Page 121 - 2021 ATL Media Guide

FREDDIE FREEMAN
• Only three left-handed hitters in Braves • Stole a career-high 10 bases in 2018…Also hit
history have hit more homers in a 23 home runs…He is the fourth first baseman FRONT OFFICE
season…Eddie Mathews did so five times, in Braves franchise history to hit at least 20
while Darrell Evans and David Justice homers and steal at least 10 bases in a season…
each did so once…Additionally, only two Dale Murphy was the last to do so in 1978…
other Braves’ first basemen have reached Earl Torgeson first accomplished the feat in
that mark in a season (Andrews Galarraga, consecutive seasons, 1950-51, and it was later
44 in 1998 and Joe Adcock, 38 in 1956). matched by Orlando Cepeda in 1969.
• His 121 RBI were the most by a Braves • Had a career-best 46-game on-base streak in MANAGER & STAFF
player since Andruw Jones drove in 129 in 2016, from 8/6-9/28, reaching base at a .512 clip
2006…Only 12 other players in franchise in that span…The streak was the third longest in
history have driven in more than 120 in a Atlanta history (since 1966), and the longest since
season. Gary Sheffield set the Atlanta record in 2002 (52
• Had an RBI in an Atlanta-era record 10 games).
consecutive games, from 6/12-22..That • Within that stretch, had a career-best 30-
tied the Braves all-time mark, done by Sid game hitting streak, from 8/24-9/28…That
Gordon in 1951 with Boston. was also the third-longest hitting streak in FREDDIE FREEMAN
• Had 33 RBI in 28 games in June, setting Atlanta history…In fact, it was the longest
an Atlanta franchise record for most RBI in in the majors since 2011, when the
a calendar month. Braves’ Dan Uggla hit safely in an Atlanta
• At the All-Star break that season, had 25 franchise-record 33 straight.
doubles, 23 home runs, 68 RBI and 69 • Also hit a then-career-best 34 homers
runs scored…He was only the second that season…Became the ninth player in
player in Braves history with at least 20 major-league history to have a 30-game SEASON IN REVIEW
doubles, 20 homers, 60 RBI and 60 runs hitting streak in a season in which he hit
scored before the All-Star Game…Gary 30 home runs.
Sheffield was the other, recording 21 • Reached base in an Atlanta franchise-record
doubles, 22 homers, 70 RBI and 70 runs 12 consecutive plate appearances in April 2017,
in 2003. from 4/16-19…Eclipsed Jeff Burrough’s mark of
• Began that season, 2019, with a 27-game 11, which he set in April 1978...Freeman walked in
on-base streak, tying J.D. Drew (2004) his final two plate appearances on 4/16, reached
for the longest season-opening on-base base four times on both 4/17 and 4/18, and PLAYER DEVELOPMENT
streak in the Atlanta-era (since 1966). walked and homered his first two times up on
• For three consecutive seasons, from 2016-18, 4/19.
finished with at least a .300 batting average, 35 • Hit for the cycle on 6/15/16 vs. Cincinnati...
doubles and 20 home runs…Those are the only Singled in his final at-bat in the 11th inning to
three such seasons of his career…In franchise secure the feat...He became the third player in
history, only two other Braves have multiple such Atlanta history (since 1966) to do it, and the first
seasons…Hank Aaron had five of these seasons, since Mark Kotsay on 8/14/08…It is the only cycle BRAVES HISTORY
while Chipper Jones had four…Both players are in of Freeman’s career.
the National Baseball Hall of Fame. • In his first full major-league season, 2011,
• Led the N.L. in hits in 2018 with a career-best finished second in N.L. Rookie of the Year voting,
191…He became the first Braves player to do so behind teammate Craig Kimbrel…Was named
since 1992, when Terry Pendleton had 199 to tie Baseball Digest’s Rookie of the Year after leading
Pittsburgh’s Andy Van Slyke for the most in the N.L. rookies in batting average (.282), on-base
league...Prior to Freeman, the last Braves player percentage (.346), slugging percentage (.448),
to lead outright was Pendelton (187) in 1991. home runs (21, T1st), RBI (76) and doubles (32) in OPPONENTS
157 games.
• Teammate Ozzie Albies would go on
to pace the N.L. in that category the • Tabbed N.L. Rookie of the Month for
following season, 2019…The Braves July…Hit .362 with 38 hits in 27 games.
became the first N.L. team to have • Finished the season with 161 hits, the
a player lead the league in hits in most among Atlanta-era rookies (since
consecutive seasons since the Cubs in 1966).
2005 and 2006…Derrek Lee had 199 in MISCELLANEOUS
2005, while Juan Pierre had 204 in 2006.

2021 ATLANTA BRAVES MEDIA GUIDE 121