Eddie Mathews

Guide Note:

Eddie Mathews was a Major League third baseman and manager who spent nearly his entire playing and managing career with the Braves organization, through their Boston, Milwaukee, and Atlanta incarnations.

Fast Facts:

1. Born: October 13, 1931
2. Birth Place: Texarkana, Texas
3. Died: February 18, 2001
4. Position: Third Baseman/ Manager/ Coach
5. Bats/Throws: Left/Right
6. Uniform #41 retired by the Braves
7. Inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1975
8. Played for, managed and coached the Braves
9. Appeared on the cover of the first issue of Sports Illustrated in 1954

Mathews was one of the most feared hitters in baseball throughout his 17-season playing career. He began playing for the Boston Braves in 1952, and moved with the team to Milwaukee the following year. After Hank Aaron joined the team in 1954, the two sluggers became the most feared one-two punch in baseball. Mathews led the National League in home runs twice, in 1953 and 1959, and was named to 12 All-Star teams. He also helped lead the Braves to a World Series victory in 1957 and returned to the Series to repeat the feat in his final year, while playing for the Detroit Tigers in 1968. When Mathews retired in 1968, he and teammate Aaron had combined to hit 863 home runs; Mathews finished with 512 round-trippers.

In 1972, Mathews returned to the Braves to manage, and was the manager when Aaron broke Babe Ruth's record in 1974. In 1978, Mathews was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.