The Hawk

The Hawk - Andre Dawson

Jake Arrieta

Close up of Jake Arrieta painting - 16x20 acrylic on canvas

Kris Bryant

Kris Bryant - Chicago Cubs

The Georgia Peach

Ty Cobb

Steady Eddie

Eddie Murray - oil on canvas - 16 x 20

Eddie Murray

Eddie Murray - in progress

16 x 20 oil on canvas

Stretch

Willie McCovey

The Wizard

#1 Ozzie Smith - "The Wizard" - 9" x 12" acrylic on paper. Was there any doubt. Ozzie was an acrobat at shortstop and one of my all-time favorites. 1978 was near the beginning of TBS and every Atlanta Braves game was on TV. And if a game was on - we watched it. That was Smith's rookie season with the Padres and they hosted the Braves 10 games into the season. Jeff Boroughs came to the plate in the 4th and hit a ground ball up the middle, Ozzie went to his left and made what I think is the greatest infield play in baseball history. As Smith dives to make the stop - the ball takes a bad hop - and in mid-air Ozzie reaches back with his bare hand - snags it, gets to his feet and throws out Jeff Burroughs. It was and is the most unbelievable thing I have ever seen on a baseball field. Other number ones of note - Richie Ashburn, Pee Wee Reese (one of my Dad's favs) and Garry Templeton (who the Cards traded for Ozzie). Atlanta players who wore #1 - Otis Nixon (who made a great catch of his own) and who could forget, Oddibe "young again" McDowell.

Well there you have it. 30 of my favorite players of all-time by the numbers. Stay tuned for how you can purchase one of these original. I hope you enjoyed it - I had a good time. I'll share more of the process soon, give you my thoughts on this series, what I learned, and what is next. 

Thanks to everyone for all the likes, kind comments, and interaction. 

We are at the end of the series and that means Cards and Cubs kick off the 2015 season tomorrow. Play Ball!

Captain

#2 Derek Jeter - "Captain" - 9" x 12" acrylic on paper. Jeter made one of the most amazing hustle and heads up play I have ever seen in the 2001 ALDS. Tying run on first - double in the right field corner. The Yankees right fielder over threw both cut off men - Jeter came all the way across the diamond - caught the errant throw and backhanded it to Posada who tagged out Giambi. Known as the flip - its worth a you tube look if you missed it live. Jeter  retired with 3465 hits, good for 6th all-time and a career batting average of .310. No other number 2 was ever in contention. Well, we are down to number one. Speaking of amazing plays - this guy made the greatest defensive play in the history of the game - #1

The Great Bambino

#3 Babe Ruth - "The Great Bambino" - 9" x 12" acrylic on paper. If you love baseball you have to love the storied career of Babe Ruth. A larger than life figure known for his majestic home runs and charismatic personality. The Babe is an easy choice here. Other notable number threes - Harmon Killebrew and Jimmy Foxx. A Braves favorite and certainly one of mine - Dale Murphy wore number 3. Down the to our last 2

The Iron Horse

#4 Lou Gehrig - "The Iron Horse" - 9" x 12" acrylic on paper. One of the all-time greats. Gehrig's career was cut short by the disease that bears his name. A career .340 hitter, won the triple crown in 1934 and was twice named AL MVP. Here's some trivia for you - Gehrig is the first MLB player to ever have his number retired. A great story and an awesome player. Always struck by the size of the bats swung by the sluggers of old. Other fours not considered - Paul Molitor, Duke Snider. Atlanta players who wore the number - Jeff Blauser and one of my personal favorites - Bif Pocoroba

#3

The Human Vacuum Cleaner

#5 Brooks Robinson - "The Human Vacuum Cleaner" - 9" x 12" acrylic on paper. Brooks was perhaps my favorite player of all-time. I didn't just like Brooks Robinson - I wanted to be Brooks Robinson. The 1970 World Series was the Brooks Robinson show. He made one spectacular play after the other and hit .429 with 2 home runs to help Baltimore beat the Reds 4 games to 1. I had to have a pair of those flip down shades and started wearing eye black, which in those days was a burnt piece of cork. Other number 5's - of course the great Joe DiMaggio, George Brett, and Johnny Bench. Ron Gant wore number 5 for the Bravos as did Bob Horner. #4  - another all-time great

