#3 CLAUDELL WASHINGTON

FAVORITE BRAVES PLAYERS OF THE 1980'S

#3 CLAUDELL WASHINGTON
ATLANTA BRAVES 1981-1986

I wasn't expecting Claudell to rate so highly on this list when I started it, but he really was a very consistent player and leader for the team during the early 80's. Some power, good speed, pretty good average hitter and good fielder. He was also the only Brave to hit over .300 during the Braves NCLS in 1982 against the Cardinals. I think he also knocked in a run in the real first game of that series that was washed away by rain and washed away to history (Unfairly).

Thanks to baseball reference.com I was able to track down the game I went to where the Braves played the Cubs and Claudell homered for the only run of that game. The game was played on April 30, 1982. His homer was off Doug Bird of the Cubs and Steve Bedrosian and Gene Garber combined for the shutout. The game lasted only two hours and put the Braves at 16-5 for the season and kept them in first place. Just as importantly, I was able to leave the stadium at a decent enough hour to go by the local pub for a frothy pitcher of fine ale! 

Cheers, Claudell!

Claudell 1983 Fleer