Braves News World

John Smoltz was named the 2005 recipient of the Roberto Clemente award before Game 3 of the World Series, beating out 29 other nominees (1 from each team). The award is presented annually to the player who best combines outstanding play on the field and dedicated service in their community. Smoltz called the award the “greatest honor of [his] career". Among Smoltz’s charitable efforts are the “John and Dyan Smoltz Foundation", which was established in 1997, and his “Strike Out Hunger” campaign which has raised more than $300,000 for the Atlanta Community Food Bank. Smoltz also participates as an instructor in the annual John Smoltz Baseball Camp.

The Atlanta Braves will be making at least a $100,000 donation to the Hurricane relief efforts. The Braves will donate $1 for every new ticket sold during September to the Mississippi American Red Cross through the Braves Foundation, but not less than $100,000. For victims that have take refuge in Atlanta the team is donating game tickets and vouchers for free food at Turner Field concession stands.

The foundation will also collect donations for hurricane victims from fans in the form of money, canned goods, phone and gas cards and other necessities at all Braves home games during September. Meanwhile, John Smoltz is spearheading the collection effort from Braves players and their families. Much clothing, food and money has been pledged by team personnel.

The Mississippi Braves, the Double-A minor league affiliate of the Braves, were forced to cancel their final 7 games of the season, a 3-game series against the Chattanooga Lookouts and a 4-game series against the Carolina Mudcats. Though their home stadium, Trustmark Park, sustained only minor structural damage from the hurricane, the team decided it was not appropriate to play their final games with much of the city of Jackson still in turmoil due to the aftereffects of the storm.

Respect   Determination   Tradition   Pride

These are four fundamental concepts that symbolize the Atlanta Braves organization. Accordingly, the Atlanta Braves Foundation, the team’s non-profit arm that raises funds to support charities and other worthy organizations in the city’s community, has chosen to introduce four different “Braves Bands” bracelets featuring those words on them. The white collectible wristbands will be sold at the Clubhouse Stores in CNN Center and Turner Field. “Livestrong” wrist bands are so 2004!

This year the Braves won’t be able to hold their annual FanFest at Turner Field because of the construction going on at the stadium. Instead, the team will be staging a two-day caravan whereby players, coaches and broadcasters interact with Braves fans in the Chattanooga, Birmingham, Columbus, and greater Atlanta areas on February 4th and 5th. Radio stations 640 WGST and 96 Rock, which will broadcast Braves games this season, are sponsoring the events.

Among the Braves personalities who have agreed to participate are Chipper Jones, Andruw Jones, Johnny Estrada, Horacio Ramirez, Nick Green and both Skip and Chip Caray. The locations and times of their appearances have yet to be announced. Each player or broadcaster will appear at their own separate location for a couple hours. The players and broadcasters will be signing a limited number of autographs and only one per person.

The Braves Community Caravan stops in the greater Atlanta area are listed below. The details of the Birmingham, Columbus and Chattanooga stops have not yet been announced.

Friday, February 4
11 a.m.-1 p.m. ET ~ Publix at Highland Plaza (3605 Sandy Plains Road, Marietta)
11 a.m.-1 p.m. ET ~ Publix at Dunwoody Hall (5550 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody)
11 a.m.-1 p.m. ET ~ Home Depot Sandy Springs (6400 Peachtree Dunwoody Rd. N.E., Atlanta)
5 p.m.-7 p.m. ET ~ Publix at Coweta Crossroads (100 Glenda Place, Newnan)
5 p.m.-7 p.m. ET ~ Publix at The Peach (2900 Peachtree Road, N.E., Atlanta)

Saturday, February 5
10 a.m.-12 p.m. ET ~ Publix at Promenade (1625 Pleasant Hill Drive, Duluth)
10 a.m.-12 p.m. ET ~ Home Depot Merchants Walk (4101 Roswell Road, Marietta)
Publix at Dacula Village (720 Dacula Road, Dacula)
4 p.m.-6 p.m. ET ~ Publix at Alpharetta Commons (4305 State Bridge Road, Alpharetta)
4 p.m.-6 p.m. ET ~ Publix at Rose Creek Plaza (4403 Towne Lake Parkway, Woodstock)

John Smoltz will be the featured speaker at the annual Georgia Tech Baseball Benefit Dinner on February 9th. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Georgia Tech baseball program. The dinner will take place at the Georgia Tech Hotel & Conference Center at 6:30 p.m. that night. Admission is $75 per person and $700 for a table of ten people. Other highlights will include silent and live auctions, as well as Georgia Tech player introductions.

Smoltz is the latest in a long line of baseball notables to speak at the event. Past speakers include Peter Gammons, Joe Torre, Tommy Lasorda, Jimy Williams, Sparky Anderson, Jason Varitek, and the Braves’ own John Schuerholz.

To RSVP or receive more information call (404) 894-5410 or send a check (payable to GTAA) to: GTAA, Attn: Tom Kinkelaar, 150 Bobby Dodd Way NW, Atlanta, GA 30332-0455. If mailing a check, the GTAA requests that you include the number of people attending, your address and your daytime telephone number. The deadline to RSVP is January 28th.

The Rome Braves, the class “A” affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, will hold their third annual Hot Stove Gathering at State Mutual Stadium in Rome, Georgia, on Jan. 27th from 5:30 - 8:00 p.m. Proceeds from the event will benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Coosa Valley.

