1973 Atlanta Braves season

MLB yearly infobox alt
name = Atlanta Braves
season = 1973
misc =

current league = National League
y1 = 1876
division = Western Division
y2 = 1969
Uniform
ballpark = Atlanta Stadium
y4 = 1966
city = Atlanta, Georgia
y5 = 1966
owners = William Bartholomay
general managers = Eddie Robinson
managers =Eddie Mathews
television = WTCG
radio = WSB
(Ernie Johnson, Milo Hamilton)|

The highlight of the Atlanta Braves 1973 season was Hank Aaron finishing the season just one home run short of Babe Ruth as baseball's all-time Home Run king.

Offseason

* October 27, 1972: Rico Carty was traded by the Braves to the Texas Rangers for Jim Panther. [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/c/cartyri01.shtml Rico Carty page at Baseball Reference] ]
* January 21, 1973: Curt Blefary was signed as a free agent by the Braves. [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/b/blefacu01.shtml Curt Blefary page at Baseball Reference] ]
* February 28, 1973: Pat Jarvis was traded by the Braves to the Montreal Expos for Carl Morton. [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/m/mortoca01.shtml Carl Morton page at Baseball Reference] ]
* March 26, 1973: Denny McLain was released by the Braves. [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/m/mclaide01.shtml Denny McLain page at Baseball Reference] ]

Regular season

* At the age of 39, Aaron managed to slug 40 home runs in 392 at-bats, ending the season one home run short of the record. He hit home run number 713 on September 29, 1973, and with one day remaining in the season, many expected him to tie the record. But in his final game that year, playing against the Houston Astros (led by manager Leo Durocher, who had once roomed with Babe Ruth), he was unable to hit one out of the park. After the game, Aaron stated that his only fear was that he might not live to see the 1974 season. That statement wasn't just about the death threats: one year earlier, September 30, 1972 was the last day that the legendary Roberto Clemente ever played, as he perished in the offseason. ["Hank Aaron and the Home Run that changed America," Tom Stanton, p.179, ISBN 0-06-072290-8]

Opening Day Starters

* Hank Aaron
* Dusty Baker
* Darrell Evans
* Ralph Garr
* Gary Gentry
* Rod Gilbreath
* Davey Johnson
* Johnny Oates
* Marty Perez

eason standings

Notable Transactions

* May 19, 1973: Andre Thornton was traded by the Braves to the Chicago Cubs for Joe Pepitone. [http://www.baseball-reference.com/p/pepitjo01.shtml Joe Pepitone page at Baseball Reference] ]
* June 7, 1973: Pat Dobson was traded by the Braves to the New York Yankees for Frank Tepedino, Wayne Nordhagen, and players to be named later. The Yankees completed the deal by sending Dave Cheadle to the Braves on August 15 and Al Closter to the Braves on September 5. [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/c/clostal01.shtml Al Closter page at Baseball Reference] ]
* June 19, 1973: Joe Pepitone was released by the Braves.

Hank Aaron’s Chase for the Record

Other batters

Relief pitchers

Awards and records

*Davey Johnson, Tied Rogers Hornsby’s record for most Home Runs in one season by a National League Second Baseman (42) [Great Baseball Feats, Facts and Figures, 2008 Edition, p.90, David Nemec and Scott Flatow, A Signet Book, Penguin Group, New York, NY, ISBN 978-0-451-22363-0] 1973 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
* Hank Aaron, First Baseman, Starter
* Darrell Evans, Outfield, Reserve
* Davey Johnson, Reserve

Farm system [Johnson, Lloyd, and Wolff, Miles, ed., "The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball". Durham, N.C.: Baseball America, 1997]

* Class AAA: Richmond Braves (International League; Bobby Hofman and Clint Courtney, managers)
* Class AA: Savannah Braves (Southern League; Clint Courtney and Tommie Aaron, managers)
* Class A: Greenwood Braves (Western Carolinas League; Hoyt Wilhelm, manager)
* Rookie: Wytheville Braves (Appalachian League; Paul Snyder, manager)

References

* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/ATL/1973.shtml 1973 Atlanta Braves team page at Baseball Reference]
* [http://baseball-almanac.com/teamstats/roster.php?y=1973&t=ATL 1973 Atlanta Braves team page at www.baseball-almanac.com]