There also was a time when age caught up with him. A time when he could no longer find the swing that had served him so well, or the knees to motor down the line to first.
But there never was a time that a loud cheer did not go up when he stepped into the batter's box. Everyone loved him, you see. He was a classy guy, a very devout man and probably one of the most popular players ever in the game.
"You have to keep a balance," he once said. "One day you are the greatest hitter since Hank Aaron, and the next day you can't hit a thing."
He was the second child of Charles and Betty, a hard-working, devout couple living in Portland, Ore. The year was 1956 and the day was March 12.
THE FOLKS WANTED their children to do more than just go to school and knock around the yard, so they enrolled their son in Little League when he was 10 years old.
In his first Little League season, he was a pitcher. And the first batter he faced -- his best friend, Jeff Dunn -- he hit with a pitch. It was not a good year. The only highlight was when he got his lone hit that season off Jeff's brother, John.
But it was not the hits or hitting someone that mattered. What did matter is that his friend's father, Jack, was there. This was the man who ultimately would become his coach at Woodrow Wilson High School.
Like most athletes, it was this high school coach who brought this kid to a level rarely seen in Portland. The biggest move Dunn made was getting him off the mound and putting him behind the plate. There, he excelled. He not only became All-City, but he was an All-Stater, too. At 6-foot-4, he cast an imposing presence at the plate, where he hit .400 in his senior year in 1974.
THEY WERE CALLING this kid the next Johnny Bench, and they weren't lying. He had the stick to do it.
He was drafted out of high school on the fifth pick in the first round by the Atlanta Braves. He could have went to Arizona State if he wanted to. That was too bad, because had he gone, he would have played with the great Bob Horner. He thought the team that drafted him was going to be to be the Phillies, but Philadelphia's scouts had said he it was doubtful he would ever develop into a power hitter, so they took Lonnie Smith instead.
"We took him because of his defensive abilities and athletic skills," said Braves director of scouting Paul Snyder.
The Braves sent him to the Appalachian League that summer. He hit a paltry .254 with 31 RBIs and five homers. Not bad, however, if you remember he was still just 18 years old.
"Basically, it's like going from being a boy playing a game, to a man with responsibilities," he said.
The following year, in the Single-A West Carolinas League, he hit another five homers and improved his RBI total to 48. But his batting average dipped to .228. Still, his defensive skills as a catcher -- and sometimes as a first baseman -- got him a spot on the All-Star squad for the league.
IN 1976, HE MOVED UP to Double-A ball, playing with Savannah. He hit 12 homers, had 55 RBIs and was batting .267 when he was called up to the Braves' Triple-A team, the Richmond Braves. In just 50 at-bats, he belted four homers. On Sept. 13 that year, the Braves brought him up to big league.
He did not disappoint. He went 2-for-4 against the Dodgers. But after the season was over, he started to have his doubts and almost gave up baseball to become a Mormon missionary. His throwing, once as steady as a rock, had become erratic. But Braves owner Ted Turner and the people in his own church convinced him to persevere.
In 1977, he began the season in Richmond and started achieving some monster numbers. He hit 22 homers that year, batted .305 and knocked in 90 runs. But again, his throwing skills had gone haywire. He once hit his own pitcher on the hip trying to throw out a runner at second.
His Richmond teammates even learned to duck when he cocked his arm back. But sometimes, even that didn't help. Later in the season, he hit a pitcher who was lying on the ground, trying to avoid one of this kid's errant throws.
"I just couldn't throw accurately at all," he said. "It's kind of a hard thing to pinpoint exactly what you're feeling. It's frustrating not being able to throw a guy out. I didn't know what I was going to do.
"My arm was strong. Unless it was a combination of nerves and a mental block, I don't know. It's kind of discouraging. I guess you're just worried you're going to throw it away and sure enough, you do."
Another September arrived and he found himself back on the Braves' bench. He batted .318 in the 18 major-league games he played that year.
In 1978, Atlanta put him at first base. But he only was able to manage a .226 batting average and led the league in strikeouts. The only bright spot was the 23 homers he belted.
The following year, he began the season as a catcher but ended up again at first. His home run swing was still there, though. He had 21 that year.
When the season was over, he married Nancy Thomas, a girl he had met a Brigham Young while attending school during the offseason.
"While I was single, I always felt like something was missing in my life," he said. "Marrying Nancy and starting a family gives me more of a purpose in life. And after an 0-for-4, she sure will be nice to come home to. It is just exciting being with someone."
It must have been the right catalyst. In 1980, manager Bobby Cox put him in the outfield, where he found a home and a place in baseball history. The errors ceased, the home runs increased and he went on to become one of the greatest Braves players who ever played.
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Hey there! Can you tell me who has the most no-hitters? -- From Mike R. at an infinity kind of net. Sure can, Mike. It was the Nolan Ryan Express. He had six of 'em.
I was wondering if this is true: I had heard that someone once won a major title with a knockout in less than a minute. Is that true? -- From Chris C. at an .edu in the great state of Texas. Actually, that is true. Lloyd Honeyghan knocked out Gene Hatcher in 1987 after just 40 seconds of the first round to retain his IBF and WBC welterweight titles.
Who is the oldest driver to ever win the Indy 500? -- From a big racing fan living named Al living in the great state of Indiana. An easy one, Al. It was none other than Al Unser Sr., who was 47 years, 11 months and 25 days old when he drank the milk in the winner's circle in 1987.
Hey, Irishman! What's the deal with the Pirates this year? Why the heck did they gut their team? -- From a Willie sort of guy at a Stargell.com. Willie! Long time no see, man. You got me. First this Kevin McClatchy walks in promising the moon and then the next thing you know. Zap! He cuts the team into shreds. They will find a way to win, however. But apparently he just doesn't get it. Trading the franchise's talent is what put the Pirates in this position to begin with. Just ask Barry Bonds.
1) How many times was he named to the National League's All-Star team? Give up?
2) How many times was he the home run king? Give up?
3) How many other players, in addition to him, have had their number retired by Atlanta? Give up?
4) How many home runs did he hit during his career? Give up?
5) How many Gold Glove awards did he collect? Give up?
Mike Emmett has been kicking around sports departments in newspapers and online operations around the U.S. for years. Got something to say to the Irishman? Email him with a click here.
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