Braves celebrate Charlie Morton with one final start

Charlie Morton notched one more strikeout on his curveball before exiting the Truist Park mound to a lengthy ovation.

Morton, 41, officially finished his career with the Braves. He started Sunday’s game against the Pirates, recording four outs before the team removed him to a celebration for his 18-year career.

Morton pitched a scoreless first inning and received a standing ovation. He returned for the second frame, striking out Alexander Canario on five pitches — capped with inducing a whiff on one last curveball.

Manager Brian Snitker then trotted out to the mound and the Braves showed a video celebrating Morton’s career. Chris Sale, entering the game, took the ball from Morton. Morton hugged Snitker and his teammates, and Truist Park played Frank Sinatra’s iconic “My Way.”

Morton embraced his wife Cindy and their four children by the on-deck circle before returning to the dugout. He had numerous other family and friends in attendance, from cousins to childhood friends who flew to Atlanta. The ovation lasted several minutes.

“That was too much, that was ridiculous,” Morton said afterwards, clearly on the verge of tears. “That was incredible. ... It’s unbelievable, surreal in an amazing way.”

Snitker: “It was very fitting he struck somebody out with his curveball. It was awesome. Charlie was very appreciative. It was emotional for everybody. Really neat. Braves Vision did a great job with their presentation. It was a special moment.”

While Morton stopped short of publicly committing to retire after the game, he reiterated that is his intention. He had planned for 2025 to be his farewell campaign prior to the season. It didn’t go as he’d hoped, but he certainly had a worthy sendoff after all.

“That’s one of the cooler moments I’ve been able to experience in my career,” Sale said. “There are things that sometimes happen in this game that you can’t control. To be able to have a moment like that, send a guy like Charlie off in this game the right way, his family coming on the field - I was just appreciative and happy to be part of that moment.”

Sunday marked a touching ending to Morton’s illustrious career. The Braves drafted him in 2002 and he debuted for the team in 2008. He broke out in the middle of his career and helped Houston win a World Series in 2017. He pitched in another World Series with Tampa Bay three years later.

Morton returned to the Braves ahead of the 2021 season, becoming a crucial part of the Braves’ championship. He pitched another three seasons for the Braves before stints with the Orioles and Tigers this year.

But Morton will likely be remembered most as a Brave. A New Jersey native, he grew up a dual Braves and Yankees fan. He idolized Hall of Famers John Smoltz, Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux. The former two he overlapped with as teammates in 2008. Morton was the last active player to be major-league teammates with Smoltz and Glavine.

“Shoot, even before I was a Brave, I wanted to be a Brave,” Morton said. “I grew up rooting for the Yankees and the Braves. The Braves were on TBS, they had the best rotation in the big leagues. They had guys I really looked up to, wanted to be like, and then I got to meet them. I got to wear the same uniform and be in the same clubhouse.”

His final Braves return was set up after the Tigers recently released him. The Braves saw an opportunity to honor a beloved franchise figure. And Morton could enjoy a more welcomed ending.

“From Chris making that possible (to start Sunday) to Snit, I’m sure he was talking with (my agent) B.B. (Abbott),” Morton said. “Then for them to bring me back, (president of baseball operations) Alex (Anthopoulos), I got to talk with (chairman) Terry (McGuirk) a little bit.

“I got DFA’d and I’m on a flight back home (to Florida) and B.B. texted me saying they wanted me to come in for the last week. The hope for me was to try and let some of it go, let that feeling go a little bit of the disappointment and failure (of his season). Just finish the year in a way that was a little more comforting than going home with that taste in my mouth.”

Overall, Morton had a 4.09 ERA in 140 games with the Braves. He had a 3.87 ERA for the club from 2021-24. The only team for which he appeared in more games — 142 — was the Pirates, whom he appropriately faced Sunday.