1999 NLCS MVP To Back Up Johnny Estrada
by Tim Evearitt
posted December 18, 2003
) Photo by Tim Evearitt No longer a backup catcher for Greg Maddux, Eddie Perez is back with the Braves. Click to enlarge photo. |
The Braves agreed Wednesday afternoon to a two-year contract with the free-agent catcher, who in 2003 enjoyed the most prolific season of his career in Milwaukee.
The last time Perez replaced Javy Lopez, he helped lead the Braves to the 1999 World Series.
Perez hit .271 in 107 games for the Brewers, with career highs of 11 home runs and 45 RBIs. His 95 hits were also a single-season high for his nine-year career.
Overall, Perez's first tour of duty with the Braves included a .258 average, with 24 homers and 104 RBI in 325 games.
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"I still cannot believe it -- it's the best present I could get," said the 35-year-old catcher, who spent 15 years in the Braves organization and lives in Duluth. "I wanted to play here so bad. I always thought I might come back as a coach, but not as a player. My wife and kids are thrilled."
Perz got a two-year, $1.325 million contract to be the backup in Atlanta. He was ready to sign a two-year deal with the Brewers or Minnesota before Atlanta added a year to its one-year offer.
"He was a well-respected, beloved Brave for a long time," Braves general manager John Schuerholz said. "He's done good things for us in the past, and we feel like he can do good things again in the role he's going to play. He has a lot of playing ability left, and leadership ability."
Perez will back up Johnny Estrada. That will allow manager Bobby Cox to use newcomer Eli Marrero at several positions in addition to catcher.
Perez welcomes the opportunity to exert leadership and help Estrada or other Braves.
"I feel like Atlanta's my hometown, and I owe this city something," the Venezuelan said. "What I look for is a new attitude with this team. I know I'm gonna miss Javy, and [Greg] Maddux and [Tom] Glavine. But it's a new attitude, new kids on the team who want to win and do something. That's probably a good deal for the Braves.
"The last couple of years they had big names and went to the playoffs and did nothing. Hopefully this year we go and do something."
John Smoltz and Chipper Jones are no longer the only current Braves from the 1995 World Series team. Perez has shared many good times with them. The catcher went 10-for-20 with two homers and five RBIs vs. the Mets in the 1999 NLCS.
"He and I talked about that today," Schuerholz said of the memories. "And we talked about now we're gonna start creating some new ones."
He missed most of 2000 and 2001 recovering from shoulder surgeries and was traded to Cleveland the next spring.
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Adapted from article on the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's website.
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