Braves announce Hall of Fame inductees
By Jeff Adcox
The Atlanta Braves recently announced that catcher Javy Lopez, former head athletic trainer Dave Pursley and former Boston Braves shortstop Rabbit Maranville will be inducted into the Braves Hall of Fame on May 23.
“We are happy to welcome these three very deserving individuals into the Braves Hall of Fame,” said Atlanta Braves President John Schuerholz. “This group represents the Braves organization from each city where we have played and are an integral part of our very rich history.”
Lopez played for the Atlanta Braves from 1992-2003, establishing himself as the Braves regular catcher in 1996. That season, he helped lead the Braves win the National League Championship Series, earning the series MVP award. The three-time All-Star had his best season in 2003, batting .328 with 43 home runs and 109 RBI in 129 games. He won the Silver Slugger Award and finished fifth in the National League MVP voting that year.
Rabbit (Walter James Vincent) Maranville played shortstop for the Boston Braves for all or parts of 15 seasons. Knicknamed “Rabbit” for his speed and small stature (5’5″ and 155 lbs), he finished third in the MVP voting in his first full season (1913) and runner-up in the MVP voting to teammate Johnny Evers in 1914 when the Braves swept the Philadelphia A’s in the World Series.
Pursley served as assistant/head athletic trainer for the Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves for more than four decades. He was also selected to work four All Star Games (1972, 83, 91, and 2000), won Athletic Training Staff of the Year in 1995, and was awarded the National Athletic Trainers Association Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award in 2004.
Other members of the Braves Hall of Fame include Hank Aaron, Tom Glavine, Chipper Jones, David Justice, Greg Maddux, Eddie Mathews, Dale Murphy, John Smoltz and Warren Spahn.