Mike Lum - Atlanta Braves

Atlanta Braves

Making his major league debut as a pinch hitter on September 12, 1967, Lum singled in his first major league at-bat against the New York Mets' Jack Fisher. With the Braves trailing 3-2 in the ninth, Lum came around to score the game tying run of their 4-3 victory. He started the second game of a September 17 double header in centerfield, and remained the team's starting center fielder over the remainder of the season.

With starting left fielder Rico Carty out for the 1968 season with tuberculosis, Lum platooned with Tito Francona in left, while occasionally spelling a day off for Hank Aaron in right and Felipe Alou in center. He remained a reserve with the Braves when Carty returned in 1969, and reached the post-season for the first time in his career, as the Braves won the newly formed National League West by three games over the San Francisco Giants. Lum went two-for-two with a double in the 1969 National League Championship Series against the New York Mets.

Lum hit three home runs and drove in five of the eight runs the Braves scored against the San Diego Padres on July 3, 1970. He finally earning a starting job in right field in 1971 when Aaron was converted to a first baseman.

The Braves platooned Lum and Ralph Garr in right field in 1972. In 1973, Aaron was moved back into the outfield, and Lum began seeing most of his playing time at first base. He batted a career high .294, while also logging career highs in home runs (16), runs batted in (82), runs scored (74), extra base hits (48) and at-bats (513). After two more seasons as a fourth outfielder and back-up first baseman, Lum was traded to the World Champion Cincinnati Reds for shortstop Darrel Chaney.