Top 10 moments in John Smoltz's career

ATLANTA -- John Smoltz’s journey toward Baseball’s Hall of Fame was highlighted by an abundance of postseason success and the versatility he showed while mastering the arts of starting and closing.

Smoltz spent all but one of his 21 seasons with the Braves, who won 14 consecutive division titles, five National League pennants and one World Series title during his tenure. He is the only pitcher in MLB history to record at least 200 wins and 150-plus saves. He won the 1996 NL Cy Young Award and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2015.

Here is a look at the top 10 moments of Smoltz’s career:

1. Cy Young season

After watching either Tom Glavine or Greg Maddux win each of the previous five NL Cy Young Awards, Smoltz took his turn to shine in 1996, when he produced a 2.94 ERA while notching career highs in wins (24) and strikeouts (276). He allowed less than two runs over at least seven innings in 10 of his 35 starts. When Glavine won his second Cy Young Award in 1998, Smoltz and Maddux finished fourth in the voting.

2. Second half of the 1991 season

Smoltz showed flashes of potential during his first few seasons, but he didn’t truly become elite until he rolled through the second half of the Braves’ Worst-to-First 1991 season. After going 2-11 with a 5.16 ERA before the All-Star break, the right-hander went 12-2 with a 2.63 ERA over his final 18 regular season starts. His rise led the Braves to an unexpected NL West crown and a postseason, within which he would again shine.

3. First Game 7

Those who watched the Braves battle the Pirates in Game 7 of the 1991 NL Championship Series at Three Rivers Stadium were introduced to baseball’s next “big game” pitcher. Making just his second postseason start, Smoltz tossed a six-hit shutout to send Atlanta to the World Series. Twelve days earlier, the right-hander had produced a complete game in a division-clinching win over the Astros.

4. Second Game 7

Growing up in Michigan, Smoltz loved the Tigers and counted Jack Morris as one of childhood idols. This just added to the excitement the Braves hurler felt as he matched up against Morris and the Twins in Game 7 of the 1991 World Series. Morris went the distance in the Twins’ 1-0, 10-inning win. But Smoltz also walked away feeling proud, having produced 7 1/3 scoreless innings.

5. Third Game 7

When the Braves and Pirates met again in the 1992 NLCS, the Braves turned back to Smoltz for Game 7. The right-hander wasn’t as dominant. But while limiting Pittsburgh to two runs over six innings, he positioned Atlanta to claim the dramatic victory, which concluded with Sid Bream sliding across the plate ahead of Barry Bonds’ throw. Smoltz allowed just two runs over 22 1/3 innings in his three career Game 7 starts.

6. MLB debut

While serving as the team’s general manager, Bobby Cox enriched the club’s future when he traded Doyle Alexander to the Tigers for Smoltz in 1987. One year later, Atlanta got a glimpse of the future. Smoltz certainly wasn’t intimidated when he was called up to make his debut at Shea Stadium on July 23, 1988. Instead, he quieted the New York crowd while limiting the Mets to one run over eight innings and notching his first career win.

7. NL record

After Smoltz missed the 2000 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, he experienced lingering discomfort that led to the decision to make him the team’s closer near the end of the 2001 season. The competitive right-hander remained in that role and set a National League record when he notched 55 saves in 2002. The previous record was 53 saves, set by Randy Myers in 1993 and matched by Trevor Hoffman in 1998. Smoltz endured just four blown saves during his first full season as a closer.

8. Return to the rotation

Though he was successful in the closer’s role, Smoltz gained his wish to return to the rotation in 2005 and quickly regained his status as one of the game’s top starters. He posted a 2.66 ERA through his first 23 starts of the ’05 season and earned an All-Star selection. He also notched the last of his 15 career postseason wins when he bested the Astros’ Roger Clemens in Game 2 of that year’s NLDS.

9. 200th win

Though 300 wins was no longer possible once Smoltz rejoined the rotation, he joined the 200-win club with a 2-1 win over the Mets on May 24, 2007 at Turner Field. Adding to the excitement, Smoltz tossed seven scoreless innings while matching up against Glavine, who allowed the Braves two runs over six innings. This victory made him the only pitcher to ever record both 200 wins and 150 saves.

10. Franchise record

It took Smoltz just a little more than three years to set the franchise saves record, which had been owned by Gene Garber. Smoltz passed Garber when he notched his 142nd career save on Aug. 19, 2004 at Dodger Stadium. Smoltz would end up with 154 saves, a mark that was bested by Craig Kimbrel, who now owns the franchise record with 186 career saves.