This is the story of the 1991 Atlanta Braves as it happened.
January 30, 1991
Atlanta Falcons cornerback Deion Sanders signed a one-year contract with the Atlanta Braves and hopes to play both in the same city in the upcoming season. Sanders signed a minor league contract with the Triple A affiliate Richmond Braves that extends only to the end of July and has been invited to spring training as a non-roster player. If Sanders makes the team and plays until July, he will then have to decide which sport will be his primary occupation for the rest of the year. Sanders is scheduled to have arthroscopic knee surgery tomorrow and hints that baseball is his long-term future after completing two more years in the NFL. Pursued by the White Sox and Blue Jays as well, Sanders's financial adviser Eugene Parker pointed out all the positive assets of playing in the same city. Braves General Manager John Schuerholz said that Sanders's potential has always been known, pointing out that Schuerholz himself had drafted Sanders in the fourth round of the 1985 baseball draft, but the high school phenom never signed with Schuerholz's then team, the Kansas City Royals. The Braves also added Twins reliever Juan Berenguer, the sixth free agent that Schuerholz has added in a spending spree that has seen the Braves sign Terry Pendleton, Sid Bream, Rafael Belliard, and Mike Heath. The new signings will cost the Braves at least $30 million over the next four years.
February 13, 1991
Atlanta-Journal and Constitution columnist and standup comedian Lewis Grizzard opened his column today attacking not so much the signing of Deion Sanders as the history of the Atlanta Braves' dealings with baseball players in high art form.
"I remain convinced if the Braves had been in charge of World War Two, we'd all be speaking German. But I have to give them this: Just when you think they have made the worst move since buying a ticket on the Hindenburg, they top it." Grizzard went on to refer to the Braves' new signings as "a washed up third baseman" (Pendleton) and "a first baseman whose last name is a fish" (Bream). Grizzard finished his column with a strong statement: "the only way they'll get Atlanta to support a baseball team is if they give Atlanta one that wins occasionally."
The Braves also signed former major leaguer Glenn Wilson to a one-year pact and invited him to spring training. Pitchers report on February 22, position players five days later.
February 18, 1991
The Braves avoided arbitration with outfielder Odibe McDowell today, as the outfielder who hit .243 with seven homers and 25 RBIs in 113 games got a $235,000 raise to $925,000.
February 20, 1991
David Justice, the 1990 Rookie of the Year, signed a one-year contract worth $300,000.
February 27, 1991
The big story on the first day of spring training for position players is the health of Braves first baseman Nick Esasky, acquired from the Reds prior to 1990 but who played only nine games before a diagnosis of vertigo ended his season. The most popular question as training camp among the Braves players was, "How do you feel?"
January 30, 1991
Atlanta Falcons cornerback Deion Sanders signed a one-year contract with the Atlanta Braves and hopes to play both in the same city in the upcoming season. Sanders signed a minor league contract with the Triple A affiliate Richmond Braves that extends only to the end of July and has been invited to spring training as a non-roster player. If Sanders makes the team and plays until July, he will then have to decide which sport will be his primary occupation for the rest of the year. Sanders is scheduled to have arthroscopic knee surgery tomorrow and hints that baseball is his long-term future after completing two more years in the NFL. Pursued by the White Sox and Blue Jays as well, Sanders's financial adviser Eugene Parker pointed out all the positive assets of playing in the same city. Braves General Manager John Schuerholz said that Sanders's potential has always been known, pointing out that Schuerholz himself had drafted Sanders in the fourth round of the 1985 baseball draft, but the high school phenom never signed with Schuerholz's then team, the Kansas City Royals. The Braves also added Twins reliever Juan Berenguer, the sixth free agent that Schuerholz has added in a spending spree that has seen the Braves sign Terry Pendleton, Sid Bream, Rafael Belliard, and Mike Heath. The new signings will cost the Braves at least $30 million over the next four years.
February 13, 1991
Atlanta-Journal and Constitution columnist and standup comedian Lewis Grizzard opened his column today attacking not so much the signing of Deion Sanders as the history of the Atlanta Braves' dealings with baseball players in high art form.
"I remain convinced if the Braves had been in charge of World War Two, we'd all be speaking German. But I have to give them this: Just when you think they have made the worst move since buying a ticket on the Hindenburg, they top it." Grizzard went on to refer to the Braves' new signings as "a washed up third baseman" (Pendleton) and "a first baseman whose last name is a fish" (Bream). Grizzard finished his column with a strong statement: "the only way they'll get Atlanta to support a baseball team is if they give Atlanta one that wins occasionally."
The Braves also signed former major leaguer Glenn Wilson to a one-year pact and invited him to spring training. Pitchers report on February 22, position players five days later.
February 18, 1991
The Braves avoided arbitration with outfielder Odibe McDowell today, as the outfielder who hit .243 with seven homers and 25 RBIs in 113 games got a $235,000 raise to $925,000.
February 20, 1991
David Justice, the 1990 Rookie of the Year, signed a one-year contract worth $300,000.
February 27, 1991
The big story on the first day of spring training for position players is the health of Braves first baseman Nick Esasky, acquired from the Reds prior to 1990 but who played only nine games before a diagnosis of vertigo ended his season. The most popular question as training camp among the Braves players was, "How do you feel?"
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