#56 TED SIMMONS

FAVORITE BRAVES PLAYERS OF THE 1980'S

#56 TED SIMMONS 
ATLANTA BRAVES 1986-1988

During the Braves late 80's doldrums, the team actually put together a fairly productive bench of reserve players. These players were dubbed "The Bomb Squad" by former all-star Ted Simmons and charter member of the "BS." For my version of the Bomb Squad, I use the phrase in more general terms for eighteen players the Braves got at the wrong end of their career during that decade.

Ted Simmons 1987

 

AND ON THE LIST WITHIN A LIST...

COMING IN AT #1 ON THE LIST-

"THE BOMB SQUAD: 1980'S FORMERLY PRODUCTIVE 

MAJOR LEAGUE PLAYERS THE BRAVES ACQUIRED

NEAR THE END OF THEIR CAREER"-Ted Simmons

Career: Ted Simmons was one of the best catchers in the National League for the Cardinals during the 70's. He made the all-star team eight times during his career and helped lead the Milwaukee Brewers to their only World Series appearance in 1982.

The Bomb squad: Ted spent the last three years of his career as a role player for the Braves and is actually given credit for coining the term bomb-squad for Atlanta's veteran bench warmers. Ted's three year Brave career resulted in 10 homers and a .248 batting average, but I always liked him and he did seem to get several big hits during his Atlanta tenure. In fact, I was sure I could find big home runs in each of his Brave years and found them very easily.

1986: June 3, 1986-Grand slam off of Cecilio Guante of the Pirates leading the Braves to a 8-5 win.

1987: May 16, 1987-Three run homer off John Smiley of the Pirates leading the Braves to a 10-8 win.

1988: April 9, 1988-Three run homer off Jim DeShaies of the Astros leading the Braves to a 5-4 win.

Bomb squad leader indeed!

Ted Simmons 1971