Tom Glavine's major-league career

Atlanta Braves

Tom Glavine's major-league career

Braves veteran lefthander Tom Glavine has been released. He was out for the rest of the season with a torn flexor tendon and had said ligament surgery would mean the end to his career.

Tom Glavine made his major-league debut against the Astros on Aug. 17, 1987, in Houston. The left-hander would earn his first win five nights later against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

A career .186 hitter, Glavine has won four Silver Slugger awards for his position. He hit his first major league home run on Aug. 10, 1995, against the Reds' John Smiley. Nike immortilazed his home run power with its "Chicks dig the long ball" ads.

The 1995 World Series' Most Valuable Player, Glavine went 2-0, with a 1.29 ERA against the Cleveland Indians.

From 1987 to 2002, Glavine compiled a record of 242-143 with a 3.37 ERA with Atlanta. Glavine's best year as a Brave was 1998. He posted a 2.47 ERA. He led the NL in wins with 20, tossed three shutouts, and won his second Cy Young. An 11-time All-Star, Galvine started as a Brave in 1991 and 1992 and was a World Series MVP.

Glavine returned to the Mets' rotation in 2007 after questions late in the 2006 season regarding his health. The lefty had developed a blood clot in his pitching shoulder after undergoing medical testing decided to pitch again. The 2006 season was his most productive as a Mets, compiling a 15-7 record with a 3.82 ERA.

On Aug. 5, 2007, Glavine earned his 300th career win -- against the Chicago Cubs. He is one of only 23 pitchers (and just 5 left-handers) to accomplish the feat in major league history.

On Nov. 18, 2007, Glavine rejoined the Braves with a 1-year, $8 million contract. On May 14, he won his first game with the Braves since Sept. 19, 2002. Before going on the disabled list -- for the first time in his 22-year career -- he went 2-4 with a 5.54 ERA in 13 games.

Glavine's 2008 season ended prematurely with a torn flexor tendon, and he suffered a setback in 2009 when doctors diagnosed him with inflammation in his left shoulder. The Braves released him in June 2009, saying the then-43-year-old had not progressed enough in his comeback from shoulder and elbow surgery.

Though he is no longer pitching, Glavine is still involved with the Braves. He accepted a job as special assistant to John Schuerholtz in February 2008.

In August 2010, Tom Glavine's No. 47 became the seventh Braves uniform number to be retired, joining Hank Aaron (44), Eddie Mathews (41), Dale Murphy (3), Phil Niekro (35), Warren Spahn (21), and Greg Maddux (31).

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Tom Glavine made his major-league debut against the Astros on Aug. 17, 1987, in Houston. The left-hander would earn his first win five nights later against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

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