page_title: Big Three (Atlanta Braves)
section_title: Post-"Big 3"
hierarchical_section_title: Big Three (Atlanta Braves) / Post-"Big 3"
caption_attribution_description: Description Tom Glavine returns to Atlanta in the Braves home opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates on March 31, 2008. DateMarch 31, 2008SourceOwn workAuthorElb2000 (talk) 06:53, 2 April 2008 . . Elb2000 . . 800×533 (124 KB) Tom Glavine returns to Atlanta in the Braves home opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates on March 31, 2008.
context_page_description: The Big Three was a trio of Major League Baseball starting pitchers for the Atlanta Braves from 1993-2002 which consisted of Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, and John Smoltz. The Big Three combined to win seven National League Cy Young Awards in the 1990s and helped lead the Atlanta Braves to a 1995 World Series win. Each member of the Big Three has had their jersey retired by the Atlanta Braves and has been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
context_section_description: After the 2002 season, Tom Glavine signed with the New York Mets, ending the Big Three's time together in Atlanta. The duo of Greg Maddux and John Smoltz was still good enough to lead the Braves to a 101-61 record and their 12th straight division title, also their 9th consecutive NL East title. After the Braves lost Game 1 of the NLDS 4-2 to the Chicago Cubs and with the Braves leading 3-2 after the 7th inning of Game 2, John Smoltz came into Game 2 and pitch two innings of only allowing one run, including pitching a perfect 9th inning, to lead the Braves to a 5-3 win in Game 2. After allowing two runs in the first inning of Game 3, Greg Maddux pitched five scoreless innings, but that was not enough for the Braves as they fell to the Cubs 3-1 in Game 3. John Smoltz took relief duties in Game 4 and after allowing two doubles to begin the bottom of the 9th inning, he got the next three batters out to seal a 6-4 win for the Braves in Game 4 and force a Game 5 back in Atlanta. The Braves lost Game 5 5-1 and were eliminated from the postseason.
  Following the 2003 season, Greg Maddux returned to the Chicago Cubs leaving John Smoltz as the only player of the "Big Three" left with the Braves for the 2004 season. John Smoltz recorded 44 saves in the 2004 season to lead the Braves to their 13th consecutive division title, also their 10th consecutive NL East title. After the Braves lost Game 1 of the NLDS to the Astros 9-3, John Smoltz pitched three scoreless innings in relief in Game 2 to help the Braves beat the Astros 4-2. After the Braves lost Game 3 8-5, John Smoltz pitched two scoreless innings in relief to lead the Braves to a 6-5 win over the Astros and force a Game 5 in Atlanta. The Braves lost Game 5 12-3 and were then eliminated in the NLDS for the third consecutive year.
  John Smoltz returned to the starting rotation for the 2005 season and ended up with a 14-7 record, a 3.06 ERA and 169 strikeouts to help the Braves win their 14th consecutive Division Title and 11th consecutive NL East title. John Smoltz's start in the NLDS went well as he lasted seven innings and only gave up one run to lead the Braves to a 7-1 win in Game 2. The other games did not go well for the Braves as they lost the NLDS to the Astros in four games.
  John Smoltz had another successful season the following year with a NL-leading 16 wins, a 3.49 ERA, and 211 strikeouts, but that was not enough for the Braves as they finished 3rd in the NL East; they ended up missing the playoffs and not winning their division for the first time since 1990. He had another successful year in 2007 with a 14-8 record, a 3.11 ERA, and 197 strikeouts, but again that wasn't enough for the Braves as they finished 3rd in their division yet again and missed the playoffs for the second consecutive season.
  Tom Glavine returned to the Braves for the 2008 season, but the two of them could not get the Braves back into the playoffs as they finished fourth in their division that season. That season was the last for Tom Glavine as he underwent rehab the following season, and was released from the Braves on June 3, 2009 and he officially retired from baseball on February 11, 2010.
  The 2008 season was also John Smoltz's last season with the Braves as he signed with the Boston Red Sox for the 2009 season. He spent half of that season with the Red Sox, and the other half of that season with the Cardinals, after which he retired from baseball.
  Greg Maddux spent three more seasons with the Chicago Cubs and then he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the middle of the 2006 season. Greg Maddux then spent his final two seasons with the San Diego Padres and was traded again to the Dodgers in the middle of the 2008 season, after which he retired from baseball.
caption: Glavine being introduced at Turner Field in his first game back with the Braves in 2008
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