Stan the Man

#6 Stan Musial "Stan the Man" - 9" x 12" acrylic on paper. Almost went with Al Kaline here - since I actually saw Kaline play but Musial was just too good. Career .331 batting average, 3630 hits (4th all-time), 6134 in total bases - second only to Aaron. Musial won 7 batting titles, 3 World Series with the Cardinals and was an All-Star 24 times (a record shared with Mays and Aaron). Other 6s of note - Steve Garvey (no way). Braves who wore 6 - One of my favorites Clete Boyer, Davey Johnson and of course Bobby Cox. #5 - lots of good players wore number five

The Commerce Comet

#7 Mickey Mantle - "The Commerce Comet" - 9" x 12" acrylic on paper. The greatest switch hitter of all-time and one of the games greatest sluggers. Mantle won the triple crown in 1956, was an all-star 20 times, league MVP three times, and appeared in 12 World Series winning 7 with the Yankees. My favorite Mantle quote - "Had I known I was going to live this long, I'd have taken better care of myself". Never considered anyone else at 7 although there are some fine players in the bunch - namely Craig Biggio and Pudge Rodriguez. Famous Braves to wear number 7 - Gil Garrido (I got his autograph on a program many moons ago) and Jeff Burroughs. #6 - between two players, one I saw play and the other an all-time great.

Pops

#8 Willie Stargell - "Pops" - 9" x 12" acrylic on paper. It would have been easy to pick Yogi Berra here - or Cal Ripken - or even Carl Yastrzemski. I am big fans off all those players. But honestly I never pulled for any of them like I pulled for Stargell and the 1979 Pirates. They were so much fun. Down 3 games to 1 in the World Series they stormed back and beat Baltimore in 7 games. Down one to nothing in the 6th Stargell hit a 2 run homer to win game seven. An who as a kind didn't mimic his bat wind up! #7 - is there more than one?

Teddy Ballgame

#9 Ted Williams - "Teddy Ballgame" - 9" x 12" acrylic on paper. Ted Williams finished with a career batting average of .344. Despite missing three years to military service, he hit 512 homeruns and 1839 RBI. Seventeen times an all-star, twice won the AL MVP and two times won the triple crown. Williams has the highest on base percentage in history - .482. The last man to hit .400 and simply the greatest hitter who ever lived. The only other 9 of note to me was Graig Nettles. Atlanta players to don number 9 - Terry Pendleton and Marquis Grissom. A ton of good players a #8 - tough choice for sure.

Larry

#10 Chipper Jones - "Larry" - 9" x 12" acrylic on paper. Chipper is by far my favorite player to wear number 10. The first overall pick in the 1990 MLB draft. 8 times and All-Star, NL MVP in 1999. He won a batting title in 2008 (.364). Chipper is one of the most accomplished switch hitter of all time - and is the only switch hitter to finish with a .300+ batting average (.303) and over 400 homeruns (468). Some tens you may have considered - Larry Bowa, Ron Cey, Andre Dawson and Ron Santo. Besides Chipper - Chris Chambliss was another Atlanta player to wear the number 10 well. 

#9 - only one pick in my mind - a legend

Gar

#11 Edgar Martinez - "Gar" - 9" x 12" acrylic on paper. The Gar could flat out hit. The only full-time DH so far to every win a batting title (1995 .356). He hit .571 in the 1995 ALDS vs the Yankees and was on base 18 times in 5 games. In game 4 he hit a grand salami in the 8th inning with the game tied 6-6. And in game 5 - down 5-4 in the 11th - doubled off of Jack McDowell to score Junior from 1st and win it for the Mariners. One of my favorite baseball moments. Other 11's I considered - Barry Larkin, Bill Freehan, and Luis Aparicio. One fo my Favorite Braves wore number 11 - Darrell (Howdy Doody) Evans. On to #10

Robbie

#12 Roberto Alomar "Robbie" - 9" x 12" acrylic on paper. Easy pick for me here. Alomar was awesome with the glove and at the plate. A 12 time All-Star and won more Gold Gloves (10) than any other second baseman in history. First player to be inducted into the Hall of Fame as a Bluejay. Other 12's Shawon Dunston and Jeff Kent. Braves who donned the number - Dusty Baker who was on deck when Aaron hit 715 and slid heard around the world - Sid Bream. #11

Elmer

#13 Dave Concepcion "Elmer" - 9" x 12" acrylic on paper. Pretty easy choice here. Have to be a fan of the Big Red Machine. Davey was one of the Big Eight and perfected the one bounce throw to first base. Originally drafted as a pitcher - oddly enough. Other thirteens - John Blue Moon Odum - loved the A's back in the white shoe 70s. Only Brave I could find that wore number 13 - Billy Wagner - who was more of an Astro if you ask me. On to Number 12