Player Profile: Jeff Blauser

I have 73 cards of Jeff Blauser. This one is from 1995 Collectors Choice.

Playing career: Jeff Blauser was the shortstop of the great Braves teams of the early and mid-1990s. He also played for the Cubs in 1998 and 1999. In 1,407 games he hit .262 with 122 HR and 513 RBI. He was the regular shortstop for the 1995 World Champion team but did not play in the World Series due to a thigh bruise.

Where he is now: Retired after a few years coaching in the Braves system and living in an Atlanta mansion profiled in Traditional Home Magazine in 2011. His favorite room is the “loggia”. According to the article, his friends drop in and the first thing they ask is “Is it loggia time?” 

Interesting facts: In spring training of 1989 the Yankees and Braves discussed trading Jeff Blauser for prospect Bernie Williams. Bobby Cox, then Braves GM, declined, saying “Bernie was it a while ago, but he’s a couple of years off. Blauser is ready right now."

My memories: I remembered him as a good-field, no-hit shortstop but apparently that wasn’t really the case. His value actually came from offense – his career oWAR was 27.3; his dWAR was -0.2

Google Autocomplete results: He is sixth when you type Jeff Bl, between Jeff Blake, the former Bengals quarterback, and Jeff Black, a country singer. There do not appear to be any other prominent Jeff Blausers.

Coming up next: The next profile will be Ron Blazier.