Longtime Braves broadcaster Pete Van Wieren will serve as Master of Ceremonies for the event. Atlanta infielder Nick Green and catcher Eddie Perez will also appear at the event. The main event will commence at home plate at 7:00 pm ET. Door prizes will be distributed throughout the evening. The Rome Braves will also be holding a silent auction from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. for items that have been donated from major and minor league teams throughout the country.

Tickets to the event are available at the ticket department at State Mutual Stadium (755 Braves Blvd. in Rome or by phone at 706-378-5144). Ticket prices are $25 per person.

Bobby Cox and John Schuerholz will be featured guests at a dinner honoring the Double-A Mississippi Braves (formerly Greenville Braves) on Jan. 24. The event, dubbed “A Celebration of Champions” (though the Greenville team finished in the cellar of their division last year), will start at 6 p.m. CT at the Hilton-Jackson in Jackson, MS. The dinner itself will start at 7 p.m. CT.

In addition to dinner, speakers and presentations, the Mississippi Braves will be holding a silent auction and raffle for prizes and autographed memorabilia. Proceeds from those activities will benefit Jackson Metro Area charities.

Tickets can be purchased in advance for $35 each (or $300 for a table of 10) at the M-Braves offices (226 Saint Paul St. in Pearl, MS) or by calling (601) 932-8788 or 888-BRAVES-4.

Braves third baseman Chipper Jones will be the featured speaker at the 2005 Tennessee Baseball Leadoff Banquet on Feb. 1. It will take place at the Knoxville Marriott at 7 p.m. that night. Those interested in attending can still purchase tickets for the banquet for $30 per seat or $350 for a corporate table by calling (865) 974-1734. Seating is limited. The banquet will be preceded by a silent auction starting at 6 p.m. ET.

Bobby Cox has been known to give umpires a mouthful on occassion… Now Cox will get a mouthful with a couple lucky fans. But that’s mainly because they’ll be having lunch!

Fans who donate $10 to the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization of Coosa Valley can enter a drawing to be held January 27th at the Rome Braves annual Hot Stove gathering. The two winners drawn (and their guests) will join Cox for lunch at Thurston’s Cafe on February 1st. In Calhoun, Georgie, tickets can be purchased at North Georgia National Bank, Sears, Georgia Bank & Trust locations and Thurston’s. Tickets are also available at K-98 Radio and Nextel in Rome, Georgia, and PAL’s Car Wash in Cartersville, Georgia.

With the blessing of the league office, Bobby Cox started donating to the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization several years ago in lieu of paying fines to the league for altercations with umpires. He has donated tens of thousands of dollars in this manner over the years. This begs the question: does Cox now look for every opportunity to bust the umps’ chops knowing he’ll be donating more to the charity?

If you live near Calhoun and are interested in making a donation for a chance to have lunch with Bobby Cox you can call (770) 629-6029 for further information.

After receiving an early Christmas gift of his own on Saturday, John Smoltz will be helping to distribute gifts to some neighborhood families on Tuesday 12/14/04 at the Georgia Avenue Community Ministry (645 Grant Street) from 4:30 - 5:30 pm. The gifts and funds were contributed by Atlanta Braves front office departments and individuals to support the “Adopt-A-Family” project.

Braves catcher Johnny Estrada will be signing autographs this Saturday 12/11/04 from 1:00 - 2:00 pm at the Braves Clubhouse Store in CNN Center in Atlanta. He’ll sign in exchange for either blankets or $20 cash donations to the Hosea Feed the Hungry and Homeless program. Fans who donate a blanket anytime during store hours that day will receive 20% off purchases at the Clubhouse store during that time. Go congratulate Johnny on his exceptional season!

Smoltzie donned his chef’s apron Tuesday night. He volunteered, as he has for many years, to help prepare Thanksgiving meals for needy families in the Metro Atlanta area. Falcons linebacker Keith Brooking also volunteered at the event that was sponsored by the Atlanta Community Food Bank and the Renaissance Waverly Hotel. His involvement with the community is yet another reason Smoltz stands above the rest.

The Braves will be conducting an online holiday auction on their official site to benefit the Atlanta Braves Foundation. The auctions will run from November 22 - December 8. Featured items that will be auctioned are listed below. Let the bidding begin!

John Smoltz autographed baseball
Chipper Jones autographed baseball
Andruw Jones autographed 2004 Opening Day game-worn cap
J.D. Drew autographed baseball
Marcus Giles autographed 2004 Opening Day game-worn cap
Rafael Furcal batting practice-worn jersey
Mike Hampton autographed 2004 Opening Day game-worn cap
Mike Hampton autographed game-worn home jersey
Julio Franco batting practice-worn jersey
Mark DeRosa batting practice-worn jersey
Bobby Cox signed 2003 NLDS Game 5 lineup card
Bobby Cox autographed game-worn jersey
Leo Mazzone game-worn away jersey
Terry Pendleton batting practice-used jersey
2004 NLDS Game 1 game-used base

Don’t worry… Those aren’t fly balls Andruw Jones is dropping – they’re turkeys! Andruw Jones and his wife, Nicole, will be participating in the first ever “Atlanta Braves Foundation Turkey Drop” on Friday 11/19/04 starting at approximately 11:45 am. They’ll go door-to-door in the Turner Field neighborhood giving away turkeys and other holiday goodies (provided by Publix supermarkets) to lucky families.