cox

With six seasons of winning more than 100 games (per season) Bobby Cox achieved what only one other major league manager had achieved. (That record would stand for many years.) He began his career in the MLB playing third base for the Yankees. He would play only two seasons. His true calling was, obviously, in another capacity. During the years as manager - as mentioned in the question - Bobby Cox was able to make significant changes in the Atlanta Braves farm team system (commonly called "the minor leagues") that cultivated the recruitment of talented pitchers. Those changes would have positive repercussions for years - long after Cox had retired from baseball.

The Braves enjoyed tremendous success under the management of Bobby Cox. They won 14 consecutive division titles (excluding the 1994 strike year) from 1991 to 2005. They made 15 postseason appearances, clinched five NL pennants, and won the World Series in 1995. The #6 uniform was retired by the Braves in honor of Bobby Cox in August of 2011.

Answer: John Smoltz

Smoltz retired from major league baseball (2009) with the unique distinction of being the only pitcher to achieve both 200 wins and 150 saves and 3,000 strikeouts in his career. He will always be remembered for being a part of a tremendous trio of starting pitchers who were on the Braves roster during the 1990s - John Smoltz, Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine. Those three pitchers were a huge part of Atlanta's success in pennant races and why the Braves became known as "the team of the 1990s".

After Smoltz retired from playing baseball he moved to the broadcast booth serving as both/either a color commentator and an analyst. He is also an avid (and, expert!) golfer who once qualified for the U.S. Senior Open (golf tournament). The Braves retired #29 in honor of John Smoltz in June of 2012.

Answer: Chipper Jones

Yes, the Braves chose Chipper Jones as their first overall draft pick in 1990. When Jones was elected to join the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2018 only Ken Griffey, Jr. had held that same distinction - first overall draft pick and Hall of Fame member.
Jones made his major league debut in September of 1993; he was the youngest player in the league at that time. He would very soon be recognized among the best players in baseball. Jones won the National League MVP (Most Valuable Player) award in 1999 and was the MLB batting champion in 2008.
He served the MLB/the Braves after retiring as player in other capacities including as a hitting consultant for the Braves. It was in that role he received his second World Series championship ring - when the Braves won the 2021 World Series.
The #10 jersey was retired by the Atlanta Braves in June of 2013 in honor of Larry Wayne Jones, Jr. aka Chipper Jones.