ATLANTA — Former manager Bobby Cox helped the Atlanta Braves retire John Smoltz's No. 29 by calling the right-hander "the biggest of the big-game pitchers."
Smoltz was inducted into the Braves' Hall of Fame and the team retired his number before Friday night's game against Toronto.
Smoltz becomes the ninth Braves player to have his number retired, including the fourth in four years, following Cox (6) last year, Tom Glavine (47) in 2010 and Greg Maddux (31) in 2009.
Smoltz, an eight-time All-Star, won the National League Cy Young Award in 1996. He is the only pitcher in major league history with at least 200 wins and 150 saves.
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He says his 20 years with the Braves from 1988-2008 were "the greatest ride" of his life.