Contact: Jim Shultz (404) 614-1301
Carolyn Serra (404) 614-2310
Warren Spahn Statue To Be Unveiled
(August 1, 2003) -- Warren Spahn exhibited one of the most-stylish pitching motions of all-time
in winning more games than any other lefthander in history and more games than any other
pitcher of the post-World War II era. On August 12 at approximately 1:15 p.m., Spahn’s classic
high leg kick will be immortalized when a larger-than-life, bronze statue of that image is unveiled
in picturesque Monument Grove at Turner Field, home of the Atlanta Braves.
Spahn, 82, will travel from his home in Broken Arrow, Okla., to participate in the dedication of
the statue. A first-ballot member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1973, he also was an
inaugural inductee in the Braves Hall of Fame in 1999. His 363 career victories rank fifth overall
in baseball history; all but seven of his wins came with the Boston and Milwaukee Braves in
1942, 1946-64. He missed three full seasons due to service with the U.S. Army in World War II
when he became the only major leaguer ever to receive a battlefield commission.
The Spahn statue will join those of Hank Aaron, Phil Niekro and Ty Cobb in Monument Grove.
The unveiling will follow the induction of catcher Del Crandall (1949-50, ‘53-63) into the Braves
Hall of Fame.
Current Braves Bobby Cox, Chipper Jones, Greg Maddux and John Smoltz are among those who
made financial contributions to fund the statue. Former Braves Tom Glavine, now with the Mets,
also contributed and served as spokesman for the fundraising campaign headed by Gary Caruso, a
life-long Spahn admirer who is editor of ChopTalk, the Braves’ official monthly magazine.
Those contributing $1,000 or more to the statue fund will have their names permanently engraved
on a plaque on the base of the statue. Donors include former Braves Ernie Johnson, Phil Niekro,
Red Schoendienst and Joe Torre; Baseball Hall of Famers Yogi Berra, Bobby Doerr, Stan Musial
and Nolan Ryan; 5-time Cy Young Award winner Randy Johnson of the Arizona Diamondbacks;
and recording artists Elton John and Mike Mills of R.E.M.
The statue is an enlargement of the Warren Spahn Award, given each year beginning in 1999 by
the Oklahoma Sports Museum to the top lefthander in baseball. It was sculpted by Shan Gray, an
accomplished artist from Spahn's home state of Oklahoma.
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