The End of an Era

So word has just come across the wire that the Red Sox and John Smoltz are close to sealing a one year deal.  While I'm glad for the Red Sox, I have more of an attachment to the Atlanta Braves and this news saddens me like no other news...probably like the day I found out the Braves let Dale Murphy go to the Phillies.  I see this as the end of an era though.  These are no longer the Braves of my youth.

Gone is:

Ted Turner

John Schuerholz

David Justice

"Neon" Deion

Terry Pendleton

Ron Gant

Greg Maddux

Tom Glavine - Technically he's back, but I think the Mets just returned his body like the alien abductees in The X-Files.

John Rocker

Andruw Jones

Rafael Furcal

Mike Hampton - Oh wait, I'm glad he's gone

Fred "Crime Dog" McGriff

Vinny Castilla (twice)

Francisco "the one hit wonder" Cabrera - I made that nickname up just now

The Revolving door of closers (Wohlers, Merker, Stanton, Rocker, Lightenberg, etc.)

Ryan Klesko

Rafael Belliard

Mark Lemke

I suppose Chipper Jones is the next to go since he's a free agent after this season, but hopefully since they don't have any other players they can at least afford him for a few more years.  I feel my childhood slowly slipping down the drain.