Brian McCann

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

McCann's tenure with the Braves began with immediate impact. In just his second regular-season game, he hit his first home run. On October 6, 2005, during Game 2 of the National League Division Series against Roger Clemens and the Houston Astros, he recorded a historic feat: becoming the first Braves player in franchise history to hit a home run in his first playoff at-bat. This occurred in the second inning of a 7–1 victory. The following year, 2006, saw him lead all Major League catchers with 24 homers and 94 RBI, hitting .333 that season. His consistency was rewarded in spring training 2007 when the Braves bought out his arbitration years with a six-year, $27.8 million contract. He made history as the first Braves player ever selected to the National League All-Star team in each of his first three seasons (2006, 2007, and 2008). His 2010 All-Star Game performance was legendary; he was named MVP after driving in all three of the National League's runs with a bases-clearing double off Matt Thornton, securing a 3–1 victory for the NL. That same season, on August 29, he hit a walk-off home run that became the first ever reviewed by instant replay. Umpires initially called it a double after it struck the top of the wall, but replays showed it bounced into the stands and back onto the field, leading to an overturned call.

In Their Own Story

On March 9, 2011, during spring training, McCann hit a line drive foul ball that struck minor league manager Luis Salazar, blinding him in the left eye. Despite this tragedy, his season continued with dramatic moments. On May 17, 2011, he delivered a ninth-inning, game-tying pinch-hit home run and an 11th-inning game-winning two-run home run to defeat the Houston Astros 3–1. By July 27, 2012, he became the first player since Jim Thome in 2007 to homer in six straight games versus a single opponent. His final All-Star selection as a Brave came on July 14, 2013, when National League manager Bruce Bochy chose him to replace the injured Freddie Freeman. Offensively, he was a powerhouse, though defensively he faced challenges; in 2008 and 2010, he allowed more stolen bases than any other NL catcher (93 and 84 respectively), and in 2011, he allowed 104 stolen bases, the most of any major league catcher. In May 2009, Oakley, Inc. created special glasses for him to correct blurry vision caused by a change following his 2007 LASIK surgery.

Reader's Guide

Brian McCann was selected in the second round of the 2002 MLB draft out of Duluth High School in Georgia, where he was ranked as the 26th best high school prospect. Initially committed to play college baseball for Alabama, he signed with the Braves instead. His development began in the minor leagues with the Rome Braves before his June 10, 2005 debut. Throughout his time in Atlanta, he earned six Silver Slugger Awards, winning it every year from 2006 through 2013 except for 2014 when he moved to the Yankees (where he won his sixth in 2015). He was a key figure in the franchise's history, known for his power and durability. Although he struggled with vision issues requiring custom Oakley wraparounds in 2009 and faced defensive challenges regarding stolen bases allowed, his offensive production remained elite. He left Atlanta on November 23, 2013, signing a five-year, $85 million contract with the New York Yankees, ending his nine-year run as a Brave.

Did You Know?

• McCann became the first Braves player in franchise history to hit a home run in his first playoff at-bat on October 6, 2005.
• He was named the MVP of the 2010 All-Star Game after driving in all three runs for the National League with a bases-clearing double.
• His walk-off home run on August 29, 2010, was the first ever to be overturned via instant replay review by umpires.
• McCann is the only catcher in history to win the Silver Slugger Award in both the National League and American League.
• In 2009, Oakley, Inc. manufactured special wraparound glasses for him to correct blurry vision following LASIK surgery.